Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-27


What the development Of the Pacific
coast viii be during the next fifty
/ years no one can now forecast. IL is q
| portion OF our country that has thus
far been prolific in surprises. and there
is no reason to believe that there are
no more in store for the world from
that quarter.
From the bay of San Diego to Point
Barrow there are possibilities which
stimulate the imagination OF all who
are familiar with them, and the diff
Guilty is, In speaking of the future, to
keep within the bounds OF our present
knowledge. Every year or two some
new and unexpected source of wealth
Is discovered, and the resources
of the coast become more varied. What
discoveries will be made when vast
region now sparsely peopled contains q
large and varied population we cannot
satisfactorily speculate on Who, for
instance twenty-five years ago, would
have dared to predict that California
would become an important oil-produc-
ing state? And yet today 1t Is no weak
rival of Pennsylvania.
Gold and silver are becoming an old
story They are found in the rocks of
the Sierra i'm the beds of rivers
throughout Alaska, and in the sands
over which roll the waves of the
Arctic ocean. Coal is found on the
shores of the frozen sea, copper and
iron amid the ranges of northern Cali
fornia, and boraX- In millions of tons
in the deserts. Wherever new discov-
cries are made they are not mere indi-
cations they at once become facts
Of vast Importance. SO one cannot
fail to believe that the future develop
ment of the Pacific coast will be char
acterized as well by its magnitude as
by its uneXpectedness.
Important Factor in Development
Perhaps the most important factor
in the future development of the ex-
treme western part of this continent is
the certain entrance of the orient into
the full stream of modern life. When
nearly half the inhabitants of the
globe cast aside old habits and take
on new, there will result a stupendous
change for the entire world. Situated
nearer to it than any other portion of
the earth where modern civilization
exists-except Russian Siberia-the Pa
cific coast will be first to experience
the effects of the change and is in the
best position to receive benefit from 1T.
Hitherto the trade with Asia has been
insignificant For forty years a single
line of steamships with difficulty paid
expenses But already the single line
has been multiplied many times, and
more lines are being projected. When
half a billion people purchase as much
abroad as Americans do now the inn
ports from the orient will aggregate
FIVE billions of dollars per year. The
oriental demand is now growing, and
it's effects are beginning to be seen in
every port on the Pacific coast of
North America. Soon it will grow at
more rapid rate, and then will begin that
increase in the population of our Pa
cific states and present territories
which will not stop even when the
year 1000 sees 50,O00,00O between the
Sierra and the sea, the Mexican line
and the arctic circle.
The Panama canal will open to the
Pacific coast the markets of the east
and of Europe, with all the advanta ges
which a saving of 10000 miles of sea
carriage can give. California, Oregon.
Washington and Alaska will no longer
be isolated The trade of the world
will be open to them. The great cir
Gle route will bring past their very
doors the vast commerce which will
cross the Pacific. The ports on that
ocean will become the centers of the
oriental trade. and New York and Chi
cago will find rivals on San Francisco
bay and Puget sound. All the people
of the world will there have their rep
resentatives, and the maritime cities
will become the most cosmopolitan of
any that the world has seen, with
probably an oriental tinge in their
civilization.
Changes Forecasted
What changes t. is vrst, active and
energetic population will work within
the borders of their respective st tes
can cnlv BE- kiuted at. California w II
teen with a busy, active peo de. It's
vast interior val ey, nearly 90 mi es
long from Baker SIZED to Redding, will
be the most productive region which
man has ever seen. The Sierra will be
used as the storehouse of the water
which will irrigate every acre and
tempt the soil to prodigal harvests
Wheat fields will give place to orchards
and vineyards, and from them the
world will get its surest and best sup