Cañon City record., 1907-08-29


three times that. It 10 said to have
led cities Of its size in the matter Of
building permits and bank clearings
and all cities in postal business. the
latter due, suppose, to the way we
travellers write to our home papers,
or send souvenir postals to our
friends.
Building is at the rate, am told,
Of 81 ,000, 900 a month or twenty miles
of houses year. This. In my opinion,
Is due largely to four things: The cli-
mate. on which I need not enlarge at
this time. having mentioned 1t before,
being of course, first. Then the man
who, with his millions and his infiu-
ence on numerous other millions, de-
veloped so marvelously the electric
railroad business around here, has
done more almost than the climate
in making the city grow. Third. wat
er. Not every California city can
Is possible here by using the subter-
ranean supply-by means OF dams and
reservoirs and by bringing water by
conduit from the Owens river to stor-
age reservoirs in the San Fernando
valley. The estimated cost of the lat
ter is only $2s. .000. 900 and while the
timid hold their breath. 1t no doubt
will be done. 1t is a question Of cour
age and the native sons" have strong
nerves.
However, to even a casual observer,
as, for instance, tourist, 1t appears
as though there Is one influence here
more potent than water, electric roads
or climate. and that Is the most inde-
fatigable set OF "rustlers," boomers"
and advertisers known to history.
They are instant in season and out
of season." always courteous and abb
solutely tireless. allude, OF course,
to the Los Angeles Chamber Of Com
merce, who seem to me to be the par
amount factor in the growth OF this
city. 1 am fairly deluged with infor-
nation, swamped with descriptions and
saturated with statistics. II there is
anything I've failed to learn about
how to boom a town, it's not their
fault, and 1 don't know what it is.
The early history OF Los Angeles
was not especially remarkable.
Eleven men. eleven women. and
twenty-five children. Spanish, negroes.
and Indians, constituting the group
OF first families" who settled here.
under the auspices and protection of
the Spanish throne and the Catholic
church, which named the little settle
ment eel Pueblo de Nuestra Sonora
la Reina de Los Angeles" because
twelve years before, on the day OF
that feast, the first white men had
camped here. Fourteen acres and
ground for a house was each mans
share. The fortunes have not, as a
general thing, been made by the de-
scendents Of these easy going south
ern people, but more often by the
hustling new conner.
From 1850 to 1870 the city probably
earned its common soubriquet OF
LOS Diablos," as 1t was a tough prop
osition educationally, fraternally and
religiously. Lodges thrived but in
differently and pastors were dis
heartened. A system of public schools
was established in 1850; at this time
land was Ave dollars per acre and
fifty a city lot. Still when the Central
Pacific asked for concession they
were courageously voted 100000 and
sixty acres OF land. Isn't that sug-
gestive?
The discovery of oil here is a fine
thing for Los Angeles, as coal Is so
expensive.
The schools are said to be. very
good-new teachers at the rate OF two
hundred being required. AS school
teachers are said never to die and sell
dom to resign or marry, this would
seem to indicate a rapid growth. They
favor their town teachers In every way
and by making their examinations a
sort of movable feast Occurring this
year the last of August, though some
local in coloring), they manage to
keep out eastern teachers. The only
Colorado credential they recognize is
Complementary life diploma. The
grade salaries are $3.50 for the third
and fourth and $500 for the fifth. but
whether those are maximums or not
/ did not ask as I was not especially
Investigating that point. having other
plans. The Polytechnic high school
has an enrolment Of 5000. An addi-
ton to the old high school is to be
built this year and also new girls
high school. they say.
There is a state normal here. one
of five think; also the Southern Cal
ifornia University, Methodist institu-
ton.
Hear a water-soaked voice pro-
claims: THE Sunset Limited! All
aboard for San Francisco. and all
points north and east!" So / sign
myself, hastily, but with best wishes.
K B. H.
ANOTHER LETTER