The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-03-11
California More Prosperous This
Year Than Ever
IMMIGRATION TO Be UNDIM|N|sHEO
BUILDING AND ALL THE INDUS
TRIOUS CONTINUE WITH UN-
CHECKED. ACTIVITY.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 11.-(Spe-
ciaD-The field Of activity throughout
California has been wide, during the
month of February, and all industries
seem to have taken on greatly increas-
| ed virility. The California Promotion
committee in it's investigations of con-
ditions in the state, has found numer-
Gus indications of a general broaden
ing of development. This is especial
| w noticeable in the subdivision or
large tracts of land which have here
tofore been held in single holdings.
These lands, which are the great
grants are in bodies comprising thou
sands of acres. and their segregation
has worked against the upbuilding Of
the interior.
So great has become the demand for
small farms, however, that the own
ers are now cutting up the large farms
formerly given over to grain raising
and grazing, with the result that all
over the state there is an influx of
homeseekers who are buying small
farms of ten, twenty and shrdlu shrdlu
farms of 10, 20 and 40 acres.
This increase in development has
had the further effect of stimulating
railroad building, especially of electric
lines. which are now penetrating the
mountain country. opening new coun-
tries to development and settlement
There has never been a time before
in the history of the state when there
has been so great activity in railOrad
circles.
Good Crops Are Assured.
Seasonal rains have been general.
and of such quantity as to insure an
abundance of all kinds of crops This
is especially true Of fruit, and as there
has been no adverse circumstances, it
is expected that the coming season will
note the heaviest fruit crop ever rails
ed in California.
From reports received from all parts
of the east. middle west and Europe
it is believed that the immigration into
California during 1907 will exceed that
of any previous year. and that fully
two hundred thousand settlers will
make their homes in the Golden state
during the year From Europe comes
the report that there is greater in
! terest in California this year than ever
before. and hundreds of families are
forming colonies for the purpose Of
emigratng to this state.
Construction conditions in San Fran
cisco are most satisfactory in every
way. and rehabilitation work is pro-
crossing more rapidly than even the
most Sanguine expectations. Real es-
! tate values have been maintained in
in all parts of the city, and in many
localities have increased with active
demand Apartment houses, flats and
hotels are being completed in large
numbers, and the housing problem is
rapidly being solved. Rental of resi-
dence properties is being reduced to
normal. and the cost of living is also
returning to conditions which obtained
previous to the fire.
Building Activity Unabated.
Building activity during the month
of February is shown by the building
at total estimated valuation Of ST.
233,010. According to the estimates OF
contractors and architects this amount
| does not represent the true figures
called for by Is per cent, as there is al
ways a tendency to underestimate the
value of a building. Adding, there
| fore. Is per cent of the above amount
to the total it would bring the amount
called for by the permits to sS,317.916.
Since the fire the total number of per-
mits for building that have been issu-
| ed is 1898, with a represented valua-
ton of s46.S54.S76. Applying the same
rule here it would increase this amount
to s53,SS3,107.
During the month the customs re-
ceipts of San Francisco have shown a
marked increase over those of Febru-
airy of 1906. The total for the present
month was $S47,719.34, against a total
of 771.736.S5 for the same month a
year ago. During the same time this
year the postal receipts were s142.142
San Francisco's bank clearings for
February amounted to $194294. 1866
| against $156.271.911 for the same month
of 1906. But at that time the Oakland
banks cleared through the San Fran
cisco clearing house, and this year
Oakland has its own clearing house.
Adding, therefore, the Oakland bank
clearings for February to the San
Francisco clearings there is a total of
$21O,O4S.012 for the two cities. or an
increase of more than fifty million dol
lars over the same month of last wear.
CLARENCE u EnWHDnC