Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-02
BANKER REJUVENATES
TOWN OF SAN DIEGO
ONE MAN BRINGS PROSPERITY
TO SOUTHERN CITY
Louis j. Wilde in Five Years UpbuiIds
Sleepy Village to Enterprising
tropoIis-Works Quietly,
but Steadily

in all lands. Her climatic attractions
have been heralded from zone to zone
and praised in all climes.
In the distribution of superior adj
vantages nature has been prodigal
with San Diego. The city has been
recipient of superlative degree of a
square deal.
Commercially her activities and re-
sources had been retarded, The leth-
argy of her citizens stifled her growth
up to a certain period. Up to that
certain period the city was in a state
of accelerated retrogression. The spirit
of relentless selfishness might have
kept this beautiful city by the sea in
droWsy helplessneSS up to this time,
had it not been for the interposition
of the mastery genius. indomttable
energy and guiding hand of just one
man. Her people seemed to have be-
come "cobwebbed companions of the
spidered gloom" They were in a state
of mastery inactivity. They had gone
to seed. They were "all in" Nature,
in her curative powers, has provided
a remedial agent for many diseases,
and at the critical stage in the city's
history when it was dismally consid
cred a languid village-a city of the
unburied dead-a quiet little man APP
peared on the scene and most oppor-
timely came to her rescue.
He took in at a glance the splendid
possibilities of the city at the feet of
the most tranquil harbor in the world.
He could see that it needed waking
up. All that it required was resusci-
tation. He was possessed of plenty
of mental dynamite and was full Of
electrical energy, possession and
initiative. Being quick to see an OPP
portunity he had the courage to take
hold of it. He formulated certain
plans and pushed them into rapid
operation and successful execution.
Cash Causes Sensation
He quietly bought ranch and a
few vacant business lots for cash,
which created a sensation in "Sleepy
Hollow" and several citizens opened
their eyes and asked questions about
the mysterious stranger. In a few
days he conceived the notion of in
stalling another national bank pro-
cured a charter, and some of the
''moss- backs woke up and asked:
"Who is it has the courage to start
another bank in San Diego? We don't
need any more
But this little man said nothing,
but kept saving wood. One morning
the old town found that the American
National bank was a full-hedged
reality with paid-up capital of $780,
900 and was in operation. Some of
about this little stranger and wanted
to know who he was and Whence he
came. No one could definitely answer,
but it was known that "he was thar
with both feet" They have found out
since.
The electricity was working on the
moths, and one day 1t was known that
the silent man had purchased the
Methodist Church block" the largest
in the city at that time, for 100000,
and If Satan had fallen from an aero
plane or been belched from the infer
nal regions and dropped bodily with
horns, hoofs and tail into the center
Of Marston's store the CONSERVATION
couldn't have been more complete.
The populace hadn't recovered from
its surprise when it became known that
this little man had launched the
"Cftizens Savings bank" and he was
president of both of these new banks,
and both were to be reckoned with as
permanent and prosperous institutions.
whirlwind of talk, mixed with adj
verse cricitism, swept over the town,
and the people were wondering and
specializing about the quiet achieve
ments and the busy days of this
stranger.
He seemed to have adopted the semi
satirical motto of DR.. Jowett, the mas
ter of Balliol: Never retract, never
explain; get it done and let 'em
howl" He woke up Grant and Car
retson and Granger and all the other
"Gs," and made them take notice that
something was doing" New life was
being rapidly injected into palsied ener-
ges, and the regeneration and re-
demption of San Diegos commercial
Importance was in sight.
Population Arouses
The population of incurable Rip Van
Wrinkles had become aroused from
protracted slumber and business was
moving. New blood was coursing
through their veins and the circulation
was improving by the stimulating force
and energy of one little man.
Without any noise he began and COM
pleted the erection of a $4,000 opera
house and bought a few more desirable
lots.
Something was doing, new enterprises
began and the activity of this one
man became contagious and many of
the other fellows "got busy" Then this
man, who was beginning to be known.
purchased the old bank at National
City a suburb of San Diego, and gave
it a hypodermic injection of vitality,
put new life and capital into its Lam
gushing energies and became its preSi-
dent. Then he turned around and or
ganized the First National bank of Es-
condido, neighboring town, and be-
came it's president.
Whenever he stopped long enough
to think about something he started
a bank somewhere or some other kim
dred enterprise, while the "old timers"
looked on in wonder and amazement
at his bewildering audacity. San Diego
was now a living reality. The people
became infected with the new order
of things. Splendid tall steel office
buildings. have been constructed, mag
niflcent hotels such as the U. S. Grant
and hundreds and hundreds of attrac-
tive dwellings. And the upbuilding of
this practically new San Diego was
made possible by the inheXible deter
mination and splendid energies of one
man.
Everybody at all familiar with the
details of this narrative will recognize
the handiwork and enterprise of Louis
j. Wilde.
Personal equation has much to do
with character Artemus Ward was
correct when he said ITS no use to
argy agin' a success"
Population Doubles
Less than five years ago Mr.. Wilde
came to San Diego, a total stranger
from ST. Paul, MINI. 1t didn't take
him long to fall in love with the town.
Although it was in a trance-like con-
dition, he was impressed with it's
manifest advantages and possibilities.
The town was unconscious. 1t was hard
work to make it stand up to see its
own superior advantages as a coast
city. 1t needed the revivifying influ-
ence of new blood, and Mr.. Wilde byl
his cheerful persistency and obstinate
courage has been the electrifying in
huence in the complete regeneration of