davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
I Presume That Is the Reason

Why | drifted off into a personal talk on
financial Investments in the last issue Of the
Western Empire. But there was a stronger
reason, and that is my long experience and
detail acquaintance with great bodies Of rich
land which are now being used for compare
lively idle purposes, when those bodies, Of
land are in crying demand for more urgent
uses of which the present owners have no
knowledge or experience
not only know these tracts Of land and
their owners and the details, but know the
Western Empire folks who want them, and
know brokers and organizations that need
them, and who constantly call upon me for
them. In dealing with these old Spanish fam
nies II requires cash capital to operate, They
cannot stand behind real estate brokers with
obsolete methods. The money can seldom be
had here. because of the great financial de-
mand of our expanding industries and the
fact that the liquid capital Of the state Is
being drained to rebuild our great CONNER
cial center.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Land Cost and Water System

AS outlined below our land costs only $40
an acre and the water and Improvement rund
at $40 per acre makes the bond and mortgage
value at S2O This provides an ample fund
for the initial work of piping the irrigation
water to our first offering of land. This Is a
liberal water and development fund, and whils
II may not complete the system on the entire
1000 acres, It win carry the work along as
fast as we open the land for settlement.
From the first cash payments OF those who
occupy these lands the pipe lines Will be
continued to new lands, the cost thereof added
to the price of the new allotment OF land and
when all sold the original fund viii hnally
revert to augment the fund for retiring the
bonds In our plans we do not desire to open
the entire tract at once, but to proceed along
precise lines showing Just what the SOIL Is
capable of and secure returns to investors IN
accordance with the actual productive value
of the land. The water fund OF $4,000 being
TURNED OVER AND OVER with the OPEN
ing of each new allotment of the land, VIII
provide the initial capital for the regular ex-
tension OF the piping system as needed
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
$4,000 First Mortgage g Per
Cent Gold Bonds

TO cover the initial operation Of the hrst 1000
acres OF the Valley Oaks district. This covers
so acre on the land and $40 an acre Tor the
initial water and improvement Work.
These bonds are secured by first mortgage
trust deed on about 1000 acres Of this rich
frostess district and based on this low graz
ing land valuation. This first block OF land
controls the water rights Of all the surround
ing territory, and our syndicate can acquire
up to 28 900 of this best land opportunity OF
recent years. Just fast as you shrewd and
thoughtful investors provide the Initial capital
fol the work.
Subscribers for bonds will receive as bonus
one share Of stock in the Western Empire Land
Syndicate capitalized exactly TO give bond
holders one-third ownership in this profitable
enterprise
The bonds will be in units OF $50 each-and
a share of the syndicate stock with each BOND
The bonds will be convertible for any unsold
land at the mortgage release price OF the syn
dicate-(about half of retail prices)-one bond
optioning an acre By this method your IN
vestment in these bonds represents land already
held under option at half the retail market
price, II you decide you want the land. IL not
you have a good first mortgage, with parucl-
pating profits.
back their entire investment with per cent
interest, and then one-third OF the earnings
As organizers and managers OF this great
work, the editors and proprtetors OF the west
ern Empire can make no profit until you as q
bond holder have first received your entire
investment plus interest returned in cash.
In the settling up OF the Valley Oaks dis
trict the profits will be enormous, as each sub
seauent allotment of the land thrown open
win have a substantial advancement OF the
retail price level, based upon the demonstra-
tion and achievements Of the hrst comers, and
over 1000 landless families will be enabled to
acquire beautiful orange groves and garden
homes in California, who could not otherwise
secure them.
The large profit will be made from two
standpoints: -,
ralsers
Cd We sell It on terms extending over nf-
teen years-so that the settler can put all OF
his money into improvements while he de-
velops his place.
In making such longtime terms the West
ern Empire Land Syndicate does not calculate
that its original investment shall remain be-
hind the enterprise more than two or three
years at the most. We understand all ABOUT
the demand for small mortgage securities run
ming for ten years, which comes from the life
insurance companies and the savings banks.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

Here is the land and all about us are
tho peOple-it requires only the organi-
zation and cOmmOnsense management to
bring the landIess man and the manless
land together-and IL is the very essence
of money making. Land without pOpu-
Iation Is wilderness and population
without land Is q moo" Finance the
land at its first grazing cost value on
long easy terms--sO that the landless
family may go upon II to build home
and pay for 1t afterward Is a positive
and certain method of Transforming a
ten dollar cash Investment into a hun
dred dollar interest bearing security Of
established safety.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
$500 for Each Person

Now mark you! Each person does not lose
any $500 and the community get It.
No. no, that's the beauty of ii.
thousand people may all move into a
district and each and all of them may make
more money: and at the end of year they
may all have more money than when they
came and vet that city or town represented
In its land values) will be million five
hundred thousand dollars richer, over and
above the capital brought into the community
by the said one thousand Inhabitants.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
What Is a Human Being Worth
to a Community?

The building in which my Offices are located
at Los Angeles is worth three hundred thou
sand dollars.
Why?
Because there are 100000 inhabitants in the,
city.
Each inhabitant is adding one dollar to tho
value Of our building. Each inhabitant adds
25 cents to the value OF the next building TO
us, and so on down the line. In fact, the
Treasury Department statistics PROVE the
value Of a human being to the community in
which he or she resides to be
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
The Highest Character Orange
Land

As to the character Of this land, I sub
scribe myself that its value for oranges gar
dens, poultry and the finest of California pro-
ductions cannot be excelled 1t is far too
valuable for alfalfa except for use Of the
livestock and poultry on the place an
nounce this land, in fact, as discovery II
is not on the desert. but is adjacent 10 three
Of the richest sections of California. Its only
drawback is its complete lack of population:
BUT THAT is THE CHIEF ASSET OF AN
BODY OF LAND FOR COLONlIAf4ON
PURPOSES. Cattlemen and settlers never did
mix we'll, and so the settler stayed out OF
the Valley Oaks district (or was scared ouo.
Under this transaction the cattemen sell out
and our folks move on in body
1t Is almost a fact that this land has not
been defiled by the footprints of man-cer-
tainly not by settlers.
The present retail price of this character of
land is from $3.50 to $500 per acre. We can
retail at so much below the usual market
because of the low initial cost and our ex-
ceptlonal facilities, that expect to be unable
TO supply more than a fraction of the appli-
cations we shall have for the ten and twenty
The Western Empire Syndicate will sell at
good retail prices but payment except the
annual interest charge and building and or
ehard improvements will be eXacted until the
settler is thoroughly estauAshed and making
from $50 to $500 per acre per annum from MS
land. ,
The price at which these lands will retail
will earn the most attractive profits, accord
ing to the aggregate amount OF this land tnat
can be financed in one operation, which
means in round figures, from 100 per cent
to 400 per cent profit on each original invest
ment.
The cash investment oE $40 per acre-in the
form of bond and stock will be transferred
into good INTEREST BEARING security Of
one to four times the original amount but
running a long time or until cashed ny our
loans to settlers through the regular financial
institutions It is needless to expand on the
fact that good first mortgages of only a
few dollars an acre an orange grove and gar
den homes are easily realized on for those
who want to cash out early.
Price, Profit and Prosperity
OF the four largest of our Home Extension
settlement we established Clark colony in
1905. 1t covered 1000 acres The basis land
price was $40 an acre-water stock (canal
ownership was 500 extra. A great thriving
settlement is now established there.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

If you owned ten acres of land in the
center Of n ten thousand-acre grain
field in CaIIfornia-and that ten thou
sand ncres should suddenly be populated
by 5000 people 1000 famllies)-how
much would your ten thousand acres In
crease in value?
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Huge Profits and Absolute
Security

Complete plans have now BEEN perfected fer
the Inauguration Of The Western Empire ,
unique home securing plan outlined in pre-
vious editorial studies of the situation here in
California.
Three months of intensive field work has
developed the most suitable location in the
rich and beautiful Valley oaks district in the
San Joaquin valley, aggregating in its entirety
about 2S 900 acres This is enoughs to make
another new empire of orange groves, vege-
table gardens and beautiful bungalow homes
in the glorious climate Of California. All Of
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

It was simply parallel of the Flat
Hill situation.
It is a surprisingly small percentage Of our
public, workers and real estate men who really
know how to advertise They do not usually
understand the needs of the eastern family
intending to move to new country. They do
not understand the anxieties and the need
Of safe, systematic plan, whereby none can
fail.
OF boards OF trade and chambers Of COM
merce we have plenty, by the score but
they lack n constructive plan, and devote their
energies and funds to picture books that are
all conflicting and leave the knowledge seeker
in a of mysteries without one thing
definite to tie to or plan upon.
Scores Of real estate dealers have found great
success in getting replies from Western EN-
pire folks, but without system Of plan, they
usually wind up by saying: TITS no use-they
arc just curiosity seekers and don't seem to
want to buy"
There are frequently fine exceptions to this
rule, as evidenced In these columns from time
10 time.
California. and IL our public men knew how,
the Western Empire would be Ave times its
present size and scope, and million people
a year would gain a sure and happy foothold
in our state
Thousands of health broken souls who do not
dare to move and who urgently need our
kindly climate, would come. and be saved for
a long career
But they cannot como and go against saw
dust genoralites OF expensive hotels and
long tiresome search for a safe anchorage Of
home. Nor can they buy fancy improved or
manage. let alone that they need considerable
experience even to buy right. Nor can they
go alone direct TO the owners. of great ran
chos because they cannot use dry land.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Some History

Time" as pertains to California opportua
nifty, sis flying" During these past four
years 1 have handled vast domains OF
land as narrated above. In my search for the
chosen acres in Home Extension colonies
1 inspected many other districts.
I am thinking tonight OF the city OF Cor
coran. It is ablaze with electricity and the
lights are cleaning out from the great
sugar factory there. 1t was four years
ago this week that I drove over those plains.
where not a building in sight and was
offered the whole country thereabouts for IS
an acre. 1t is now all worth S10O and up.
Then later, the Delano lands at $1o now
thriving town and citrus district at 500 to
$500 per acre! Also the Herman lands, then
$25. now $100
And my mind reverts to the old days when
Pasadena was a colony at SIS per acre. now
city, and any acreage left is from $1,000 up.
And Redlands a sheep pasture in the sos.
at SO an acre, now from $500 to $1,000, ac-
sording TO improvements.
So 1t has gone.
In a climate where food products grow
each month in the year, there Is intrinsic
value in irrigable land far above the graz
ing land price. In Valley Oaks 1 have found
another district where the cattlemen have op-
Grated to keep settlers away.
There Is a wide margin between grazing
land and homeland prices, usually absorbed
by several middlemen. BY buying direct and
selling direct we
First: Offer reduced retail prices of similar
land
Second: Provide land for the landless by
giving them time enough for the crops to pas;
the price.
Third; And make a wide margin neverthe-
less!
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Here Are the Questions

with such land, financed, and offered to
honeseekers under the message Come all
ye landless," shall not secure a more I'M
mediate enrolment of people than ever be-
fore?
When the settlers build their bungalows
and plant their orchards and gardens,
will not the securities developed be in demand
from the regular financial channels?
From my experience 1 longer question
these details of daily established fact The
real difficult problem has been to find the
proper piece OF virgin territory 1t is not
as plentiful in California II was a few
years back The getting of population to me
is no longer problem, as the population is
laundering at the doors OF the Western Em-
pire every month.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Reprint from Western Empire,
December Issue)
A journal of rural home life and home
making In California,


(EEz5ll HAVE been for two years pom
N Hl dering over a subject that is
IM 81 correlated to you Western
lM Empire readers myself, the
Ssz-a-1 editor, and the publication, but
whenever / came to put it down in
cold type I couldn't clearly outline my
reasons into a perfect PLAN.
Last month, in the August issue,
without any formulated idea, other
than to apologize for matter crowded
from that number. under the heading.
Just Crowded Out" on page 12,
found myself drifting right into q dis
cussion of this subject, and l was i'm
PEELED to keep on until l had roughly
formulated a brief synopsis of a safe
land investment plan, which 1 see now
will promptly expand into the forma-
tion OF a great land bank.
The little outline in our August is
sue brought a long line of letters
showing widespread interest of our
readers, who know Of the royal oppor-
tunities for quick investment profit
that come under our observation.
Here at the end of the month of
August, which has been crowded with
work, 1 was trying to argue myself out
of the idea on account Of the great
labor involved in its preparation.
slipped away from the office Friday
night, headed for my Lazy Lonesome
Rancho" (see illustration page 7, Sep
tember edition), and said to myself
I'm rest up over Saturday and Sun
day, and IL that land investment plan
will formulate itself In my head I'll
go to the bat with It, and If not I'll
announce a postponement for another
month"
1 pruned over n few acres OF young
eucalyptus, picked few boxes of Bart
lett pears, and restlessly went down
and banked up large dam in the ir-
rigation ditch to give the ducks a
better chance to swim. 1t was all to
no avail. 1 had something 1 wanted
to tell you all about and 1 couldn't
forget 1t, as much as 1 tried.
An Opportune Magazine Story
While 1 was swinging in the porch
couch gazing across the grandeur OF
the valley and the canyon and its
overtopping peaks, picked up the
August number of the Blue Book
magazine. Don't think ever heard of
or saw that magazine before.
SKINNED over the pages lightly. and
at page S73 l came upon a story with
this peculiar heading:
"A Full-Page Advertisement"
After so many years of writing and
editorial work 1 don't suppose have
read a magazine story in years, but
this topic was so near my own problem
that I started in. I'd like you to get
that magazine and read that story.
I'll give you a synopsis of II, omitting
the love story part, probably, and then
in explaining the parallels between that
story and my message to you, 1 will
have completed my own full-page
advertisement" 1t ali unfolded to me
quite completely after the purple of
the sunset had darkened upon the
mountains In front and the three-quar-
ter moon had silvered the whole fore
ground, so that even the mountains
two miles across the valley were more
distinct than 1t is possible for the en-
graver's art to show them to you un-
der our process of rapid cylinder press
publishing.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
There Must Be a System

And the first thing about the system must be
that It is financed that the home and
health-seeker may go upon the land. make his
improvements and build the community with
a heavy drain Of cash capital for the land
a the very start. The whole outlay-land,
teams, Implements, houses, barns-now comes
almost at the start.
II must be financed from the original graz
ing land values that the profits by reason
OF the enhancement from population make 1t
attractive enough 10 install long easy terms
so that the landless farmer who rents land
and the landless employe or professional man
may his savings combined with his daily
energy TO establish his home, against
which values (created by population) the saw
ings banks and life Insurance companies from
time beyond memory have made longtime
loans but always after the actual work of
settlement accomplished.
The system is easy:
That is sure for I. have already proven It
seven times in tho building Of seven new COM
munities, as you will below. But most Of
the old ranches are held for cattle and grain
by tho old Spanish families. and they want
cash for their holdings as they go along their
old way Very few operators can meet their
terms. and certainly only small percentage
OF the real seekers for homes in California
can carry the heavy load OF starting.
II is right here in the transformation OF
people 20 land where cattle roamed yesterday,
that there exists the safe profits for investors
as well as good Interest on both the principal
and the accrued profits that offer you below
II is safe because 1t Is getting land at first
prices, below which It cannot so. 1t is sure
ly profitable, because IL becomes used for more
valuable purposes.
Population creates land value and II becomes
intrinsic at once
The Western Empire Land Syndicate VIII
provide you safe first mortgage gold bonds,
with participation in the land profits which
will double your neutrality-suspicious. In a
few weeks always within a year or two-and
your principal always secured safely.
This plan will be proven out to you in the
next few months Its success viii be marvel
to you II will then be rapidly developed into
some of the strongest men In California In
charge Of Its affairs.
To be thus successful. you must not only
know that the opportunity Is here. but more
important yet. you must know that the bank
ing arrangement is perfect and that the abil-
ity integrity and experience Of the managers
assured.
And this demands moro details. even though
run to two instead OF one page.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Take the 2os acres in the business SEQ

Take the 266 acres In the business SEQ
tion of Chicago.
1t Is worth $40 million dollars. Now,
II the landless employees OF Chicago
would organize and move In q group on
such Valley Oaks land as we are able
to equip with irrigation-these Chicago
land values would not remain with the
handful of Chicago landlords, but
would follow the many workers to the
Valley Oaks district.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
Very Similar Because So
Different

That story reminds me of the history
OF our Western Empire work for two
reasons:
1t Is so different from our experience
because the Western Empire has never
had any quarrel with the dead in the
shell" district and firms which should
advertise and do not, but we have cx-
perienced the same quandary. And we
also have very successfully conducted
counterpart of the "One-Thing
Store"-without, however, giving rise
to quarrel or damage to those who
should have conducted the work di-
rectly.
Rather, on the other hand, we have
established full-fedged and thriving
towns in counties of California which
were as dead in the shell" as Flat
Hill, Missouri, and without ever asking
the thanks of the counties In which we
did the work
Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
So Here's the Story
Dn a time (of course)

Once upon a time (of course).
Lee Shelton moved to Flat Hill. Missouri.
and proceeded to publish local newspaper.
II was his plan to print a good newspaper
and solicit business afterwards. The people
liked his paper, but It was a sleepy old town.
in a commercial way. Just dead in the she'll -
one Monday morning he started after some
advertisements from the local merchants. Mr..
Mumbarger, It appears, was the head Of the
metropolitan Store" and he didn't under
stand the advertising science Of one man con-
versing with thousands through printers ink.
said Mumbarger, "'No I'll not advertise just
now In fact. we are well known we
really don't need to advertise. I've been in
business right here for twenty years. you
Know"
And so on down the line OF all the mer-
chants. In fact, the merchants in their Or
gsnlzed Commercial Club. feeling little
crowded by the live paper started In their
midst, Jointly agreed not to be inveigled into
advertising because II one advertised all
would have to-
Just where the love story comes In on such
a dry subject as this you'll have 20 guess
further down or buy that magazine and read
,be story But Mumbarger had a pretty head
boolkeeper and she lost her job of course,
right in the middle Of the story, whhe Sheitoh
went on getting out lively town-puhulns
naper The townspeople knowing OF the ditti-
Guilty Shelton was having In getting the OLD
,nessback commercial element walked up to an
appreciation of their commercial Importance,
watched the contest keenly. Public discussion
was SO general that the merchants undertook
10 foreelose an old mortgage on the plant ana
get Shelton out OF town. 49, -,
Shelton got mad. by Jimmy. He didn't call
,eu any names or do anything ungenuemanly.
He lust went up to Chicago and saw the
head salesman of one Of the biggest wholesale
houses =, xr,,,o,, =
DO you sell any goods in Flat HIP he
asked.
mo, but we'd like to-"
IAN right, 1 have plan.
The manager and the credit man were called
in and listened to 1t. They all liked Shelton
and the manager liked nerve. And shelton
got everything he wanted Inc next Week
there appeared the following advertisement in
shelton's paper:
"The One-Thing Store"
The "One-Thing Store" will open Monday
morning In the room on the corner opposite
the postOffice. 1t will sell only one thmg
at a time and only grade OF that artl-
Gle.
The first sale will be ladies' fall dress
goods, and will last two weeks Inc gOoos
we have selected for this sale are the H. q
brand from the jamestown mills For
afteen years this cloth has been sold by the
merchants of Flat Hill for $l.5O yard. It
costs at wholesale S4c yard. We want IO
cents profit and one cent for expenses, SO
il will bo sold to you for 95c yard
This goods is not similar or like" or
sas good Rs' the cloth sold by the merch-
ants hero for $1.5O, but ls exactly the same
goOds-same brand, same weave, same