The San Francisco call., 1909-10-30
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ences of opinion and consequent trouble
would most likely follow. and that
trouble surely would follow If others
in interest were not inclined to do the
right thing.
Who is there among us that has not
seen these truths demonstrated? 1t is
a truism that the ownership of real
estate is essential to the needs of man.
1t is equally true that separate
ownership is far better than owner
ship with others. Real estate affords
the opportunity of such absolute own
ership. Industrial stocks afford the
most general example of part own
ership or ownership with others.
PREFERRED INVESTMENT
That real estate is a preferred form
of investment we all know. That 1t
merits preference must be obvious to
ale when we reflect that it has stood
the test of the ages, dating back with
in our positive knowledge to the year
100 B. c. The span of $500 years
is surely sufficient time for thorough
test. And. today. real estate is un-
questionably considered the best form
of security.
But why this lasting reputation?
First and foremost among the rea-
sons is the fact that real estate offers
the best opportunity for absolute
separate ownership. The owner of land
in fee simple is the master of his own
possessions. He need not worry about
what others may do unto him. To be
sure. success in real estate investment
is dependent upon the exercise OF full
consideration and sound Judgment in
the selection and purchase OF the
property. The honesty or dishonesty
Of a board of directors does not
have to be reckoned with. Manipula-
ton does not have to be feared. The
owner of the land in fee simple is the
master of his own possession. Abra-
ham knew the disadvantage of en-
tangling financial alliances. He knew
the wisdom of separate ownership and
he invested his shekels accordingly. .
But the man who argues that it is
tate is a fine fellow TO stay away
from. San Francisco now offers, and
has since its birth offered. splendid op
portunities TO investors in real estate
And yet we all know that while many
have made money in such investment,
many others have lost
USE OF JUDGMENT
Returning to Abraham. we find that
he wanted land and he knew what he
wanted it for and he looked around
and found just what would answer the
purpose. Moreover. he was careful.
when he bought to word his agree
ment properly so as TO get all that he
was paying for. Abraham used judg-
ment and hard common sense and re-
fused to be Influenced by the promise
of something for nothing. And this
is lust as necessary TO successful real
estate investment today as it was in
the time of Abraham.
The agent who thinks he will
profit by inducing investors TO false
reasoning and consequent loss is not
only a foe to society at large but is
his own worst enemy. for all true
success is based on truth and honor.
And the agent is an important fac
tor in. real estate investment. II he
is clever his. arguments are always
convincing although not always cor
rect and many inexperienced agents
are clever.
Great care is. always exercised in the
selection of a counselor or attorney at
law even in trivial matters Even
greater discretion should be- exercised
in the choice of a real estate broker.
for the purchase or sale of real estate
generally involves large sums. The
agent should. therefore. be man Of
high integrity, large experience. exact
knowledge and sound Judgment. Under
such guidance investment in San Fran
cisco real estate is, in the writer's
opinion, sure to prove exceedingly
profitable.
Let us initiate the example OF our
little sisters, Los Angeles and Seattle,
to whom we are losing in population,
industry, commerce and money, not
only every year. but every month.
every week, every day Fellow San
Franciscans, 1 submit that we are
losing tremendously by reason of our
failure to work together.
A little incident will illustrate 1t
was the writer's privilege recently to
inform an eastern tourist that the
population of San Francisco at present
is between 100000 and 100000. The
easterner, a man of more than ordf-
nary intelligence and means. expressed
great surprise and, in a rather doubt
full tone, asked. do you mean to say
that this town is larger than Los An
geles?" You say this man Is ignorant.
I saw. that Los Angeles has fdentified
itself in the minds OF numberless east
erners as the most enterprising city of
the state. Is it strange that the city
that acquires that reputation should be
regarded as the most important. the
most populous2
Los Angeles businessmen are work.
ing together for Los Angeles. They
are advertising ana boosting their
city. we should be doing the same for
San Francisco, and how easy our work
would be compared with theirs