Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19
LAND SYNDICATE INVESTMENT

Aipaugh colony in 1906 contained about 1000
acres at an average of only $l9 an acre-Wa-
ter stock s6 This was virgin grazing land.
Settlers are devoting to. seed raising, some
Of whom have realized high as $3.50 an
acre from years crop. The financial
strength of the district is shown by the build
ing of a second schoolhouse, as shown in
picture on another page. At first the school
was In tent. At the end Of the first year
the little s15OO building sufhced. At the end
OF the third year the sl250O structure was
hardly sufficient.
Wasco colony in 1907 contained over 5000
acres, to coIonists at $3.50 per acre. When the
panic broke upon the nation these home
builders needed funds to complete their i'm
proyements and we were able TO secure them
loans for ten years from the Life Insurance
Company averaging about $25 an acre, or
a loan value equal to the original cost.
The Mountain View colony Of several thou
sand acres in 1903, in immediate returns to
our settlers has returned better crop
profits than others. The smaller settlements
near to Los Angeles can hardly be elassed as
towns and communities, but operated and
prospered under the same economic laws.
The result of hone-securing at those prices
in this day presents a beautiful picture. How
ever as to actual development unexpected
evils Of some Importance crept in. The price
was low that 1t invited wide speculation
by those who never intended to actually go
upon the land and who have held 1t to reap
upon the profits of those who did improve and
reside thereupon. The low price acted ad-
versely in another direction. 1t meant large
cash payments on the land account at a time
when the homeseekefs had enormous outlaya
for buildings, equipment. etc. This kept away
thousands of families who actually desired to
go make a home upon the land. They could
not meet the large land payments and do
the improvements at one and the same time.
To this extent while the above result is an
accomplishment OF which are Justly proud,
in the way Of opening lands to people Of mod
crate means; yet, no matter how low the cost
price OF the land might be, If the outlay for
ma and building the bungalow.
ETC., were a thousand dollars when family
had only half that amount such families were
debarred from participating.
Where there is one family Of homeseeksrs
who have the necessary one or two thousand
dollars to start with. there are a thousand
families who have meager savings Of but q
few hundred dollars. Yet our sacred little
bungalows make home In California OF
which even a prince might be jelous and
they be built from s10o up.
In this enterprise We have affixed the speo-
ulative and investment feature in Its proper
order Price and profit are arranged to
provide the rich returns to the investor who
does not go upon the land-and at the same
time opens wide the door OF opportunity so
that the man with meager means can 60 and
actually make a home from the products or
the soil and his labor.
The price policy of this work will then be
somewhat the reverse of our previous plans.
But with soil that can be made TO produce
from 500 to $500 an acre each year the vari-
compared with the length of time and use OF
the land to make the payments. IL opens the
way. to countless thousands who otherwise
could not find a way and whose families oth-
erwise must be forever landless.
In the light of the fact that our retail prices
will be FULLY ONE-HAI4F' less than prevail
ing retail. rates for similar land, and our or
ganlzation Of community life with enhance
ment of values. deem the concrete result In a
few years time will far eclipse anything that
we have accomplished to date.
The investor will take his prof1t5-but he
will take them as a holder of bonds and
stocks rather than in the holding of idle land
inside the colony territory. In this way we
will have a compact, closely built up COM
munity. with high social convenienoes and
privileges.
The settler in this who pays good
firm retail price Ohough as stated below the
general market price for the class of land) Is
not worried with a big initial cash outlay.
His payments are nominal and extend over a
long period. OF time
His only real immediate cash outlay is for
his little rural bungalow, team and imple-
ments. He plants his orange orchard and
enjoys the OF the land making a COM
Portable living from his garden alfalfa, poul-
try yard and odd employment. In two short
years the growing orchard will double in
value the price he has contracted to pay for
his home, and in from Ave to seven years will
be worth from $500 to $1,000 per acre.