The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-05-14

day, the brains and means which developed the
great Brown Gold district of California, which
today is by long odds the greatest producing
country in the world, came from the outside
from the stranger. The local capitalist and
others of smaller means, being absolutely blind
as to the opportunity then within their grasp.
From other portions of the state, California
capital and brains took a leading part in the
early development. Well known merchants,
lawyers, doctors, lumber and fruit men taking
leading part, and to the list must be added the
many hundreds of the comparatively smaller
investors such as mechanics, railroad men and
particularly the strong support and backing
furnished by the keen department store en-
ploye-two Los Angeles stores alone supporting
hundreds of investors each one helping the
development in amounts that ranged from $50
by the lady cashiers to $4,000 by managers of
departments. Another interesting feature in
this connection was the impetus given by.
residents of the "Show Me" state. They sent
their delegations to investigate, were duly
"shown," and as a consequence their subsequent
investments have added millions of dollars in
Brown Gold to the worlds wealth. Some towns
of about 10000 inhabitants furnishing more
"sinews" than did any one of the wealthy east
ern states. ~ n 80 II 49,. F.. &-s@@
1t was not very long after the Elwood dis
covery before all the good land in the district
was acquired. principally by mining, fruit, lunl-
Der and other men, who through business
connections and associates were brought into
active touch with the exact situation in Kern
County, and who we're quick to take advantage
Of the immense possibilities and profits to be
ultimately derived from the development of
Brown Gold as against that of any other kind of
mining or industrial enterprise. And, as a
consequence, those who later on decided to
engage in the industry were compelled to 60
elsewhere and secure lands in other districts,
where the indications and general appearance of
the country were similar to those prevalent in
the Kern River District. This "crowding OUT
which led to the compulsory seeking for other
districts was particularly fortunate from the fact
that it led to the further exploiting, development
and ultimately the proving up of the greatest of
all California Brown Gold "Coalinga."
The stupendous magnitude and the recent
rapid advancement made in the development of
this great Brown Gold district in such as fully
warrants the name the "WONDER DISTRICT
and in order to fully appreciate its immense
richness and the development thereof which has
been made during the past few years, which
period covers the real opening up of the field, a
comparison will be necessary, and for the pur-
pose of making an intelligent one, the celebrated
Kern River District, the field that is generally
(and was truly regarded as being the greatest
and richest producer of Brown Gold in the world
will be taken. #&1+& s. Z
The authentic, up-to-date figures used in
order to substantiate the statements made are
those compiled for the month Of March, 1910,
and they are interesting as well as remarkable
from that fact that they prove unquestionably
the supremacy of Coalinga, the Wonder District
of California, and shows it to BE by all odds.
through comparison of present development, as