The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-04-29
BY Stephen BonsaI.


President Taft since his return to
Washington is reported to have just
fed the mobilization of our army upon
the southern frontier by sending pri-
vately members of the Senate For
eign Committee confidential reports
from official sources, which go far to
show that a state Of anarchy prevails
in many States of our next door neigh
Dor and sister republic. The Presi-
dent could and doubtless will place
before those who share with him the
responsibility for the course of our
Ship of State in foreign waters infor-
nation concerning the state of affairs
created in Southern California by the
temptation of the cheap and vacant
lands Just across the border in Lower
California.
There is here staked out a situa-
ton which has frequently led to in
vasion and to war In the opinion Of
many observers it will require con-
siderable skill and dexterity on the
part of the Governments involved to
avoid a repetition of this experience.
This is the economic situation
which in cases like this is apt to rule
supreme over politics. The popula-
ton of Southern California is increas-
ing by leaps and bounds. 1t is large
" American, fed by immigration from
the older States, where lands are
dearer and some capital is necessary
for a successful start in life. The won
derful growth of the whole district Is
emphasized, yet not exaggerated, by
the story of the settlement OF Los
Angeles, which numbered 1000 souls
in 1880, but today boasts a population
exceeding 100000.
Southern Californians have not only
increased almost magically in mum
bers and in wealth, but with charac
teristic optimism they are looking for
ward to even more startling growth
For instance, the city fathers of Los
Angeles, with what some will consld
err excessive foresight, are DESIGNING
a new water supply for their city
which must suffice for 100000 PEG
nile With this illustration it Will per
hans be amply demonstrated that the
Southern Californians are all lookln@
forward to a spacious future, and ina
some of them at least, confronted WIFI
lands selling freely for $500 an acre
find the stage upon which they mus
develop woefully confined.
Where there was a waterless VIII
erness fifteen years ago, today mor'
than 10000 cars are required to NOV
IN the Eastern markets the output o
oranges and other citrus fruits. From
Redlands alone in 1909 fruit to tn
value of s3,OO1,000 was shipped. IN
irrigation movement goes on apace
The Geological Survey has made
most careful investigation OF tn
amount of underground water aVal
able. and the data obtained are place
ON maps and diagrams which VIII d
ford a definite scientific basis for WI
ter conservation.
AS fast as the new valleys are WI
tered and made habitable lahu-hu'
gry population rushes in In the III
nerial Valley. recently irrigated frol
the Colorado River, there are alread
100000 people and many tnousan
acres of land under most prohtaD
cultivation. The valley contains oV'
4OO,OOo acres of, now that water n
been tapped, most productive land.
The valley crosses the border, al
there are within the Mexican lint
100000 or 300, 900 acres or equally re
tire land. all going to waste becau'
the Gringo farmer cannot prosper u
der the Mexican flag. This may n
he true of the Mexican mainland b
II is undoubtedly true of settlers
the peninsula of Lower California.
Here the wars of the past centu
have left their scars, and the Anne
can mining man and the Americi
rancbman alike find themselves in u
midst of a hostile population. Whi
Magdalena Bay, which Admiral De
CIV surveyed thirty years ago and pr
nounced the best harbor on the +
cifc is almost a waste place al al
well, nigh completely isolated from u
inhabited portions of the Mexican e
ritory, so hateful to the naughty !
ninsulars is the sound OF the Anne
can big guns at practice in the b
that this year the Navy DEPARTING
was informed by Mexico that the
ual permission and facilities for u
get practice could not be given
vThota,,ar NAV hann0n A should u