The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-20

electrical power plant. This is said 70
be the greatest municipal enterprise In
the world and b ytheside Of it the
new auditorium for Bismarck is not
so tremendous after all. All Of the
water rights and right Of way have
been obtained and the system is we'll
along toWar dcompletion. 1t is to be
completed and in operation next year,
according to the engineers estimate.
Just now there are skyscraperg GO
ing up In all business sections of the
city, which is growing at a tremen-
dous rate toward the south and south
west in the direction of the ocean,
which is some twenty miles away.
The rat-a-tat-tat of pneumatic riYet-
ers makes a din in many sections as
the steel frameworks are being raised
and rtVeted together. Reinforced con-
crete construction is becoming another
solid method Of building a city. The
city Is growing so fast in all directions
that 1t is impossible to supply light,
gas, paVements, sewer, and other i'm
provements. And from the ocean
clear back to the mountain, some thir-
ty miles away, they are improving res
idential sections, plating new addi-
tons, making all manner Of improve
Inents and preparing for the popula-
ton that seems TO be coming faster
than it can be taken care OF.
And for the cause of it all. Well,
first, climate. 1t is not tropical, not ex-
actly north temperate, not quite like
any other kind. In winter there is a
rainy season of several months, with
an average total Of seventeen inches.
1t is the time when they raise their
barley, corn, vegetables and feed. The
rain comes down in torrents when it
gets started, but there are many sun
shiny days mixed in with the rain.
In summer it is dry and rainless, and
you may count with exactitude what
you will do on a certain day in the
future, for the weather will not inter-
fere. There is a fog in summer that
is not entirely desirable, but 1t keeps
things from getting u~nbearably dry,
for 1t c~ondenses and makes things
moist and dewy in the morning. And
after he climate, which ranges
around 20 for the year, with a range
OF about fifteen degrees during the
day and night, comes the fact that
there is soil here capable of producing
splendid citrus fruits. For the prin-
cipal product Of this county of Los
Angeles is horticultural The oranges
and lemons are an article Of immense
commerce, and they thrive here and
bring many millions Of dollars to their
growers. But, like all other agricul-
tural and horticultural business, you
want to know, first the kind of soil you
have, second whether it is in the frost
belt, third the price upon which it is
likely to pay interest, and lastly, you
want to know the orang business and
watch 1t yourself. With these condi-
tons fulfilled the orange and lemon
ranches pay big returns. Otherwise,
the grower is apt to find himself
jumped by the rock Of bitter expert
ence. The ranches need the greatest
care, cultivation, fertilization and good
trees. 1t isn't all play, the orange
business.
After the soil in point Of advantage
come a number of things. Location
Is one, for the city is near the ocean,
and 1t is on the lowest and easiest
grade from the ocean country through
the mountains to the big and growing
territory to the east of them. That
makes for good railroad facilities
and ability to supply the wants OF
commerce on the east. And then there
is he discovery Of oil, which is utiliz-
ed as fuel and for %byproduct. The
railroads use it for fuel, it is used for
heating over Los Angeles, and a con-
siderable by product is made and sold.
Last ear the production Of petroleum
in this section of the state was some
10000 barrels, valued al s37, 500, 900.
II is an oil with an asphaltum base,
and when burned it has a smell that
makes the average gasoline vapor
seem like the perfume of Araby. But
1t solves the problem of heat and DOW
er for a big section. All through the
north and east section Of the city of
Los Angeles, you will see oil derricks,
looking like the improvised wooden
towers they use to repair trolley wires
In the lesser metropoli of Bismarck,
Grand Forks and Fargo. They ave
close together and stuck into the back
and front yards of home owners, or
wherever there is oil to be pumped.
And there they bring up this stuff day
and night, and make millions for
somebody. Our old friend, Bert
Townsend Of Devils Lake, Grand
Forks and Fargo, who has made a rep
utation out here as a special attorney
for the government, is setting out to
ind out to whom a big slice of this oil
land belongs, for II is held under pat
ent by railroads, but the patents ex-
empt mineral rights, and that's the
point to be tested. There are millions
and hundreds of millions perhaps in
yolved in this suit, which Townsend is
preparing and has been for more than
a year. He has some seventy-fve
lawyers against him, n so he ought
to win, for seventy-ive lawyers ought
to be able to muddle up any case
enough to lose 1t.
There are eight countiesincluded In
the territory that is referred to down
here as southern California" It is a
unique territory, and the people look
upon themselves as peopling a coun-
try all their own. They do not say
this state but fthis country when
they refer to southern California.
The eight counties have a territory Of
$4,000 square miles, so you get some
idea Of the magnitude OF the coun-
ties-something like Ward in the OLD
days. Los Angeles county has an area
area Of 1000 square miles. North
Dakota has some 10000 square miles.
so you see southern California has
area equal to nearly five-sevenths OF
North Dakota's. There are 275 miles
of coast line along the Pacific. The
| nopulation Is about 300 nnn. or q third