Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-11-26
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 2G. 1913.
TALE OF w CITIES.

Tale of two cities; one city is Los
Angeles California; the other city is
San Diego California. Also this is a
tale of two opportunities. one opportun
ity knocked, was admitted, entered. re
manned; the other opportunity came,
knocked, was rejected went ~away-and
may come back some time.
In 1880 or thcreabOuts Los Angeles
had a population of something less than
$4,000; San Diego had less than 10000.
AT least the 1890 census gives the pop
ulatiOn of Los Angeles at 10000 and
San Diego at 10000.
AT that time the Southern Pacific rail
rOad was pushing its way toward the
Pacific coast. This was the opportunity
which knocked. first ut the dOor Of San
Diego. and later at the door of Los An
geles.
AS between the two situations. San
Diego has the advantage in the matter
of soil perhaps: in the matter of climate
doubtless: as a seaport undoubtedly
1t is right on Il splendid harbor capa-
Bile of accommodating vessels of the deep
est draught. Los Angeles has also a love
Nv climate: fertile soil about it: but it
is twenty-five miles from the nearest
harbOr where Il sea- going ship can load
or unload.
The distance from Yuma to Los Angc-
les is probably double that from Yuma
to San Diego. The route to Los Angeles
lies through Il very mountainous coun-
try. Great engineering difficulties were
i'm the way on the Los Angeles route. 1t
lay through a very thinly populated coun-
try. On the other hand, to San Diego
from Yuma, the land is comparatively
level, the country thickly populated, fer
tile and productive almost all the way.
Apparently every advantage was i'll favor
of the San Diego route, but
When the Southern Pacific knocked
at the door of San Diego. with a modest
request for a bonus. til. answer was,
i'm substance if not III word:
you have to come here. Iol have no
other place to 90. If YOU are going to
the coast, this is the coast-best harbor
south of the Golden Gate"
But this kind of reception sent Oppor
tunity away from San Diego's door. The
Southern Pacific did not have to 90 to
San Diego. Los Angeles came t the
front with the bonus asked. and the rail
road went around by the hypothcnuse Of
the triangle. bailding~tO Los Angeles
though it cost perhaps a million more to
climb those mountains, spanning precl-
pices. traversing almost q desert land.
Taday Los Angeles has a population of
100000. San Diego has a population 6
about 10000.
The figures tell more clearly than words
what it cost San Diego to turn away OPP
%portunity. 1t was a bitter and costly
lesson. San Diego has learned since then
that development does not create rail
roads. while railroads create develop
ment. The city is now making heroic ef-
forts 10 correct her fatal mistake. Her
c~itizcns have already spent many times
over what il would have cost the city to
secure the Southern Pacific railroad in
1850. in efforts to promote the develop
ment of the city and surrounding coun-
try. and vet. despite all her advantages.
she still remains Il small place, with
about 40 900 population.
Opportunity is Knocking at Browns
yille's door today. The bonus asked to
build the road TO deep water is a modest
one. The conditions FOR the payment Of
the bonus could not ne improved upon.
Rrownsville's future rests in the hands
of Rrownsville'S citizens. The building
Of this road will he a monument we can
all afford to help.
VIII Brownsville profit by the expert
ence IF Los Angeles and San Diego?