Semi-weekly herald., 1913-11-03
c. II. RUHMLAND TELLS OF
CONDITIONS IN THE WEST
San Francisco, Oct. 26, 1911

San Francisco, Oct. 26, 1913.
My Dear Mr.. Raymond.
If good intentions wrote letters
you would have heard long before
how we found things away from Du-
range.
We stopped en- route at all the i'm
portant towns, taking about two weeks
to make the trip. We found things
apparently better in Utah and Nevada
than in Colorado Ogden and Salt
Lake apparently are doing good bust
ness, especially the former where
there is more building going on, some
four large business blockc being in
the course of construction. The small
towns of Nevada seem very pros
porous. | noticed several four page
dailies which carried a fine line of
advertising leaving only seven or
Reno seems to be suffering as the re-
suit of inflated business which ceased
when snort term divorces were decided
out of style by the legislature, but
for town of 10000 has more busi-
ness and facilities than any place |
have ever been. 1t is a beautiful
city--a pleasant surprise from the
surrounding desert.
San Francisco is good business
city but there have been many handi-
caps which are even now evident At
present there is considerable construc-
ton under way in the business Sec
ton. 1t would appear that the in
creased cost of building. after the
great fire is also an important factor
in the condition. The heavy graft
ing of few years ago also set the
city back. Also the fact that the
new building could have been more
substantial and now instead of new
buildings being erected those already
up would not be displaying 'for rent
signs Rent is high as the result Of
some of those reasons and desirable
residences are not to be had at any
price. Oakland, across the bay, seems
to be the residence place of those
in position to be able to choose.
Thousands of houses here have for
rent and for lease signs displayed,
but one would not call them in the
least desirable and it is indeed a
pity that the fire did not destroy
some of this section instead of the
business district and the residence sec
ton which it did. There are evil
dences on most every street of the
great fire-great heaps of stone and
brick, or large empty Easements, the
foundations of large buildings These
ruins are usually surrounded by bill
boards and are not noticeable to the
causual observer.
Every town prides itself with its
brand Of climate, and this city is no
exception, but hope l never have the
i'll fortune to live where the climate
is worse than here. 1t has been dis
agreeably hot and dirty, and cold and
windy alternately. The raw chilly
winds are abominable. The rainy sea-
son has not set in but is hand. No
rain has fallen for six months.
Work on the exposition is well un-
der way and this section is certainly
looking forward to that event, wheth-
er for mercenary reasons or local
pride i do not know.
The local papers give short ac-
counts of the war between miners and
operators in Colorado, this mornings
Examiner telling of a killing at Trini-
dad. It's too bad, Colorado can i'll
afford such strike at this time and
no community can afford such killings
as have taken place in that state at
the various camps.
Saturday night we were treated to
an unpleasant awakening by shake
up. 1t was not very pleasant SEN
sation and the best part of it was
it's short stay-only second or two.
| would not care for them as n
steady diet.
Mrs. r. is much better and | think
after | become acclimated the change
will show benefit to me.
With best wishes / am very truly
yours,
CHAS. H. RUHMLAND