The San Francisco call., 1913-08-30
RURAL DISTRICTS
ARE SETTLING UP
David Rich Voices Opinion
Country Will Outstrip
Cities in California
Says Increased Develop
rnent Will Pour Wealth
Into Metropolis

The settlement and development OF
California farm lands with the ex-
pected doubling OF the states popu-
lation in the next 10 years, will act
magically upon the greater prosperity
of the cities and towns. 1t might
logically be argued that the popula-
ton Of the cities would double, too.
or on the other hand there might
be twice as many towns. David Rich.
however. is OF the opinion that q
large majority OF the new citizens
will settle in the rural districts.
"The Cities" he said. "are bound
to prosper through the increased
wealth and production of the coun-
try. San Francisco, in particular. as
the financial and business center of
the coast. should be vastly benefited
by the development of the agricul-
tural resources in the northern part
of the state. Our business men and
f1nancfers should take seriously the
preparations being made in the Sac
ramento and San Joaquin valleys to
provide the new settlers with profit
able farms. San Francisco and other
northern cities should join hands In
an effort to see that this part Of the
state gets its share of the thousands
of colonists who will come with the
opening of the Panama canal.
BEST ADVERTISED STATE
"California is the best advertised
strip OF land in the world. The rail-
roads. the newspapers. the tourists
and the investors have given the state
a great name. But it is a fact that
southern California is better known.
everywhere than is the north. The
northern half of the state has an
abundance of rich lands for fruits. for
grain for cattle and for gardening.
1t has every advantage to offer to the
farmer, whatever may be his particu-
lar hobby. In order that the business
men of the cities may share in the
benefit of the development of those
lands, the cities should aid in placing
their attractions before the intending
settler
1.-THE intensive cultivation of the
big areas heretofore used for grain
and cattle will make new communi
ties necessary The doubling of the
states population will start several
new towns. The farmer must be close
to his shipping point, his banker, his
merchant and his amusements. The
cities best supplying those convent
ences will have the greatest growth
and, to my mind, this opens another
field for sound investment
REAL ESTATE PROFITS
Increasing realty values in grow
ing town is legitimate profit. If
the productive wealth behind the city
is extraordinary, IL its traffic and
market facilities are unusual. the re-
turns from real estate investments
are sometimes amazing. The new
cities along the line of the Canadian
Pacific may be cited as examples of
fortunes made in urban property in
region of new development. In
our own neighborhood the city of
Richmond is an evidence of the tre-
mendous possibilities in city build
ing"
Mr.. Rich's point Of view is shared
by the men who laid the foundation
for Solano city This view is shared
by investors and business men. They
argue that the agricultural Develop
ment of the Solano Farms area, and
even beyond, is sufficient to support
city of the size of San Jose, and
identically located in relation to San
Francisco and the bay. They point
out that electric. steam and water
shipping facilities make Solano q
point ideal for the farmer who wants
to get his products to market at the
cheapest cost. 1t is one of the new
cities made possible, or rather neces-
sary, by agricultural development,
and still so close to San Francisco as
to make this city the parent OF all its
activities.