Semi-weekly herald., 1916-04-17
FROM J. NJ. CORNELIUS.

Editor Durango Herald:
Your paper brought the informa-
tion that the appropriation for the
state fish hatchery had become avail
able. This is the first money for
the plant since Dr. W. w. McEwen,
as representative, secured $1,000 for
its construction. 1t is a good work
for the country.
Few OF our people realize what q
splendid section we have. Those who
return from extended trips TO outside
points invariably say the San Juan
basin looks better than ever.
Mr.. Jarvis gave it to you straight
when he said tho people out here
just raised the money for improve
ments and went ahead and accom-
plished what they set cut. to do. I
heard a booster say we have just got
to keep abreast Of the times and can
not afford to stop. l asked him what
would be the consequence when the
bonds came due. His response was,
Let future generations take care OF
them. What we want now is the i'm
provements. We must have the facil-
tiles to entertain and take care Of our
tourists, our chief sourse of income %
This mans remarks recalled the
statement recently issued by the
auditor of California which shows the
municipalities Of the state to have
bonded Indebtedness Of one hun
dred and thirty million dollars now,
and there are number of cities ask
ing the right to increase their bond
issues. Many of these will have TO
increase their territory before they
can legally increase their indebted
ness.
A recent report Of patrolman in
the outskirts of Los Angeles states
nis beat covers 100 square miles and
during the month Of February he
travelled one thousand miles respond
ing to calls.
San Dicgo's population is estimat
ed from so to 100 thousand The
city has water front Of y miles
and extends back in the shaperell
brush from three to.siX miles making
about 100 square miles in tho city
limits. An effort is being made to
annex Nantional City Chula Vista
and two villages below her southern
line. If this is. accomplished there
will be nearly an additional township
Tor bonding purposes. The present
Indebtedness is ten and one-haf mil
lions and an attempt is being made TO
Increase this amount two million.
This will be the legal limit until
more territory is acquired. From
my point of view this is not lasting
prosperity.
If current reports are to be cred
tied agricultural and horticultural
interests in the rural districts are in
worse condition, from a financial
stan point
man who has been looming mon
ey in California for 40 years tells
me the southern haif Of the state
is mortgaged for more than it was
worth or could be sold for today. He
said in San Francisco and the sur
rounding country financial conditions
were on a substantial basis. 1t is in
that section John McDermott and
Mrs. Fulcher are located.
A few days ago Mrs. Cornelius
and / called on DR.. W. W. McEwen.
As an illustration of conditions ex-
isting in the city, the doctor related
this incident:
The wife Of a wealth North Da-
kota stockman occupies rooms in the
same apartment house in which he
and his daughter, Mrs. Fred Nelson
are located Recently her husband
sent a want ad to one Of the San
Diego papers in which he stated he
desired to buy a flat, bungalow or
chicken ranch in or near the city. Tbs
ad designated answers should be sent
to his wife's San Diego address. I'm
mcdiately after the first one appeal
ed, the woman commenced TO be be
sieged with letters, telephone mes
sages and callers who desired to sup
ply her with the property. The del
hge continued until she actually suf
fe,ed nervous prostration as a re
suit. When on the road to recovery
she inserted like ad with her hua
bands address in order u acquain
} HIM with what she ha q. iurcd an
! also to familiarize him with condi
tions in that part OF the state.
r l would not advise anyone to com
Y here to invest for as bad as eond
tions are now, they are bound TO &c
n worse In the near future.