The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-07-20
Writ WAS
IMPRESSED WITH
SPIRIT OF WEST
Potentate of Egypt Tenn
pie Gives the Barlow
Record Some of the I'M
pressions Gained On
the Pilgrimage To San
Francisco


sions of California; said E. L. Writ
local banker, when interviewed on the
subject of his recent trip through the
West, was, first, the way California
people beautify their homes and their
state, by planting; and second, the
California boosting spirit. Californi-
ans are first, last and all the time
for California
Mr.. Writ, one of the most prOmi-
nent Masons in the state, and poten-
tate of Egypt Temple, Tampa, was
among the Floridians attending the
national convention of Shriners in
San Francisco, but he did not follow
their exclusive route, us he and 9TH
er friends wished to make a more
comprehensive visit to the West, than
was allowed in the Shriners' party.
! Mr.. Writ and Frank G. Thompson of
Frostproof took the entire trip to-
gether, making stops at Denver, Colo
RADIO Springs, the Grand Canyon, San
Bernardino; Los Angeles, San Frail-
cisco, San Jose, Banff and Chicago.
From Los Angeles on, they were ac-
companied by Fred Fletcher of
/ Tampa.
| Asked particularly about the finan-
cial situation in the West, Mr.. Writ
exclaimed, at is simply amazing that
people in one part of country can
know so little about the conditions in
another part Of the same country. Of
course, California is so completely
separated from the East that they
/ hardly seem related to it. In the West
/ that is, in California, where l looked
! into the financial situation just as a
matter of my own interest, l found
/ that they really didn't know that
we've had a hard time in the East.
They haven't been hit, and they don't
feel the result of the financial depres-
sion that has been Gripping us so
over here, to any appreciate extent
at all
This was new angle that the Rec
ord in its previous interviews with
recent western travellers had not been
given. Why, pray. should the west
erners feel so little of the financial
near-panic that had caused such dis
tress on this side of the continent?
You see continued Mr.. Writ,
their export trade has been just as
active since the war, as before it.
Of course there were difficulties dur
ms the war; just as there were in all
parts of the cOuntry-but following
it, there was practically no readjust-
mcnt to be met. California exports
10th raw and finished material to
Asia. The East exports to Europe.
There's the difference. Europe hasn't
been able to buy in the quantities that
the East has begun to rely upon, and
has not, moreover, been able to pay
for all it has bought. Asia has had no
more difficulty since the war than
before it, because it has been prac-
tically unaffected. Then, too, what
ever product was shipped east to
points in this country, has been paid
for by its users in the East. So the
West has been able to sell both the
things it raised and the things it
manufactured, and has moved on at
about the usual pace without financial
difficulties of any appreciable seri-
BUSINESS at all.
And California is spending a ire
mendeus amount of money, It's cities,
towns and rural communities are
building rapidly and in the most
modern fashion. l was particularly
impressed with the construction work
saw going on in Los Angeles and
San Francisco. Sacramento, too, has
much new building this year.
"And speaking of Los Angeles and
Snr, EfrD iS pt,1Kr in tbnco -
towns. when residents of either place
are speaking of the 0ther-that a Wis
itor ever hears anything other than
the typical California boosting. The
two towns, although some 470 miles
apart, are keen rivals, and have little
use for each other. For instance,
the people of Frisco call Los Angeles
an Overgrown country town. Frisco
has a population Of approximately
100000 to Los Angeles 100000
Hmm, thinks the Cub Reporter
Folks in Barlow have heard of other
towns that have continued rivalrics be-
tween each other, and those not too
far distant, either. Well, anyway, Mr..
Writ, with his quick sense of humor,
found much amusement in the atti-
tudes of the two sections.
And he spent ten days in the
groves. both the citrus fruit groves
and the deciduous fruit orchards
These he found prospecting wonder
ALPHABETICALLY the peaches, pears,
plums. cherries, apricots and others
of like nature.
In the citrus groves, he said little
real damage to speak of was to be
found to the bearing orange trees;
and in talk with the manager of the
California Fruit Growers Association
his estimate of a crop Of at least rs
per cent normal for next years or
anges was confirmed.
"All the orchards and groves have
to be irrigated, for CALIFORNIA; rainy
season comes during its winter and
the six months of summer see scarce
ly drop Of rain. 1t is all ditch ir-
rigation, of course, supplied through
galvanized iron or concrete pipes;
and growers have to await their
turns for getting water unless they
have their own pumps. Many of them
do have their own water systems and
then, Of course, they can irrigate as