Evening star., 1925-08-12
WESTERN OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

land is still vested in the United
States. so that Oregonians feel it IS
incumbent upon the Government TO
be generous in the realm of irriga-
ton and reclamation. They think
there ought to be a good deal of Fed
eral road building, too. Forest fires
are one of the Affections under which
Oregon suffers. They cannot be coped
with if highways and communications
TO these national timber reserves are
not available.
San Francisco. revisited after a
lapse OF tve years, reveals ever new
splendors, architecturally and other
wise. 1t is still full of beauty, ro-
nance, atmosphere-and misty fogs
Since the Golden Gate was passed in
population by Los Angeles, San Fran
ciscans have come TO realize the neces-
sity OF making genuine community
effort 10 retain their ancient metro
don't admit for the fraction of a sec
ond that Los Angeles is in the same
class as city, but there is neverthe-
less a determined and concerted effort
nowadays TO impress the world with
San Francisco's Importance. UnQues-
tionably II retains metropolitan ira
ditionS Of its own, rooted in the dis
tant past, that are not likely ever TO
be taken from her, no matter what
modern laurels Los Angeles may win.
VIII Irwin, whose epic THE City
That Was" written while quake and
fire were laying San Francisco waste
19 years ago. has just contributed 10
the Nations Business what he calls
a thoroughly partisan article. Its title
is The New San Francisco-City of
Destiny and Fame" Irwin, like other
present-hour visitors to San Francisco,
finds city stepping into another era,
with the whole bay region facing a
brilliant industrial future through the
use of oil, waterpower and raw ma
terial from CALIFORNIA; hinterland.
Characteristic of this modern develop
ment is the Richmond district, which
was virgin sand-lot territory in 1905.
Today it is a completely built-over
residence district, with thousands OF
homes averaging a value of $4,000
each, and tapped by fast car lines.
x x
Los Angeles, which is packed and
crammed with automobiles as we'll as
people in its throbbing business
streets, now regulates pedestrians as
well as motor traffic. This observer
came in personal contact with the
system on his first plunge through the
maelstron. Unaware that the clang-
ing of a bell is the signal for foot . $
, we'll as wheel traffic to move in T
given direction, he started across
Broadway. a traffic policeman smil-
ingly informed him of his misde
meanor, but the incident did not end
there. l had proceeded only half
block along my way when a mounted
traffic officer rode Gathering up the
street. Presently 1 beheld him at the
curb alongside of me. He beCkoned
me TO his side. Thereupon, with 20
likeness, but becoming firmness, he
notified me that If l didn't bear the
obvious stamp of newcomer he
would have given me the privilege OF
contributing So to the Los Angeles
city treasury for having violated the
pedestrian traffic rules, Then we EN-
barked upon a discussion of said regu
lations, in the course of which !
| learned that accidents to jay-walkers
like myself have been reduced so per
cent in Los Angeles since pedestrians
were obliged to observe the same re
strictions as our drivers.
r X x
I asked one of the foremost citizens
of Los Angeles what is most on south
ern California's mind nowadays
! water supply is what I expected
| him to say. But he didn't. What he
TGplteu Is lIldL SOUlIleEH SdlllOIilld
principal anxiety is that the United
| States at large should cease TO eXag
gerate the troubles that now and then
overtake this region. Just because .
| dozen lives or so are snuffed out in an
earthquake at Santa Barbara, Los An
geles doesn't think the country should
be led to believe that this corner Of
| the Union is no longer fit to inhabit.
| Nor does southern California like the
| idea of being portrayed as a pest
| house because foot-andmouth disease
! temporarily plays havoc with some of
its cattle-herds. Travel in this di-
rection was seriously halted year
ago because of the widespread impress
sion that all southern California was
| in quarantine. The chief emotion,
| therefore, of the deniZens of these IA
vored parts is a passionate desire for
| a calm and judicial view Of their oc-
] casional trials and tribulations.
(Copyright, 1881