Imperial Valley press., 1925-03-24
THE TRUTH ABOUT CALIFORNIA

Ross L. Hammond one of the owners of the I'M
peral Valley Press and who edited the Fremont Ne
braska, Tribune for 40 years, is back in Fremont
visiting and has been the recipient of ovation from
his former friends and neghbors. He has been the
guest of honor at gatherings sponsored by the cham
Der of commerce and other organizations and the pre-
sent editor of the Tribune paid him some high unusual
tributes in an editorial of appreciation.
By request of the present management, Mr.. Ham,
mond handled the editorial column of the Tribune for
day and in his original way, had some conn
pmentary things to say about both Fremont and
California. Mr.. Hammond's statements regarding
California will splendid refutation of un-
favorable publicity concerning Southern California
that may have been circulated throughput Nebraska
part of national propaganda that Is being used to
hurt this part of the country Among other things,
Mr. Hammond has this to say regarding his adopted
state and Riverside where he makes his home
may perhaps be permitted some observa-
tions concerning California, in answer to in
quiries of every friend l have no purpose to
gorify magnify it beyond its deserts. would
not wish to lure any by misrepresentation from
this land of opportunity and achievement. But
like California. 1t has beauty and charm
of its 1t has been a land of romance ever
since the days of the argonauts in the gold rush
of 40 It's great seacoast, its mighty mountain
ranges, its rich valley, its grateful climate all
hold out inviting hand. 1t has been herald
ed as few states have been. It is "a jewelled
banner flung down the middle of the world
Southern California is the best adver
tised section of the world 1t has always
"blown its horn" The result is development
almost unparalleled. So many. people have
gone there from every community of the
try that there has been excited plain jealousy.
A back-fire was started against it last year. in
perhaps determined way than ever. be-
fore. It's cattle plague, lack of rainfall and
strange disease that took of Mexcars
from the slunls of Los Angeles were the basis
of hostile propaganda widely calculated. The
plaques were speedily overcome and were really
trivial. The drouth will be cured in natures
way.
Notwithstanding these anmadversions,
California goes steadily forward In the list of
cities of the country showing their bank clear
ngs, published this week. California was the
state having two cities among the
first seven in the United States. Los
Angeles is a miracle city. Nothing like it
has ever been built in America. It's building
permits in the peak year of 1923 reached $780,
100000. Last year they to about S150,000,-
900. Thus far this year they are going from
S10,000000 to S12000,000 a month. The post
office receipts and bank clearings this year
running ahead of any previous record. This
should be sufficient answer to all reports hos
tile to Los Angeles. 1t is becoming industrial
center. Last year it added 900 factories
more than a billion dollars The population of
Los Angeles county is equal to that of the state
of Nebraska 1t has 100000 automobiles, or
many than in all the rest of the world out
side the United States.
The smaller cities of Southern California
are all growing, the most of them at a rapid
rate. My own beautiful home city of Riverside
is the finest in setting and citizenship of them
all. 1t has differentating features that set it
apart. One sees ones friends in Southern Cali
forna. In little time sees them all. At
the Fremont picnic at Los Angeles three weeks
ago there were 250 former Fremonters present.
The climate-but what's the use? You all know
about that.