Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-03

eminent imposes high tax on all liquors and
adds an additional levy on such resorts as
those on the Silver Coast, to which, within a
given area, 1t gives the sole right to operate
games of chance
Just how one goes about obtaining these con-
cessions is a dark secret known to only few.
II is popularity estimated that Aqua Caliente,
representing an investment of some 100000,
already has returned profit of 200 per cent TO
the four men who control it-Wirt G. Bowman,
Baron H. Long James N Crofton and James
Coffroth. Whether these figures reasonably
accurate I cannot say; the corporation is not
divuging its balance sheet.
Bowman is the husband of relative of a
Mexican powerful in the politics of Baja Cali
fornia and is citizen of Mexico-citizenship
being necessary under the present constitution
for the ownership Of land. Long is well known
in California as the operator of the Vernon
Country Club Of night clubs and of the u. S.
Grant Hotel in San Diego. Croften the man
ager-the quiet silent man of the group is
an old friend Of COnrOth, Bowman rather
well known to the New York sports of 10 years
ago, but none Of the four has the wide &C
quaintance of COffrOth. Sunny Jim" was the
operator of the Winter track at Tia Juana and,
according to the stories told in California, vir-
tually was compelled to join in the Aqua CAL
iente venture, since it, too has a race track and
competition would have been suicidal for him.
The old Tia Juana track has been dismantled.
a LII OF the perQulSlteS OF the operating COM
pany-the gambling, the bars the baths,
the race uack-are taxed by the government
ana inspectors are pretty constantly on the
scene, observing not only that the terms of the
charter are carried out but that the clientele is
protected and behaves
The Aqua Caliente Corporation judging by
my own experience and that of other writer's
VINO nave been there, is not in the market for
publicity; particularly does it fear the Drvine
undertaking kind. But it has an eve for the
publicity OF good will and propaganda-so
sharp, indeed that 1t retained Leo Diegel one
OF our foremost golfers It's professional with
the stipulation that he be it's representative il,
All the tournaments In which he participates
FOR this use Of his nanae the corpo1atjon Is said
10 pay $4,000 annually, which, however is not
an extraordinary figure as golf names 90 Last
year the corporation held an open tournament
ON us new course, awarding 600 to the win
ner and drawing q sizabe number of the heat
professionals in this country
NO news comes from the Casino about the
amounts OF money wen lost by individuals
upon occasion movie players and directors are
supposed TO win or lose much as SIS 600 or
>zo,Ooo. But these are modest figures so far as
pubic gambling houses Of International repute
are concerned. There rs q limit ON all bets
which keeps down both winnings and losses
and though the Casino is open the greater mart
OF the night-ss late, indeed as the PLAYERS
"ish-the amount that changes hands is COM
paratlveiy small, 30 far as individuals 70
Until the enactment Of the Volstead act Tia
Juana was tiny settlement of a few adobe
houses and saloons. Its current blessominp is
the result of natural need. Aqua Caliente,
the outgrowth of its inability to cater to the
better element" is q new bud off the old shoot
and Ensenada, now bufgeOning down the coast.
Is the inevitable Give prohibition 10 more
years, with Hollywood and Californias fruit
growers continuing to be as prosperous as they
are and MexcO's Silver Coast win glitter in
the sun as Enthusiastically the old Spanish con-
quistadores expected that 1t would glitter for
them