San Diego County 



JAMES A. JASPER 

 Secretary San Dleisro Chamber of Commerce 



SINCE the coming of Cabrillo the idealist has reveled in our golden 

 sunshine, tinged with the soft kiss of climatic perfection, and counted 

 the time well spent. The captains of industry in ye olden time idly 

 lounged within the shadow of our perfumed arbors oblivious of the 

 opportunities spread out before their dreamy vision. 'T is true they 

 sorrietimes calculated the commercial value of the placid waters of this 

 matchless harbor and its strategic position in relation in the world's com- 

 merce, but the effort exhausted their energy and they lapsed into laziness. 



Capitalists are looking beyond the dreamers' ideals; they are figuring 

 upon the days tha,t must elapse before merchant crafts bearing the flags 

 of all nations will greet new trans-continental railroads on this flower-laden 

 shore and exchange mail, passengers, and freight. 



They look to the East and behold a wilderness of waste has been bap- 

 tized with the waters of the Colorado and converted Into wealth-producing 

 farms. On the western slope of the mountain range one of these great 

 captains got busy a few years ago, and to-day San Diego is supplied with 

 an abundance of pure mountain water. A twenty-mile pipe-line has just 

 been completed, at an expense of $600,000, connecting the Lower Otay 

 Reservoir with the city, and through its commodious portals flows 7,000,000 

 gallons of the sparkling fluid per day. 



San Diego County now has six reservoirs completed, with a storage 

 capacity of 26,922,000,000 gallons of water; three others in course of con- 

 struction, with a storage capacity of 93,502,000,000 gallons; and still 

 three other sites whose utilization is in contemplation, with a storage 

 capacity, determined by actual survey, of 26,975,000,000 gallons, — making 

 a total combined storage capacity capable of impounding 147,399,000,000 

 gallons of pure mountain water, with an ample watershed and sufficient 

 rainfall to keep them full at all times. This is the best-watered county 

 south of Tehachapi. 



Back of the city, wedded to these great water interests, lies a million 

 acres of unexcelled agricultural and horticultural land upon which may be 

 grown at a profit all products known to California; another million acres 

 furnish profitable grazing ground for the thousands of head of stock, yearly 

 shipped to other markets; and still another million acres abound in minerals, 

 from gold to precious gems, including the many commercial products that 

 come under this head. 



On the nearby mesas and sunkissed slopes thrive all citrus products, 

 while in the higher altitudes apples, pears, and kindred fruits reach their 

 highest state of perfection. Grapes grow everywhere, and the fame of our 

 raisins and wine is not confined to the Pacific Coast. This is the poultry- 

 raiser's paradise, as he can rear young fowls every month in the year, 

 and a market is at his door. The busy bee inhabits the waste places and 

 works overtime in maintaining San Diego's reputation as the banner honey 

 county of the State. 



San Diego's population has doubled in the past five years; new and 

 commodious business blocks, school buildings, churches, and residences 

 have displaced the worthless shacks of dreamy days. Building permits from 

 January 1st to date (September 25th) aggregate $2,267,375. The capacity 

 of our electric-light system is being doubled to meet the growing demand. 

 Old streets are being brought to proper grade and new ones opened up as 

 the city expands. Many miles of new street railway is being built, and our 

 sewer system is being extended. 



The newest industry inaugurated is the rafting of logs from the Colum- 

 bia River; a large raft containing millions of feet of uncut lumber was towed 

 into our harbor on September 8th. A large sawmill is being installed by 

 the Benson Company, and soon the products of this and other rafts will 

 be finding their way into Arizona and New Mexico. 



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