Loma Linda Messages

J. A. Burden to E. G. White, May 7, 1905 (B. 97 ’05)

Glendale, California, May 7, 1905.

Mrs. E. G. White, Washington, D.C.

Dear Sister White:—

While on the train at Los Angeles, we spoke to you of a property for sale near Redlands, which seemed to be well adapted for sanitarium purposes. I asked those with you to call your attention to it as the train passed the place. I am sending you a little pamphlet that contains a few views and a brief description of this property; but words and pictures can but faintly describe its beauty. It is simply ideal and grand for a sanitarium. LLM 91.5

The buildings are in excellent condition; well furnished, heated with steam heat, and lighted with electricity. Everything is complete to begin business at once. The main building has sixty-four rooms, and there are four cottages, having four rooms each, with bath and toilet. Three of these cottages have four porches each, with broad windows, so that beds can be wheeled right out on the porch, and patients can sleep in the open air. There is another beautiful building,—a two-story cottage of nine rooms, with bath and toilet. Another building, which has been used as a recreation pavilion, and has four nice rooms, would make a fine gymnasium and chapel. LLM 91.6

There are barns and sheds and a house for the workmen. There are ten acres of good bearing orange orchard, fifteen acres of alfalfa, eight acres of apricots, plums, and almonds. The rest (148) of the grounds are beautifully laid out in lawns, drives, and walks, there being more than a mile of cement walk. The principle buildings are on a beautiful knoll about one hundred and twenty-five feet above the valley. The main building is surrounded with pepper-wood trees, from thirty to 40 feet high. LLM 92.1

There are five horses, four cows, one hundred and fifty chickens, thirty-five turkeys, some hogs, farm implements, buggies, carriages, and wagons. LLM 92.2

The place has an ample supply of water from the mountains, an artesian well, which has a good pumping plant, yields an abundance of water, if for any reason the mountain water should fail. The water is piped all over the seventy-six acres. LLM 92.3

The place cost the present owners about $150,000. They have tried to run it as a tourist hotel, but it was a failure, and they lost money, so it was closed the first of April. The stockholders are financially embarrassed, and have ordered the property sold for $40,000.00. The furnishings alone in the buildings cost $12,000.00, and have been used for only about two years and a half. LLM 92.4

A number of us went to see the place today, and we were deeply impressed that this is the place which the Lord has shown you, near Redlands and Riverside, in which sanitarium work should be carried on. It is four miles from Redlands. LLM 92.5

The question is, What shall we do? We must act at once; for the Company is anxious to sell, and there are others who want it. I know a number of brethren and sisters who have means that ought to be helping the cause. Some of them, I am sure, are watching for an opportunity to put it where they feel that it would be safe and at the same time be advancing the work of the Lord. Two brethren have told me that they would (149) have about five thousand dollars each. I know of a number of others that have means whom I shall see in reference to the matter. LLM 92.6

We do not wish to move hastily, and we should like to hear from you and the brethren at Washington who have gone from this field, as to how you and they feel about the matter. I wish that if it is at all possible, you would take the matter up in council with them, and have them wire us. I do not know how long we can hold the offer open, but will try to do so until we hear from you. I think that those here who are considering the matter feel such a strong conviction that we should have the place that they will pay down a deposit, even if we lose it, rather than let the property pass out of our hands before we can hear from the brethren in Washington. LLM 92.7

How I wish that you could have stopped off and seen the property while on your way to Conference; but it may be that you can return this way, and see it then. I hope that you can send us some counsel as soon as you receive this letter. LLM 92.8

Wishing you much of the blessing of the Lord in the Conference, I am, Yours in the Work, LLM 93.1

(Signed) J. A. Burden

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