Buy Land, Loma Linda, Buy Land!

There were seventy-six acres of land in the 1905 purchase of the Loma Linda property, twenty-three in the hill site and the remaining fifty-three in a strip of fertile valley land extending three fifths of a mile toward the railway. The hill land was half occupied by buildings, lawns, drives, et cetera; the other half was orchard. Of the valley land, a portion provided a site for barns, stables, vegetable garden, and three acres of apricot trees. The balance was in alfalfa, and there was land suitable for grain. Pressed as they were for money to meet the $40,000 purchase price, some looked hopefully to the sale of the valley land as building sites. When Ellen White heard of this, she urged that no land be sold.6BIO 345.6

None was sold. Elder J. A. Burden and others associated with him on the grounds felt there was a need of acquiring even more land for the institution. Within a few months, thirty acres just east was offered for something less than $100 an acre, and it was secured.6BIO 345.7

Shortly after this, Ellen White asked to see this land and was taken to the top of the Sanitarium building where she could view it. G. A. Irwin, board chairman, reported that she scanned it carefully for a time, and then remarked, “Well, we are thankful we have it.”—The Unwise Use of Money and the Spirit of Speculation, 2.6BIO 345.8

Then she turned and looked to the north, to the land in the front of the Sanitarium that stretched to the railroad and Colton Avenue beyond. She waved her hand and declared: “The angel said, ‘Get all of it.’” Somewhat startled, those with her reminded her of the financial difficulties experienced in securing what land they had, and she responded: “Well, we shall be thankful for what we have,” and turned and went to her room. The brethren pondered just what was included in the words of the angel, “Get all of it.”6BIO 346.1

The land north of the institution was in several tracts: one, of 150 acres, was held at $18,000; another, of fifty-five, was held for $20,000; another twenty-seven acres could be had for $2,250; and still another twenty acres just north of the railway was available for $750. But who had the foresight, and where would the money come from? Nothing was done, and three years went by. But in those three years some of the tracts were sold, and what was left had doubled in price.6BIO 346.2

When the decision to develop a medical school at Loma Linda was reached in 1910, the pattern of thinking began to change. In May, at the time of the organization meeting held at Loma Linda, at which Ellen White was present, steps were taken to secure land just in front of the institution. It was purchased for about $600 an acre.6BIO 346.3