Biographies
LAWRENCE B. SCHEI
LAWRENCE B. SCHEI.--A man of affairs, rich in valuable experience
and gifted with certain natural ability which has fitted him well for executive
work, is Lawrence B. Schei, the residential secretary and manager of the Suburban
Land Company at Sacramento, his headquarters being at 617 J Street. He was born
in
Then Mr. Schei went to
Minneapolis and St. Paul and entered the real estate field, making a success of
all that he undertook; and finally he joined up with this Sacramento company,
where he directed the local affairs of the concern in such an able and unusual
fashion that both the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce and the Progressive
Business Men’s Club have been very glad to include our subject in their
membership. Mr. Schei’s devotion to his work is marked, as it was when he was
with this company in
The University of California Journal of Agriculture not long ago had a most
interesting illustrated article describing some of the work by this Suburban
Fruit Lands Company of which Mr. Schei is the directing spirit. “Our colony at
Rio Linda, a north suburb of
“Problems, however,
developed just as they have in every other colony, calling for study,
adjustment, solution. As conditions presented themselves, a theory worked out,
not entirely new but distinctive--distinctive in the combination of elements
that were brought together. How well it has worked, is evidenced by the recent
strides that the Rio Linda Colony has made.
“We found, for instance,
that we had to concentrate on some basic industry in the colony to bring in the
necessary early income--an income to carry our settlers along until their trees
came into bearing--and (what our stockholders were particularly interested in)
to bring in interest and principal payments on our contracts. We decided upon
the poultry industry for the simple reason that those of our people who paid us
most promptly did so from the products of the hen house. The decision to
concentrate upon poultry resulted in a stabilized colony.
“Having decided upon this
industry, we formed the Rio Linda Poultry Producers’ Association, built a
modern warehouse, leased it to the association, and even on a falling grain
market this new organization (only recently in operation) made a substantial
profit besides putting in a superior mash. The marketing of the eggs is also
done through this institution, saving time and money.
“As we studied the situation
and investigated the poultry business generally, we realized that if we brought
in many men inexperienced in this particular line, we, and our people, might
meet disaster. So we decided to ‘underwrite’ our contracts by securing an
experienced supervisor of our poultry interests.
“Another branch of our
service has to do with the horticultural development. Most of our settlers are
unacquainted with
“As we came to understand
probable costs and probable income, and early needs in the way of financing, we
devised a system of financing, whereby for a man who has a minimum of $5,000 we
erect a bungalow, garage and poultry house, and install an adequate pumping
plant, taking from $2,500 to $3,000 down, leaving him the balance with which to
buy his stock and get started. On our ten-acre tracts, on which, say, $5,500 of
improvements are erected, we secure in the open market
loans ranging from $3,000 to $3,750. The Company carries the balance as a
secondary secured obligation, payable in five equal installments. We also care
for some who have less than $5,000 capital, in which case we
recommend more modest buildings, and that they work out for others at least
part of the time.”
Transcribed by Vicky Walker, 8/30/07.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches,
Pages 973-974. Historic Record Company,
Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.