Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-25
OUT ON THE COAST
The Editors Received with
Open Arms
BY The PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA
Prof. Swensbesg Writes Of the 0iories Of
Los Angeles--Its Matchiess Resources
and Improvements Mentioned.

Los ANGELES, Cal. May is.-To at
tempt TO picture the more than regal
profnsion Of flowers OF TO describe the
wealth of the cordial welcome extended
to our party in California would ex-
haust the resources Of art and stam-
pede the collection OF words in the
dictionary. We are literally travelling
over beds OF roses, surrounded by
them, covered by them. The reception
accorded us has been too fervid to
describe as magnificent. The houses,
churches and schools OF the cities we
have visited were thrown open TO us,
and our badges have been the only
passport to the richest the proud and
generous people of California have had
to freely offer US.
We are now within the confines Of
the Golden State. of which 60 much has
been written and said. that its leading
characteristics have, to great extent,
become well-known to . majority Of
the intelligent people of the United
States. Yet. what vague impression
do these descriptions convey Of the
wonderful reality! II is no wonder
that our people at home regard the de-
ecriptlons Of California and its products
gwen by returned travellers a. "ish
stories" And yet the half has not
been told!
The "City Of Angels"
Yesterday we arrived from Redlands
and Riverside in Los Angeles, the won-
cerful city of the southwest, the Sec
oud city of the state and the CONNER
cial metropolis of southern California,
city which has grown with the rapid
ity of Jonah's gourd, and is still grow
ing. In 1880 Los Angeles was a sleepy,
semi-Mexican pueblo of 200 people.
ITS houses were mostly of adobe, or
sun-dried brick, its streets were un-
paved, and few even graded, its chief
commerce was confined to wool and
hides. Even in 1885 there had been
little improvement. But shortly there
after the Santa Fe railroad reached Los
Angsles.in competition with the South
ern Pacific, people began n awaken to
the wonderful resources of this section
and marvellous transformation CON-
menced. Look 1t what has been &C
complished in these short seven years!
The population OF Los Angeles. by the
census of 1890, was over $4,000. There
are in the city, in round figures, 80
miles of graded and graveled streets, 10
milea of paved streets, and so miles of
cement sidewalks. Most of the street
paving is of asphaltum. An internal
sewer system, for which 1914, 900 was
voted in 1890, is about completed. The
ualue of bulldings erected within the
past ten years-and mainly within the
past tive-ie not less than $40, ,000, 900,
including q $500, 900 court house, .
$2O0, 900 city hall, and 4 number Of
handsome four, five and six-story
blocks, costing from .$l00, 900 to $780,
600 each.
Water sapply aud schools.
There are four distinct systems of
water supply. For nearly ten years
the city has been lighted entirely by
electricity, there being $50 electric
lamps on high masts, with an aggre-
gate candle-power of 100000. Seen by
night, from one of the hills which align
the business section on the west, these
lamps give the city fairy-like appear
ance. The two handsome theaters
seat 1400 and 1000 respectively. and
present most of the leading attractions
from the east and Europe. A large
pavilion, where fairs, fruit shows and
meetings are held, seats 1000. The as
sessed value of city property has arisen
from So, ,0O0. 600 in 1882 to $46, ,0O0, 900 in
1892.
The schools of Los Angeles are second
to none in the United States. This 10
cultivated community. There are also
q number of colieges-sectarian and
otherwise-and an army of specialists.
who give instructions IN music, paint
ing, languages and other branches.
There are about nifty church organiza-
TORS, most OF which occupy their own
buildings. The public library. located
in the city hall, contains $4,000 vol
umes, and is marvel to the Librarians
of the country, circulating monthly ss
many volumes as it contains, the latest
report giving 81 900 as the monthly
circulation.
Capital and Land.
There is plenty of money here. The
eighteen banks contain over $40, ,000, 900
in deposits, having increased during the
the past five years 100 per cent. Those
who have absorbed the impression that
this is q "busted community" would be
surprised were they TO pay visit TO
Los Angeles. Travelling men tell us
| that in no city west OF the Mississippi
is business better than here. The won
derful natural resources of the sur
| rounding country are shown by the
manner IN which Los Angeles survived
| the effects of the wild real estate
| speculative boom of 1861. We don't
know another city in the country that
could have come through like experi-
ence with such flying coiors. There
| were no fallures, and while many, of
course, ''bit off more than they could
| chew" accounts are being rapidly
| settled and real estate 10 IN good de-
| mand. good feature 10 that most of
| the new arrivals are gong on the land
and planting orchards. thue adding TO
| the productions of the section upon
which Los Angeles depends for support.
Los Angeles II fsvorably situated for
commerce. as well as for pleasant resi-
dence. It's in a fertile valley. eaui-
| distant from ocean and mountains.
| nsiag only twenty mites from the port
| OF San Pedro, with the choicest climate
| OF a section where all the climate il
good. LOW grades IN the mountains
and freedom from snow storms offer
| great advantages % railroads over
more northern routes. In Is only 1900
miles from the whsrves of san Pedro
/ 10 the nearest point on the Atlantic
| The wholesale houses Of Los Angeles
carry . heavy stock and do bsg trade
as far south aud east ss Arizona aud
| new Mexico.
| It's Resources
The chief exports from Los Angeles
are oranges, wheat. barley. potstoe.
aud vegetables, beans, caaned goods,
fYesh and dried fruif rafsiax uafs
vine and brandy. and wool The CT.
ports. bs one OF the two transcontsnen.
tai haes-the southern Paeihe-fo'