The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-16
THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

The school census OF this city, just
taken, shows that Los Angeles is rapidly
approaching the 100,0 population
mark. The number of children between
5 snd II years of age is IA 749. and of
all children under II years 20 SOB, The
census OF 1890 gave Los Angeles total
population OF 50. 900. 1t will be remem.
bered that this census was taken in
July and August, when large percent
age of our people are out OF town at thu
watering places and st the mountain
and other resort, The water company
has very reliable msthod in detsrmin-
ing Approximately the population OF
the city, as the numbor OF consumers of
water always bears close relation to
the total number OF the population
According to their tables the federal
census OF Los Angeles that year Was
from 5000 to 5000 less than it should
have been. Ii We correct the csusus
then taken, and place the population of
the city at fraction over $1,000, we
eha II find that the school censue,
which wac 1887, bore the relation
OF five ard one-half tiIEss the school
children to the total OF population,
SO that five and one.hali would
be fair factor by which to multiply the
total number of school Children this
year TO arrive ut the actual number OF
people i'll the city at the present time
The result'would therefore bs as follows:
l4,743x5%=Sl, 0S7. That 10 probably
not very lar from the correct figure. 1t
would show gain OF %, 900 inhabitants
in four years. When we consider the
that time, collapse of the boom, runs on
our banks and the financial depression,
we may congratulate ourselves upon 30
satisfactory an increase.
Nor should we forget that this increase
in population has been q healthy one.
1t has gone on steadily in spite of the
exceptional setbacks, and has fixed itself
permanently il the community as it
went along. The residences portion of
the community has grown with rapid
strides, until we find now that localities
which were almost bare of houses four
years ago are now undivided into we'll
paved streets and covered with fine resi-
dcnces. Whole districts that were felds
q few years ago are now devoted to osy
cottages and are occupied by families.
The occupants Of these cottages belong
to the mechanic class and have grated
themselves ON the growing industries of
the city.
II we should merely figure out the in.
crease OF the inhabitants of this city in
the next decade at the rate it has at
tanned in the past four years, we would
have population of $50, 900 at the end
of that time. But the law OF progress
son in the growth OF cities is geomet.
rical one, and has relation to the way
in which interest compromising increases
capital. There are great variety of
sccelerating probabilities in the womb
OF the future, any Of which will give an
impulse to our growth OF wonderful
Dimensions. 1t 10 a certainty that we
shall have one, and very probably two,
roads from this city to Utah, in one or
two years. That will open up an i'm
mense tributary territory TO Los Angeles,
rich in gold, silver, iron and coal mines,
and interspersed with vast stretches of
agricultural and grazing lands. The
commercial supplies of all that territory
will be controlled by Los Angeles, and
its coal and iron will give an impulse to
manufactures here that will alone i'm
mensely increase our population. Re.
duction and separating works for the
limitlsss ore belts of that region will
also be establ ished here.
To say that with our natural increase
merely as We are going today would
give us a population of 10000 at the
end OF ton years, conveys really only an
inadequate idea of what it will be with
the mining and other activities that
will be developed in the meantime in our
vast tributary territory reaching to Salt
Lake. 1t would be very conservative
figure to place our population at 250, 600
ten years from the present time, and
there are possibilities in the trend of in
dustries and movements OF population
that may leave this figure far below the
mark.
The whole country is just now going
through trying ordeal, brought about
by artificial causes. But it will rise like
a lion out of this jungle of entsngle-
ments, and, shaking it's name, leap
forth into new life of progress and
prosperity. Then will Los Angeles start
out upon march OF enterprise and ad-
first city on the Pacific coast in size, in
population and in opportunities for un-
limited expansion.