The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-16
MANUFACTURES
Several New Industries Successfully Estab.
lished During the Year
To the Chamber of Commeroa.

| WV AsssNoptSo ouSSCbSIuny EoI0D~
Iished During the Year
To the Chamber of Commerce:
Your committee on manufactures begs
to report that in the course of the wear
just past considerable number of letters
have been received from people who de-
sire to look into manufacturing possibili-
ties of this section, and such as have ap-
peared worthy of consideration have re-
ceived the careful attention of the com.
mittee.
The great majority of these inquiries
are of an impracticable character. Your
committee fails to understand why a man
who starts factory presumably for the
purpose OF making money, should consid-
er himself entitled to a free site, a
building and plant without charge,
a bonus OF cash and several years
remission of taxes, while the
man who sets out 40 acres of oranges gets
nothing Of the kind. According to the
United States census of 1890 there were
then established in this city some TAI
capital of'$6, 807, 0ss, and employing 9s5O
hands. These figures have Increased 20
per cent since then. None of these people
were induced to come on the promise OF a
bonus, but on the contrary, they have
won success solely on the merit of their
ieePecoiNe prouucts. Wnlle III may be true
| that many Eastern cities have been built
| up to semblance of prosperity ON the
bonus granting principle, your committee
| Is disposed to question whether such pros
perity is likely to prove permanent and
also doubts whether such plan will ever
find favor with the citizens Of Los Angeles,
we believe that enterprises possessed of
genuine merit will be content to make
their way as those already on the ground
have done, on the basis OF the good bust
ness qualities of the undertaking and the
skill OF its projectors.
Some applications have been received
where the chamber has been called upon
to assist in placing stock to start manu-
featuring enterprises. 1t is q matter of
grave doubt to your committee whether
this is part OF the legitimate work of an
organization like the Chamber of Com
merce. manufacturing enterprise is
| matter of personal and individual inter
est beneficial to the general community,
it is true, but only in the way that all en-
greater or less degree. One of the func-
| tons OF the chamber, as set forth by its
| bylaws, is to stimulate home industries
and your committee is glad to do all in its
| power to assist in carrying out this duty,
but it does not understand that it is ex-
pected to undertake the raising Of bonuses
| nor to attempt the procuring OF subscrip-
tions to stock in private corporations.
! AS the committee understands its du-
+. ties they consist in providing all posi- bic
l information on the subject of manufac-
lures and manufacturing possibilities in
this city and the neighborfng sections.
The reputation thus far achieved bv
Los Angeles has been largely based on its
merit as city of homes, and your com
| mittee finds strong sentiment existing
| among many residents against the undue
stimulation OF the manufacturing inter
ests on the ground that it NAV damage
the city for residence purposes. The re-
cent development of oil on considerable
scale within the city limits removes one
of the chief causes of this objection to
manufactures, as the burning of oil does
not deluge the city with smoke as the
burning of soft coal would do. There is
| no question that the next year will wit
| ness an extraordinary quickening of the
manufacturing of this city and section
and number of new enterprises will
probably start into existence. Three new
enterprises launched within the last two
years, without any demand for subsidies
but solely on their merits as business
PROPOSITIONS, have achieved a considerable
degree of success. These are the Cudahy
packing house, the shoe factory at Alham-
bra and the iron and steel rolling mill.
Others are preparing to follow in different
lines with every reasonable chance of sue
cess.
= Your committee confidently expects
to report at the annual meeting a wear
hence that the discovery of a cheap and
Clearly fuel is Transforming Los Angeles
into city that manufactures for its own
needs and in some degree for export.