The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-09

which is surrounded Dy WharVeS and
warehouses, where ships of all nations
unload the products OF all chimes, es-
pecially Will this be increased so when
the great Panama canal IS completed
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and
from which trains viii bear them in
land to every part of the nation. The
shadow of the coming greatness al
ready appears, for the harbor receipts
of San Pedro doubled in 1903 and bid
fair to double again in 1904. In lum-
Der receipts san Pedro ranks next to
San Francisco. And at the present
rate of increase, in one year San Pc
dro will be the first lumber receiving
and shipping port on the Pacific coast.
All this means business for Long
Beach, short distance away.
Ocean avenue runs along the beach
and is a beautiful thoroughfare. with
handsome residences and cottages.
Green bluegrass lawns and date palm
trees make it a scene that the visitor
viii long remember.
Long Beach has six banks and many
handsome business houses 1t has
several parks which are a credit to
the town. In one of the parks is the
| skeleton of whale, captured in 1896.
It was stranded on the beach near
Long Beach. 1t lived three days after
it came ashore. 1t was viewed by
thousands of people from all over
southern California. 1t is seventy feet
long, and when captured the estimated
weight was from fifty to sixty tons
The skeleton is certainly a sight and
is viewed by thousands of tourists
who visit Long Beach. 1t is one of the
city's chief attractions.
Long Beach has two daily news
/ papers. They are both evening is
sues-the Press and the Tribune. The
Press is under the editorial and bust
gentleman of pleasing manner and
good business qualifications. He has
/ recently installed a late pattern of the
/ Mergenthaler linotype machine-has
a good newspaper plant, and turns out
first-class job printing work. The
Tribune is equally well equipped, and
the proprietors, Messrs. Watson and
I Graves, are thoroughly cOnverSant
with the newspaper business. Three
years ago Long Beach had no daily
newspaper. Today it has two first
class newspa pers, and the city is
growing rapidly.
A squadron Of the Pacific fleet con
slsting of the New York, Boston, Mar
blehead, Ranger and the training ship
Alert, recently cast anchor before Long
Beach: Naval maneuvers were per-
formed, and each vessel in turn engaged
IN target practice with the heaviest
guns Before his departure, Admiral
Glass stated that he found the bay in
front of Long Beach, with its secure
anchorage, its clear atmosphere and its
broad placid expanse so admirably
adapted for naval maneuvers, and espe-
ciaIly target practice, that he was GER
tain that it would be frequently used for
such purposes.
Long Beach recently voted 100000 for
a new steel and cement pier. Work has
already commenced and the new struc-
ture will be a credit to the city-ex-
tending much further out in the ocean
than the old one-2,O00 feet. 1t will be
completed by the middle of August. The
old one still stands, and of the fish
stories it could tell would fill several
good sized volumes. Fishing is very
fne here now with the rod and reel.
Some of the fish have caught here are
the mackerel, such as the people in
Kansas eat sailed down, but the fresh
ones are fire and they are dressed for
the pan as brook trout. Any angler
who has landed the brook trout knows
that this is very simple. Also the her
ring, crOakers smelts and several other
species Out ten or fifteen miles are
caught the rock cod, barricuda halibut
the leaping tuna and Jew fish weighing
100 pounds, and many other varieties.
Sardines are seen on the surface of the
water by the hundreds of thousands in
schools A few days ago a net was
drawn in on the beach and thousands
Of them were piled up free to any one
who wished to string them. I strung
about twenty-five and helped to eat
them; they are very fine.
1t IS estimated that during special
pleasure seasons or upon holiday occa-
sions, the little city not infrequentIy
becomes the temporary home at least
of not not less than thirty or forty
thousand.
At this season people are hocking here
to battle, fish and spend their time up
and down the beach take side trims to
Catalina, San Pedro, San Diego and
many other resorts along the coast
There are dances here nightly
whether in midwinter or midsumnter,
given IN the big pavilion on the beach
accommodating 600 couple The Long
Beach Marine band has charge. It is
a great uniformed orchestra a Won
dertul sight to see the dancers on the
great fOOrz400 and 500 couple-tO the
sweet strains of music and the rum
bling of the breakers of the mighty
Pacific underneath. Last night one of
the band men told me there were 400
couples on the floor A thrilling scene
these beautiful moonlight nights tnat
neither painter nor printer can pic
ture.
It can easily be seen why Long
Beach has become the popular water
ing place for southern California.
Here, there and yonder are the vari-
Gus pleasure cities whose thrift and
beauty have made them famous.
Queen among them is Los Angeles tha
capital of the southwest.
To this attraction is added the mag
nihcent bath house, costing nearly
100000. Outside of San Francisco, it
has no equal the Pacific coast
There are about 500 dressing rooms
as well as hot, cold and salt baths with
the most modern equipment in every
detail. 1 have taken several of them
and they are very fine. The upper
portion of the bath house is devoted
to an extensive promenade, and here,
protected by awnings, one has a grand
unobstructed view of the ocean and
beach. Extensive bowling alleys are
also provided for those who desire the
sport, and adjoin the bath house on
the ground floor. There is also every
response to the seeker of water sports
in the line of launches and pleasure
craft, together with the fishing boats
that are always within ready call.
Behold yon lofty portico and stately
COlOnnade