Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03
Los Angeles Great
Manufacturing
Metropolis

Within a few years Los Angeles will
become as widely known throughout
the world as a great manufacturing
center as the metropolis of Southern
California Is now famous as the ideal
all-year-round home and pleasure re-
sort, where delightful advertisements
on land and sea are innumerable, and
where health is restored and lives
1engthened in a land of perpetual sun
shine.
In the Early Days
In crude way Los Angeles, like
every growing community, became a
manufacturing point years ago,
when roughly fashioned vehicles were
designed, when repairs were made and
when a variety of household utensils
were produced by native Californians
for domestic use.
The rapid development of the south
land following the arrival of thou
sands of people who came here from
the populous east along in the seven
ties caused many shops to spring into
existence and gradually variety of
Industries were established around the
plaza. But as late as ten or fifteen
years ago no one believed that Los
Angeles would ever become a great
manufacturing city, mainly because
coal was $40 a. ton and the water sup
ply was uncertain.
Discovery of Cheap Fuel
The discovery of petroleum and the
generous flow of oil from the wells in
the hills of Los Angeles and neighbor-
ing counties solved the fuel question
and reduced the cost of heating energy
to a reasonable sum. AS a result of
the flow of oil to the surface land
values increased, many new indus
tries were established and Los Ange-
les capital and artisans began to do
things on a larger scale, until now it
is estimated by the chamber of COM
merce statistician there are nearly
1900 prosperous manufacturing estah-
lishments in Los Angeles, giving lucra-
tive employment to over $4,000 persons.
The value of the manufactured prod
ucts of Los Angeles for 1900, accord
ing to the United States census Of that
year. was $21. .297. .5S7, The. estimate for
1904 was S42, 100000 while it is claimed
that the value of products for the
half year of 1905 has increased in like
proportion.
Since the discovery of oil, the build
of the harbors at the ocean front, Los
Angeles has made rapid strides in de-
velopment and mechanics who came
here seeking benefit for failing health,
or simply as tourists. have found steady
employment or discovered opportuni-
ties for engaging in profitable enter
prises. These bread winners, skilled
artisans and inventors have served
largely to put Los Angeles on a solid
basis. These producers, the men of
Drawn and brains, who make dollars
out of the raw materials furnished by
nature, gave Los Angeles a firm foun-
dation and have yearly added to the
development and wealth of the city.
variety OF industries
Nearly every line of industry is rep
resented in Los Angeles-iron works,
foundries, machine works, stove
works, pattern shops, manufactures of
pumping machinery, of mining machin-
cry, of farm implements, or ornamen-
tai metal work, brass works, glass
works, soap works, breweries, lumber
mills, flour mills, planning and turning
mills, pulp and paper mills, oil refill
cries, jam factories, biscuit factories,
wagon building shops. factories for the
making of furniture, shop fittings,
packing cases, upholstery and bedding,
harness and saddlery picture frames
and holdings, tin cornices, fertilizers,
tories, auto oak leather factory, an
industry for the manufacture of as
6ayers' material, while constantly in
quiries are received at the offices of
the Merchants and Manufacturers as
sociation and the chamber of COM
merce that will lead speedily to the
Introduction of other enterprises of
equal Importance in the community.
Climate and Raw Materials
The advantages, of Los Angeles as a
manufacturing center have been sum-
married by local observer as follows:
Cheap oil fuel, locally produced.
Abundant electrical power at rea-
sonable rates.
"A climate that minimizes the first
cost of factory buildings and largely
dispenses with the necessity for arti-
ficial heating.
"A fertile soil In the region adjacent:
the fruits of the earth in abundance.
good in quality and moderate in price.
"Converging railroads, making the
city great railway center.
shipping facilities close at hand.
MANY of the raw materials produced
in the state
"A rich, prosperous and rapidly in
creasing city population, insuring a
large local demand for manufactured
goods.