Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03
"VENICE OF AMERICA"
THE DREAMLAND CITY OF THE
BEACHES
Abbot kinney's creation-8eautles
and Wonders Of the Italian City,
With Its Miles Of Canals, Lagoons,
ETC., Transplanted to Pacific Coast


Mention the name of Abbot Kinney
and at once there arises in the minds
of many mental picture of one OF
the most remarkable projects ever at
tempted on this or any other Tan;oa SeaGoas'Mf of
America" To reproduce and create a
City of Venice is q task of such mag
tn that Snly SUCK and per
severance, is all but exhaustless capi-
tai could attempt.
Venice OF America is a part of the
old Ballona rancho, and embraces 76O
feet OF shore front, running back on
the sand level 900 feet and 12O acres
lying Ave feet below this level, In when
an elaborate system d,,,, OF cahais daionaS aaI
producing one of the most beautiful
residence sections in the United States.
How many of the visiting thousanidis
governs the conception of Abbot Kin
ney, the founder OF Venice? How many
in the vast throng know that the hrst
cuts of the canals August 10, 1904, that
the first splint of timber was set in po-
sition for the Venice pier September .,
ground broken, for the premier building
to be erected in this marvellous repro
duction of an old world city?
Almost s1,50O,0oO has already been
ates. and millions more will be invest
ed in this unique enterprise, that Is un-
doubtedly the most extensive undertak-
| ing ever attempted on any coast
The question is often asked, Where
are the people and money to come
from to make Venice pay?" ACCORDING
to the plans Of the ereasGf idsfe I9e ahS% abyoed
and along the eastern borders OF TINS
country have had only more or less
hazy idea of California. The name or
| . akak 30 No SIR
climate, sun nshine, fruit and flowers, but
there was no concrete idea TO WISH any
certain portion of the Golden state.
But two cities represented the state,
San Francisco in the north and Los
Angeles in the south.
From these two points visitors ana
tourists radiated In happy thousands
throughout the smaller cities of the
state If Mr.. Kinney's plans are con-
summated ali this will change. He is
endeay9ring to aeapiad1nS rid w,fb sSrahgt Worthy
objective point. To this end he has
built two of the finest modern hotels
the st. Marks, costing $4,000 when
| opened July 10, and the Hotel Venice,
which will cost $150,000, and is now un,
der construction, to be built with az
the comforts and conveniences that
| thought can devise and LAVISH eXpenul-
To this end many miles of canals
| have been cut and filled to depth OF
some six feet with changing sea water.
| Likewise there are commodious bath
| houses. one of which on the Grand
Canal cost $40, 900, and is for still water
bathing, and another res resting IN ,I upon tn tine
be indulged. For this reason, too, a
pier 1900 feet long now projects into
the sea, having at it's outer end q cross
expenditure of 100000. Upon the pier
! is the quaint ship hotel Cabrillo, which
cost $4,000. This old hosiery is FAC
| and Is named the "Cabrillo" in honor
Of an early explorer. 1t contains all
the modern appointments of a first
class hotel
On the northerly side of the pier. is
a. large auditorium of handsome archi-
tectural proportions, elegantly dur
nished, with a seating capacity of $500
| $4,000. Here is where the enormous
| throngs attending the educational con-
gress find all accommodations for their
comfort.
A pleasure pavilion for the comfort
of visitors at the entrance Of the pier,
| having the dimensions OF 150x125 feet,
represents the outlay of $4,000.
| Then there is the Bank of Venice
and other substantial structures of
| brick and stone.
| The garden scheme Is a park on the
| banks of the canal with the happiest
effects of the landscape gardeners art.
The educational congresses, the as,
semblies. the choral and instrumental
music which delight and instruct the
| throngs, addresses by the leaders in all
the Various phases of social, religious.
political and other fields are being
The grandeur of this vast scheme is
almost staggering and 1t is no wonder
| that superficial observers have thus far
I viewed the development of Venice with
slight comprehension and q similar lack
| of unreserved faith.
Located in the beautiful park upon
the Grand canal is a unique summer
city, which accommodates several thou
| sand people. The houses are most ar
| tistic, partly of wood and partly Of
decorative canvas, and have all the ad-
of tents. The walls come up above the
height of the head so as to insure
privacy and cleanliness, and there are
doors and windows fitted with screens.
nished and provided with modern i'm
provements. They are rented at very
moderate rates, making 1t possible for
whole families to live at the shore less
expensively than in their own homes.
Excellent provision is made in the way
of restaurant and dining halls. but
cooking. apparatus and prepare their
meals at home.
Eight landscape gardeners are busy
esfs aRd Wenee 'Re Will Indesd be
| city beautiful" with its growing palms,
foliage, flowers and shrubbery clothing
the land side to the very edge of the
on the farther side of Venice proper
| q miniature railway Is operated along
the thoroughfares leading to the wa
| terways, on which diminutive engines
drawing tiny railroad cars give visitors
an opportunity to encircle the pic
turesdue city that has been transplant
| ed from the old world.
Westward of the actual canal city and
| on the upper level, which includes a
sandy strip of ocean front 750 feet long
| by 900 feet deep. there is already a
| well-nigh completed city OF brick
| blocks fronting on Windward avenue.
| Theso aubatanfial structures include