Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-02-08
ISLAND POND VT. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY g. 1907
A MODEL CHINATOWN,
Plan For Beautiful Oriental City
In Los Angeles.
STREETS TO BE PICTURESQUE
In Architecture and Equipment the
Settlement Is TO Be Oriental, but
Thoroughly Sanitary - Superb Ex.
habit of Chinese Trees and Shrubs.

habit of Chinese Trees and Shrubs.
Immediately after the close OF the
coming Chinese New Year holidays
which this year open Feb. Is, active
steps will be taken toward the build
Ing OF an attractive new Chinatown In
Los Angeles Cal, distinctly oriental In
It's architecture and equipment, bu,
thoroughly sanitary aud wholesome
\ committee of Chinese merchants are
now seeking II suitable site somewhere
within easy reach of the business sec.
tion, says the Los Angeles Times. They
propose TO build model Chisatown, in
the center of which the Chinese Empire
Reform association will erect build.
ing which will be an architectural de,
light In it will be installed a perma.
nent exhibition of Chinese curios and
an exhibit of Chinese crafts.
The streets of this new Chinatown
are TO be picturesque, its buildings
modelled on oriental types, with hang
Ing balconies. oriole windows, latticed
passageways. dragon bedecked pillars,
towers and minarets. brilliant with
their wealth of colors and carved dec
orations. Such an oriental city In the
heart of Los Angeles would attract a
constant flow OF visitors, especially
during the tourist season, and the Chi
nese merchants believe that the in
creased sales at their stores would be
such an item that 1t would be to the
Interest of all Chinese merchants to
concentrate their shops and bazaars in
the new settlement. thereby offering a
first class business proposition for in
vestorS in the stock Half million
dollars for the first installment, with
the probable outlay OF full million. is
the scope of the plan under discussion.
The idea originated with George
Lem, president of the Chinese cham
Der of commerce iu Los Angeles and
one Of the most prominent business
men of Chinatown He is distinguish
cd as the only Chinaman in America
who is a bank director. His plans for
the new Chinatown include the crea-
tion of an entirely new settlement.
At least five acres would be neces-
sary. in the center OF which tract the
design is to maintain IA park In which
Chinese flowers. herbs and trees would
be cultivated. Mr.. Lem plans TO bring
over from China such an exhibit as
has never been seen on the American
continent. 1t will include large num-
Der of growing trees and shrubs which
have been trained into the most fan
tastic pieces of furniture-tables, set
tees. footStools. hatracks. etc. the
complete furnishings for large enter
talnmcnt garden-all of them living,
growing things, possessing great beau
ty Of foliage.
The sentiment throughout Chinatown
Is practically unanimous in favor OF
the scheme, and several of the leading
Chinese commercial houses have agreed
to take large blocks of the stock. which
will he issued to carry on the building
of this new oriental village. Offers Of
financial help have been received
from the Chinese of Oakland and San
Francisco, and some American finan-
ciers of Los Angeles have agreed to
take stock If necessary to put the
scheme through
Several sites have already been Of.
fered, and it Is probable that by the
time another year rolls around the
dream of this picturesque and beauti-
full oriental town will have become
reality.