Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-23
THE BUILDING LULL
This is Los Angeles.

How long is the comparative lull in
Los Angeles home building likely to
continue? That is a leading question
now among all classes of the commu-
nifty.
For the information of strangers in
Los Angeles it may be we'll to explain
before attempting to answer the ques-
ton just what we mean by the phrase
comparative lull." In the first place
1t has no such significance as it would
have in any other American city. In
any other city the ratio of building
now in progress here would be rated
as extremely active. and possibly as a
boom.
The present relative lull in building
because of the unique record of Los
Angeles in that line, may be likened to
the career of a horse whose record for
speed has long defied all competitors
A failure to reach its top notch record
in a few subsequent races means only
that the animal is slightly out Of con-
dition.
Los Angeles has been comparatively
out of building condition for several
months and we all know that the cause
is the extraordinary prices marked up
by the lumber trust. Home makers, or
rather a considerable percentage Of
that class, are inclined to await i'm
proved conditions-to wait until those
lumber clouds roll by.
The logical answer to the question
asked above is found in the fact that
the increase in the city's population
has been going right on since the be-
ginning of the lulI at the rate of not
less than $4,000 per year. There is no
symptom of the slightest lull in that
ratio of increase. On the contrary, there
is substantial evidence that there
has been, since the beginning of the
year, an increased ratio of addition to
the city's population. The reports of
business at the postoffice, the passenger
records of the railways and the exper-
ience of real estate agents all support
the conclusion.
How long can the relative building
lull withstand the pressure of an army
of home seekers numbering at the rate
of $4,000 a year? How can that army
be housed?
Every real estate agent in the city is
weary of uttering his stereotyped re-
sponse to seekers for rentable houses
and apartments. They have nothing to
offer. And the average class of houses
desired by purchasers Is becoming
almost as scarce as honest officials in
San Francisco.
Persons who are familiar with spring
flood conditions in a big river may
understand the present building situa-
tion in this city. Ice masses, logs,
driftwood and all sorts of floatable
debris pile up against the piers and
abutments of a bridge. The food con-
tinues to rise, the impact Of the accu-
mulated mass deepens, and ultimately
the bridge is swept away.
1t is such a pressure. figuratively,
that is caused by the impact Of $4,000
annual increase of population in Los
Angeles. The pressure is reaching the
resistless point and the time must be
near when the obstacle will be swept
away. That invading army OF new
comers-nearly 5000 month in the
average and more than equal per year
to the population of any other city in
the state, with two or three exceptions
MUST have homes.
There is a great deal of home build
ing in progress in Los Angeles now,
Notwithstanding the conviction of own
ers that the lumber trust bridge must
soon be swept out by the accommodating
pressure. But the building is of emer-
gent character. Home makers must
provide shelter and II the home seek
ers can neither rent nor buy suitable
home places they are forced to build
them in spite Of the exceptional cost.