Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-21
Los ANGELES LEADS IN INDUS.
TRIAL ACTIVITY
FACTORIES MULTIPLY ON THE
PACIFIC COAST
Present Population Of the Angel City
Over 3oo,ooo--Vast Interests of
. the Growing Metropolis
Shown In Figures

ring metropolis or positive cOiili1eFcit
and Industrial activity, a city that has
outstripped many other large cities of
the country in development, in the ac-
complishment of gigantic undertakings
and in the completion of enterprises
that would stagger communities Of less
nerve and faith. 1t is the pride and
boast of those who do things In this
marvellous city that they always make
good" striking example of this
truth is the records OF the local captains
of industry, who have gridlroned the
county of Los Angeles with interurban
electric railways extending from the
mountains to the sea; the individual
property owners and the syndicates
that have caused to be erected the tow
ering hotel and office buildings which
occupy the principal corners OF our
business oughfares--buildings OF
steel and concrete construction. thor
oughly fireproof and modern In every
particular from the basement to the
roof. And then there are the hundreds
of Industrial enterprises that have been
established in and near the city which
have contributed in no small degree TO
the substantial wealth and solid
growth of the community and Its varied
interests.
Population Over 100000
There are those still residing in Los
Angeles who remember when there
were but 1000 inhabitants In the place.
The first census taken by the govern
ment, in 1850, gave us population or
1910. Ten years later the figures
iumped to 4400. due to migrations to
the coast caused by the discoveries of
gold Trade was limited to dealings In
hides, wool and tallow. Owing to the
remoteness of Los Angeles and the lack
OF transportation facilities, growth was
very slow and the population of the
city was but $500 in 1870; but during
the next ten years the growth was
more rapid, the population In 1880 being
nearly II 900. Old residents relate in
feresting stories of the early expansion
of the old Spanish town from the Plaza
southwark along Main, Spring. Fort
and other avenues. with scattering
domiciles in the vicinity of the foot
hills--of the unpaved streets, the driv-
ing floods that rushed down from the
hills and of the big ranches, rich IN
fruits and flowers, that are now
adorned by business blocks OF the sky
scraper type and by thousands of beau
tiful residences and bungalows.
The arrival of the Americans" by the
hundreds in the sos and the completion
OF the first transcontinental railroad
by way of Yuma, connecting with other
lines at Ell Paso, Tex, and later the
arrival of the first trains over another
transcontinental line, marked the be-
ginning of the rapid growth of Los An
geles in population and commercial I'M
portance. The gold fever and the de-
iightful climate attracted the people OF
the east and the north to the Pacffic
coast, homes sprang up as II by magic
and business houses multiplied In every
direction. Soon the old Plaza became
less attractive, and commerce shifted
sorhward. until today the business
l. Ia te.
the corner Of Fifth and Spring streets,
while a few claim that the actual CEN
ter is still further south
There was a memorable period In tho
SOS when speculation ran riot ana
SCARED beyond all reason. Conservative
operators moved cautiously ana wnen
the bubble burst sensible plans were
formed for the building Of a city that
has become the wonder and the envy
of the world And with the sane action
of the representative citizens or tne
community and the frank showing or
the real possibilities of the city and
region round about for the creation OF
a home and Industrial section of the
first Importance, people f1ocked to the
coast every season by the tens OF thou
sands. and now the city of Los An
eeIes by the latest official count shows
q popuiation of over 100000. with fair
prospect of reaching 100000 In few
Vast Industrial interests
Los Angeles no longer depends upon
"tourists' for its business prosperity
and its steady development. The city
has Jumped from a tourist resort win
ter and summer-although all visitors
from every country and cline are more
than welcome at all seasons or the year
and now the producers In the root-
hills and valleys, the great corporations
that have so thoroughly developed the
oil interests of California and neighbor-
inpr states those who have delved into
the earth and brought forth the pre-
cious metals to the value of many mil
lions of dollars, the hundreds of manu-
facturers in various lines are tine sait
of the earth" and are the chief factors
that have made Los Angeles what she
is today, with assurance of still further
bringing about substantial results that
will be an inspiration and an example
for communities of the far east that
have been left behind In the march of
progress
The wonderful productiveness of the
cultivated soil of the Pacific coast re-
gion invites and chains the attention OF
the people of all lands, and each year
the records show satisfactory increase
in the population of the coast states,
with corresponding increase in the
wealth of the extensive area. Seeing is
believing and results count.
Growth and Products
Among the chief factors justly cred
tied with the steady development of the
cities and various sections of the Pa
c;fic coast region are the organized
bodies known as chambers of COM
merce and boards of trade that have
received the unremitting aid of pro-
gressive newspapers and the wise ad-
vice of ffnanciers, manufacturers AND
merchants, whose counsel has been OF
the greatest value. The Los Angeles
chamber of commerce, with its mem
hership of nearly 250O, Is the asknowl-
edged leader in advancing the interests
( OF the Pacific coast, and on the flooi
of its exhibit hall may be viewed, at
tractiyely displayed, the splendid pro-
ducts of nearly every section OF the
great west-mlnerals, fruits, oil, manu-
featured goods, gems. works OF art
curios from many districts and lands
a grand collection, showing the widt
scope and the wealth of the country
with such thorough evidence of the
productiveness of the coast the visitor
is at once impressed with the growing
Importance Of the Pacific region anc
his greatest desire Is to become q mar
of action in the land of such splendol
and richness.
Here are few figures for 1907. snow
ing some of the products of this re-
zion. Carload lots--citrus fruits, 10000