Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-03
MESJ NfnnN RAEDCuAMT
INV YUM WLNLHIAlNl
PRAISES THE WEST
BELIEVES THE PACIFIC COAST
AIDED TRADE
Says Traffic in California and North-
ern States is Far Ahead of That
in the East When He
Left

Manuel Lopez. president of the Lopez
Tobacco and Cigar company of New
York city, who arrived in Los Angeles
Yesterday, declared if it had not been
for the trade on the Pacific coast many
establishments could not have wealth
cred the financial depression.
Mr.. Lopez, who for ten years mas
made an annual visit to Los Angeles.
is enthusiastic over the business pros
meets on the coast, and states mere
after his firm will devote the greater
part of it's energies to catering TO west
ern trade. s.o
a trip across the country, making stops
AFT the large Industrial centers, and Is
in position to know the commercla
outlook of the country.
In speaking of conditions in the faf
east ana New York in particular, MT
Lopez said: when 1 left New 1orR
four weeks ago, to use vulgar eX-
preston business was rotten, especlaliy
in nv line. ] find a vast dlference III
california and the northern states, but
look to see a general Improvement IN
business all over the country.
"Of course the products of tobacco
companies are termed luxuries, and we
were perhaps hit harder than any other
business during the panic, but we have
tided over the worst of it, although
must say if it had not been for our
Pacific coast trade we would haroiy
have been able to stand the panic. :,
"Although western trade dropped on
annreciablv it was nothing compared
with the sudden drop experienced ny
eastern dealers.
"First. we were told that after
the presidential nominations business
would boom; then it was a case or walt
until after election; now they tell
us that everything will be smooth SAIL
ing after the inauguration, and am
getting to be a real American, Tor tney
tell me Americans live partly on hope
Expects Revival of Business
"Rut. seriously, I expect a general
revival of business. but i do not looh
for n to come with a rush, for after
such a severe monetary depression the
revival must necessarily be gradual.
'The west is certainly an enterpris-
ing country and l believe the iarse
business houses of the west are lai
more stable than those of the east and
much safer in which to invest capital
1T have lust come from Seattle, and
that city is booming, and you can hear
nothing but talk of the coming expo
sition. The people there are profit1ne
by the example of the Chicago expo
sition and do not intend to be left deer
in the financial hole as result OF the
exposition.
Il have decided to move my entire
business from New York to Key west
Fla, and already the building of ware
houses for our Florida plant is under
way"
Mr.. Lopez. who is known as MIL
lionaire cigar manufacturer, is ma"
tive of SPAIN but when mere youth
went to Havana, Cuba, where his
parents started in the tobacco INDUS
try. Twenty-four years ago young Lo-
peg realized the possibilities of max
ing money in the United States and
opened a small factory in New forh
city. He has been successful ever since,
and from small one-story factory the
plant of which he is now president
has grown to be one of the largest cigar
manufactures in the country.
Mr.. Lopez will leave Los Angeles to-
day on his return to New York, max
ing business stops at Denver and
IL