Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-29
UNIONS PROUD
OF NEW TEMPLE
PROPERTY IS VALUED AT
100000
Building Is of the Most Modern Char-
acter and viii Be One OF
Los Angeles Show
Places

Six years ago next month the move
ment for a Labor temple in Los Angeles
took definite shape. and today the re-
suit is the finest home of labor in the
United States. The Union Labor Tenn
pie association was chartered April g.
1903, and it now owns property valued
at 5000, 000 Five years are the unions
of Los Angeles were meeting In
livery stable building arranged for
meeting halls. Now they have seven-
story, fireproof building which is being
finished in the most approved style,
and will have appointments and unique
improvements that will make it one of
the show places of Los Angeles.
The building has been paid for en-
tirely by the contributions of union
labor. There are sixty-fouh unions In
Los Angeles, with a total membership
of 1000. This does not include the large
memberships at Pasadena, San Ber-
nardino, Riverside and other nearby
towns.
The undertaking has been financed
entirely by members of Los Angeles
unions, and they are going about the
raising of the $4,000 still required for
completion in an equally businessllke
manner. The land on Maple avenue,
for which the association paid $4,000, Is
now estimated as worth $4,000.
The Labor temple is so feet wide ana
1875 feet deep, full seven stories high, OIL
brick and steel construction with as
bestos-covered roof, and it has hre-
escape protection pronounced w
authorities to be the most desirable OIL
any building on the Pacific coast.
Two floors have been entirely com
pleted, and they bring in monthly
revenue of 5000. The entire building
will return at least $4,000 month,
thereby making it a very desirapie
financial investment, aside from the ad-
vantages to the labor unions. :.
A feature of the building unique III It
self is the fitting floor of the main hall.
1t was devised by ]. E. Timmons, man
ager of the building, and has attracted
prominent attention from the Sclehtlnc
American and architectural papers
The front end of the floor Tits down
four feet, making a stage when DESIRED
but when back in place the entire noor
space is available for drills, or dancing
The mechanism designed by MI TIM
mons is so nicely adjusted that the
entire weight of fifty tons may be
shifted by hand by one man. Or
dinarily, however, it will be operated
by electric motor. Mr.. Timmons mas
been urged to patent his idea ana sen
1t Tor use where Coliipiii'|A"ii 'i -
desirable
Majority of Shares Sold
Other members of labor unions have
taken an equally active interest in the
success of the movement for temple
Volunteers have sold large amount
of stock. although from the beginning
annie restrictions have been imposed
10 prevent the control of the temple
from slipping into a few hands or away
from the unions of Los Angeles. Ihcfe
are only 10000 shares now unsold, ana
these are being placed on the install
ment plan. 49,.
Members of different unions have
also contributed labor ana otner as
sistance in financing the enterprise
Donations and benefits in this line nave
netted the temple fund $780, one man.
C. NJ Fielder, secretary and business
agent of the BARRIERS local, has taken
If on himself to raise $4,000 necessary
70 nav for the elevator system, In
consequence he is known about the
temple as the elevator kid.
The corner stone of the temple was
laid Labor day. 1906, and work mas
progressed steadily since that Time
despite the panic and other unforeseen
discoura gements. Soon after the corner
stone was laid a petition was circulated
to widen Maple avenue, and 1T was nee
essary to suspend all work until thal
question was finally settled.
Members of the Labor Temple asso-
citation have no doubt about raising
the money necessary to keep on with
the work. Following the completion OF
the building they expect 10 deNelop
even broader plans for the betterment
of union labor in Los Angeles.