Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-26
BY w. L. CAMP
Secretary Chamber of Commerce

A fellow could write on and on about
this most attractive little city of 23,
600, Long Beach, the queen of the
I Beaches'-Long Beach, that is bound
to be one of the very important COM
mercial cities of the Pacific coast, anC
then some.
Long Beach looks mighty good tc
everyone who is fortunate enough tC
see it. You, Mr.. Man, if you are mo-
familiar with this city, that had &
this city that has population oi
$4,000 today, you should become so.
We believe that even though you are
from Missouri (got to be shown, we
are perfectly safe in making this sug-
gestion.
Long Beach, Queen of the Beaches" +"
is located on the Pacific ocean, twenty
miles south of Los Angeles. Built on
a level plateau, at a commanding ele-
walton, it affords a wide outlook sea-
ward to Catalina island and landward
over the fertile, rolling plains to the
foothills of the snoW-capped Sierra
Madres.
In few cities do the combined pos
sibilities of commerce and residence
obtain as in Long Beach. A very large
area possesses the typographical,
scenic and climatic characteristics that
foster a residential district of the
higher class. Entirely distinct from
this, and yet most conveniently sit
uated, is another great area having the
natural conformation inevitably asso-
ciated with commerce and industry.
The climate of Southern California
possesses a worldwide reputation, and
that of Long Beach is typical of the
best. Even among the coast towns it
enjoys conspicuous advantages.
At the foot Of the bluff and extend
ing for ten miles lies a beach un-
IL o0fG CT
Almost as hard and smooth as an
asphalt pavement, so broad that over
it at low tide ten automobiles may be
driven abreast, 1t forms a natural
boulevard, reminding a traveller of the
far-famed "Ormond-by-the- Sea-"
1t is stated in the second paragraph
of this humble little article that from
q village of 2260 souls in 1900 it has
grown and grown until we now have
population of 23,000-a very conserv-
ative estimate. The same growth and
Improvement is very much in evidence
when one sees the splendid, substantial
business blocks and homes of today as
compared with the one-story frame
business buildings and houses of ten
years ago. One modest little bank
then; eight strong banks now with a
total of $4,600000 Gin round figures) on
deposit Bumpy, dirty, dark streets
then; eighteen miles Of asphalt sew
eral more to be put in SOON, clean and
well lighted now. Just a handful of
one-horse stores then; a great many
ell-conducted and stocked mercantile
houses today. One or two small hotels
and boarding houses then; several good
hotels (chief among which is the mag
nificent Hotel Virginia, constructed
and furnished at a cost of $1,250,000),
and many up-to-date apartment houses
now. Not a single public park then;
three attractive public parks now, con-
tanning 1888 acres; splendid churches,
public school buildings, public library,
the principal fraternal orders, modern
fire department, septic sewer system,
no saloons, an abundance of good soft
water supplied by artesian wells, audi
torium costing $4,000 with a seating
capacity of 5000, double-decked pleas
ure pier costing 100000, extending 1900
feet out into The ocean; 100000 bath
house, and the famous Pike with It's
many attractions on either side of the
'Walk of a Thousand Lights
Another extremely interesting fact is
this: Ten years ago there were about
1000 acres located in what was then
called West Long Beach. This great
tract of land. or rather swamp has
been reclaimed during the past three
and a half years. 1t is now being de-
veloped by private capital a Long
Beach enterprise controlled by strong,
determined men, and converted into a
remarkable free harbor Every bit Of
it is available for channels, ships and
frontage for wharf and warehouse con- |
struction. One channel has already
been dredged (by two great suction |
dredges) Off the main channel, and |
another will be added in the near
future.
Eight months ago the city of Long
Beach voted bonds in the amount OF |
S245, 900 az to y for the purchase of |
water frontage and the building of a |
wharf. The wharf. which is |
ASS feet long, is located on channel |
No. 8, and on slip 600 feet in length. |
The water here at low tide is twenty |
one feet, and whenever the needs of |
the harbor may demand it will be |
deepened to thirty feet. When ready |
for business it will mean that Long |
Beach is the first and only city on the
coast to offer an open port to the COM
merce of the world free from the an
noying and excessive tolls.
The great Craig shipbulldng plant Is
located on the harbor and is in opera
tion. One is impressed with the num-
ber of men employed and with the ac-
tivity in the shipyards.
1t is great to sec and hear the tre-
mendous noise of the foundry and ma
chine shops, other great machines hav-
|
cranes carrying huge iron plates and
zther massive pieces, and the many
high powered riveting machines which
are busy in the work Of putting to-
gether the big steel steamships that
are being constructed-vessel that
will have a capacity Of carrying 1,50O Il
100 feet of lumber as we'll as passen-
gers up and down the coast.
The Long Beach salt works is located
IN the harbor and is a very interest
ng industry, too. Their output last
year was 26,4o0,000 pounds of refined
salt. Twenty-Five men are employed
hight and day by this company.
The American gas engine has been
ocated on the harbor and will soon be
n operation.
In closing May I mention the
he fact that the great Southern
California Edison company recent
Y secured a site on the Long
Beach harbor This means much to
4ong Beach, and as a matter of fact to
III this part of Southern California, for