Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-19
y Long Beach, Queen of the Beaches
BY w. L. CAMP,


Long Beach, "Queen of the Beaches,
is located on the Pacific ocean, twenty
two miles south of Los Angeles, forty
minutes ride.
In 1909 we had a population of 226O
It is now conservatively estimated at
23,000 At the time of its original in
corporation it contained 3.Ol square
miles: today it embraces 1918 square
miles. The assessed valuation is $19,-
975.O00 Average city tax rate for the
past ten years was LOLA per 500; Tor
the present fiscal year it is 30 cents
per 800.
Long Beach has been known as
delightful summer resort. 1t is now
admitted to be a very popular winter
resort as well, and is fast becoming
known as a commercial city of Won
derful possibilities. If one has been
fortunate enough to spend few weeks
in Long Beach, he knows and sees TINS
condition on every hand. You VINO
have not should visit this delightful
little city, with It's southern exposure
it's wonderful climate, its splendid
homes, business blocks, hotels and
apartments, churches, Y. M. G. A, Y.
w. C. A., public schools, nine in num-
her with an enrolment of S6S2 pupils
and 124 teachers. The location of the
S253. 900 polytechnic high school accom-
modating 1900 pupils has been decided
upon and will soon be under construc-
tion. The public library, with total
circulation during the past twelve
months of 159,951 volumes 1S,2OO books;
eight banks, with total deposits of S4,-
514.14917, six are commercial and two
savings; the principal fraternaI or
ders. modern fire department, septic
sewer system, no saloons, wonder1ul
artesian water rich in health bearing
qualities, many miles of asphalt ana
macadam streets, concrete sidewalks,
three beautiful parks containing lo.oo
acres. auditorium costing $4,000 with
a seating capacity of 5000, double
decked pleasure pier costing 100000
extending 1900 feet into the grand old
Pacific; the magnificent Virginia hotei
representing an investment of $l,O00,-
900: a most interesting art gallery, the
pike" the walk of thousand llghts,
its wonderful beach is the longest ana
safest on the Pacific coast; surf bath
ing all through the year; one of the
hest bath houses. costing 100000;
skating rink, double whirl, roller
coaster, aerial spiralway free band
concerts afternoon and evening, dane
ing pavilion and seven moving PIC
ture shows, etc.
We have splendid transportation "a
cilities. The Southern Pacific win
two daily trains, the Salt Lake with
three daily trains, and the Pacific
Electric runs fifty-three one TO four
car trains from Los Angeles to Long
Reach every day and fifty from Long
Beach to Los Angeles, also providing
for local service in the following man
ner: Fourteen cars to Alamitos Bay
daily. eleven to Naples, forty-siX to
Zaferia station, thirty-eight to Will
lows and forty-eight to East Seventh
street.
seldom does the easy going tourist
or visitor to the Pike, which Is only
one of the amusement places in Long
Beach, get a clear understanding OF
the breadth, depth of the city or its
possibilities, A great land-locked har-
hor which will give us five miles of
water frontage, is being developed by
the Dock and Terminal company prl-
vate capitan. This company is man.
aged and controlled by strong, deter
mined men, Only a few months ago
the city of Long Beach took very
progressive, effective and practical ac-
tion. when a bond issue of $245,000 was
voted for the purchase of water 'front.'
age and the building of municipal
wharves (these wharves are nearing
completion), thus making 1t the first
citv on the coast to offer an open port
TO the commerce of the world free from
annoying and excessive tolls. All this
work is being done without govern
ment aid. This one fact should con-
vince the most skeptical of the courage
of the progressive citizens or Long
Beach.
The bascule bridge at the entrance
Of the harbor is one of the largest in
the world; it's length is 234 feet and
has a span of 1S0 feet. The Craig ship
building plant and the Long Beach
salt works are already located on the
fNYa q
steel steamships under construction,
costing 100000. The activity in and
about the Craig ship yards is great
to see. and very impressive is this
tremendous noise of hammering and
rattlIng which will result in big ships
with a capacity of carrying 1,5OO,0OO
feet of lumber as well as passengers
up and down the coast. The salt works
Is a very interesting industry, TOO.
Their o1itpl1t for last year was 26,4O0,-
900 pounds.
The Southern California Edison com
nanv has purchased a location on the
inner harbor and work has already
been begun in the construction of the
gigantic steam-electric enterprise tnat
will mean the expenditure of S2.0OOO0O
within the next two years This VIII
he the first unit The company has
additional plans that will increase the
size of the plant until total of $6,-
O0O. 900 will have been expended.
In and around the city great deal
of building activity is very much in
evidence, and the building permits
asked for and granted during the past
month substantiates our claim that we
are growing rapidly and with good
foundation. The amount runs up into
a very substantial sum.
The chamber Of commerce received
telegram from United States Senator
Flint today Saturday stating
that $4,000 had been appropriated for
a site for our postoffice and other
federal offices. BY this action on the
mart of the government it is still more
convincing that Long Beach is worth
while and then some.
we feel that we have only begun,
and we mean to be prepared to solve
the problems that are bound to con-
front any growing city and to take
advantage Of the wonderful opportunl-
Ties and possibilities that are ours.
Tf YOU are not familiar with this
most attractive place, take this tip
become so. 1t will surely bear investi-
cation.
For further information
address chamber of COM