The Denver star., 1914-11-21

Thrifty Community Near Los Angeles
Largely Inhabited by Southern Folk
Makes Remarkable Showing Along
Many Lines of industry-Many Own
Their Own Homes.
Los Angeles.-The town Of Watts, in
the vicinity of Los Angeles, has an
energetic, Industrious colored popula-
ton numbering something like 600.
The majority Of these people came
from the south. purchasing their homes
by degrees after having secured en-
ployment in Los Angeles. Their pref
erence for a suburban home with its
possibility of truck farming. poultry
and cattle raising was the underlying
motive for their choice of Watts as
place Of residence. Consequently there
are a goodly number Of colored farm
ers who own thriving ranches that net
them considerable income, says
Eloise Bibb Thompson in the Los An.
geles Tribune.
There are also janitors, carpenters.
brickmasons, furniture dealers. grocery
dealers and one real estate agent The
latter. R. @. Patton. Is said to be doing
a thriving business, having offices in
Watts, Los Angeles and in Chicago
There is also a foundry owned by John
Davis. who molds hinges for bungalow
doors. Mr. Davis is also an inventor.
having recently got out a patent on
plumbing rings.
The largest colored dealer in new and
secondhand furniture, James Seals.
is found on Main street, opposite the
city hall Mr.. Seals came to Califor-
mia about ten years ago with little or
no capital. His energy and persistence
are shown in the fact that he now
owns the building in which his store
is located and has increased his stock
from few hundred dollars to several
thousand dollars and built up his busi-
ness to.such an extent that hired as
sistance Is needed.
The local banks are also patrontZed
by the colored people of Watts, most
of whom own their own homes. and
few have valuable holdings IN Los
Angeles in localities where real estate
Is rapidly growing in value. These
people support two churches and are
erecting a third, which promises to do
credit to their prosperous appearance
The Watts Independent league is com
posed of thirty-five colored men. who
organized for the purpose Of looking
after the municipal. political and So
cial interests of their neighbors. These
men. all Of whom are property owners.
contribute largely to local charities,
giving to both individuals and institu-
tions.
The colored youth of Watts are found
in the Compton high school. where
they remain for the most part until
they have completed the required
course of study.
Likewise the people of Boyle
Heights are worthy Of considera ton
Boyle Heights. a part Of Los Angeles.
was laid out by George Hansen almost
century after the founding OF the
city Of Los Angeles by the Spaniards
1t was named after an lrishman. An
drew Boyle. who owned great por-
ton Of that locality. which he planted
to grapes, building up in time Il sue
cessful wine business. Twenty years
after the formation of Boyle Heights
the colored people began to take up
residence there. very few at FIRST
gradually increasing as time passed
until the northeast section was almost
wholly inha bited by them. as 1t Is at
present.
Many took advantage on their ar
rival of the low cost Of land and pur-
chased much valuable property. as. for
instance. Moses Stapler. one of the
oldest settlers, who twenty-three years
ago bought considerable property on
Bay street, which he sold recently to
great advantage He also bought the
city block extending from Savannah
to Evergreen street. which he still
owns. The houses on this land bring
him in a comforta bic revenue.
j. W. Coleman, another colored resi-
dent of Boyle Heights, also has sc
cured much property. the total valua-
tion of which is estimated at $4,000
This property consists OF five houses
on New Jersey street. one house on
Michigan avenue and sixteen room
hat in process of construction on Sa-
vannah street Clarence b. Coleman.
the son of ]. w. Coleman. has an auto
and wagon delivery business known as
the Boyle Heights express. established
in 1889. which makes speciality OF
moving. packing. shipping and storing
A three ton auto truck is owned and
operated by young Coleman.
Other colored residents OF Boyle
Heights are engaged as follows: One
postal clerk In local postotfice. one
postal clerk on the Southern Pacific
railroad for the past eight years. SIX
janitors in the hall of records. one
restaurant keeper. one confectioner
one cigarmaker. three policemen. tw"
expressmen one plumber. one woman
notary pubic and public stenoSra
pher. two rubbish contractors. tw"
painters. four carpenters and three