The Denver star., 1914-11-28
GREAT PROGRESS
IN CALIFORNIA.
Plenty Of Business In the
Little Town Of Watts.
CHANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE


Largely Inhabited by Southern Folk
Makes Remarkable Showing Along
Many Lines Of lndustry-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 ~ q
place Of residence. Consequently there
are goodly number Of colored farm
ers who own thriving ranches that net
them a considerable income, says
Eloiss Bibb Thompson in the Los An
geles Tribune.
There are also janitors. carpenters,
brickmasons, furniture dealers, grocery
latter. r. G. Patton. u said to be doing
thriving business, having onces in
Watts. Los Angeles and In Chicago.
Thers is also foundry owned by John
Davis. who molds hinges for bungalow
doors. Mr.. Davis IL 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 a few hundred dollars to several
thousand dollars and built up his bust.
ness to such an extent that hired as
sistance is needed
Tho local banks are also patronixed
by the colored people Of Watts, most
Of whom own their own homes, and a
few have valuable holdings, in Los
Angeles in localities where real estate
u rapidly growing in value. These
people support two churches and are
erecting . third, which promises to do
credit to their prosperous appearance.
The Watts Independent league Il CON-
posed Of thirty-6ve colored men. who
organized for the purpose Of looking
after the municipal. political and 90
cial interests Of their neighbour. These
men. all Of whom are property owners.
contribute largely to local charities.
giving to both individuals and institu.
tons.
~ Uo - M
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 consideration.
Boyle Heights. a part Of Los Angeles.
was laid out by George Hansen almost
q century after the founding Of the
city of Los Angeles BY the Spaniards
It was named after au lrishman. An
drew Boyle. who owned great por
ton Of that locality. which he planted
to grapes, building up In time sue
cessful wine business. Twenty years
after the formation of Boyle Heights
the colored people began to take up
residence there. very few at drst,
gradually increasing as time passed
until the northeast section was almost
wholly inhabited by them, as 1t II 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. de 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 BILE revenue.
]. w. Coleman, another colored resi-
dent of Boyle Heights, also has Sc.
cured much property, the total valua
ton of which Is estimated at $4,000
This property consists OF i've houses
i on New Jersey street, one house on
Michigan avenue and a sixteen room
Hat in process Of construction on sa-
vannah street. Clarence B. Coleman,
the son of J. W. Coleman, has an auto
and wagon delivery business known az
! the Boyle Heights express, established
in 1880. which makes a specially 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 pOstof1ce, one
postal clerk on the Southern Pacific
railroad for the past eight years. siA
| 1anitors in the hall Of records. ont
restaurant keeper, one confechoner
one ciRarmaker. three policemen. twt
expressmen. one plumber. one woman
notary pubic and public stenogra
pber, two rubbish contractors. tw'
| painters. four carpenters and thre,
hffckmaa aona. one Of whom. w. 81