Arizona republican., 1918-03-11
SOME TESTIMONY
 FROM LOS ANGELES

The people of this town do a great deal of kicking, but those who famil- iarize themselves with conditions in other towns, in almost any other town quit it and begin to appreciate their surroundings at their proper value. The Chamber of Commerce lately re- ceived letter from an attorney or Los Angeles in reply to one making inquiry about rents and other condl- tions there for purposes of compari- son. The writer is a well-known legal writer and author of pamphlets on va rious subjects.
 As to rents, he says: Rents of resi- dence houses are cheap when corn- pared with those of three or four years ago. There are good many thousands of vacant houses to DICK from. In consequence, it is possible to rent houses at about half the
 rental value of the past few years. l have two vacant places myself and know whereof speak.
 But while there are good many vacant business places, the rents are | considered high and are being held | that way for the purpose of holding up the old sale price to be judged by the rental price asked for on the in- come to be received therefrom. Four years ago | was offered three times | as much for a parcel of property as | I could get at the present times. But I the taxes are three times as much. 1 Tn other words, taxes have in creased 200 per cent or more, while market values have depreciated one l half or two- thirds. If you find one who does not believe that, I am willing l to convince him by turning my prop I erty over to him for half what could have had for 1t few years ago. The l increase in the tax rate is a matter of record I can also prove that we have paid ridiculously high assessment rates 1 for the purchase of condemned prop erty that was later sold to the city under our rank condemnation law. "Furthermore, business men are be- | ing imposed upon by a double tele- phone system with rates that are be- yond all fairness to the users. For | full service it costs $13.50 month foI | the maintenance of two desk phones | in an office
 Summing up his experience and
 concluding, the writer said: T have had enough of hot air in Los Angeles
 and expect to make change soon Can you blame me for it? We are
 supposed to have all the saloons closed
 April 1. But understand that an in junction is being placed on record against the closing of the saloons and
 no doubt that will be talked about fol
 a few years before anything is done The people of Arizona got busy ant
 put their state into the dry list. That is one reason why I would like to live in Arizona. Since statehood, Arizona has shown progress. For the past few years I have made a study of Arizona state laws and conditions in general
 In particular I have taken great in terest in your state land laws whicf
 seem fair to prospective purchasers.
 q have lived in Los Angeles mos of the time for the past 9 years. ant I feel warranted in saying that l know something of conditions here. I can
 not conscientiously ask anyone O Phoenix to locate in Los Angeles, be cause it does not seem reasonable tha he could better himself financially b, such a change.
 "You are interested in the welfar,
 of your people. I am also and if vol
 feel that it would be of benefit t
 readers of Phoenix papers to read m.
 letter, you have permission to publisl
 it. 1 am ready to back my statement
 with recorded facts"
 The writer adds: Los Angele
 boosters are blowing their heads of
 about climate. When that is said it i abO,lt all said"