Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-25
THE CITY OF ANGELS
By Frederic j. HaSkin

! when the lated United States census eStl-
mated the cty's population at $4,000,
| thereby proving it to have 10000 more peo-
pie than San Fran cisco.
For there is a painful and prodigious
| rivalry between these two cities of the Pa
cific coast, which is most bewildering to
the visitor. 1t is surprising enough to find
California a self-appointed Eden, far re-
moved by climate and other superior attrac-
| lions from the rest of a pitifu and benighted
world, but to find one-half of California
claiming superiority over the other half is
| really too amazing. At least, it is for
mere humble fastener, unacquainted with
the glorious wonders of the state, and per-
mitted only brief respite from his hapless
home in which to find them.
ooh, you won't like the northern part of
the state,'' you are informed in mentioning
that your travels are not to end here in the
City of Angels cts windy, and it rains
most of the time, and the people are more
! like fasteners. No, if you want to see the
best of California you'd better make Los An
geles your headquarters and take various
trips to the south, where you can enjoy the
true California climate"
But upon the same day that you receive
this advice, you are apt to meet north
Californian, unaccountably strayed south,
who cherishes an entirely different opinion.
''The real California is in the north Of
the state" he will tell you scornfully, in
ferring that only misguided fastener
"The climate here is too warm and ener-
vating-it needs a little wind to stir things
up. And all of the scenery is in the north
the Yosemite, Del Monte, Lake Tahoe,
Mount Shasta and San Francisco. Why, this
isn't a city; it's only country town. And
the country is so dry that they have to
water it constantly to keep it from drying
up and blowing away. They even have to
irrigate their harbor here"
TIE HarbOr
But the subject of the Los Angeles har-
Dor if sufficient to keep north Californian
talking in scathing accents for hour.
cts not really THEIRS" he will tell you, "but
belongs to San Pedro. San Pedro is an in
dependent town, but they made it join their
| township by refusing to supply it with water
if it didn't That's how they got their pop
ulation, too-making all the little towns
about here join-but that they've got
| the harbor, what will they do with it? It's
not even ornamental"
Yes, Los Angeles has to stand an enor-
nous amount of chatting about it's new har-
Dor from other harbors Of California, but
it is exceedingly good-natlIred in defending
itself. 1t is true that nature, which has
! been so generous in bestowing gifts on this
section, did not give it harbor, and that,
therefore, one had to be made at great ex-
pense to the city, but Los Angeles believes
that this enterprise was necessary to it's de-
velopment, and that even now it is beginning
to pay dividends.
''You see, the city is entering an era Of
tremendous Development" explained one of
its prominent citizens, who conducted the
reporter about the city. "In 1880 we were
only sleepy Mexican pueblo, wit a few
American perquisites and a population of
only $4,000. Now there are nearly 500, 900
of us, and we're attracting the largest in
dustries in the country because of our splen-
did resources and facilities.
Within few miles of the city, nearly one
49,
States is produced. The shipment of lubri-
cants an6 by-products from this port is the
greatest of any in the United States. In
turn, the port receives more lumber for dis
trlbutlon throughout the southwest than
any other of the nations harbors.
From sea to mountains are vast or
chards grain fields, cattle ranches, orange
groves and truck gardens, which furnish
material for the greatest canning industry
IN the world. Large shipbuilding interests
are located here; there is a large garment
industry, tire factories and chemical plants,
as we'll as the motion picture Industry"
Movies Accessory Industries
In connection with the last, the prominent
citizen explained that nearly everything re-
quired by the industry, with the exception of
the celluloid films, is aso lade in Los An
geles. The lumber, paint, electric power,
clothing, properties and art work needed in
movie productions are all furnished here
Many small industries have grown up in the
unique. There is one shoe store, for instance,
where footwear of every nationality and pc
Rod of history is made to order. Another shop
supplies crockery ware of a light porous ma
teriaI that breaks easily and harmlessly over
the comedians head. Still another shop pro-
duces artificial food of all varieties for the
screen.
eyes, you can find lots Of interesting local
color like that here" concluded the citizen,
breathless with enthusiasm. "And we're 60
ing to have a lot more in few years The
harbor will"
"You are a native, them" interrupted the
reporter quickly, having heard almost enough
about the harbor
"No," replied the citizen, "Im from Illi-
nois-the southern part Of Illinois-but I've
lived here eight years.
One of the curious things about Los An
geles is this fact, that most Of her citizens
sachusetts or Iowa. Iowa, especially, seems to
have furnished the largest percentage of the
population. During the entire time that we
have been here, calling on banks, chambers Of
commerce, moving picture concerns and SUCH
we have met only one native Californian, and
he was not native of Los Angeles.
But inasmuch as many of the middle west
erners who come here are extremely wealthy,
having had the good taste to make their
money before seeking more salubrious CHI
mate, Los Angeles is rather partial to the sons
of that section. If often proves profitable
For the citizen of Illinois or Iowa, who re-
tires in his goodly age to California, remem-
bers the few good points of his home state
and is a1Xious for California to assess them
too &c. having plenty of time on his still
mildly energetic hands, he proceeds to start
a movement for the building of some public
institution, such as they had at home, and
himself contributes generously to it's cause.