Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-04
CALIFORNIA CITY
SOON MAY BECOME
RICHEST IN WORLD
BY FORREST WHITE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journall
Copyright, 1929


in such an increasing volume, that
she has lost count OF it, to say moth
| ing of devising way to spend it
A short year ago she did not dream
that such a thing was possible. The
discovery Of oil upon city property
has wrought the change.
But Long Beach did not start out
to be a rich city, she intended only
| to be a happy and contented village
Some thirty years ago there was nc
Long Beach-just a strip of friend
ly shore on a summer sea. 1t be
came village of homes. From the
| first there was opposition to its
growth This has PERSISTED but as
| though through sheer perversity, il
is now a thriving city of 100000 in
habitants.
| OF course many of the newcomers
had big progressive ideas about
Long Beach becoming q great city
an industrial and commercial center
and have fought for the realization
of these ideas. The conservative ele
ment however, which held to the idea
that Long Beach should be a happy
and contented city of homes, has re
manned in the majority. Several
years ago the city was virtually fore
ed to acquire a large tract of land
from the region known as Signal
| Hill in order to urive streets and
roads through it to take care OF
pressing traffic problems.
Considered Hardship S.
This was considered hardship by
the old residents, even though the
land, regarded as next to worthless,
was bought at low price. The old
timers, most of them coming from
farms of the middle west, were tax
hardened, and were strong against
having to pay for improvements that
would not have been necessary if the
city hadn't grown as it was not ex-
pected to do.
Some fifteen months ago one or
the big oil companies started to drill
hole into the bosom of Signal Hill.
Oil gushed forth and the rush was
on. Then it was discovered that the
city of Long Beach held title to the
choicest drilling locations in the line
of production.
The city fathers weren't interested
| in oil, but when a persistent Oil pros
pector offered a fair recital and a
bonus they accepted the cash bonus
on the theory that every little bit
helps, and went on about their bust
ness. A gusher was brought in on
this leased tract, surrounded by
other city property. The city IA
Tiers began to sit UP and take no
tice. They were besieged by offers
| from all sides, but were content to
bide their time. AS the wonder field
developed and other wells were
brought in on city property already
leased. offers were doubled and re-
doubled. 1t was such certainty
that it was only necessary to drill a
hole on some Of this city property
| to get oil, that reliable companies
| made the unheard.of offer to give
the city as royalty SO per cent of
| all oil produced in return for leases.
The city has now made a number
of such leases and wells are going
down as fast as the rotary drills
can make holes.
Revise Riches Daily
In the meantime, with new pro-
duction coming in almost daily, the
city has to make almost daily re-
vision in the estimate of its new
riches. From a matter Of a few
thousand dollars year as posi-
bility, the actual income soon began
to promise the astounding figure of
$500, 900 a year. That estimate has
to be revised next day, the city is
now receiving approximately $780,
900 month, and with the new wells
to come in on fifty-fifty basis. no.
body can estimate what riches will
come, it n.y. amount to millions of
dollars q year.
The city already has 100000 in
cash in it's treasury from royalty,
but it is not happy. 1t doesn't know
what to do with it. Starting tonnor-
row it could become a taxless city,
and then have large surplus to
spend as it pleased.
If a vote is taken in the near flu
ture it is a safe guess at the ma
jority will lean to the side Of a tax
less city with possibly the establish
ment of foundation that may make
the city forever taxless.
Crude c., however, is smelly and
gcoey and a lot of the people are up
in arms because some of the wells
blow their heads off and gum up
the whole landscape with spray of
oil. Citizens, awakened by a roar,
find oil : ing in their windows,
seeping down the c-,:nneys and
clogg:ng up the drain pipes. The
M morning they looked over what
was once their happy home, and
then are against the whole PROPOSE.
ton, from start to finish.
|Honking Horn Atop