Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-05
Los ANGELES NOW
LARGEST IN AREA
City'S Evolution Since Named
by Felipe de Neve in 1871
Phenomenal.
by the Associated Press.

by the Associated Press.
LOS ANGELES, February 5.-If
Felipe de Neve, who led a procession of
soldiers, priests and laymen across the
San Gabriel Valley September 4. 1881,
could drop in again he never would
recognize the far-hung dominion of Los
Angeles as the heir of the village he
founded and named Pueblo de Nuestra
Sonora 10 Reina de Eos Angeles.
That village did not live up to its
Understanding name for more than a
century, but in 1880 the pueblo was
afflicted with growing pains and has
enjoyed them ever since.
Today Los Angeles is the largest city
In the world in area as well as the fifth
most populous in the United States.
In 1850. when the original city was
established from Spanish land grants
the population was 1,150 and the area
S0.01 square miles. Today the popula-
ton has increased to 1,238,048, scat
tered from a ma6e-to-order ocean to a
range of mountains, with an area of
<42.7s square miles.
The Chamber of Commerce will tell
any one who will listen that for SO
years. with the exception of a single
decennial, Los Angeles has doubled its
population every 10 years.
Expansion in Area
Since 1920 the population has in
creased by more than 100000 persons.
In territory Los Angeles has added 78
square miles by as annexationS and con-
solicitations. but these brought within
the city only about 100000 persons.
An analysis of the 1880 census later
will tell whence the others came, but
In the meantime it is taken for granted
they came from "all over" Certain it
is the people who are talking of an
other section when they say back !
home" far outnumber the natives. When |
: the last estimate by States was made !
Iowa was credited with furnishing more |
than 100000 of the city's population.
When Los Angeles first began to be- !
come port conscious, in the 1905, it was !
good doctrine that if the mountain |
would not come to Mahomet. then |
Mahomet must go to the mountain. |
The Pacific Ocean would not come to
Los Angeles as it was then, so Los
Angeles went to the ocean.
The city has become industrialized |
In the last decade, much more rapidly |
than in previous 10-year spans, and the |
development of the port since 1920 has
greatly increased the amount of ship
ping. Total commerce has jumped from
100000 tons, valued at S154, 000,0 900, in !
1920 to more than 25,00O,000 tons, |
valued at over $1,000, 100000, in 1880.
Thirty twO-stOry City Hall.
Among the major building projects I
completed in the last decade the most |
conspicuous is the new 32-story City !
Hall, which cost $7,000,000 and about
which is to be built new civic center. ,
The Lindbergh beacon on the City Hall |
tower raises its perpetual flame $50 feet |
high to light the wayfaring airman
home.
Los Angeles is a city of homes and |
the residential areas suggest the poly
glot population. Although the Spanish |
influence is predominant, a clapboard
house which might have been lifted
bodily from New England village will
be found opposite low-lying bungalow. I
and down the street a colonial home
drops a hint that the builder has ties
down South in Dixie.
Motion pictures. with enough extras"
IN scores of studios to make up a small I
city, lead the industries Of Los Angeles |
in Importance and interest.
Los Angeles, however makes more
than motion pictures. Few cities in the
country manufacture more furniture
and recent years have brought de-
cided increase in the manufacture of
rubber tires.
Machinery for the operation of oil
wells is another important item. for
Los Angeles Is surrounded by oil fields,
with few hardy perennials surviving
In the city itself.