1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, California (see 17.12), increased in its population more than 80% in the period 1910-20, reaching 576,673, surpassing San Francisco, and changing from sixteenth to tenth place among the cities of the United States. The area of the city increased more than fourfold, being 365.67 sq. m. in 1920. In 1910 Hollywood (4.45 sq. m.), East Hollywood and Ivanhoe (11.11 sq. m.) were annexed, and in 1912 Arroyo Seco (6.9 sq. m.). In 1915 168 sq. m. of San Fernando Valley and 4 sq. m. of the Palm District was annexed. In 1910 there were 22 parks with 3,800 ac.; these had increased by 1920 to 25 parks with 4,100 acres. The playground department, established in 1911, maintained in 1920 12 playgrounds and 34 summer centres at a cost of $207,836. Three summer camps for family outings in the mountains were supported by the municipality. In 1910 builders' permits were granted for buildings valued at $21,684,100; in 1920 the value was $60,023,600. The museum of the Southwest Society of the Archaeological Institute of America began in 1912 its first group of buildings. A new museum was added by a building at Exposition Park.
Los Angeles has maintained its position as a winter resort. During 1910-20 it became predominantly an industrial rather than an agricultural centre, though agriculture, which had hitherto been its chief economic interest, continued to furnish a large share of the city's prosperity. In 1919 the value of all farm products in Los Angeles county was $426,045,843, an amount greater than that for any other county in the United States. The chief products were citrus fruits, valued at $80,140,000. There were 13,013 farms in 1920, against 7,919 in 1910.
Communications.—In 1912 only half-a-dozen steamship lines were in operation between Los Angeles and other coast ports, with a few lines to Mexico, Central America, and Hawaii. By 1920 direct lines were in operation to the Orient, the Philippines and the Straits Settlements. On Jan. 31 1921 there were 34 marine services reaching more than 100 important ports throughout the world. Steamship travel to and from Los Angeles more than doubled in 1919. The urban and suburban electric railways had in 1920 over 591 m. of single track within the city and 1,095 m. outside its limits, extending to points 72 m. distant.
During 1909-20 the Federal Government spent approximately $6,000,000, and the city of Los Angeles $5,800,000, in improving the harbour, Port San Pedro. The arrangement of U.S. pierhead lines as established in 1920 permitted approximately 24 m. of wharf frontage; 35,283 ft. was already improved, of which the city owned and operated 13,315 ft.
Education.—There were in 1920 over 800 public and over 140 private schools and colleges in the city. The value of school property
was nearly $19,000,000; the enrolment 115,530, and the teaching force 5,147. The university of California organized in Los Angeles a southern branch, providing a two-year course. The public library in 1920 contained 383,925 volumes with a home circulation of 2,581,214, and there were 12 branches, 24 sub-branches, and 139 depositories with 14,792 volumes.
Industries and Commerce.—In 1914 Los Angeles was the twenty-sixth city in the United States in value of manufactured products; in Jan. 1921 an estimate showed it to be tenth. In 1912 the value of the manufactured products was $85,000,000. In 1919 according to an estimate of the Los Angeles chamber of commerce there were 3,300 establishments representing an investment of $400,000,000 and producing a product valued at $618,772,500. The chief industries with the value of their products were motion-picture films, $150,000,000, 80% of the world's supply; petroleum refining, $83,000,000; shipbuilding, $68,000,000; meat-packing, $42,000,000; food products, $41,000,000; garment manufacture, $30,000,000; iron and steel, $25,000,000; automobiles and accessories, $21,000,000; and railway car construction, $20,000,000. In 1919 Southern California produced 102,000,000 bar. of crude oil, Los Angeles being the centre for this industry. In 1914 there were 2,100 oil wells in the city. Bank clearings increased from $942,914,424 in 1911 to $3,994,280,518.83 for 1920. The post-office receipts during the same period increased from $1,646,601.84 in 1911 to $4,180,057.70 for 1920. The assessed valuation of property of Los Angeles in 1920 on a 50% basis was $636,147,965. The most important event in the economic development of Los Angeles was the building of the municipal aqueduct, placed in operation Nov. 5 1913. It is capable of furnishing water to over a million population and a surplus to irrigate 135,000 ac., and also sufficient for all demands of industry. The fall in the aqueduct is used to develop electric power. In 1917 a plant of 37,500 H.P., and in 1919 one of 28,000 H.P. was thus supplied. In the decade 1910-20 Los Angeles developed from a port of relative unimportance to one of the leading ports on the Pacific coast, though the immediate increase in shipping and industry which the city expected as a result of the completion of the Panama Canal did not materialize. This was partly due to the unusual conditions arising from the World War. Since 1918 the city's commerce has increased remarkably. The value of its foreign exports in 1912 was $235,460, in 1919 $10,496,172, and in 1920 $18,606,121, the latter an increase of 80% over 1919. The imports in 1912 were $1,710,127, in 1919 $3,218,490 and in 1920 $9,724,217, the latter an increase of 206% over 1919.
(R. A. V.)