Electricity generated in the mountains, for light and power, was brought over long transmission lines. Los Angeles pioneered long distance transmission and the linking up of large electric networks.
Within a radius of 30o m. are deposits of metals and minerals, as copper, petroleum, soda, salt, potash, silica, infusorial earth, talc, graphite, limestone, building stone, marble and onyx.
Industries.—Manufacturing shows a striking increase since the World War—from $103,500,000 in 1914 to $471,278,787 (U. S. census) in 1935. Manufacture was chiefly for local needs, as soap, confectionery, beverages and the like, until war made it necessary to meet certain shortages. This encouraged industrial enterprise. Peace brought building activity, increased population and new trade through the Panama Canal and to the Orient. These further stimulated industry. The city and environs had during 1933 3,507 factories, large and small, varied in character. Mo tion pictures led in value with an output estimated at yearly. Petroleum products were valued at $134,866,814 but this included recovery as well as refining. Meat packing ranked third with an output of $40,783,558. Other industries with products valued over ten million dollars were: printing and publishing, $37,017,205; bakery products, $26,664,837; tyres, ; women's clothing, $17,235,565; machinery, $14,230,456 ; and furni ture, $10,204,977. Los Angeles ranks as a fashion centre for sport wear, by reason of its outdoor life, and also through the advanced fashion studies made for motion pictures. At the harbour, can neries pack sardines (pilchard) and tuna, the latter a local inno vation. Glass, chemicals, cement, paints and food preparations are leading products. Branch plants of eastern concerns are engaged in automobile assembling and the manufacture of rubber tyres, furniture, metal articles, glass, tin cans, etc.
Motion Pictures.—Early motion pictures were made in sun light. Constant sunshine and varied scenery brought this industry to Los Angeles. Hollywood having at the outset ( i9i 0–'5) ample land for studios, became famous as a centre ; Universal City and Burbank in the San Fernando valley, and Culver City, were in 1933 the studio centres. At least $95,000,000 was spent yearly in production, and 9,00o persons employed. Los Angeles motion pictures are exhibited in every part of the world.
Agriculture.—Los Angeles county (4,155 sq.m.) has for two dozen years led all other counties in the United States in value of soil products ($53,320,010 in 1936). The city is a financial and marketing centre for these products. The diversity is wide, includ ing oranges, lemons, apricots, peaches, almonds, walnuts, summer and winter vegetables, figs, avocados, poultry, fur rabbits, grain, alfalfa, live stock, dairying and general farming. About 25,00o carloads of soil products are shipped from Los Angeles county an nually. The first outstanding success in co-operative farm market ing was made in this section, by the California Fruit Growers' exchange, in orange distribution. The organization is now in Los Angeles. So is the equally efficient California Walnut Growers' Association.
Communication.—After American occupation (1847) sea trade was established between San Pedro harbour and San Fran cisco, and mail was carried fortnightly by land between the latter city and Los Angeles. The first freight wagon overland from the East arrived in 1851. In 1860, a ten-day pony express linked Los Angeles with the Missouri river. A railway from Los Angeles to San Pedro harbour was opened in 1869. The Southern Pacific railway from San Francisco to Los Angeles was completed in 1876, and the Santa Fe route connected the city with the East in 1885. Los Angeles in 1928 had three direct railways to the east— the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe via Kansas City, the Union Pacific via Ogden and Southern Pacific via New Orleans. The Southern Pacific to San Francisco gives access to other transcon tinental routes from that city, and to the north-west. The rail way to San Diego connects with still another route east. In a radius of 7o m., the Pacific Electric railway system runs 3,000 trains daily over 1,106 m. of track, carrying both passengers and freight. This system is linked to Los Angeles harbour. Los Ange les is a terminal for several national motor highways, and a centre for California highways. Over these roads a large motor bus and motor-truck traffic has developed. By sea, the city has shipping lines to all parts of the globe, as well as coast trade to both Pacific and Atlantic ports. Air mail service gives quick communi cation east and north. Passenger air lines are now carrying a rapidly increasing traffic.