Los Angeles Herald, Volume 27, Number 165, 17 September 1887 — Indices of Prosperity. [ARTICLE]

Indices of Prosperity.

To those who remember the impre tentious buildings erected in this city fourteen years ago, when a one-stoiy building was considered fine, and a two-story edifice was worthy of admiration, the change to the present styles of architecture must be most noticeable and interesting. In all parts of the city the new styles of architecture, that require largely increased expense, are everywhere to be seen. The styles are almost innumerable. The Queen Anne, the Arabesque, the Moorish, the Italian, the Gothic, with variations by French architects, tho Oriental, the Grecian, the Knglish cottage style, are all abroad, producing a wonderful variety, that is most attractive and interesting. Should the present prosperity of the city be unchecked, it will soon show the most delightful varieties of architecture of any American city. New York was 250 years old before it produced business buildings equal to Baker block, or the Witiner Bank on Fort street, or the Childs building on Temple street. It is but a few years since the only graceful buildings in New York were the City Hall and Trinity and Grace churches. From present appearances Los Angeles will soon be the most beautiful city in the world. The old style of Egyptian and Doric architecture that prevailed so long in Boston and New York will never give their funeral aspects to Los Angeles, and the Corinthian and lonic will have to accept radical variations in this "'sun-kissed land."

The new store fronts of Los Angeles are now superior to any that prevailed in New York forty years ago, while the residences of Hill, Hope, Grand avenue and Main streets equal anything that that metropolis achieved in two hundred and fifty years. When it is considered what the financial metropolis of the Western world accomplished in two centuries and a half, the achievement* of Los Angeles in the last fourteen years are phenomenal and incomparable, and show solid and permanent growth.