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<br />~ <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />d <br />~ , <br />~ <br />, <br /> <br />'-Ar- <br />i,.', fa,) <br /> <br />FOREWORD <br /> <br />THE fiscal year 1947-48 w"s notable for" continuous growth <br />in population and industry in the coastal area of the five <br />counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside. San Bel'llardino. <br />and San Diego. This growth accompanied by tremendous building <br />activity. in a year of seriously deficient rainfall following three <br />drouthy seasons. accentuated the need of imported water to satisfy <br />the demands of domestic and industrial uses in this semiarid region_ <br />The construction of the Colorado River aqueduct already has been <br />abundantly justified, by its service during the war. by its present <br />deli"ery to constituent areas whose demands have outrun local <br />supplies, and by its preparedness to prevent disaster to areas in <br />need of water and not now in the District_ <br />Population data released by the U. S_ Bureau of Census gave <br />California an estimated total population of slightly over 10.000,000 <br />on July 1, 1948, an increase of 3,100,000, or 45 per cent, since <br />April 1, 1940. Of this number about half reside in the coastal area <br />of Southern California protected from drouth by Colorado Ri vel' <br />water. <br />The volume of commerce and industry was on the uptrend during <br />the fiscal year. The index of business activity in Southel'l1 Cali- <br />fornia, compiled by the Security-First National Bank of Los <br />Angeles. rose from 250.4 in June 1947 to 281.3 in June 1948 <br />(1939-40 = 100). Building permits in the five counties of this <br />coastal area exceeded $858,000,000 in 1947. 01' 68 pel' cent of the <br />entire state_ Even with inflated costs, the physical volume of <br />building is far above any previous peak. Industrial development <br />continued on a high level with 215 new industries established in <br />the Los Angeles district alone and 417 expansions of existing indus- <br />tries_ The total capital investment was approximately $125,000.000 <br />and will provide employment for more than 20.000 workers. Agri- <br />cultural production of the five counties, including fruits, nuts, field <br />and truck crops, and livestock. totaled over $495,000,000. slightly <br />below 1946. Production of crude petroleum in Los Angeles and <br />Orange counties reached an average of 343,500 barrels per day <br />for a total of 125,377,900 barrels in 1947. <br /> <br />[I] <br />