In the spring of 1928, the newly formed Susanville Businessmen’s Association first undertaking was to review the City of Susanville’s finances. It was in their opinion, operating the city was just too costly. A committee of five—L.R. Cady, B.F. Lyle, Hardin Barry, A.J. Mathews, J.A. Pardee—were appointed to investigate the matter.

In their report, they wrote: “There has been a general idea that the cost of our city government is excessive. Your committee secured comparative figures from towns of somewhat similar characteristics, such as Alturas, Yreka, Nevada City and Lakeview, Oregon. In each instance although the cost of city government in these towns was materially lower than the cost of the administration of affairs of Susanville, in the brief time at our disposal it was impossible to make an intelligent comparison in as much as it appears that possibly Susanville is receiving a service such as the other towns in question do not apply. Whether or not we are getting the value received for the money expended is difficult to determine without a more thorough investigation, therefore we would respectfully recommend to the incoming board of trustees that they give this matter such necessary attention as will permit them to arrive at an intelligent conclusion with reference to the cost of government in Susanville.”

In the end, they had a hidden agenda. They did not like the special property assessment for the paving of streets and for sidewalks. However, in time, they realized having paved streets and sidewalks was a worthwhile investment.

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This Eastman postcard I purchased awhile back on Ebay, the price in my range of $5.79. There were several items after reviewing allowed me to figure out when it was taken. The Christian Science Church on the corner of Mill and South Lassen Streets was constructed in 1938. Also built that year, was the Purity Grocery Store on South Lassen Street across from the Methodist Church. Both buildings, by the way, still exist, just under different ownership.

On South Roop Street, where the current Lassen Municipal Utility District building is located, appears as a vacant lot. Work on the construction of that building started in the fall of 1939. It should be noted that building was originally constructed for Safeway.

Tim

In the 1920s, Prohibition may have been the law of the land, enforcing it in Susanville or in Lassen County—as in most other places was quite a different matter. There was, of course, that local authorities had no arresting powers—bootlegging was a federal offense. To compound matters the region was in an economic boom time, where in less than twenty years the population had tripled.

To understand just how widespread the problem with bootleg joints was, it was summed up by one observer in 1923. Using the nickname “Friendly George” he wrote: “This man’s town has become a beautiful city and as to bootleggers, I just over there a stranger on the Fourth of July. I asked a taxi driver to take me to one. Well, he said, I know 34 places but I don’t known ‘em all. Quite an improvement from four saloons. Yes, it is Prohibition, but hard to convince me it is Temperance.”

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Susanville’s Gem Saloon, operated by B.R. Zimmerman was always in search of the latest innovative gadgets to entertain his customers. In the fall of 1907, he installed his latest attraction, which as predicted would garner a lof ot public interest—a electric piano. The Lassen Advocate provided the following description:

”It is of the regulation upright piano size and any performer can perform upon it the same as an ordinary instrument. But should there be no pianist available you only have to ‘push the button’ the electric motor starts and you have only. to look pleasant and listen to a brilliant rendition of the very. latest and best music. The instrument is a beauty and should prove a winner in public favor.”

Tim