Sociological survey of Main Street, Los Angeles, California

The improvement of human society by influencing human action should be the ultimate purpose of the practical sociologist. Improvement implies a change for the better, and when attempted by man requires consideration of what constitutes a desirable objective, and of the means whereby it is to be attained. One of the primary steps in the process of accomplishing the desideratum is to acquire a knowledge of conditions as they are.; The chief purpose of this paper is to present information obtained by a study of a certain portion of downtown Main Street, Los Angeles, California. Discussion of cause and effect relationships and of remedies is not excluded, but evaluation and diagnosis are secondary. It is not intended as an esoteric treatment or the subject. The principal aim is to describe. The investigator believes that it evidence of existing conditions is properly offered the reader can recognize the problems for himself. It is left for him to decide what is good and what is bad.; The locality which is the object of study offers variety as to race, station in life, occupation, and character. Negroes, Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, and Mexicans mingle with the Caucasian. There may be found the "panhandler," the broken down laborer, the person of moderate means, and the average man. The honest worker and the "gyp artist," the dance hall hostess, the burlesque show girl, and the street evangelist are among those whose activities bring them there. Ample opportunity is afforded to observe what may be loosely defined as the less fortunate portion of humanity, and it is with these that this inquiry is principally concerned.