USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs : also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume I > Part 2
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CHAPTER XXIX.
PAGE 199
FROM GOLD TO GRAIN AND FRUITS
Mexican Farming-But Little Fruit and Few Vegetables-Crude Farming Imple- ments-The Agricultural Capabilities of California Underestimated-Wheat the Staple in Central California-Cattle in the South-Gold in the North-Big Profits in Grapes-Orange Culture Begun in the South-Apples, Peaches, Pears and Plums-The Sheep Industry-The Famine Years of 1863 and 1864 Bring Disaster to the Cattle Kings of the South-The Doom of Their Dynasty-Improvement of Domestic Animals-Exit the Mustang-Agricultural Colonies.
CHAPTER XXX.
CIVIL WAR-LOYALTY AND DISLOYALTY
204
State Division and What Became of It-Broderick's Early Life-Arrival in Cali- fornia-Enters the Political Arena-Gwin and Broderick-Duel Between Terry and Broderick-Death of Broderick-Gwin-Latham Combination-Firing on Fort Sumter -State Loyal-Treasonable Utterance-A Pacific Republic-Disloyalty Rampant in Southern California-Union Sentiments Triumphant-Confederate Sympathizers Silenced.
CHAPTER XXXI.
TRADE, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION
211
Spanish Trade-Fixed Prices-No Cornering the Market-Mexico's Methods of Trade-The Hide Droghers-Trade-Ocean Commerce and Travel-Overland Routes-Overland Stage Routes-Inland Commerce-The Pony Express-Stage Lines-Pack Trains-Camel Caravans-The Telegraph and the Railroad-Express Companies.
CHAPTER XXXII.
RAILROADS
218
Early Agitation of the Pacific Railroad Scheme-The Pacific Railroad in Politics- Northern Routes and Southern Routes-First Railroad in California-Pacific Rail- road Bills in Congress-A Decade of Agitation and No Road-The Central and Union Pacific Railroads-Act of 1862-Subsidies-The Southern Pacific Railroad System-Its Incorporation and Charter-Its Growth and Development-The Santa Fe System-Other Railroads.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE INDIAN QUESTION
223
Treatment of the Indians by Spain and Mexico-A Conquista-Unsanitary Condi- tion of the Mission Villages-The Mission Neophyte and What Became of Him- Wanton Outrages on the Savages-Some So-Called Indian Wars-Extermination of The Aborigines-Indian Island Massacre-The Mountaineer Battalion-The Two Years' War-The Modoc War.
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CHAPTER XXXIV.
PAGE 229
SOME POLITICAL HISTORY
Advent of the Chinese-Kindly Received at First-Given a Public Reception-The "China Boys" Become Too Many-Agitation and Legislation Against Them-Den- nis Kearney and the Sand Lot Agitation-Kearney's Slogan, "The Chinese Must Go" -How Kearney Went-The New Constitution-A Mixed Convention-Opposition to the Constitution-The Constitution Adopted-Defeat of the Workingmen's Party -A New Treaty with China-Governors of California, Spanish, Mexican and American.
CHAPTER XXXV.
EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
235
Public Schools in the Spanish Era-Schools of the Mexican Period-No Schools for the Neophytes-Early American Schools-First School House in San Francisco -The First American Teacher-The First School Law-A Grand School System- University of the Pacific-College of California-University of California-Stan- ford University-Normal Schools.
LOS ANGELES AND ENVIRONS-INTRODUCTORY 243
No Municipal Government Under Spain and Mexico-No Tax on Land-Mexican Laws Continued in Force After the Conquest-The Territorial Government Was Semi-Military and Semi-Civil-A De Facto State-First Legislature Met in San Jose.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
243
Los Angeles County Originally Did Not Take in the Colorado Desert-The Boun- daries as Defined in the Act of February 18, 1850-Boundaries as Given in Act of April 25, 1851-Boundaries as Given in 1853 When San Bernardino County Was Created-Los Angeles County an Empire in Itself-Various and Variable Climates-County of Kern Created-Orange County, the Last Slice Taken from Los Angeles-Organization of a County Government-First County Officers- Court of Sessions-Judges of the Plains-Fees and Salaries-Big Pay for Little Work-The First County Jail-Criminal Aristocrats-Spanish and Mexican Land Grants-The Township of Los Angeles-Immigrants and Immigrant Routes- The Sonoran Migration-A Job Lot of Immigrants-The Salt Lake Route-Ox Carts, Stages and Steamers-Passenger Rates and Bill of Fare on the Steamers- Landing Passengers-Bucking Sailors-Imports Greatly Exceeded Exports- Grapes the Principal Fruit-The First State Census-Slow Growth of the County in the '50s.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
GROWTH OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND CITY IN WEALTH AND POPULATION
No Land Tax Unde Spanish and Mexican Rule-Salaries Small-And Revenue Ditto-The First Cu aty Assessment-One Small Book Contained It All-Expan- sive Territory but Little Wealth-Assess ment of 1856-First Record of City As-
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sessment-Assessment of 1866-No Increase in Wealth for Ten Years-Great Loss of Property in the Famine Years of 1863-1864-Land Without Value-The Ala- mitos Rancho of 28,000 Acres Sold for $152 Delinquent Taxes-Low Value of City Real Estate-Decline of the Cattle Industry-Second Great Drought Kills Sheep In- dustry-Real Estate Boom of 1887-Rapid Rise in Values-Depression and De- crease of Values Follow-The Table of Yearly Assessments Shows Periods of Prosperity and Adversity-Yearly Assessments from 1851 to 1906 Both Inclusive- City Assessment Combined With the County During First Decade-City Assess- ment from 1860 to 1906 Both Inclusive-Banks of Los Angeles-Capital-Bank Clearances for Ten Years-Population of Los Angeles City by Decades Since Its Founding-Population of the County of Los Angeles from 1850 to 1910-Vote of Los Angeles County at Presidential Elections, 1856 to 1912 Inclusive.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MINING RUSHES AND REAL ESTATE BOOMS
256
But Few of the Argonauts of '49 Remained in Los Angeles County-First Dis- covery of Gold in California Made in Los Angeles County-The Kern River Gold Rush Brought Experienced Miners to Los Angeles-Prospecting in the Mountains of Los Angeles County-Santa Anita Placers-Mining on the San Gabriel River- Some Rich Strikes-El Doradoville the Mining Metropolis of San Gabriel-The Flood of 1859-Shipment of Gold Dust by Wells Fargo & Co .- Mining Boom on the Island of Santa Catalina-Queen City the Mining Metropolis of the Island- Many Claims Located-Collapse of the Boom-Government Takes Possession of the Island-The Great Real Estate Boom of 1887-That Boom a Turning Point in the History of Los Angeles-Great Financial Booms of the Past-No Speculation in Real Estate During Spanish and Mexican Rule in California-Dull Times After the Gold Rush of '49-Financial Depression of the Later '70s-Completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad Gives Los Angeles a New Outlet-Immigrants Coming -Causes That Precipitated the Boom-Creation of New Towns-Completion of the Santa Fe Railroad-Wild Rush to Buy Lots-All Night Vigils-The Fate of the City of Gladstone-Phantom Cities of the Boom-Homberg's Famous Twin Cities -Carlton Nature's Rendezvous-Magnitude of Our Boom Compared With Other Great Financial Bubbles-Great Cities on Paper but Few Inhabitants-Methods of Advertising-Disappearance of the Professional Boomers-The Collapse of the Boom Gradual.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
LOS ANGELES CITY, FROM PUEBLO TO CIUDAD (FROM TOWN TO CITY)
Los Angeles a Pueblo for Fifty-Five Years-Raised to the Dignity of a Ciudad by the Mexican Congress-The Raise Made No Change in Its Government-Area of the Pueblo-Narrow Streets and House Lots of All Shapes-Expansion of the Pueblo to Sixteen Leagues-No Written Titles to House Lots- Report of the Com- missioners on Titles-Street Commissione's' Reports-Narrow streets for Warm Countries-Squaring the Plaza-Pedro's Obstinacy Twists a Street-Ord's Plan of
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the City-His Terms for His Survey-Names of the Streets in Ord's Plan-Some Old Street Names-The Wickedest Street on Earth-Calle del Toro-Heroic Act -Adjustment of the Houses to the New Streets-The Passing of the Ayuntamiento -Act of the Legislature Incorporating the City.
CHAPTER XL.
LOS ANGELES CITY-CONTINUED
270
The Evolution of a Metropolis-Act of the Legislature Incorporating the City Re- duces Its Area-First City Election-Names of the City Officers Elected-Sworn to Support the Constitution of the State of California, and Yet There Was No State -The First Council a Patriotic Body-All Except One Member Had Been Citizens of Mexico-Some Early Ordinances-Selling Indian Prisoners-"Ordinance Rela- tive to Public Washing"-Americanizing the People a Difficult Task-The Indian a Disturbing Element-The Whipping Post for the Red Man-The United States Land Claims Commissions' Herculean Task-City Claims Sixteen Leagues-Han- cock's Survey of the Pueblo Lands-Commission Gives the City Four Square Leagues-United States Patent Issued in 1875-City Donation Lots-Pueblo Lands Frittered Away-A Woeful Waste of a Royal Patrimony-The Huber Tract- City Prosperous in the Early '50s-Reaction-Hard Times in the South-Dry Years and Dying Cattle-A Building Boom in 1859-The Telegraph Completed to Los Angeles in 1860-The Civil War Divides the People-Depression-Low Price of Lots and Acreage-Famine Years-Small-pox Epidemic-A Gleam of Light Penetrates the Financial Gloom-Passing of the Cattle Barons-Gas Intro- duced Into the City-A High-priced Luxury-Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad Completed-The Pioneer Ice Factory-The First Bank-The First Street Railroad Franchise Granted-Subdivision of the Great Ranchos Benefits the City-Houses Numbered-Population of the City in 1870-Railroad Bond Issue of 1872-Rival Railroad Schemes and Rival Offers-Southern Pacific Wins-A Year of Disasters -The Drought of 1877 Kills the Sheep Industry-Population of the City in 1880 -Hard Times Continue.
CHAPTER XLI.
LOS ANGELES IN ITS SECOND CENTURY.
The Centennial Celebration of Los Angeles City-A Curious Blending of the Old and the New-An Ancient Belle-The 5th of September Celebrated Instead of the 4th-Modern Improvements Not Much in Evidence-The City a Sea of Green- The City Beautiful-The Best Description Ever Written of Los Angeles at the End of Its First Century-B. F. Taylor's Prose Poem of the Angel City-Direct Connec- tion with the East by Railroad-Tourists Begin to Arrive by the New Route- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe System Gives Los Angeles a Second Transcontinental Road-Cheap Fares Boom Travel-Tourists Delighted-Real Estate Values Rise Rapidly-The Speculative Mania Infects Old Timers and New Comers-In One Hundred Years the Business Center Moved from the Plaza to First Street-The Demand During the Boom for Offices Drives It South-Sudden Rise in Rents -- The First City Hall-The First Cable Railway-The First Electric Street Car Line Built, Not a Success-City Lighted by El ectricity-The Cable Railway System Be-
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gun-Passing of the Horse Car-First Oil Wells Within the City Limits Bored- The Oil Boom of 1899 and 1900-Fake Oil Companies-Cheap Oil Stock-The Bel- gian Hare Industry-The Fad Becomes Epidemic-Sudden Collapse-But Little Advance in Real Estate Prices in the Decade Between 1890-1900-H. E. Hunting- ton Buys Controlling Interest in the Los Angeles Electric System-Building of Interurban Electric Railways-Rapid Rise in Real Estate Values-Increase in Building Permits and Value of Buildings Erected-Increase in City Assessments.
CHAPTER XLII.
PASSING OF THE RANCHO
284
Definition of a Rancho-The Rancheros Not All Spanish or Mexican-But Few Spanish Grants-Nearly All Granted Under Mexican Domination-How Grants Were Made-Cost but Little to Stock a Rancho With Cattle-The Cattle Barons Built No Castles-Rich Dresses-Fashions Changed About Once in Fifty Years- The Discovery of Gold Increased the Wealth of the Barons, but Induced Extrava- gance-Doom of the Cattle Barons-Decline in Price of Cattle-The Speculative Gringo the Nemesis of the Easy-Going Native Californian-Driving Cattle Across the Plains-Official Report of the Number of Cattle Brought Into the State in 1854 -Cattle Ranges in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys Supply the Mines- Ranchos Mortgaged at Ruinous Rates of Interest-How the Santa Gertrudes Was Lost to Its Original Owner-Litigation the Ruin of Many of the Rancheros-In- definite Boundaries a Source of Litigation-Taxation an Embarrassment to the Cat- tle Barons-Antonio Coronel, the First Assessor of Los Angeles County-The First Assessment Roll a Curiosity-Some Sample Assessments-The First Board of Supervisors Equalize Assessments by "augmenting"-One Thousand Cattle Forgotten by a Ranchero on His Assessment List-Eight Hundred Acres Omitted by Another-The Deluge and Drought Hasten the Doom of the Cattle Industry of the South-Cattle Sold for Hide Drogher Prices-The Famine Years of 1863-1864 -Fearful Loss of Cattle by Starvation-The Cattle Barons of the Ranchos Ruined-Mortgages Foreclosed and Ranchos Pass to New Owners-Percentage of Loss on Capital Invested Greater Than That of San Francisco by Earthquake and Fire-After the Famine Years Subdivision of the Ranchos Began-Old Time Cus- toms Passed With the Rancho-The Rodeo, the Jues del Campo, the Vaquero, All Are Gone-Some of the Early Subdivisions-Land Grants in Los Angeles County.
CHAPTER XLIII.
EVOLUTION OF THE ORANGE INDUSTRY
Orange Growing the Chief Agricultural Industry of Southern California-Its His- tory of Interest to All-No Other Attraction Except Climate Brings so Many Homeseekers-Not One of the Primitive Industries-Subdivision of the Great Ranchos Induced Many Agricultural Experiments-The First Grain Raising a Fail- ure-Seri-culture-Profit in Eggs but Not in Silk, also a Failure-Cotton Growing Successful but No Profit-Some Expensive Experiments-The First Oranges Pro- duced at San Gabriel in 1805-Oranges G 1own but Not for Market-William Wolf-
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skill the First Extensive Grower-Extensive Orange Planting in 1856-Dr. Shaw, One of the Pioneers of the Industry, Imports Oranges from Nicaragua-Descrip- tion of Dr. Shaw's Nursery by Ben Truman-Orange Seed Brought from Central America and Hawaii-First Shipment of Oranges-The Mexican Lime Has Dis- appeared-Orange Planting Increased Slowly at First-Cost of Trees and Long Time to Come Into Bearing an Obstacle-Subdivision of the Ranchos and the Colony Era Boomed the Industry-Riverside and the Washington Navel Came to the Front- The Indiana Colony Came Into the Limelight Next-Other Colonies and Settle- ment Followed-"California on Wheels"-Orange Industry Prospering-The Cot- tony Cushion Scale Pest Brought from Australia-Little Feared at First-Threat- ens Destruction to the Industry-Its Nemesis-The Vedalia Cardinalis Brought from Australia-The Icerya Annihilated-Reclamation of the Orange Groves- The First Carload of Oranges Shipped East 1877-Cost of Transportation the Burning Question Through All the Years-The California Fruit Growers' Ex- change.
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE OWENS RIVER AQUEDUCT.
299
Various Schemes for Increasing the Water Supply of Los Angeles-The Bond Issue of 1876 and a Roseate Dream That Was Never Realized-A Submerged Dam That Did Not Dam-When the Zanjas Constituted the Distributing System of the City -No Analysis of Water Needed to Discover Impurities-The Owens River Aqueduct Project Suggested-The Enormous Cost of It Appalled-Where Is Owens River ?- But Little Known of Owens River and Valley-Some Early His- tory of the Valley, Lake and River-Who Was Owens ?- Fremont Names the Lake for Him-The River Takes Its Name from the Lake- Owens Once a Resi- dent of Los Angeles-The Horse Thief Indians and Their Depredations-An Ac- count of a Military Expedition Into Owens Valley in 1859-Indians Peaceable- Description of the Valley Before White Men Took Possession of It-Indian War in the Valley After the White Men Came-Violent Earthquake in the Valley in 1872-Loss of Life-Some Strange Freaks of the Earthquake-The Beginning of the Aqueduct-Inception of the Project Due to Fred Eaton-The Decrease in the City's Water Supply Alarming-Eaton Outlines His Project to William Mulholland, Superintendent of the Los Angeles City Water System-Mulholland Makes a Trip to the Valley-The Scheme Submitted to the Water Commissioners-The Com- missioners Visit the Valley-Bond Election for $1,500,000 Called-A Consulting Board of Eminent Engineers Employed-Bond Election for $23,000,000 Called June 13, 1907-Mulholland, the Chief Engineer-The Work of Construction Begins- The Southern Pacific Company Builds a Branch Road Into Valley-World's Record in Tunnel Boring Beaten-Feeding the Workmen a Great Problem-Opinions of Eminent Engineers-Great Respect for the Abilities of William Mulholland, Chief Engineer, Expressed by Eminent Eastern Engineers-The Work Completed.
CHAPTER XLV.
BAY OF SAN PEDRO UNDER THE RULE OF SPAIN AND MEXICO 309
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Discovers the Bay of San Pedro-The Discovery Made in October, 1542, but the Day Is Not Known-Name It the Bahia de Humos y Fuegos-Bay of Smokes and Fires-Fortunate That the Name Was Not Retained
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-Viscaino Enters the Bay November 26, 1602-Names It the Ensenada of San An- dre's-Name Changed to San Pedro by His Cosmographer-Viscaino's Exploration Made in the Interest of the Philippine Trade-The Mission Ship San Carlos An- chors in San Pedro Bay 1769-Ebenezer Dorr, the First Yankee Trader, Came to California in 1796-Yankee Smugglers Haunt the Coast to Trade for Otter Skins- San Pedro Bay One of the Chief Ports of the Smugglers-Battle of San Diego- The Aleut Fur Hunters-Capture of the Ship Mercury-Cannon Left at San Pedro-Capture of the Russian Trapper Tarkanof and Twenty Aleuts at San Pedro- Corporal Birones of Los Angeles Attempts a Trick on a Smuggler but Lands in Jail-The Commerce of California Declines With the Decrease of the Sea Otter- The Coming of the Hide Drogher-The Pioneer Vessel the Sachem Arrives in 1822 -Begg & Co. of Peru Have a Monopoly of the Hide and Tallow Trade-High Tariff Induces Smuggling-All Ports Closed Except Monterey and San Pedro- Immense Business in Hides Done at San Pedro-Dana's Description of San Pedro -Dana's Description of Landing Goods-Alfred Robinson's Opinion of San Pedro -The Beach Comber of San Pedro-Dana's Parting Shot at San Pedro-The First Shipwreck in the Bay-Ship Building and the Launching of the Guadalupe-Ma- rooning at the Bay of San Pedro-Various Ways of Evading the Tariff-The Cus- tom House Furnished the "Sinews of War" in Revolutions-Governor Michel- torena and His Cholo Army Deported from San Pedro-The Amount of Revenue Collected the Last Year of Mexican Rule-The First United States War Vessel to Enter San Pedro Bay and Why She Came-Commodore Jones' Reception at San Pedro-The Commodore Makes the Trip from San Pedro to Los Angeles in Gov- ernor Micheltorena's Barouche, the First Four-Wheeled Vehicle to Make the Trip- Title to the "Government Reservation" Derived from Mexico-Reserved in the Grant of the Palos Verdes Rancho-Southern Pacific Claim-Reservation Contains Forty-two Acres.
CHAPTER XLVI.
SAN PEDRO AFTER THE CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA
Three Hundred Years Pass Without Any Change in the Contour of the Bay-The Harbinger of a New Era Comes-Commodore Stockton on the Man-of-War Con- gress With Three Hundred Sailors and Marines Enters the Bay-Stockton Not Frightened Away by Carrillo's Ruse of Riderless Horses-The Final Conquest by Commodore Stockton-The Collection of Revenue a Source of Trouble-Commo- dore Stockton Appoints Don David Alexander Collector at San Pedro-Tariff a Live Issue in California-Smuggling Does Not Cease With the Change of Rulers -Colonel Stevenson's Soldiers Attempt to Speculate in Army Clothing but Fail- Revenue Collected Until the Treaty of Peace Turned Over to the Quartermasters of the Military Posts-Don David Alexander Continued Collector at San Pedro After Peace Is Declared-Congress Establishes Ports of Delivery-San Pedro Ig- nored-Colonel Collier, the Newly Appointed Collector of the Territory-Reports More Goods Land at San Pedro Than at any Other Port Except San Francisco- Declares the Gila Port "Utterly Worthless"-Astounded at the Cost of Living in San Francisco-His Salary Only $1,500 a Year, While a Small Room With a Single Bed Rented for $150 Per Month-Washington Officials Could Not Understand Conditions in California-Memorial to Congress from the People of Los Angeles Asking for a Port of Entry and a Custom House at San Pedro-The Pioneer
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Steamers Calling at San Pedro-The Fare and the Menu on the Steamers-Alexan- der and Banning Stages-Don Abel Stearns' Clipper Ship Arcadia-Grape Ship- ments-The Steamer Senator Makes the Quickest Voyage on Record in Early Times, Thirty-six Hours from San Francisco to San Pedro-Exports Exceed Im- ports in the Early '50s.
CHAPTER XLVII.
EVOLUTION OF THE INNER HARBOR.
330
No Improvement Made in Bay of San Pedro for a Decade After the Conquest- Professor Bache's Report-No Lighthouse-Petition by the Citizens of Los Angeles for a Survey of the Harbor-Description of San Pedro in 1857-Competition Be- tween Timm and Banning-Alfred Robinson's Plan for Developing an Inner Har- bor-Banning Founds the Town of New San Pedro-A Storm Wrecks the Old Town and Wharf-A Description of Banningville or New San Pedro-Survey of the Harbor Made in 1859-Southeasters Continue to Visit San Pedro-Freight Rates in 1860-Camp Drum Established at New San Pedro-Camp Latham at Bal- lona-A Ship Load of Mules Wrecked-Postoffice at New San Pedro-Loss of the Steamer Ada Hancock-Work of Developing the Inner Harbor Begun in 1871- Description of the Sea Wall Built from Rattlesnake Island to Deadman's Island- Small Appropriations Given by Congress-Wilmington Aspires to Become a City -- Southern Pacific Railroad Acquires Harbor Frontage-Wilmington Ceases to Be a City-Legal Complications Result from Its Failure-Railroad Extended to San Pedro-Town of Linville-Fayal-Docks in the Inner Harbor-Days of Lighterage Drawing to a Close.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
THE FREE HARBOR CONTROVERSY AND THE BREAKWATER
The Southern Pacific Railroad no Rivals for Harbor Frontage-Senator John P. Jones Builds a Road from Santa Monica to Los Angeles-Competition Between the Roads-The Fate of Jones' Wharf-Redondo the next Rival to San Pedro-The Terminal Company Appears-Most Formidable Rival to the Southern Pacific Rail- road Company-It buys Rattlesnake Island-Changes its Name to Terminal Island -Huntington Decides to Have a Harbor of His Own-Establishes a New Port at the Santa Monica Cañon-The Long Wharf Built-Reputed to have Cost a Million Dollars-Assessed for $50,000 by the State Board of Equalization-Chamber of Commerce Begins a Fight for San Pedro Harbor-Senator Frye of Maine the Enemy of San Pedro-Huntington's Ultimatum to the Chamber of Commerce Com- mittee-Harbor Contest Divides the Chamber of Commerce-Stephen M. White comes to the Front-Is Elected Senator-Secures the Appointment of a Board of Engineers-Four of the Five Engineers Decide in Favor of San Pedro-Alger, President Mckinley's Secretary of War, Delays the Letting of the Contract for the Breakwater-Forced to Call for Bids-The Contract Let-Misfortune to the Contractors-Work Begun-The Great Jubilee at San Pedro April 26, 1899, when first Load of Rock Dumped-Adverse Fates Pursue the Undertaking-Contract Canceled-New Contract Let for Double the Amount of the first-Changes in the Original Plan of Breakwater-Its Dimensions-Lighthouse built at Entrance to the Harbor-The Fate of the Long Wharf-Men Who Were Active in the Free Har- bor Contest -- The Free Harbor League-The San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad becomes Part of the Southern Pacific System.
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CHAPTER XLIX
PAGE 342
THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles the only City in California Under the Rule of Spain and Mexico-An Inland City it Received but little Notice from Travelers-Under American Rule San Pedro Second Largest Port in California-Old Chamber of Commerce Protests against Crediting its Commerce to San Diego and Way Ports-Protest not Heeded -Tickets on the Steamers Sold to "Anchorage at San Pedro"-Cause of Dissatis- faction-Port of San Pedro Named Wilmington-Los Angeles Seeks Control of the Harbor of San Pedro-Doubts of the Success of the Panama Canal-Decree of Philip II-Baring and Company's Contract to Construct the Canal in the early '40s-Early Years of the Present Century an Era of Great Projects and "Fren- zied Finance"-Consolidation of Los Angeles, Wilmington and San Pedro-Wil- mington a City on Stilts-Bonds Voted for Harbor Improvements-Valuable Con- cessions Given away by early Boards of Supervisors-The Outer Harbor to be the Principal Shipping Point-But the First Ship Through the Panama Canal An- chors in the Inner Harbor-The Panama Canal Opened for Commerce August 15, 1914-The Ancon the First Vessel to Pass through-Deadman's Island Vanish- ing-Its Gruesome Name Gone, Changed to Reservation Point-History of the Island -Used for a Cemetery-Rattlesnake Island has Lost its Ominous Name-Mormon the only Original Island Name Left.
CHAPTER L
PLAZAS, PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS.
Money Value of Parks-Central Park Valued at Five Million Dollars-The Plaza -The First Plaza Disappeared Long Ago-Present Plaza Formed after the Church was Located in 1818-Homes of he Pueblo Aristocracy Fronted on the Plaza -No Plan of the Plaza-Ayuntamiento Undertakes to Square it-Dimensions of Plaza - Center for Revolutionary Armies-Military Headquarters-Stockton's Army Camped on It-Fiestas Held in It-Three Governors Inaugurated on Its Borders-The Festival of Corpus Christi Held in It-Altars Erected-The "Pas- tores" Enacted at Christmas-After the Conquest Satan has his Innings in the Plaza-Plaza, the Resort of the Criminal Element-It is Purified by Hemp-Dry- den's Water Works-The Fountain-The Plaza a Treeless Common-Improved in 1859-Meeting Place of Two Different Forms of Civilization-Central Park-Ig- norance of the People in Regard to the History of their City-Stories Ludicrous in their Absurdity Palmed off for History-King Carlos II Said to Have Deeded the Park to the Pueblo-King Carlos II Dead Sixty-nine Years before California was Settled-Official History of how We Obtained the Park-Round House George Did Not Give It to the City-Park is Block 15 of Ord's Survey of Pueblo Lands-Why It was not Sold in Early Days-Set Apart for a Public Square- First Attempts to Improve It-Called by Different Names-Last Transformation in 1911 and 1912-Elysian Park-Second Largest Park Owned by the City-Part of the Pueblo Lands-Improved in 1896 by Men out of Work-Portola's Explorers, Its Discoverers-Father Crespi's Description-Echo Park-Part of City Lands- Reservoirs Built by Los Angeles Canal & Reservoir Co .- The Woolen Mill Ditch and what Became of It-Eastlake Park-Part of the Pueblo Lands Sold for Fifty Cents an Acre-Donated to Southern Pacific Railroad Co .- Fail to Improve It- Donated for a Park-First Named East Los Angeles Park-Westlake Park-West-
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