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 3
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lake Park Refuse Pueblo Lands-No one Would Buy It-Alkali Gulch-A Num- ber of Leading Citizens Donated $5,000 to Improve It-Council Gave Similar Amount-One of the Most Attractive Parks of the City-Hollenbeck Park-Hol- lenbeck Park the Gift of Mrs. Hollenbeck and ex-Mayor W. H. Workman-Mrs. Hollenbeck gave Eight Acres and Mr. Workman Sixteen Acres-A Favorite Pic- nic Resort-Exposition Park part of Pueblo Lands that City Failed to Get-Han- cock's Survey Extended over these Lands-One Hundred and Sixty Acres Sold for Fair Grounds-Lost on a Mortgage-Reclaimed-Bull Fights in the Fair Grounds -Sixth District Agricultural Association Formed-Known as Agricultural Park- Flaw in the Title-Park Resort of Gamblers-William M. Bowen Begins a Cru- sade against the Vicious Elements in Park-Successful in Securing It for the State -State Leases Property to the City and County-Museum of History, Science and Art Founded-Exposition Building Built-Miss Mary S. Bowen Christens the Grounds "Exposition Park" Dec. 17, 1910-Using Water Brought from the Owens River-Griffith Park-Largest Public Park in the World-Donated by Col. Grif- fith J. Griffith-Menagerie Removed to It-Sunset Park Grounds Contain Ten Acres Donated to City by Mrs. Shatto-South Park-Sycamore Grove-Play- grounds-Area-Value of Real Estate.
CHAPTER LI
EXPANSION OF THE CITY BY ANNEXATION AND CONSOLIDATION
361
Only one Change in the City Boundaries in a Century-The Diputacions' Attempts to Enlarge the Pueblo's Boundaries-Meets with Obstacles-At the Time of the Conquest Los Angeles the Largest City in America-Hancock's Survey in 1853- United States Claims Commission Pares the City down to "One League to each Wind"-Patent Granted in 1875-Two Boundaries on the South-Highland Park the First Annexation-Faction Fight Defeats the University District from Com- ing into the City-Over Ten Square Miles Brought in on the South and West- No more Enlargements until the Beginning of the New Century-Consolidation with Wilmington and San Pedro Agitated - The Harbor the Inducement - The "Shoe String Strip"-Corporate Interests Hostile to Consolidation-The Three Cities Consolidate-The Colegrove District Comes in-Consolidation with Holly- wood-East Hollywood and Griffith Park Brought In-The Arroyo Seco Annexa- tion Defeated-A Second Election Brings All of It Except Bairdstown and Belve- dere-The Form of the City Changed by the Various Annexations and Consolida- tion-No Geometric Term will Describe It-Nothing Living with which it can be Compared-Only One Foreign City, London, Exceeds It in Area-Five American Cities Contain more Square Miles-Charter Amendments Change the Time of Holding the Election and the Length of the Term of Office.
CHAPTER LII.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY BY DECADES
American Cities Grow Erratically-Eastern Cities have their Booms-Remarkable Growth of Philadelphia in a Certain Decade-Los Angeles had no Booms in its Youth-No Subdivisions-Pueblo Grew Leisurely-Population Increased from 44 to 650 in four Decades-Awakening of the Pueblo Came with the Fall of the Mission-
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Greatest Growth under Spain and Mexico in Decade between 1830-1840-Los An- geles becomes Capital of California-Revolutions Retarded Prosperity-Decade Be- tween 1840-1850 one of Wars and Rumors of Wars-Capture of Monterey by Com- modore Jones in 1842-Overthrow of Micheltorena-Pico Governor-Conquest of California by Americans-First Boom of the Pueblo came after the Discovery of Gold-First Subdivision of the Pueblo Lands in 1849-Cheap Lots-Gold Rush of 1856-Building Boom of 1858-Population of the City in 1860-A Decade of Dis- asters, Flood and Drouth-Immigration Attracted by Cheap Lands Begins-Small gain in Population and Wealth between 1860 and 1870-First Railroad Built-Decade Between 1870 and 1880 Began Auspiciously-Railroad Building and Railroad Pro- jecting-San Diego Aspires to be the Seaport of the South-Los Angeles to be its Suburb-Failure of the Texas Pacific Railroad Brings Disaster-This Decade, the Colony Founding Era-Drouth Kills the Sheep Industry-The Baker Block most Im- posing Structure in the City Built-Population in 1880-The Beginning of the Tenth Decade finds Los Angeles still Clinging to Many of her Old Customs-No Paved Streets-No Free Mail Delivery-The Telephone Unknown-A Decade of Transitions-City Lighted by Electricity-The Nadeau Hotel Built-The Real Estate Boom of 1887 Makes Great Changes-The Santa Fe Railroad Comes-Great In- crease in Population and Wealth-The Last Decade of the Century a Period of Financial Gloom-Panic of 1893-Depression of Real Estate Values-Two Dry Years-The Spanish War-Electric Car Lines Extended-Oil Discovered in the City -Population and Wealth of the City in 1900.
CHAPTER LIII.
LOS ANGELES IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
369
Financial Depression of the Last Decade Slowly Lifting-Interest Rates Lower- But little Speculation in Real Estate-Awakening Came largely through New Men-The First Skyscraper Built in 1902-Pacific Electric System Accelerated Bus- iness-It Drifts to the Southward-Some of the Large Business Buildings Built in the South-Northern Property Holders Alarmed at the Southern Drift of Bus- iness-Attempts to Stop It-The Downey Block Secured for a Post Office Site- Federal Building Dedicated October, 1910-Purchase of the Temple Block for a City Hall Site-Large Business Buildings Built Recently-The Subdivision and Bunga- low Mania-The Los Angeles Investment Company-Salt Lake Railroad Completed -A Mining Rush-Rapid Rise in Real Estate Values-Some Legends of Fortunes Made and Lost-The Oil Industry-The Oil Gushers-The Great Lakeview Gusher -The Destruction of the Los Angeles Times Building by Dynamite-Conviction of the Perpetrators of the Crime-Population of the City in 1910-Assessed Valuation of Property in the City and County to 1915-Number of Permits Granted and Value of Buildings Erected to January 1. 1915-Rainfall to September 1, 1914- The "Jitney Buss"-Public Schools-San Diego Panama Exposition-The Panama Pacific Exposition at San Francisco.
CHAPTER LIV.
THE SCHOOLS OF LOS ANGELES CITY AND COUNTY
Education in Los Angeles Under Spanislı Rule-Luciano Valdez-The First Teach- er Under Mexican Domination a Failure-School Master Morago a Success-
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Pantoja Asks for More Wages and Loses His Job-Fifteen Dollars a Month the Limit of the School Master's Pay-Don Ygnacio Coronel and His Daughter Sole- dad Improve School Methods-The Lancastrian School of Lieutenant Medina-The School Master Paid in Merchandise-A Revolution Closes the School-The First School for Girls-School Furniture and Expenses Under the Ayuntamiento's Rule -The First School Under American Control-The City Council a School Board- The Schools Run on a Go-as-you-please System-The First School Ordinance-Free Schools-The Mayor of the City is Superintendent of Schools-The First School House Built Located on the Northwest Corner of Spring and Second Streets-Grow- ing Shade Trees on the School Lot Under Difficulties-City School Superintend- ents from 1853 to 1910-The First Teachers' Institute-Public Schools Unpopular in the Early '60s-Los Angeles Behind Other Cities in Schools in the '70s-Separate Schools for Negro Children-Polytechnic High School-Non-Partisan School Board-School Bonds to the Amount of $780,000 Voted-Bond Issue-New Build- ings Planned-County School Reports for Sixty Years-High Schools in the County.
CHAPTER LV.
POSTAL SERVICE OF LOS ANGELES
386
Postal Service of California Under the Rule of Spain-The Los Angeles Postoffice One Hundred Years Ago-Postal Service and Routes Under Mexico-Slow Mail Service-The First Mail Route Established After the Conquest-Act of Congress Establishing Postoffices in California-The Tub Postoffice at Los Angeles-Post- masters of Los Angeles-Locations of the Postoffice-The Soap Box Postoffice- Postmaster's Duties Light and Pay Lighter-The Stage Coach Era of Mail Carry- ing-The Butterfield Overland Stage Coach-The Los Angeles Postmaster's Salary in 1869-Postal Statistics in 1887-1890-Site of the Downey Block Donated to the Government for a Postoffice Site-Sale of the Site of the First Postoffice Building- Demolition of the Building-Dedication of the New Postoffice Building, October, 1910.
CHAPTER LVI.
WATER SYSTEM OF LOS ANGELES.
The Los Angeles River the Sole Water Supply of the City-Its Water Rights Decreed by Royal Reglamento-First Community Work in the Pueblo-The Building of the Zanja Madre-The Indian the Ditch Builder-The Indian the Water Carrier-The First Water Pipe System-The Dryden Reservoir on the Plaza-Scrip and Water Bonds Issued to Build Distributing Water Works-Expensive Dam Built-Munici- pal Ownership an Expensive Burderi-Water Works Leased to Sansevain-Water Works and Waters of the River Sold by the City Council-Mayor Vetoes the Or- dinance-Water Works and the Waters of the Los Angeles River Leased for Thirty Years-Opposition to the Leasing-The Fountain on the Plaza-P. Beaudry's Water System-The Canal and Reservoir Company's System-A Century of Litigation- The First Contest Over the Waters of the River Began in 1810-Trouble in 1833- The Regidores Allowed No Cloud to Rest on the City's Water Rights-Numerous
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Legal Contests over the City's Water Rights Under American Rule-Expiration of the Thirty Years' Lease to the Water Company-Refusal of the Company to Abide by the Award of the Arbitrators-The Council Agrees to Pay Nearly a Million Dollars More for the Plant than the Amount Awarded by the Arbitrators-Bonds Issued and City Gains Possession of the Water Plant-The Owens River Project- Originator of the Scheme-Its Estimated Cost.
CHAPTER LVII.
PIONEER CHURCHES OF LOS ANGELES CITY
399
Early Records of the Protestant Churches not Preserved-The First Chapel Built in 1784-Cornerstone of a New Church Laid in 1814-Change of Location-Contribu- tions of the Mission to the Building Fund of the Parish Church - Indians the Builders-The Church of Our Lady of the Angeles Completed and Dedicated- Changes in the Building-Indians Without a Boss Rounded up to Repair the Building-Church of Our Lady of the Angels the Oldest Parish Church on the Pa- cific Coast of the United States-Cathedra of St. Vibiana-Cornerstone Laid Octo- ber 3, 1869-Change of Location-Dedication of the Cathedral-Methodist Epis- copal Churches-First Protestant Sermon Preached in Los Angeles Delivered by a Methodist Minister-Rev. Adam Bland First Protestant Missionary in Los Angeles- Contract for a Church Building that was not Built-The Field Abandoned in 1858 -First Church Built in 1868-Account of its Dedication-First Methodist Church South Built in 1873-Changes of Location-Presbyterian Churches-Rev. James Woods the Pioneer Minister-Succeeded by the Rev. F. N. Davis-The Presbyter- ians Abandon the Field in 1856-A Period of Spiritual Darkness-The Rev. Wil- liam E. Boardman comes in 1859-The First Protestant Society Organized-Its Constitution-The Building of a Protestant Church Begun - Rev. Boardman Leaves-Church Advertised for Sale on Account of Delinquent Taxes-Church Built on Corner of Fort and Second Streets-Church Sold and the Congregation Divides into two Organizations-Protestant Episcopal Churches-First Service Held in 1857 -A Lay Reader Appointed-The Episcopalians Secure the Church Building of the First Protestant Society-The Building Sold and Church Built on Olive Street- Congregational Churches-Church Organized in 1867-Account of the Dedication- New Church Built on Corner of Third and Hill Streets-Baptist Churches-First Baptist Sermon Preached in 1853-First Church Organized in 1874-Church Built on Corner of Broadway and Sixth Streets in 1884-Christian Churches-First Ser- vice Held by a Member ,of the Christian Church in 1874-A Church Founded- The First Church erected During the Rev. B. F. Coulter's Ministration-The Rev. B. F. Coulter Erects a Church at his Own Expense-Unitarian Churches-The First Unitarian Service was Held in 1877-Rev Dr. Fay Holds Service in Childs' Opera House-A Church Erected on the Corner of Broadway and Seventh Street- Destroyed by Fire-Jewish Synagogues-Other Denominations.
CHAPTER LVIII.
THE PIONEER NEWSPAPERS OF LOS ANGELES
A History of the Newspapers That Have Been Published Twenty-five Years or More-No Newspapers in California Under Spain and Mexico-First Newspaper in California Published in 1846-Rapid Increase in Newspapers After the Discovery
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of Gold-Proposition to Publish a Newspaper in Los Angeles-Location of the First Printing Office-First Issue of La Estrella de Los Angeles-Names of the Publish- ers-First Job Done for the City-Tribulations of a Pioneer Publisher-Change of Ownership-Burning Issues of the Early '50s-Pacific Railroad-Camel Caravans and Dromedary Express-Subscriptions Payable in Produce After Harvest-The Star for Sale at $1,000 Less Than Cost-Hard Times in the Old Pueblo-Henry Ham- ilton Becomes the Owner of the Star-The Star Sets in Darkness-After Four Years it Appears Again-The Daily Star Issued-The Star Ceases to Shine-The Southern Californian-The Second Paper of Los Angeles Issued in 1854-Frequent Changes of Owners-Suspends Publication in January, 1859-El Clamor Publico- The First Paper in Los Angeles Printed in Spanish-Suspends Publication Decem- ber 31, 1859-The Southern Vineyard Founded by Col. J. J. Warner-Becomes a Semi-Weekly-Suspends-The Los Angeles Daily and Weekly News-Established in January, 1860, as a Weekly-Changed to Semi-Weekly-Then to a Tri-Weekly- Republican in Politics-Changes to Democratic-The Daily News Issued January 1, 1869-The Paper Dies in 1873-The Wilmington Journal the First Paper Pub- lished Outside of Los Angeles City-The Plant of the Star Used for Its Publica- tion-The News Gives it a Doubtful Compliment-The Los Angeles Express-The Oldest Newspaper Now Published in Los Angeles-Founded by an Association of Practical Printers-Sold to Ayers & Lynch-Frequent Changes of Ownership-E. T. Earl buys It and Builds a Home for It-Los Dos Republicas - Originally La Cronica-An Influential Spanish Paper-Independent in Politics-The Daily and Weekly Herald-Founded in 1873 by C. A. Storke-Sold to a Stock Company-Or- gan of the Grange Movement-Ayers & Lynch Become Proprietors-The Leading Democratic Journal of California-Sold to a Syndicate of Politicians-Frequent Changes of Ownership-The Herald Publishing Company Become Owners-Be- comes Republican in Politics-Wallace L. Hardison, President of the Company- Sold Again to a Syndicate of Which Frank G. Finlayson is President-Politics Changed Again-Now the Organ of the Democratic Party-Publication of the Morn- ing Herald Ceases-Is Changed to an Evening Paper-The Rural Californian- Predecessor was Southern California Horticulturist-First Issue September, 1877- Los Angeles Weekly Mirror-The Los Angeles Daily Times-Date of Its Found- ing-Changes in Ownership-Increase of Capital Stock-Present Officers.
CHAPTER LIX.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
No Collegiate Institutions in California Under Spanish and Mexican Rule-Grants Made After the American Occupation-St. Vincent's College-The First College Founded-First Site Sold-Military Instruction Introduced-College Has a High Reputation-University of Southern California-Oldest Protestant Educational In- stitution-Offers of Land Made-Tract Selected in West Los Angeles-Building Erected-College of Medicine Founded in 1885-Building Constructed in 1895- Library Building Built-Colleges Included in the University-Pomona College- Founded at Pomona-Location at Claremont-Buildings - Presidents - Library- Attempt to Unite the Congregational, Baptist and Disciples in One Collegiate Institu- tion-Rapid Growth of the College-Occidental College-The First Site Chosen- Building Erected-The First President-College Building Destroyed by Fire-Loca- tion Changed-First Building on the New Site Erected in 1898-Hall of Letters
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Built-The Stimson Library-A $200,000 Endowment Secured-Change of Loca- tion of the College-New Building Erected-New President-Throop College of Technology-Founded at Pasadena in 1891 by Hon. Amos G. Throop-Endowment -First Board of Trustees-Change of Name - Buildings Erected-Stickney Me- morial Building-Change of Location and Name-Endowments-Buildings - Whit- tier College - Whittier Academy Established in 1891 - Whittier College Organ- ized in 1901-College Buildings Completed-Gymnasium Built-Successful Effort to Raise a $100,000 Endowment-Harvard School (Military)-A School Where Mil- itary Training and Scholarship are Combined-Founded by Prof. Grenville C. Em- ery, A. M .- Site Selected and Buildings Erected-Rapid Growth of the School- New Buildings Erected-Rifle Range Established-Cadet Band Organized.
CHAPTER LX.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATIONS.
419
The Los Angeles Public Library-The Amigos del Pais and Their Library-The Mechanics Institute-The First Library-Its Organization-Officers-Books Sold at Auction to Pay Expenses-Organization of the Present Library-Its First Loca- tion-Librarians-Attempts to Secure a Library Building-Library Moved from the City Hall-Roof Garden Reading Room-Transferred to the Hamburger Building- Removed to Metropolitan Building-Historical Society of Southern California- Founded November 1, 1883-The First Officers-Publications - Widely Circulated Library-Legislature of 1904 Appropriates $125,000-Bill Vetoed by Governor Par- dee-Southern California Academy of Science-Organized as the Southern Cali- fornia Science Association-Objects of the Society-Membership-Line of Work- Publications-Pioneers of Los Angeles County-Its Object Historical-Organiza- tion-Founders-First Officers-Publications-The Southwest Society of Archaeo- logical Institute of America-Date of its Founding-Rapid Growth-Collection of Folk-Songs-Relics of Fremont and Other Pioneers - Scientific Explorations- Purchase of a Site-The First Officers of the Society-New Building Erected- Cornerstone laid by Dr. Norman Bridge-Collections Moved to the New Building.
CHAPTER LXI.
CLIMATIC AND SEISMIC TRAGEDIES.
California Proud of Its Climate-Excuses Climatic Extremes on the Plea of Excep- tional Years-Earthquakes-Seismic Disturbances Epidemic - Frequent Earth- quakes at the Time of the First Settlement-San Gabriel River Named El Rio de Los Temblores, The Year of Earthquakes-Destruction of the Mission San Juan Capistrano-Injury to Other Mission Buildings-Earthquakes of 1856 and 1857- Owens' Valley Earthquake-Earthquake of 1899-Floods-Meager Weather Reports in Early Days-Flood of 1810-11-Great Flood of 1825-Changes the Course of the Los Angeles River-Flood of 1832-Changes Face of the Country-Argonauts'
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First Experience of a California Flood-Flood of 1852 Disastrous to the Miners- The Noachian Deluge of 1861-62-Very Destructive to Property-Flood of 1867-68 Makes a New River in Los Angeles County-Floods of 1884 and 1886-Droughts -After the Deluge-Droughts-Short Crops-Slaughter of Horses-Noveñas to San Antonio of Padua-Famine Years of 1863 and 1864-Great Loss of Cattle- Dry Year of 1877 Destructive to the Sheep Industry-Water Development has Mitigated the Evil Effects of Dry Years-Record of the Rainfall at Los Angeles for Twenty Years.
CHAPTER LXII.
COMMERCIAL CORPORATIONS
430
The First Chamber of Commerce Organized in 1873-Proposed to Call It a Board of Trade-Names Changed to Chamber of Commerce-First Board of Directors- Incorporated for Fifty Years-Works to Secure Appropriation for San Pedro Harbor-Hard Times Kill It-Board of Trade-Oldest Commercial Corporation- First Officers-Incorporates-Takes the Initiative in Many Beneficial Enterprises- Presidents from its Organization to the Present Time-Secretaries-Second Cham- ber of Commerce-W. E. Hughes Inaugurates the Movement-The First Meeting for Organization-Resolutions-Decide on Name-The First Members-Constitu- tion and By-laws Drafted-The First Officers-First Work Efforts to Secure Appro- priation for San Pedro Harbor-Facts and Figures-First Pamphlet Issued-Cali- fornia on Wheels-Contest Over Free Harbor Location-San Pedro Wins-Homes of the Chamber-Its Work-Exhibitions-Presidents-Secretaries-The Mer- chants and Manufacturers Association-Youngest Commercial Corporation-Two Organizations United-Movement for Patronizing Home Products-Presidents of the Association-Secretaries.
CHAPTER LXIII.
INLAND CITIES AND TOWNS
Pomona a Child of the Colony Era-Origin of the Name-The San Jose Rancho- The Los Angeles Immigration and Land Co-operative Association-Object of the Association-Great Auction Sale of Lots in Pomona-Disaster Comes upon the Town-Population in 1880-Incorporated as a City-Rapid Growth During the Boom-The Pioneer Newspaper-Population-Completion of the Salt Lake Road to Pomona-Great Prosperity in 1904-1905-Pomona Library-Orange Shipment in 1906-Carnegie Library-Pomona's School System-Population in 1910-Clare- mont-Lordsburg-San Dimas-Glendora-Azusa City-Covina - Duarte-Irwin- dale-Monrovia-El Monte-San Gabriel-South Pasadena-Tropico-Glendale- Burbank-San Fernando-Newhall-Hollywood-Sherman-The Soldiers' Home and Sawtelle-Compton-Whittier-Norwalk - Downey-Rivera-Artesia-Santa Fe Springs-Dolgeville-Alhambra-Sierra Madre-Watts-Torrance-Eagle Rock City, Van Nuys, Owensmouth.
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CHAPTER LXIV.
PAGE 447
LONG BEACH
A Modern Town-A City of Today-Some Military History-The Rancho Los Cer- ritos Bought by Bixby & Co .- Willmore City-The American Colony-The Teach- ers' Colony not a Success-Old Timers not Good Colonist Material-Eastern People Coming-Colony Tract and Town Lots Sold to the Land & Water Company-Name of Town Changed to Long Beach-The First Car Service-Mulish Propelling Power -Southern Pacific Builds a Spur Road into the Town-Depression-Population in 1890-The Terminal Railroad Built-The Chautauqua Assembly-Population in 1900-Electric Road Built-The Los Angeles Dock & Terminal Company-Annexed Territory-Building has Kept Pace with Expansion-Schools-The Bixby Hotel Dis- aster-Population in 1910-Bond Issue Voted-Long Beach Library.
CHAPTER LXV.
CITIES AND TOWNS BY THE SEASIDE.
450
San Pedro-The First House-Smuggling-Banning and Tomlinson-First Harbor Improvements-The Free Harbor-Misfortunes of the First Contractors-In- creased Exports and Imports-Free Public Library-Appropriation for Dredging Inner Harbor - Wilmington - Banning Founds New San Pedro-Explosion of the Steamer Ada Hancock-Extension of the Railroad-Decline of Business-Revi- val - Santa Monica - Redondo-Hermosa-Along the Shore-Avalon-Playa del Rey-Ocean Park-Venice of America-Naples-El Segundo.
CHAPTER LXVI.
PASADENA
459
Dr. Reid's Labors to Preserve the Early History of Pasadena-The Citizens Owe Him a Debt of Gratitude-Origin of the Name San Pasqual-Some Romancing About the First Owner-Dona Eulalia Perez de Guillen not an Owner-Juan Marine Granted the Rancho in 1835-Don Manuel Garfias Became Owner of the Rancho -Builds a Costly Residence-Loses the Rancho on a Mortgage to Dr. J. S. Griffin- Mrs. Johnston, Wife of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, Purchases Part of the Rancho and Builds a House-Judge B. S. Eaton Locates on the Rancho and Plants a Vineyard-The Great Oil Boom of 1865-The Pioneer Oil Company Obtains a Deed to All Petroleum, Rock Oil, etc., or the Rancho San Pasqual-The San Pas- qual Plantation Scheme-The California Colony of Indiana-The San Gabriel Orange Grove Association Purchases 4,000 Acres-Subdivision of the Land - Orange Growing a Success-The Lake Vineyard and Water Company Tract-The First Store and Postoffice-No Town in 1880-Pasadena Wins Prizes at Citrus Fairs- Pasadena, Key of the Valley-Helen Hunt Jackson's Romancing-Raymond Hotel Built-Railroad Built-First Reverberation of the Boom-Sale of the School-
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house Tract-Inflation of Values-Boom Bursts-Depression Does not Last Long -Rehabilitation-A Second Railroad-Population in 1890-The Mount Lowe Rail- road-Mount Lowe Observatory Built-The Pacific Electric Railway Built-New Buildings-Company I, Seventh Regiment-Population in 1900-Throop Polytech- nic Built-Building Boom of 1904-05-City Assessment-The Rose Tournament- Board of Trade-The Public Library-Pioneer Newspapers - The Chronicle-It Fails-The Star & Union-The Star Still Shines-Population.
J.m. Gino
CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER I.
SPANISH EXPLORATIONS AND DISCOVERIES.
F OR centuries there had been a vague tra- dition of a land lying somewhere in the seemingly limitless expanse of ocean stretching westward from the shores of Europe. The poetical fancy of the Greeks had located in it the Garden of Hesperides, where grew the Golden Apples. The myths and superstitions of the middle ages had peopled it with gorgons and demons and made it the abode of lost souls.
When Columbus proved the existence of a new world beyond the Atlantic, his discovery did not altogether dispel the mysteries and su- perstitions that for ages had enshrouded the fabled Atlantis, the lost continent of the Hesperi- des. Romance and credulity had much to do with hastening the exploration of the newly dis- covered western world. Its interior might hold wonderful possibilities for wealth, fame and con- quest to the adventurers who should penetrate its dark unknown. The dimly told traditions of the natives were translated to fit the cupidity or the credulity of adventurers, and sometimes served to promote enterprises that produced re- sults far different from those originally intended.
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