An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 43

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 43

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The provision department is nuder the man- agement of F. W. Gnard, who has had an ex- tensive experience in this kind of business, hav- ing been connected with some of the largest packing-honses in the East. The cold-storage department is under the management of P. R. Bevan, Assistant Treasurer, who also has charge

of the executive and financial part of the busi- ness in this city. He is a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and received his education in his native State, and was for a long time in the ein- ploy of Simpson & Watkins before coming to Los Angeles, in April of last year.

Mr. M. Dodsworth, general manager, is a native of Cincinnati, was reared there, and after reach- ing manhood came to California, in 1852, engag- ing for several years in mining in the northern parts of this State, and then in the butchers' trade for fifteen years, and finally, in 1879, he came to Los Angeles, where he has since been engaged in packing bacon and lard.

All these men are thoroughly identified with the public welfare of Los Angeles. The com- pany, succeeding to the " Los Angeles Pork- packing Company " in February, 1888, have now a business outlook which is one of the most important in Southern California.

PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The Public Library Association of Los An- geles was organized in December, 1872, and the library transferred to the city in April, 1878. It is supported by a direct levy not to exceed five cents on each $100 of all real and personal property in the city, and by quarterly dues of $1.00 from each subscribing member.

Number of papers and magazines to be found in reading news rooms: Daily papers, twenty- seven; weekly, thirty-two; monthly, twenty- two; quarterly, three; number of volumes in library, June 1, 1888, 5,748; 913 added during the year; book loan for the year, 17,071.

The library and free reading-room are open daily except Sunday, from 9 A. M. to 9:30 P. M. The trustees in 1888 were W. H. Workman, President; A. W. Barrett, E. C. Bosbyshell, B. Chandler, B. Cohn, M. T. Collins, Jolin Mori- arty, E. A. Gibbs, James Hanley, H. Miller, J. F. Humphreys, J. H. Book, J. W. Lovell, N. Mathews, H. Sinsabaugh and M. Teed.

PUBLIC PARKS.

The city is only tolerably well provided with public parks at present. It has the little

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

" Plaza," on North Main street, opposite the old Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Angels, and the Sixth Street Park, bounded by Sixth, Hill, Olive, and Fitth streets. The last men- tioned is a beautiful little park and a popular resort for people who wish to spend a restful hour surrounded by semi-tropical trees, plants and flowers. Diagonally across the street from this park is the building ocenpied by Brigadier- General Grierson, U. S. A., as headquarters for the Department of Arizona. Surrounding this building are extensive and beautiful grounds open to the public.

Elysian Park is a large body of very hilly land, that is as yet wholly unimproved. East Los Angeles Park is also a park only in pros- pect.

Westlake Park, of thirty-five acres, is in the western part of the city, near Ninth and Elev- enth streets; and Prospect Park, in Boyle Heights, a small park in the Brooklyn traet.

PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.

The principal places of amusement in Los Angeles are the Grand Opera House, on Main, near First street; the Academy of Music, on Fifth and Olive streets; and the Los Angeles Theatre, on Spring street, between Second and Third streets. The latter is a new substantial brick edifice, which was opened to the public early in the winter of 1888-'89; the Academy of Music is a large wooden strneture, and is often used for mass meetings, festivals, etc., as well as for dramatie purposes.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Ever since February 1, 1886, the Fire Depart- ment has been under pay; prior to that date it was a volunteer department. During 1888 about $70,000 was expended in the purchase of four new engines, hose and carts, and in the erection of new buildings. Each engine house is supplied with a telephone, also fire alarm gong of Richmond Fire Aların System. The increase in this department of the public service serves well to illustrate the growth of the eity. In 1886 there were required but two engines,

one hook and ladder company, five hose-earts, 3,200 feet of hose and a force of thirty-two men.

POLICE.

The headquarters of the city police are at the city hall; but there is a branch station, and also a small jail, at Hoff and Hayes streets, in East Los Angeles. The foree at present consists of seventy-four members, ranking as follows: Chief, captain of detectives, four detectives, secretary of police, police captain, two police sergeants, ten mounted officers, fifty foot officers, two drivers of patrol wagon, a matron, and a police surgeon.

CEMETERIES.

Los Angeles is by no means behind the age in the matter of cemeteries, of which there are five The Roman Catholic Cemetery is beauti- fully located on an elevation on Buena Vista street, just overlooking the Southern Pacific depot. The City Cemetery is situated on Cas- telar street, between Bellevue avenue and Sand street. The Hebrew burying-ground is on Reservoir street. These three are old eeme- teries, and are near the center of the city. They will doubtless ere long be elosed. Chief among the new places of sepulture is Evergreen Ceme- tery, on Aliso avenne. It is reached directly by the First street and also the Aliso street railway. The Rosedale, on West Washington street, can be reached by the electric railway, which can be taken at First and Los Angeles streets. At the Rosedale Cemetery there is the only crematory in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains. It was built by the Los Angeles Crematory Society, under the super- vision of an expert who came for that purpose. The first incineration took place in June, 1887. The body, which had been regularly interred a few months previously, was that of the wife of Dr. O. B. Bird, a prominent homeopathic physi- eian. The cremation was a complete success, and attracted as much attention as the most sanguine friend of the movement could have wished.

H. Sinsabangh, D. D., a prominent member

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is president of the Cremation Society, and Dr. William Le Moyne Wills, Professor of Anatomy in the Medical College of the University of Southern California, is secretary. Dr. Wills is a promi- nent Los Angeles surgeon, and inherits his enthusiasm for cremation, his grandfather, Dr. F. Julius Le Moyne, of Washington, Pennsyl- vania, having constructed at his own expense the first cremation furnace in the United States.

EDUCATIONAL.

In 1838 the first primary school was estab- lished in Los Angeles. The teacher was Ensign Guadalupe Medina. The term lasted five and a half months, when Medina was called to the arıny. The attendance averaged 103 scholars, whose progress and proficiency in studies were gratifying. The city had appropriated $500 for expenses, and had purchased the necessary furniture at San Gabriel. Later, Don Ignacio Coronel taught school here.

The first proposition for the establishment of a college came from Rev. Antonio Jimenes, May 18, 1850, in his application for a grant of town land to that end.

About the same time Rev. Dr. Wicks, Pres- byterian, seconded by J. G. Nichols, opened the pioneer English school. In Jannary, 1853, there were four' small schools, two of them teaching English.

The oldest public school-houses were on Bath and Spring streets. Both were built under the supervision of Trustees J. G. Nichols and John O. Wheeler.

At San Gabriel, J. F. Burns and Cæsar C. Twitchell were teachers in 1854.

In 1856 Dr. John S. Griffin was elected superintendent of common schools, with Francis Mellus, Agustin Olivera and William A. Wallace as school commissioners. William McKee and Mrs. Thomas Foster tanglit for some time. Mrs. Hoyt had a school in 1857, and her dangh- ter, Miss Mary E. Iloyt, two years later, as also Miss Anna McArthur.

Concerning the public schools of the city,

the following statistics were furnished by the school superintendent for the year 1888:

Number of white children between 5 and 17 ... .10,631

Number of negro children between 5 and 17 ...

Number of Indiau children between 5 and 17. 339

Number of Chinese children between 5 and 17 ..

Total number of census children. 10,970

Number of children under 5 . . 3,569

Number of children between 5 and 17 who have at- tended public schools during year. 5,302 Number of children between 5 and 17 who have at- tended private schools only .. 1,230

Number of children between 5 and 17 who have not attended any school during year. 4,438

Number of pupils enrolled in public schools. 5,665

Number of teachers employed .. 136

Average number of pupils per teacher 46

Cost per capita on total enrollment. $15.77

Cost per capita on average enrollment 24.68

Cost per capita on average daily attendance 26.14

The great discrepancy between the number enrolled in the schools and the number reported by the census marshal as having attended the public schools during the year is accounted for by the fact that the school census is taken in May, when many people have betaken them- selves to the mountains or the seashore.

From the annual report of the secretary of the city board of education, from January 1, 1888, to January 1, 1889, we take the follow- ing statistics: The total receipts for the year were $211,338.86; total expenditures, $186,- 987.64; balance on hand at the end of the year, §24,351.22.

The Los Angeles City board of education employs over 100 teachers. The average salary paid the teachers is $85 per month. The Los Angeles school department has always been liberal toward women. Mrs. Chloe B. Jones was long principal of the High School and also city superintendent of schools. At least seven- eightlis of the teachers are women. The rapid increase of population within the past three years has crowded the school buildings to their utmost capacity and necessitated the erection of new buildings as well as the enlargement of several old ones, in order to meet the require- inents of the community. The excellent com - mon-school system is the pride of California, and in no portion of the State do the people take more pains to foster and encourage popu- lar education than in Los Angeles County.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Besides the public schools there are numerous private schools in the city, including kinder- garteus, primary, grammar, schools of elocu- tion, business colleges, and dancing schools. There are also many private teachers of inusic, painting, drawing, etc.

THE LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL.

The first organization of a High School was made in 1873 by Dr. W. T. Lucky, then super- intendent of the schools of the city. For a time Dr. Lucky performed also the duties of princi- pal. The first class was graduated in 1875, and consisted of seven members, five young women and two young men. Throughout the history of the school both boys and girls have been received into the same classes and have pursued the same studies. In one class a young man has received the highest honors for schol- arship, and in another a young woman. The number of graduates each year has gradually increased, but with some fluctuation, the largest- number, twenty-six, having been reached by the class of 1885. The present senior class began with an enrollment of thirty-one.

From 1873 until 1882 the High School occu- pied a part of the wooden building that for- merly stood upon the site of the new county court-house. In the latter year, on account of pressure in the lower grades, the school moved to rooms in the State Normal Building, where it remained for three years. In 1885, the normal school having grown so as to require its whole building, the High School moved to rooms in the brick building near the corner of. Sixth and Spring streets, where it still remains. A building for the special use of the High School is one of the most urgent needs of Los An- geles, and one that an increased school fund under the new city charter ought to satisfy.

' The city superintendent of schools continued to act as principal of the High School until the summer of 1881, Dr. Lucky being succeeded in 1876 by C. H. Kimball, and the latter gen- tleman, in 1880, by Mrs. C. B. Jones. For the school year of 1881-'82 Mrs. Jones filled

the now separate position of principal, suc- ceeded the following year by L. D. Smith, who in 1883 was made city superintendent. F. H. Clark, the present principal, was teacher of the senior class during the school year of 1883-'84. and was elected principal in the summer of 1884.

The course of study of the school was ar- ranged in 1884 so as to provide the requisite preparation for any of the departments of the University of California, to which institution a considerable number of the graduates of the school have gone as students. It is the aim of the school to maintain a course of instruction everywhere thoroughly practical, adapted both to those that become students at college and to those that enter business and home life at once.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

Normal schools for the special instruction of teachers were first established in the United States by Massachusetts, in 1839, at old Lexing- ton, overlooking the battle-ground; and at Bridgewater and Westfield in 1840 and 1841. The fourth school was built by New York, at Albany, in 1844. These schools are all in pros- perons condition to-day; and the movement thus begun has gone forward until at the present time nearly 150 public normal schools are in successful operation; and a very large number of private normal schools, either partly or wholly engaged in the work of preparing teachers for the public schools, find plenty of work to do.

California established lier first normal school at San Francisco in 1862, afterward removing it to San José, where it has grown to mammoth proportions, being one of the largest in the United States. The Normal School at Los An- geles was established as a branch of the school at San José by the Legislature of 1881, the bill being signed by Governor Perkins March 14 of that year. The sum of $50,000 was appropriated for the building, and the trustees were directed to proceed to Los Angeles and select a site. Of several sites offered, the trustees, on March 26, 1882, chose the Bellevue Terrace orange grove

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

of five and a quarter acres on Charity street (Grand avenue), at the head of Fifth street, and the building was begun forthwith. This beau- tiful tract of land was then held at $8,000, and was purchased with money raised by private subscription of the citizens. The building was finished for occupancy and the school opened August 29, 1882, with sixty-one pupils and three teachers. Principal teacher, C. J. Flatt; Preceptress, Emma L. Hawks; and Assistant, J. W. Redway; Charles H. Allen, also principal at San José, being Principal. The number of pupils increased to an aggregate of 126 during the school year of 1882-'83. The Legislature of 1883 appropriated $10,000 for finishing and furnishing the building, which was thus put in excellent condition for school work.

In 1883 a separate principal was appointed for this school, the trustees selecting Ira More for the purpose. He had been principal of the Minnesota State Normal School at St. Cloud, and had taught for some years in the school at San José. The school continued to flourish, the aggregate attendance increasing each year until it is now more than 300. The ground has been graded, retaining walls were built, trees, shrubbery and hedges planted, and it is fast becoming an attractive feature of that part of the city where it is located.

The first class, numbering twenty-two, gradu- ated in 1884. Since then two classes a year have gone out, the whole number of gradnates being now 240. Nearly all of these are actively en- gaged in teaching, and promise to make at least as good a record as has been made by the grad- nates of the earlier normal schools. The history of these schools abundantly shows that the normal graduate will average ten years of teaching.

A school of 150 pupils, comprising the first five grades of the public schools, is attached to the normal as a practice school for the senior classes. The young teacher is here trained in exactly the work he is required to do in the public schools, and thus goes out thoroughly fitted; and that this practice results in no injury to the little people under his charge is shown.

by the fact that no school in the city stands higher in public estimation than the Normal Primary School.

We close this article by an extract from the Principal's Report upon a point much inquired after by the people:

" Another statement frequently made by the friends as well as the opponents of special train- ing schools for teachers is that the supply will soon be greater than the demand; the market will be overstocked; we are educating more than can find places. A little arithmetic will not here be out of place: The number of teachers employed by the State is given in the report of the superintendent of public instruction at 4,000. Ruling out accidental and occasional elements, we may safely say that more than 3,000 of this number depend upon teaching for a livelihood. Horace Mann states that three years was the average school life of the teachers of his day. Young women will marry, and young men leave this for other trades or pro- fessions. Since then, as he foresaw, the term has been increased, the teachers specially cdu- cated remaining longer in the field, until the average term in this State is from fonr to five years. Such statistics as can be gathered show that it will not exceed this estimate. More than 600 teachers are needed cach year to take the place of those who retire from the work. The normal schools now graduate about 150. It does not seem likely that the supply will exceed the demand for many years to come, certainly. In confirmation of this it may be stated that although the school at San José has been send- ing out its graduates for more than twenty years, less than twelve per cent. of the teachers in the State are graduates of California normal schools, while six per cent. come from the normal schools of other States, making but eighteen per cent., or less than one-fifth, graduates of any normal school whatever."

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

This is one of the most important and suc- cessful educational institutions of the State, and

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

one which does honor to the city and that part of the State wherein it is located.

The College of Liberal Arts of the University stands upon an eligible site in what is known as West Los Angeles, not far from the Agri- cultural Park grounds. It is surrounded by many of the most beautiful residences, orange groves and flower gardens in the city. It is far enough from the business center to be exempt fromn disturbing influences, and yet it is easily accessible from any other portion of the city by lines of street cars. As for the plan, the make- up and the management of the institution, they are very nearly, if not actually, up to the line of perfection. A brief history of the institution will be appropriate in this connection:

In May, 1879, Hon. R. M. Widney invited Rev. A. M. Hongh to his residence and laid before him the plans of the University, as it now is, and as planned by Judge Widney. He had previously drawn up a deed of trust wherein Dr. J. S. Griffin and Mr. H. M. Johnson offered to convey certain real estate in East Los An- geles for a campus and endowment fund to establish the University at East Los Angeles, on the same terms and conditions as the present deed of trust. After a quiet consultation be- tween Judge Widney and Mr. Hough it was decided to invite Hon. E. F. Spence and Dr. J. P. Widney to meet with them at an early date. A consultation of these four gentlemen resulted in their determination all to join in the enterprise of establishing a University in this city. Another meeting was arranged for, at which Rev. M. M. Bovard, then pastor of the Fort Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. G. D. Compton were also present, by in- vitation. At this meeting it was decided to look around for some other donation of land in- stead of locating in East Los Angeles. Various offers were received, but it was finally agreed to accept an offer of land in West Los Angeles, where the College of Liberal Arts of the Uni- versity was subsequently established. The offer of land was secured by Mr. Hough, and the name adopted for the institution was the Uni- 18

versity of Sonthern California. The deed of trust was executed July 29, 1879, by ex-Gov- ernor J. G. Downey, O. W. Childs and Isaiah W. Hellman, to A. M. Ilough, J. P. Widney, E. F. Spence, M. M. Bovard, G. D. Compton and R. M. Widney. The site selected is on Wesley avenue, a few rods south of Jefferson street. It was at that time almost "in the wilderness," and it required strong faith to believe that the institution would within ten years be surrounded by such attractions as are now visible in every direction from the balcony or upper windows of the spacious building. Later on several liberal- minded persons contributed considerable money, in the aggregate, toward an endowment fund for the University. In June, 1880, the trustees decided to sell thirty lots in the tract, at $200 each, and with the proceeds erect and furnislı a frame building in which to begin the educa- tional work. A contract was soon let, and the corner-stone of the building was laid October 4, by Bishops Simpson and Wiley.

In August, 1880, Revs. M. M. and F. D. Bovard entered into a contract with the directors for five years to carry on the ednca- tional work of the institution. Rev. M. M. Bovard was elected president of the University, and he and his brother have conducted the work very successfully. In July, 1880, Mr. and Mrs. William Hodge donated "Hodge Hall " to the institution. In September, 1883, Hon. E. F. Spence donated $600 to establish the Spence scholarship.

In 1882 Judge R. M. Widney procured Messrs. George and William B. Chaffey to tender a deed of trust for about $200,000 worth of land at Ontario for a "Chaffey College of Agriculture of the University." Strange to say, the offer was earnestly opposed by a large part of the directors of the University, but through the persistent efforts of Judge Widney, the offer was finally accepted.

In due time a fine two-story brick and stone building was erected. In October, 1885, edu- cational work was begun therein by Professor W. F. Wheeler. In June, 1885, Mrs. Sarah E.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Tansey donated to the University lands valued at $20,000, to endow a chair of Moral Christian Ethics. In 1885 Dr. J. I'. Widney organized and put in successful operation the College of Medicine in Los Angeles City. It is now in fine working condition, with an able corps of professors.

The University has an Annual Council, with deliberative functions, but with no execntive powers. This council has proved a very useful element in the management of the institution.

Besides the Ontario College of the University, there are several flourishing colleges at other places outside the city. There is the Maclay College of Theology at San Fernando, estab)- lished in 1885 hy Hon. C. Maclay, who donated some $300,000 worth of lands and erected a fine college building; also the Tulare Academy, established in 1886 at Tulare City, through the efforts of Revs. J. B. Green and J. A. McMil- lan. In March, 1886, the Escondido Land and Water Company, the owners of the Escondido Rancho in San Diego County, through the efforts of Rev. R. W. C. Farnsworth, Presiding Elder, and Rev. E. S. Chase, offered property in that rancho to the value of $100,000 to build and endow the Escondido Academy, to be a branch of the University. By the efforts of Rev. F. S. Chase and D. Choate there were re- ceived deeds donating to the University about $200,000 worth of city property to endow and build the San Diego College of the University.

In June, 1886, Judge R. M. Widney donated property in the San Fernando Ranch to estab- lish a reserve endowment fund for the Univer- sity. From this property sales have already been made aggregating over $100,000, with some §200,000 worth of lands lett. This dona- tion should eventually realize not less than $400,000.

The new college building in West Los An- geles, which was completed in 1886, cost $37,000. Liberal donations were made for its erection by many persons, Mr. G. W. Morgan donating lands from which $6,500 has been realized, and Ilon. E. F. Spence making a gift

of real estate from which $5,000 has been ob- tained, with a prospect of many thousands more. Ex-Governor Downey also donated lands worth $6,000 or more. The building is a four- story brick, with stone foundation. It is 100 fect square, with a total floor area of nearly one square acre. The total valuation of the Uni- versity property is nearly $1,000,000.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092