An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 12

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 12
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 12
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 12
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

San Diego's water supply for domestic pur- poses comes from wells sunk in the gravel bed of the San Diego river. The waterslied of the valley where these wells are sunk is nearly 300 square miles. The wells are at from 2,000 to 4,000 feet above sea level. For six months of the year the water runs on the surface, while during the remainder of the year the gravel bed of the river, which has a slight fall, and is between seven and eight miles long, is fully charged with pure mountain water, which gives a constant supply to the wells. These are thir- teen in number, sunk in a line across the lower end of the valley. They average an inside di- ameter of twenty-eight feet, and are fourteen or fifteen feet below the water level of the summer months. The wells are all connected with the pumps by pipes of cast iron. There are four covered reservoirs with a total capacity 4,206,000 gallons, and a standpipe thirty-six inches in diameter, 136 feet high, its top being 401 feet above tide. It is supplied from the large pumps at the main station, and has press- ure enough to reach the highest parts of the city. The pump mains run to the standpipe and the Old Town reservoir. They can be used independently, if so desired. The com- pany has over 296,680 feet, or about sixty miles, of pipe lines, at an approximate cost of $800,000. Connected with this system are 185 fire hydrants, for which the city pays $100

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

per year each. Everything that can be done in the way of plant, apparatus, protection, etc., is done to preserve the purity and sweetness of the water. The reservoirs are covered, and they have cemented walls, with proper facilities for draining and cleansing. According to the engineer's record, some 30,000,000 of gallons were pumped by this company during each month of the year 1888. It can to-day supply 6,600,000 gallons every twenty-four hours. If the above were not sufficient-and the supply even now would meet the wants of 100,000 souls population-there are other water re-

sources. The Sweetwater reservoir, which sup- plies National City, covers an area of 700 acres of land, and contains about 6,000,000,000 gal- lons of water, a portion of which could very readily be diverted to San Diego. The San Diego Fluine Company has a large reservoir in the Cuyamaca mountains, about fifty miles from San Diego, with a capacity of 4,000,000,000. This water is conducted to a point near the city by means of a large flume, and thence into the city through a thirty-inch iron pipe. The Flume Company furnish water for irrigating purposes along their line. Their source of supply could easily furnish water enough to irrigate 100,000 acres.

There are, moreover, the San Luis Rey and the Pamno Water Companies, neither of whose systems is yet completed. But when they be- gin to operate, they will double the present water supply of the city.

The lighting system of San Diego is under the anspices of the San Diego Gas and Elec- tric Light Company, successor to the San Diego Gas Company, and the Coronado Electric Light Company, whose respective plants it has absorbed. The coal gas works are what is called a ten-inch plant, being thoroughly equipped with all the machinery, etc., necessary for efficiency and safety. The gas-holder has a capacity of about 50.000 cubic feet. The estimated capacity of the coal-gas plant is about 250,000 feet daily. The water-gas plant has a capacity of 150,000 feet daily, making a 5

total of 400,000 feet every twenty-four hours. The company has in use twelve miles of street inains, and some 600 meter connections. The electric light works has a ground area of 100 feet by 85 feet. The power is one 250-horse- power Corliss engine, and one Buckeye high- speed engine, all the necessary Brush-light machines, dynamos, etc. There is a system of about twenty-five miles of poles and wires. The city street lighting is excellently performed by means of ten towers, each one having six 2,000-candle-power lamps. There is, moreover, the Electric Light Company, with a capital of $3,000, over fonr miles of wire and all needful equipments, which is doing a steadily increas- ing business.

The Point Loma lighthouse, which marks the entrance to San Diego harbor and which is, with one single exception, at a higher altitude from sea level than any other in the world, will soon go into disse and be superseded by two others, one to be placed near the base of the promontory, the other at Ballast Point. This change will make the entrance to the bay as absolutely safe by night as it is by day. Dur- ing the last six months of 1889, several con- tracts have been let for the work in question, which covers the lighthouses themselves as well as the dwellings for the use of the keepers. The first contract calls for the construction at Point Loma of two dwellings, of five roomns each, for the light keepers. The buildings are to be of wood with brick foundations and are to be finished in brass and bronze, after the style of Government lighthouse finishing. Each building will be supplied with a large water tank, twelve feet in diameter by ten in height. The total cost of the two buildings will not exceed $7,500.

The second contract embraces in its condi- tions the construction at Ballast Point of two buildings similar to those at Point Loma, with the addition to one of a light tower, to be fitted with the regulation stationary light. The total cost of these buildings, to be constructed by a San Diego firm, will be $8,500. Besides these

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

there is to be placed at the outer entrance to the harbor, built by a Jersey City firm, an iron light-house, with a light of the revolving pat- tern, like that in use at San Pedro. Its total cost is estimated at $13,000, and it is to be completed by April 1, 1890.

THE COURT HOUSE.

The San Diego court-house, which is now being rebuilt, will have a total length, including the wings, of 106} feet. The main building, which includes the jail, has a width of 110 feet, while the wings are 57} feet wide. It will be 126 feet from base to dome. The cost of the new building, not counting the value of the material used from the old building, will reach about $150,000. There will be three court- rooms, each measuring 63g feet long and 33} feet wide, and these will, when completed, be among the finest, if not the finest, in the State. The style of the architecture is Italian renais- sance, and the building when completed will be by far the handsomest in the city. At present work is temporarily stopped, owing to litigation between the Board of Supervisors and the con- tractor, but this delay is brought about by the powers that be, in order that the specifications in the contract may be strictly enforced and perfect workmanship and material put into the new building.

TIIE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The Free Reading-Room Association was or- ganized March 1, 1872, the first officers being: Charles S Hamilton, President; George W. Marston, Vice-President; R. C. Grierson, Secre- tary; E. W. Morse, Treasurer.

The San Diego Public Library was first opened July 15, 1882. Bryant Howard was the first President; E. W. Ilendrick, Secretary; G. N. Hitchcock, Treasurer, and G. W. Marston and Dr. R. M. Powers, Trustees. The Con- solidated Bank, then the Commercial Bank, do- nated free use for six months of the room then used; Judge Alfred Cowles presented the library with forty volumes of standard works, and other

public-spirited ladies and gentlemen tendered gifts of books and money.

The institution has been under the successive management of four different librarians, the present incumbent being Miss Lu Younkin, to whose energy is dne in no small measure its present condition of usefulness. During the year 1889 this institution has been installed in new and commodious quarters in the Consoli- dated Bank building. The quarters are com- fortably furnished, and well lighted and heated. There are reading-rooms for ladies and gentle- inen, and in this department alone the record shows the use of 4,717 books during the latter seven months of the year, since these rooms have been opened. One of the features of im- provement under this arrangement is the pres- ence of attendants to issue the books, instead of the old system by which the patrons were allowed access to the shelves for that purpose, which was most conducive to the loss of books, now stopped almost entirely. The following table shows the extent of the use of the library during the past two years. The notable de- crease in May, 1889, was dne to the temporary closing of the library during the process of re- moval:

NUMRER OF BOOKS DRAWN.

1888.

1889.

January.

865

4,020

February.

869

.3,782

March.

1,200

.4,196

Apri

1,400

.2,327

May

1,683

592

June

.2,085

3,879

July

.2,132

4,617

August.

3,722

4,870

September

.3,045

4,291

October.

. 3,268

4,935

November

.3,128

5,047

December

4,367

Totals. 26,763 42,556

Fietion is the branch most sought by the patrons of the library, with historical and biographical works holding a good second. The present number of volumes is 7,000, or 1,500 more than last year, and this library sup- plies more reading matter in proportion to its size than any other in the State.

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE SAN DIEGO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE was organized on the 20th day of January, 1870, by David Felsenheld, E. W. Morse, Aaron Pauly, A. E. Horton, G. W. B. McDon- ald, J. W. Gale, D. Choate and Joseph Nash, who assembled at the rooms of the first named gentleman upon his invitation, on the day above named " to take some practical steps to unite the business men of this city for the better pro- motion of the public interest; to aid in the de- velopment of our back country and make known its resources; to give reliable infor- mation of the commercial advantages of our harbor, and of our natural position as an over- land railroad terminus on the Pacific coast." Aaron Pauly was elected President, G. W. B. McDonald, Vice-President, and David Felsen- held, Secretary. The membership in a few weeks embraced nearly every business man and capitalist in the city, and the organization, from the very beginning has been faithful to the purposes set forth by its fonnders. " It has taken a leading part in the railroad negotiations of the past twenty years; it largely promoted the construction of the first important highway to Arizona, the Fort Yuma wagon road, which for several years, until the building of the South- ern Pacific Railroad, was the only avenne for freight and passenger traffic between California and southern Arizona; it has published nu- merous reports and pamphlets of information, which have rendered most valuable service in advertising throughout the world the singular salubrity and rare equability of our climate, the various and prolific resources of our soil; the peculiar advantages of our location as a trans- continental railway terminns, and of our harbor as the natural seaport of southern California, and of the certainty of our development as a great commercial and manufacturing city; it has maintained correspondence with the repre- sentatives of our State in Congress, and with the departments of the Government upon all matters relating to harbor and other public im- provements, commercial development, mail facil- ities, public land surveys, etc., in this section ;

and it has constantly promoted the develop- ment of our back country by the encourage- ment of exhibitions in the cities of California and the Eastern States as well as at home, and more recently by aiding the establishment of horticultural societies throughout the county, in correspondence with the chamber, and by the maintenance of a permanent exhibit at its rooms in this city of the varied productions of our soil. It has from the first relied upon the voluntary contributions of the citizens of San Diego for the means to carry on its work, and it confidently appeals to their public spirit to enable it to continue and increase its usefulness."

The presidents of the Chamber of Commerce have been Aaron Pauly, 1870; G. W. B. Mc- Donald (deceased), 1871-'72; J. S. Gordon, 1873-'74; W. W. Stewart, 1875-'76; James M. Pierce (deceased), 1877-'78; Charles S. Hamilton, 1879; George W. Hazzard, 1880-'81; S. Levi, 1882; A. Wentscher, 1883; George W. Mars- ton, 1884; D. Cave, 1885; J. II. Simpson, 1886; G. G. Bradt, 1887; J. A. McRae, 1888; Douglas Gunn, 1889; John C. Fisher, 1889; John Kastle, 1890.

The Annex has pledged its support to home products and industries when they are equal in quality and price to the imported articles; also to encourage the starting of mannfactories, the building of a market-house, procuring cheaper water, improving public parks and effective ad- vertising are branches of its work.

The Annex has obtained from the city a grant of ten acres, out of a large park reservation, to beautify for a public park. A water company has also given free water for their park, and a San Francisco gentleman has promised a $7,000 bronze statue.

The Annex offered a prize of a handsome, hand-painted, silk banner to that horticultural society or district maintaining the best exhibit at the Chamber of Commerce for a stated time. The efforts of the chamber, thus seconded by the Annex, resulted in the formation of new horticultural districts, and created a healthy rivalry among all the districts to win the banner.

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

CHURCHES.

On Sunday, November 8, 1868, the Rev. Sidney Wilbur, who had very lately arrived in San Diego, celebrated the service of the Epis- copal Church in the barracks, where the services were held for some time after. It appears that he organized a parish early in 1869, but the precise date is not obtainable. The church building was erected in 1871.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized in January, 1869. For some time its serv- ices were held in a hall over Julian's store on Fifth street, and later they were held in Dun- ham's Hall. The first pastor of this congregation was Rev. D. A. Dryden, who reached San Diego in October, 1869. Immediately he set about the enterprise of erecting a church edi- fice, and his parishioners co-operated with him so zealously that within four months from the inception of the work the church was built and paid for. The pastor made with his own hands the pulpit and its chair. The church was dedicated on Sunday, February 13, 1870.

On June 5, 1869, the first Baptist Church in San Diego was organized. W. S. Gregg and Jacob Allen were chosen to serve as deacons, and E. W. S. Cole as clerk. The Baptists had the honor of building the first church edifice in the new city. It was begun in August, 1869, and by October 3 of that year it was opened for worship, Rev. Morse preaching the first Protestant sermon ever heard under a church roof in San Diego County. The building was not dedicated until a later period. Rev. O. F. Weston was its first pastor.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized with thirteen members on Jnne 7, 1869. Charles Russell Clarke, David Lamb and Samnel Merrill were elected elders. The church building was erected in 1871, being dedicated on Sunday, June 8 of that year. Rev. J. S. McDonald was the first pastor.

The Roman Catholic Church at "New Town" occasionally enjoyed the celebration of services in Rosario Hall on F street, but it was not until 1875 that their fine church edifice was com-

pleted, since which time services have been reg- ularly held there. It stands on the mesa in the western part of the city. Rev. Father Ubach is the incumbent.

First German Methodist Episcopal Church is located at the corner of H and Thir- teenth streets, the Rev. L. E. Schneider, pastor. The society was organized in February, 1887, with a membership of two, under the leadership of Rev. L. C. Pfeffenberger, holding its meet- ings Sunday afternoons in Keener Chapel. This was the home of the society for one year; at the end of that period the present edifice was erected, and on April 4, 1888, the first services were held therein.

The membership had now increased to fifty. During the fall of 1889 the present pastor took charge, immediately succeeding the Rev. Mr. Pfeffenberger.

At the present time the membership is seventy-five, with an average attendance at the various church services of 100, and a Sunday- school attendance of seventy-five.

The church property, valued at $12,000, is owned by the society, and is free from debt.

The Coronado Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Coronado Beach, was organized in 1888, with a membership of twenty. The present membership is forty.

The average attendance is 150 at the varions services. Rev. A. Inwood is pastor.

The Scandinavian Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1880. Owing to depression in business of late, many of the members of this church have left the city, and the society is thus somewhat crippled. The Rev. A. Peter- son is the present pastor. Membership twenty- five, with an attendance of forty at the Sunday services.

The Central Methodist Episcopal Church is located at Harrison avenue and Twenty-sixth street, Rev. D. H. Gillan, pastor. The church was established January 12, 1887, with a mem- bership of twelve, under the direction of Rev. J. I. Foote. At present the membership is 150, with an average attendance of 300.

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

The society owns property valned at $10,000. The African Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1888 with a membership of nine, which has since increased to twenty-three. The present attendance numbers eighty-five. Rev. W. E. De Claybrook is the pastor.

The Middletown Methodist Episcopal Church society was organized in 1887, and at present worships in a hall, corner of Ash and Front streets, San Diego. Services are on Sunday, conducted by Rev. W. Pittenger, of National City. Present membership, twenty.

The National City Methodist Episcopal Church, located in National City, was organ. ized in 1882, and in 1887 moved into its present edifice. Membership, forty. Rev. W. Pittenger, pastor.

Keener Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, Sonth, was organized under the Rev. J. W. Allen in October, 1882, and held its first service in Hubbell's Hall. Afterward a hall on Fifth street, known as the old Masonic Hall, was rented and used by the then small congregation until the completion of the present house of worship, in May, 1884, and dedicated as Keener Chapel.

This church is located on very valuable prop- erty, corner of D and Seventh streets, the gift of Bishop Keener, of New Orleans, for whon the edifice is named.

The church membership is seventy-five, with an attendance at its services of 100.

Property valued at $30,000 is controlled by the society.

Rev. James Hesley is the pastor.

The New Jerusalem Church was organized in 1883, at a private residence, with a member- ship of thirteen. Prior to this organization regular meetings had been held for three years by the promoters of the society.

From 1883 to 1890 services were hield regu- larly Sundays, and, to suit the convenience of the members, from house to house.

In January, 1890, the Rev. Mr. Savory was called as the first pastor of the church, and the meetings of the society were thien held for the first time in public at Keener Chapel.

Mr. Savory is still the pastor, and church services are conducted every Sunday. The . church membership is fourteen, with an attend- ance of about twenty-five.

The Unitarian Church is located at the corner of Tenth and F. Rev. B. F. McDaniel, pastor. The church was organized March 4, 1877. The Rev. David Cronyer was the first pastor of the church and officiated from the date of the or- ganization up to Jannary, 1887, when the present pastor succeeded him. The society after its organization held services in Horton Hall, up to the year 1883, when they moved to quarters on Tentli and F. In 1888 the present edifice was built, at a cost of $14,000, a fine build- ing with a seating capacity of 600. There are 150 families in the society and an average at- tendance at the Sunday services of about 250.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception is located in the Old Town of San Diego. The organization of this church dates back to the year 1774. At that time meetings were held in the chapel attached to Fort Stockton, and they continued to be held there until the year 1840. Shortly after this date the buildings of the fort went to decay and the church held its meetings in the house of José Maria Estndillo, at the corner of the plaza, a building still in ex- istence. This house was used as a chapel up to the year 1858, when a wealthy Spaniard named José Antonio Aguirre, purchased it and donated it to the Roman Catholic congregation to be used as a parish church, and it has been so used up to the present day. This church is under the direction and management of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, and under the ministration of Rev. Father Ubach. The present membership is some 200.

St. Peter's Mission Hall is located at Coro- nado Beach. This mission was organized July, 1887, with twenty members, under the direction of Rev. H. B. Restarick and is a mission of St. Paul's Protestant Fpiscopal Church of San Diego. Services were first held in the Hotel Josephine, afterward in a store room on Orange street, neatly fitted up as a chapel,

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

where they are at present conducted. The or- ganization receives some aid from the diocese. At present there are fifty-two communicants in the church. The Rev. Mr. Brown succeeded Mr. Restarick after the organization of the mission.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, located at South San Diego with Rev. W. F. Chase in charge, is a mission of St. Paul's in San Diego, and was organized in March, 1889, under the direction of Rev. H. B. Restarick. Average attendence fifty.

St. James' Mission, located at Logan avenue and Twenty-fourth street, with Rev. S. H. Ilderton in charge, is a mission of St. Paul's and was organized in July, 1888, by the Rev. H. B. Restarick. The attendance on the different services is about forty, there being thirty com- municants. The work of the mission is divided up among the assistants of St. Paul's church.

St. Matthew's Church, located at National City, with Rev. J. R. Cowie rector, was organ- ized in July, 1886, by Rev. H. B. Restarick of San Diego, with ten communicants; they nnin- ber at present forty-one. The property owned by the church is valned at $7,200.

The Jewish synagogue is a building at the corner of Beech and Second streets, and is in charge of Max Moses, Rabbi. The society was organized in 1885, with a membership of forty, M. Schiller being President and Dr. Frit- er Rabbi. At this time the society worshiped in the building of the Unitarians at Tenth and F streets. In October, 1889, they moved into their present quarters. The congregation now numbers eighty and M. Schiller is still the pre- siding officer; in January, 1890, the present rabbi was settled in charge of the synagogue. Services are held Friday evenings at eight and Saturday mornings at eleven. The Sunday- school connected with the synagogue numbers fifty scholars.

The First Congregational Church is located at the corner of Ninth and F streets, and is at present without a pastor. "The society was or- ganized in Angnst, 1886, in the rooms of the

Young Men's Christian Association, under the direction of Rev. J. H. Harwood, D. D., and the membership in October of the same year numbered seventy-six. In February, 1887, the society moved into their present Tabernacle, remaining under the charge of Rev. Dr. Har- wood until February, 1888, when Rev. J. B. Silcox succeeded to the pastorate. The present membership is 200. The church conducts and supports a small mission school, with a mnem- bership of thirty at Middletown.

The Second Congregational Church, located at Twenty-sixth street and Kearny avenue, with Rev. F. B. Perkins as pastor, was organized February 9, 1888, by Rev. A. B. White, with sev- enteen constituent meinbers; the present pastor succeeded Mr. White the following year. Pres- ent membership forty-two.

Congregational Chinese Mission School. This school is situated at No. 639 Thirteenthi street, under the anspices of the First Congregational Church; it was organized in 1886, by Rev. W. C. Pond. The mission owns a lot and com- modions school-honse on the site above noted. For three years Mrs. M. A. Mckenzie was in charge of the school. Miss M. E. Elliott suc- ceeded her and now directs the institution. Classes for study in English are held on differ- ent evenings during the week and religious services Sunday evenings. Thirty members are in attendance.

Seventh Day Adventist. Elder W. M. Hea- ley is in charge of this church, which is located at Eighteenth and G streets. The society was organized Jannary 21, 1888, with a membership of ten and at once moved into their present building. The property is valned at $5,000 and the society has it under its own management and control. The present membership ,is seventy.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038