USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > City of San Diego and San Diego County : the birthplace of California, Volume I > Part 37
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Speaking of dramatists, mention must be made of Irving E. Out- calt, whose play "Admetus" is one of the finest pieces of dramatic blank verse in English.
Another playwright is H. Austin Adams, locally dubbed "The Sage of Coronado." Among his best known plays are " 'Ception Shoals," in which Madame Nazimova starred for one season: "God & Company," "The Bird Cage" and his latest, and what he regards as his strongest play, "The Locked Door."
Doubtless, as time goes on, more and more writers will be drawn to a spot so conducive to imagination, so filled with the visions whence literature derives its inspiration. A land where it is not only "always afternoon," but always delightfully free from the extremes of cold or heat, and almost always cloudless ; a land of entrancing history and intriguing modernity : a land bedewed with wistful memories and big with future promise : a land of faery nestling in flowers and sun- shine betwixt the everlasting hills and the soothing murmur of sum- mer seas. In short, a paradise for such as long to give imagination voice through letters.
CHAPTER XXVI
MUSIC IN SAN DIEGO
San Diego's musical experiences during the early years of her growth were those common to all small communities, but the devel- opment of musical conditions during the last years has been rapid, permanent, and in many ways unique. In former years the town depended largely for its music on the local musicians and it is due to the high standard which they have always maintained that this rapid develoment has been possible.
The activities of modern club life and the formation of study clubs among serious minded people, eager to work and to learn have become important factors in the upbuilding of communities. The in- terchange of ideas, the spirit of friendly competition and the desire to learn from each other, stimulates interest, arouses ambition and helps the individual, the club and eventually the community.
The first stimulus to musical interest in San Diego came through a little club formed twenty-eight years ago (1893) by the best local musicians who met from house to house every two weeks, giving pro- grams, studying the life and works of the composers and a general history of music.
This modest little organization developed gradually into the pres- ent Amphion Club of 1,500 members, one of the largest and best known clubs of the West, and undoubtedly the greatest factor in the cultivation of musical taste in San Diego. By bringing to San Diego the great artists of the world, the Amphion Club has created a taste and demand for the best in music and during the last five years the following artists have been presented by the club to its members and to the public :
Mischa Elman, Percy Grainger, Flonzaley Quartet, Louis Gra- veure, Cherniowsky Trio, Maud Powell, Leopold Godorosky, Mrs. AlacDowell, Theo Karle, Lucy Gates Luteci Trio, Rudolph Ganz, Charles Cadman, Max Rosen, Frances Alda, Havrah W. H. Hubbard (operalogues ), Murphy and Alcock, Isadora Duncan, Dancers and George Copeland, Jascha Heifetz, Galli-Curci, Stracciari, Lazzari, Cor- tot, Fanning, Thibout, MacBeth, Moisewitsch, Rothwell and Noak Quartet, Amato and Kittie Beale, Frysh and Salzedo Harp Ensemble, Pavlowa, Jordan and Gardner, Josef Hofman, Tetrazzini, Los Angeles Philharmonic Symphony, New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
In presenting to this city the wonderful outdoor organ in the park, John D. Spreckels and his brother, Adolf B. Spreckels, laid the foundation for a music center with possibilities for musical develep- ment which can and undoubtedly will make San Diego unique among cities of the world. It was the wonderful possibilities of the place, the beauty of the setting and her love for San Diego which gave Madame Schumann-Heink the idea of making this city the "American
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Beyreuth" with plans for a week of opera, which, had it not been for the war, would have taken place the summer of 1917.
With Metropolitan Opera cast, chorus, orchestra and conductors, this would have undoubtedly been the greatest open-air opera festival ever held anywhere-the first, she hoped, of many annual summer festivals here.
This out of door organ, the only one in the world so situated (with an original cost of $125,000) has been maintained at the private expense of John D. Spreckels who has engaged Dr. H. J. Stewart as permanent official organist, and also a resident tuner to keep the organ in perfect condition.
What other city can boast a free organ concert every day for seven years? But here, in this beautiful spot, under ideal climatic conditions, Dr. H. J. Stewart, official organist since the dedication of the organ in 1915, has given a concert program every afternoon (with the exception of a few rainy days in the winter season) and has interested thousands of music lovers.
The Exposition, too, with its many concerts was a great help in the development of musical interest here, and many great artists, orchestras, organists, bands and choirs were here during the two years of the Exposition. Here, at the organ pavilion, Schumann-Heink sang to 28,000 people in June of 1915 ; Damrosch Symphony Orchestra of New York gave two concerts to capacity audiences, here also ap- peared in successful concerts, Ellen Beach Yaw, Cecil Fanning, Mar- cella Craft, George Hamlin, Mormon Choir, Lucy Gates, John Doane, Julia Heinrich, William Carl, Hugo Goodwin, Creatore's Band, Toni- masino's Band and many others.
The music teachers of the city are affiliated in the local branch of the California Music Teachers' Association, and through their in- terest and untiring efforts in this work have made the San Diego organization one of the most important in the state. Three times during the last six years the state convention has met here and every year, members from the San Diego branch have had an important place in the annual convention programs. It is due to the efforts of the Music Teachers' Association that music is to be accredited one full point in the high schools of the state.
The Professional Musicians Guild is a unique organization of the best professionals of the city who have united in an effort to estab- lish a better business basis for the financial betterment of the local music profession. Although organized as recently as 1916, this club has already proved of invaluable service to its members.
The lure of the Southland, together with the high standard of music already established here has attracted to this congenial atmo- sphere some of the leading artists of the world. Already Madame Schumann-Heink and Carrie Jacobs Bond have established their resi- dences in San Diego and have been most co-operative in every benefi- cence that makes for the development of this city.
For permanent and constructive growth it is necessary that the artistic as well as the business resources of a city be encouraged and developed, and so to those who are interested in the permanent growth of this city it is most gratifying that during these years of civic prog- ress, the artistic development of San Diego has kept pace with its com- mercial growth.
CHAPTER XXVII
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
It has required many years of time and much effort to bring the fine public library of San Diego up to its present status, that of a much used and rapidly growing institution, whose needs are recog- nized by all citizens and the value of whose service has become apparent to all.
The beginning of the public library dates back to January 24. 1870, when a meeting of citizens was held in the Baptist Church and the Horton Library Association was incorporated, the organization proceeding from the promise of A. E. Horton to donate some 600 volumes which he had obtained from Hubert Howe Bancroft, the historian, in exchange for some lots in the new San Diego. There was some misunderstanding, and Horton withdrew his offer. Thereupon a new plan was adopted, and the San Diego Library Association was formed. Its first officers were: G. W. B. McDonald. president : A. Pauly, vice-president : E. W. Morse, treasurer : C. Dunham, recording secretary : Daniel Cleveland, corresponding secretary ; G. W. B. Mc- Donald. G. A. Jones, J. Allen. C. Dunham. J. W. Gale, Daniel Cleve- land. A. W. Oliver. A. Pauly, and J. M. Pierce, trustees. On March 1. 1872, the San Diego Free Reading Room Association was organized to provide a place where citizens could read periodicals, until a regu- larly appointed library building or rooms could be had. First officers of this association were: Charles S. Hamilton, president : George W. Marston, vice-president; R. C. Grierson, secretary: E. W. Morse, treasurer : W. A. Begole, Bryant Howard and S. G. Reynolds, trustees. Daniel Cleveland was also active in the work of the organization. The reading room was established on Fifth Street. next to the post- office and was kept open twelve hours a day, beginning at 10 A. M. Mr. Horton in 1873 gave the Bancroft books to this association. On May 19, 1882, the San Diego Free Public Library was organized. these being the first officers: Bryant Howard, president : E. W. Hend- rick, secretary : George N. Hitchcock, treasurer : Bryant Howard, E. W. Hendrick, George N. Hitchcock. George W. Marston and R. M. Powers, trustees. Interest in the library movement had become aroused to a considerable extent by that time, and the Commercial Bank offered the free use for six months of a suite of five rooms in its building. This offer was accepted, many citizens made donations of books and money, and the library was put on a sound basis, from which it has not been disturbed, although its friends at times have felt that it was not receiving enough financial support from the city. The library rooms were formally opened to the public on July 15. 1882, with Archibald Hooker as librarian. He was succeeded on
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August 6, 1884, by Augustus Wooster, who served until September 6, 1887, when Miss Lou Younkin became librarian. She was succeeded by Miss Mary E. Walker in December, 1895, and Miss Walker was followed by Mrs. Hannah P. Davison in May, 1903. Mrs. Davison was succeeded by Miss Althea Warren in February, 1916.
In 1889 the library took a four-year lease on rooms in the Con- solidated Bank Building. At the end of the lease period, the library went to the St. James Building, Seventh and F streets, directly over the postoffice. In April, 1898, the library made another move, to the upper floor of the Keating Building, Fifth and F streets, where it remained until the present fine building was finished. In June, 1899, Mrs. A. E. Horton, then secretary of the board of library trustees, wrote to Andrew Carnegie, who at the time was giving funds to start many libraries in the United States, and told him what San Diego's needs were. Carnegie sent the following reply from Scotland :
Skibo Castle, Ardgay, N. B., 7th July, 1899.
Mrs. A. E. Horton,
Free Public Library, San Diego, Cal.
Madam :
If the city were to pledge itself to maintain a free public library from the taxes, say to the extent of the amount you name, of between five and six thousand dollars a year, and provide a site, I shall be glad to give you $50,000, to erect a suitable library building.
Very truly yours,
ANDREW CARNEGIE ..
To the $50.000 originally promised Carnegie later added $10,000 to meet new requirements.
Over the question of a suitable site there was a long controversy, which was terminated at last by the purchase for $17,000 of the half block on E Street between Eighth and Ninth streets. The city sold a lot which it owned on Fifth Street between C Street and Broadway, for about $9,000, and the rest was raised by private subscription, in which was included $600 from the Wednesday Club, an organization of women who were always active in civic works of this kind.
Carnegie's gift was the first of the kind which he made in Cali- fornia but, because of the delay in agreeing upon a site, the San Diego Library was not the first Carnegie library actually to be finished in the state, Oakland's being completed first. Construction of the San Diego library building was begun December, 1900, the architects being Ackerman and Ross of New York, who were architects for the Congressional Library at Washington and for many smaller library buildings in the United States. The cornerstone was laid March 19, 1901, with Masonic ceremonies, Grand Master J. A. Foshay of Cali- fornia, being in charge. Judge M. A. Luce delivered the oration of the day, and Mrs. A. E. Horton read a historical sketch, which in- cluded the following :
"A slight historical sketch of this building movement will not be out of place at the present time. In June, 1896, a paper was read before the Wednesday Club of this city on 'Public Libraries' giving also a statement of our needs. After the discussion of the paper, a
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vote was taken, that whatever was done outside the literary work of the club should be for the benefit of the library fund. Two entertain- ments were given and a subscription raised, the proceeds amounting to $500 which sum was later given towards the purchase of this site. In October, 1897, the secretary of the board of library trustees wrote to Mr. Carnegie asking him for pictures of the buildings he had donated for library purposes to be exhibited in San Diego. He gen- erously responded, sending the pictures, paying all expenses, and ex- pressing an interest in the work. The correspondence was continued in 1898, and in July. 1899, Mr. Carnegie wrote: 'If the city were to pledge itself to maintain a free public library from the taxes, say to the extent of the amount you name, of between five and six thousand
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PUBLIC LIBRARY, SAN DIEGO
dollars a year, and provide a site, I shall be glad to give you $50.000 to erect a suitable library building.'
"The mayor and city council were informed of the offer, and in November, 1899, a vote of thanks and acceptance of the conditions were passed by the council. In December. 1899, the lots lettered D, E. F. G. H and I, in block 47 of Horton's Addition to San Diego, were purchased for the building site, the city paying $9.000 and the remain- ing $8,000 of the purchase price was contributed by public-spirited citizens. In December. 1899, competitive plans were advertised for and in April. 1900, the plan of Ackerman & Ross of New York City was accepted. Work on the building was begun in December, 1900. We hope to have it ready for occupancy during the early summer months."
The library moved from the Keating Block into the new structure in April. 1902.
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In 1908 the library had only about 27,000 volumes. That number has grown to about 90,000 in 1921.
San Diego has one of the highest circulation averages in the en- tire country, a reading tendency which has been encouraged by the policy of the library trustees in allowing any one person to take out five books at a time.
Since modern public library administration in the United States now aims to bring books within a mile's walk of every citizen in the city, San Diego has tried to extend book service through the ninety-six square miles of its area. The trustees have tried to supply books and an attendant wherever community interest was active enough to raise funds for a library room and equipment. The first branch was started in 1909 in La Jolla, where a local library association had been incor- porated and owned a lot and small building. By contract with this association the city library gives La Jolla its per capita share of the annual library tax, in return for free library service to La Jolla citizens. By public subscription and a generous gift from Miss Ellen B. Scripps, the La Jolla Library Association has recently erected a beautiful build- ing at the northwest corner of Girard and Walls streets. It is in the Spanish renaissance style, with an out-door reading garden, and a picture gallery as well as beautifully equipped children's, reference and circulation departments. The building was designed by W. Tem- pleton Johnson, a San Diego architect, and cost $37.000. It was opened on October 10, 1921.
By a group of citizens in University Heights funds were raised for a small frame building, which was completed in April, 1914. It was situated on the grounds of the Garfield School, but after the school's site was changed, the city bought in 1920 a lot on the south- east corner of Howard and Park Boulevard, just oposite the Normal School, to which the library building has been moved. A few months later the Women's Club of Pacific Beach offered space in their club house for a small branch in that suburb, and have since built an addi- tion for the library room.
The largest branch of the public library is at Logan Heights. Like all the others, the place and furnishings were at first provided by people of the community. As Howard Welty, principal of the Garfield School, had been the inspirer of the University Heights Branch, so Mrs. Mabel O'Farrell, principal of the Logan Heights School, organized her neigh- borhood into contributing for a library. A store at 28th and Marcey streets was rented for two years and the library opened there in Jan- uary, 1915. When the lease expired the quarters had been outgrown, so that the branch was moved in July, 1917, to a larger store building on the Logan Avenue car line at the corner of 26th Street. Now with fewer than 5,000 volumes, the branch has a circulation of 6,000 books a month. Ocean Beach citizens, with Miss Kate Spani, principal of the elementary school, as their leader, followed the ex- ample of Logan Heights and University Heights in 1916 by raising funds to furnish a branch library. A real estate firm contributed a room in a building on Abbott near Santa Monica Street, where the library has continued to the present day. During the war a branch library was maintained in the Science of Man Building in Balboa Park, which was chiefly patronized by boys in the Naval Training
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School. Public library books were at the same time sent to all other military, naval and marine camps in the city and county. When in 1917 the main library was unbearably overcrowded, George W. Mars- ton gave space on the fourth floor of his department store for a branch which served over a hundred tourists and shoppers daily. After an annex for the reading-room and children's department of the main library was rented in the Edmonds Building, the congested conditions were overcome so that Mr. Marston's branch was discontinued in August, 1921. At present branch libraries are being developed through the public schools. In line with a plan developed by the mayor and the superintendent of schools, it is hoped to make each school build- ing into a community center, with its playgrounds and branch libraries as part of its equipment. A branch in the Washington School audi- torium has been operated in accord with this policy since January, 1917 ; a smaller collection in the Stockton School has been open to two evenings a week to the adults of the neighborhood since 1920, and in September, 1921. a large library room in the new Grant School annex was opened for the residents of Mission Hills.
For centers too small to maintain branch libraries, a system of small deposit collections (from 25 to 1,000 volumes in each deposit ) has been ably and energetically developed in the past six years by Miss Margaret Detrick. Books are placed in each of the city schools, in all private and parochial schools desiring book service. in drug stores and groceries of outlying districts, in club rooms, fire stations, institutions, factories or department stores-anywhere, in short, where citizens desire books, and will be responsible for their care and circula- tion. More than a fifth of the annual circulation in San Diego is through this channel.
The main library is organized into three departments for circu- lation, reference and cataloging. The circulating department issues books every week day from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M. Children's books are in a room in the annex, where story hours are held every Saturday morning during the winter season and lessons given to school classes on the use of the catalog.
The reference department has three auxiliaries, which are the club study bureau, in charge of Mrs. H. P. Davison, librarian emeritus. the business room, with its document depository of all federal and state publications : and the periodical reading-room. A collection of local history is a specialty of the reference department. It includes the only known file of the Herald. San Diego's first newspaper, pub- lished from 1851 to 1859, and a complete bound set of the San Diego Union.
In 1920 the library owned twice as many books as it did in 1910: had three times the appropriation, four times as many employees, and eighteen times the circulation. The city, according to a charter amend- ment passed in 1919, accords the public library a minimum tax appro- priation of 6c on every $100 worth of property valuation, and allows the library fines collected on overdue books, in addition. For 1921 the tax was $58,783.30.
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
To measure accurately the accomplishments of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce in the years of its existence is, of course, im- possible. Yet it may be set down, without fear of contradiction, that it has been at the very forefront in all those years in all of the thou- sand and one movements for the civic, commercial and industrial de- velopment of the city and its suburbs. In these unnumbered tasks its officers and directors and members have given unselfishly of time, money and effort, realizing for the most part, that there could be no immediate reward for them except the satisfaction arising from having done well for the advancement of the city of which they all felt proud and whose material progress they were eager to assist.
It has been aptly said that membership in the Chamber has been considered the duty of the San Diego business man and an election to office in it a signal honor. Realization of this has kept always in its ranks active business men whose principal purpose in joining and attending and working was to help San Diego as a whole. In recent years the San Diego Chamber of Commerce has broadened its field of activity in many directions but in none, perhaps, has it done more pleasing service for the community than in welcoming to San Diego the many distinguished guests of the city and seeking to attend to their wants, not only of comfort but of information about the city and its life. The more recent importance of San Diego as a great naval base has made this part of the program doubly important.
In a recent summing up of its activities from the first this state- ment regarding the chamber was prepared for distribution to its members :
"In the forty-five years of its existence the Chamber of Commerce has been zealous and faithful in its endeavors to accomplish the pur- poses as promulgated by its founders. It has either initiated or as- sisted in the consummation of every important movement for the larger development of the community. It has rendered valuable service in disseminating knowledge throughout the world pertaining to our rare equability of climate, the various prolific resources of our soil ; the special advantages of our harbor as the natural seaport of South- ern California, and the certainty of our development into a great commercial and manufacturing city."
This organization, first known as the Chamber of Commerce of San Diego County, was formed in January, 1870, at the store of David Felsenheld. It is recorded that those who met at this first ses- sion were David Felsenheld, E. W. Morse, Aaron Pauly, A. E. Horton, J. W. Gale, D. Choate and Joseph Nash, all of whom have been iden-
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tified with the progress of the city. The preamble to the constitution that was drawn up states the purpose of organization thus: "To take some practical steps to unite the business men of the city for the better promotion of the public interest; to give reliable information of the commercial advantages of our harbor, and of our natural position as an overland railroad terminus on the Pacific coast."
These were the first officers: President, Aaron Pauly ; vice presi- dent, G. W. McDonald ; secretary, Joseph Nash : treasurer. A. E. Hor- ton.
The officers wasted no time in preliminaries, but went to work on what seemed then to be the most pressing business-the need of competition in steamship service between San Diego and San Fran- cisco. Advertising matter displaying the advantages of the city was soon prepared and distributed, road-building was encouraged and other steps were taken to assist in the development of the city and surround- ing country.
In the years that have elapsed since the organization of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce it has always been active in encouraging harbor development. Another purpose always kept at the front was the building of a direct railroad outlet to the east. Its activity on that line began with the hope that the Texas and Pacific would build to San Diego and was maintained up to the completion of the San Diego and Arizona Railway-from the dream to the accomplishment.
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