USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 29
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Nor did they guard their claim to the waters of the river alone. The royal reglamento gave the pueblo the right to the waters of the springs as well as to the river.
In the city archives is a parallel case to the Crystal Springs controversy. It is the "Aguage de los Abilas," the spring of the Abilas. During the great flood of 1815 the river cut a new chan- nel for itself along the edge of the mesa on the western side of the valley. It left its old channel at the point of the hills aud flowed down the val- ley very nearly on what is now the line of San Fernando and Alameda streets. It subsequently returned to its old channel on the eastern side of its valley. For many years after, along the base of the hills where the San Fernando Depot grounds now are, and below that where the Beaudry water-works were formerly located, there were springs formed by the percolation of the water through the old river channel. Along about 1826 or '27, Francisco Abila was allowed to use the waters of the largest of these springs for irrigation.
In 1833 his widow, Señora Encarnacion Sepul- veda, applied for a land grant and the exclusive possession of this spring on the plea of having had the exclusive use of the spring for a long time. The case was argued in the ayuntamiento, and that august body promptly decided it against hier. While its decision is not couched in the legal verbiage of a supreme court decision, it nevertheless abounds in good sense and good law points.
This is the decision: "The illustrious ayunta- miento decided that the spring in question should
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
be held for the benefit of the public, who would be injured if this spring belonged to a private in- dividual. Furthermore, this illustrious ayunta- miento is informed that the immediate neighbor- hood is in need of the water from that spring. In this particular, Captain Don José Noriega, who granted said Abila the use of this spring, de- creed as follows: 'The said water springs are hereby granted to Abila in case the public does not desire to use its waters.'
"This ayuntamiento also takes into considera- tion that when said spring was granted to the late Francisco Abila, the number of residents in this city was not as large as now. Also at that time said Abila possessed a small orchard, which he irrigated with the waters of this spring, but at present he does not possess any lands; and there is nothing to irrigate on his former place. Señora Encarnacion Sepulveda has no more right to the waters of this spring than any other resident, it being community property. She as well as the rest of the community shall apply to the alcalde for a permit at any time they may need to use the water of said spring."
It was ordered that this decision be published as an ordinance of the city.
During the sixty-six years that Los Angeles was under Spanish and Mexican domination, no cloud was allowed to rest on the water rights of the pueblo or of its successor, the ciudad, but during the fifty-two years of American rule clouds have shadowed it, nor have they all rolled by. I have space in this only to briefly glance at a few of the legal contests which the city has fought over its water rights of late years.
In 1873 the city of Los Angeles brought suit against Leon McL. Baldwin to quiet its title to two irrigation heads of water that said Baldwin and others were appropriating and claiming to own. These heads were taken from the river and used on Los Feliz Rancho. The court held that, so far as appears from the evidence given, the city is not the owner of the "corpus" of the water of the river. By reason of this decision and failure to prosecute a former action brought against the same parties, the city in 1884 paid $50.000 to buy back these two irrigation heads of water and some other privileges lost by default.
A suit was brought by Anastacio Feliz against the city of Los Angeles for cutting off the water of the river from the plaintiff's ditch. In this case the court found that ever since the founda- tion of the pueblo in 1781, the pueblo or its suc- cessor, the city, had claimed the exclusive right to use all the waters of the Los Angeles River, and said right had been recognized and allowed by owners of the land at the source and border- ing on said river.
The judge of the lower court (McNealy) granted a perpetual injunction, enjoining the city from depriving the plaintiff Feliz of sufficient river water for irrigation and domestic use. The Supreme Court set aside the injunction and re- versed the judgment of the lower court. The Supreme Court, however, held in its decision, that if there was a surplus in the river over and above the needs of the lands situated within the city limits, that surplus might be appropriated by riparian owners above the city, but that the city could not sell water to parties outside of its limits to the detriment of riparian owners above it. This decision was rendered before our municipal expansion began.
The last important legal battle which the city has fought to a finish is the Pomeroy-Hooker case, entitled "The City of Los Angeles, respond- ent, vs. A. E. Pomeroy and J. D. Hooker, appellants," decided by the Supreme Court June, 1899. It was begun in one of the superior courts of Los Angeles in 1893 and carried to the Su- preme Court of the state.
It was a suit to condemn a tract of about 315 acres of land lying near the base of the Cahuenga range, and extending along the river nearly two miles in length by half a mile in width.
Being at a point where the Verdugo hills come nearest the Cahuenga range and thus narrow the river valley, the land was needed by the city for headworks. The city and the owners could not agree on the price, the owners asking a high price on account of the percolating waters from the river, which waters they claimed the right to sell. The city began a suit of condemnation and gained it. The defendants appealed from the decree of con- demnation and from the order overruling their motion for a new trial. The Supreme Court, in a lengthy decision, sustained the rulings of the lower court.
When the thirty years' contract with the as- signs of Messrs. Griffin, Beaudry and Lazard expired July 22, 1898, a number of schemes were broached by which the city could get possession of the water works. None of these resulted in anything more than talk and some long-winded resolutions for political effect.
The question of the value of the water com- pany's plant was submitted to arbitration, as provided for in the original contract. The city council chose James C. Kays and the water con- pany Charles T. Healey. After considerable time spent in collecting data and discussing values, these two arbitrators, being unable to agree, chose for the third Col. George H. Men- dell. On the 12th of May, 1899, James C. Kays and George H. Mendell made an award fixing the value of the Los Angeles City Water Company's
161
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
property at $1, 183, 591.42. From this award Charles T. Healey dissented.
August 23, 1899, an election was held to au- thorize the issuing of city bonds to the amount of $2,090,000, part of this to pay the City Water
Company the award of the board of arbitration and the remainder to be used in the construction of head works, the building of reservoirs, pipe lines, etc. The bond issue carried seven to one. And there the question rests for the present.
CHAPTER XXXII.
LOS ANGELES CITY OFFICIALS, PAST AND PRESENT.
The following lists contain the names and dates of service of the persons who have held office in the city government from July, 1850, to December, 1900. From 1850 to 1868 the city elections were held annually on the first Monday of May, and the term of office was for one year. Since 1868 the term of office has been two years, and the elections have been held on the first Monday of December, biennially:
MAYOR.
A. P. Hodges 1850
B. D. Wilson 1851
John G. Nichols 1852
A. F. Coronel .
1853
Stephen C. Foster
1854
Thomas Foster
1855
Stephen C. Foster 1856
(Foster resigned, and was succeeded by John G. Nichols.)
John G. Nichols 1857-58
D. Marchessault 1859
H. Mellus* 1860
D. Marchessault
1861-64
Jose Mascarel .
1865
C. Aguilar
1866
D. Marchessault
1867
C. Aguilar
Joel Turner 1868-69
C. Aguilar 1869-71
J. R. Toberman 1871-72
P. Beaudry 1873-74
1875-76
F. A. McDougal
1877-78
J. R. Toberman 1879-82
C. E. Thom.
1883-84
E. F. Spence
1885-86
W. H. Workman . 1887-88
John Bryson. to March, 1889 (New Charter Adopted. )
H. T. Hazard March, 1889-90
H. T. Hazard 1891-92
Thos. E. Rowan 1893-94
Frank Rader
1895-96
M. P. Snyder
1897-98
Fred Eaton
1899
CITY MARSHAL.
City Marshals were elected at first annually- from 1869 on, till the office was discontinued, biennally.
Samuel Whiting .850
Alex. Gibson 851
Wm. Reader 1852
A. S. Beard 1853
(Beard was removed from office.)
Geo. W. Cole 1854
A. Shelby 1855
W. C. Getman* 1856-57
F. H. Alexander. 1858-59
Thomas Trafford . 1860-63
J. Ownby 1864
Wm. C. Warren 1865-67
John Trafford. 1868
Wm. C. Warren 1869-70
Francis Baker. 1871-72
R. J. Wolf.
1873-74
J. J. Carrillo 1875-76
CHIEF OF POLICE.
The office of City Marshal was discontinued in
*Died in office.
*Killed while in office.
162
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1876, and that of Chief of Police created. The chiefs are appointed by the council :
J. F. Gerkins 877
Emil Harris 1878
Henry King 1879
Henry King
1880
George C. Gard
1881
Henry King.
1882
(King resigned June, 1883.)
T. J. Cuddy 1883-84
E. M. McCarthy, appointed in Jan., 1885; removed May 12, 1885.
John Horner, May 14, 1885 to 1886. J. W. Davis . . . 1886
J. W. Davis removed; C. A. Ketler acting for three months.
J. K. Skinner, 1887 (removed).
P. M. Darcy, acting for three months.
T. J. Cuddy, 1888 (removed).
H. H. Benedict, for three months.
Terrence Cooney, 1889; went out ou adoption of the new charter; J. Yg. Coronel 1853 M. Keller 1854 F. Burns, appointed March, 1890 (removed July 24, 1890). 1855 J. D. Hunter
J. M. Glass, appointed July, 1890; re- signed January, 1900.
Chas. F. Elton (January). ..... .. 1900
CITY CLERK.
(Appointed by the council from 1850 to 1889.)
Wm. G. Dryden 1850-59
W. W. Stetson 1860-62
B. S. Eaton
1863
C. R. Ayers
1864-65
O. N. Potter.
1866
W. G. Dryden
1867-70
M. Kremer
1871-75
S. B. Casswell
1876-78
W. W. Robinson . 1879-86
F. G. Teed . 1887-88
M. F. Stiles 1889
(Stiles went out of office on the adop- tion of the new charter. The City Clerks since 1889 have been elected at the city elections.)
F. G. Teed. . 1889-92
Chas. Luckenback. 1893-96
C. H. Hance 1897
CITY ATTORNEY.
Benjamin Hayes. . 1850
W. G. Dryden . 1851
J. Lancaster Bent 1852
C. E. Carr.
1853
A. J. Hamilton
1879
Isaac Hartman
1854
Lewis Granger
I855
C. E. Thom. 1856-57
J. H. Lander. 1858-59
S. F. Reynolds 1860
J. H. Lander. 1861
M. J. Newmark . I862
A. B. Chapman
J. H. Lander
1863-64
A. J. King 1866-67
C. H. Larabee 1868
Wmn. McPherson 1869-70
F. H. Howard 1871-72
A. W. Hutton 1873-76
J. F. Godfrey
1877-80
H. T. Hazard
1881-82
WV. D. Stephenson
1883-84
J. W. Mckinley
1885-86
J. C. Daly
1887-88
Chas. McFarland
1889-94
Wm. E. Dunn
1895-98
Walter E. Haas 1899
CITY ASSESSOR.
A. F. Coronel
1850-52
W. H. Peterson
1856
B. S. Eaton
1857
M. Coronel
1858
W. H. Peterson
1859
J. Metzker
1860
J. C. Swain
1861
N. Williamson
1862
(None elected)
1863
J. D. Woodworth
1864
J. W. Beebe
1865
J. Bilderrain .
1866-68
Antonio Rocha
. 1869-70
Juan Robarts
. 1871-72
L. Seebold .
1873-74
J. Z. Morris
. 1875-78
R. Bilderrain
1879-82
Geo. A. Vignolo. 1883
Jolın Fischer (March) . 1884
John Fischer 1885-86
W. R. Stephenson 1887-88
John Fischer
1889
(Re-elected under new charter) 1 889-90
John W. Hinton
1891-94
George Hull 1895-96
L. S. Seaman
1897-98
Ben E. Ward.
1899
CITY TAX AND LICENSE COLLECTOR.
City Marshal, ex-officio. 1850-1876
J. J. Carrillo 1877-78
(Hamilton absconded; his term completed by C. H. Dunsmoor).
M. Kremer
. 1880
1865
163
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
H. Burdick 1881-82
H. S. Parcels 1883-86
D. W. Field. 1887-88
Len. J. Thompson . 1889
(Re-elected under new charter.)
Len. J. Thompson . 1889-92
R. D. Wade. 1893-94
John H. Gish .
1895-98
William White.
1899
TREASURER.
Francisco Figueroa 1850
F. P. F. Temple 1851
S. Arbuckle.
1852-56
H. N. Alexander
1857-59
T. G. Baker.
1860
H. N. Alexander
1861-62
J. L. Morris.
1863-64
J. F. Burns.
1865-67
Thos. E. Rowan 1868-70
G. R. Butler. .1871-74
J. J. Mellus 1875-76
I. M. Hellman.
1877-78
L. Lichtenberger
1879-80
J. C. Kays.
1881-86
O. Macy
1887-88
M. D. Johnson . 1889
(Re-elected under new charter.)
M. D. Johnson 1889-92
H. J. Shoulters . 1893-94
William E. Hartwell.
1895
AUDITOR.
(Created by the new charter.)
F. E. Lopez 1 889-90
F. E. Lopez. 1891-92
Fred H. Teale. . 1893-94
Fred H. Teale
. 1895-96
T. M. Nichols
1897-98
E. A. Carson 1899
CITY ENGINEER.
William Moore 1874
J. M. Baldwin 1875
M. Kellehar. . 1876-78
John Goldsworthy 1879
John E. Jackson
1880-82
G. C. Knox
1884-85
Fred. Eaton
1886-87
W. T. Lambie 1888
J. H. Dockweiler 1889
(Went out with the old cliarter.)
Fred. Eaton .. 1889-90
J. H. Dockweiler 1891-94
C. S. Compton . 1895-96
J. H. Dockweiler . · 1897-98 Frank H. Olmstead . 1899
STREET SUPERINTENDENT.
(Made elective by the new charter.)
W. E. Morford. 1889-90
E. H. Hutchinson
1891-92
Henry A. Watson
1893-94
P. A. Howard
1895-96
J. H. Drain.
1897-98
J. H. Drain .
1899
MEMBERS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.
(Names of members elected to fill vacancies are enclosed in brackets.) Term of office one year.
1850-D. W. Alexander, A. Bell, M. Requena, Juan Temple, M. L. Goodman, C. Aguilar, J. Chaves, (B. D. Wilson, W. Jones).
1851-Stephen C. Foster, John O. Wheeler, D. W. Alexander, A. Olvera, M. Requena, Ygnacio Coronel, T. A. Sanchez, (J. L. Brent). 1852-M. Requena, J. G. Downey, M. Norton, Y. del Valle, M. Keller, M. Botello, Yg. Coronel. 1853-W. T. B. Sanford, W. H. Rand, A. Jacobi, J. F. Jones, M. Requena, J. M. Doporto, Pio Pico, (E. Drown).
1854-M. Requena, C. Wadhams, W. T. B. Sanford, L. Granger, F. Mellus, S. Lazard, A. F. Coronel, (J. M. Doporto, H. R. Myles).
1855-William Lloyd, J. H. Nichols, H. Z. Wheeler, E. Drown, I. H. Stewart, Obed Macy, J. W. Ross, (Timothy Foster, H. Uhrbroock, R. Glass, John Schumacher, C. Aguilar).
1856-E. Drown, M. Requena, I. Gilcrist, N. A. Potter, J. G. Downey, A. Ulyard, Y. del Valle, (C. Aguilar, J. Schumacher, R. Glass, Obed Macy, H. Uhrbroock).
1857-A. Ulyard, G. Carson, A. F. Coronel, Juan Barré, John Frohling, J. Mullally, H. McLaughlin, (N. A. Potter, M. Norton, M. Requena, E. Drown).
1858-A. F. Coronel, D. M. Porter, J. S. Griffin, J. Goller, C. Aguilar, P. Banning, Stephen C. Foster, (Juan Barré, H. McLaughlin, G. N. Whitman, J. Mullally, John Frohling ).
1859-D. M. Porter, N. A. Potter, J. Baldwin, A. M. Dodson, E. Drown, W. Woodworth, J. Ybarra, (A. F. Coronel, S. C. Foster, C. Aguilar, J. Goller, V. Hoover, P. Banning, J. S. Griffin).
1860-D. Marchessault, T. B. Collins, J. Ed- wards, A. Stearns, V. Hoover, E. Moulton, P. Batty, (N. A. Potter, W. Woodworth, J. Bald- win, E. Drown, J. Ybarra).
1861-A. F. Coronel, A. M. Dodson, J. B. Winston, E. Drown, C. Aguilar, N. A. Potter, S. Lazard, (- Peterson, - Moore, - Anderson, J. Huber, E. Moulton, V. Hoover).
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1862-N. A. Potter, A. F. Coronel, A. Pou- lain, P. Sichel, J. Weixel, J. Turner, J. Huber, (A. M. Dodson, J. B. Winston, S. Lazard, C. Aguilar, E. Drown).
1863-J. Turner, A. F. Coronel, P. Sichel, J. Huber, J. B. Winston, E. Taylor, T. Signoret, (J. Weixel, N. A. Potter, A. Poulain).
1864-J. Huber, P. Sichel, J. Mascarel, A. F. Coronel, M. Requena, V. Hoover, W. Wood- worth, (J. Turner, E. Taylor, J. B. Winston, T. Signoret).
1865-H. Taft, J. Goller, J. Chaves, W. S. Van Dusen, J. Jones, C. Vejar, W. H. Perry, (W. Woodworth, J. Huber, M. Requena, J. Mascarel, P. Sichel, V. Hoover, A. F. Coronel).
1866-E. Workman, L. Roeder, J. Schu- maker, M. Morrison, J. King, A. F. Coronel, M. Morris, (W. H. Perry, W. S. Van Dusen, J. Jones, J. Chaves, H. Taft, J. C. Vejar, J. Goller).
TERM OF OFFICE INCREASED TO TWO YEARS.
1867-M. Morris, M. Requena, A. F. Coronel, J. C. Vejar, A. A. Boyle, J. Wolfskill, V. Hoover, (J. King, L. Roeder, J. Schumaker, M. Morrison, J. Mascarel.
1868-J. King, J. R. Toberman, J. Metzker, M. Kremer, A. J. King, T. Geary, W. H. Perry, H. Wartenberg, J. Goller, F. Sabichi (J. Schu- macher, L. Roeder, J. Mascarel, M. Morrison, A. A. Boyle, G. Dalton, L. Botiller).
1869-L. Roeder, O. W. Childs, J. King, H. Wartenberg, M. Keller, D. Botiller, M. Morris, W. H. Perry, J. Mascarel, J. Metzker.
1870-J. Mascarel, E. H. Workman, S. B. Caswell, M. Morris, J. Metzker, J. King, D. Botiller, L. Roeder, O. W. Childs, A. A. Boyle, (H. Wartenberg, J. R. Toberman, L. B. Martinez, J. C. Vejar).
1871-J. Chaves, J. Jones, B. Dulourdiux, G. Fall, W. Ferguson, M. Teed, H. Dockweiler, F. Sabichi, J. Osborne, Wm. Hammel.
1872-F. P. Campbell, Obed Macy, J. Valdez, P. Beaudry, E. H. Workman, H. K. S. O. Melveny.
1873-J. Valdez, J. Mullally, E. E. Long, P. Beaudry, M. Teed, Wm. Osborn, W. H. Work- man, F. Sabichi, E. F. De Celis, H. Dockweiler.
1874-J. Chaves, J. Gerkins, J. Mascarel, F. Sabichi, C. E. Huber, P. Beaudry, W. H. Workman, E. F. de Celis, H. Dockweiler, J. Valdez.
1875-F. P. Campbell, R. Satello, J. Mullally, J. G. Carmona, M. Teed, L. Lichtenberger, W. W. Robinson, J. Mascarel, C. E. Huber, E. H. Workman, L. Wolfskill, T. Leahy.
1876-R. Sotello, J. Gerkins, W. H. Work-
man, J. Kuhrts, D. V. Waldron, T. Leahy, M. Teed, L. Lichtenberger, J. Mullally, E. Huber, L. Wolfskill, F. P. Campbell.
1877-F. Tannet, B. Valle, B. Cohn, J. W. Potts, E. K. Green, J. S. Thompson, R. Sotello, W. H. Workman, J. Kuhrts, D. V. Waldron, T. Leahy, J. Mullally.
1878-J. Mullally, C. Apablasa, J. E. Hollen- beck, C. C. Lipps, J. H. Jones, A. F. Kercheval, J. S. Thompson, E. K. Green, J. W. Potts, B. Valle, F. Tannet, B. Cohn.
1879-S. M. Perry, L. Meinzer, J. Shaffer, J. H. Butler, W. B. Lawler, S. A. Francis, R. Maloney, J. Robenreith, C. Brode, N. R. Vail, E. N. Hamilton, S. H. Buchanan, J. G. Mc- Donald, W. H. Workman, S. J. Beck.
1880-L. Meinzer, R. L. Beanchet, W. N. Monroe, R. Maloney, H. Schumacher, J. Kuhrts, S. H. Buchanan, E. K. Green, E. F. Spence, S. J. Beck, W. H. Workman, O. H. Bliss, W. B. Lawlor (president), J. G. McDonald, J. P. Moran.
1881-R. L. Bauchet, W. N. Monroe, J. G. Bower, J. Kuhrts, J. Mascarel, M. Teed, E. K. Green; E. F. Spence (president), G. Gephard, O. H. Bliss, B. Chandler, B. Cohn, J. G. Mc- Donald, J. P. Moran, W. S. Moore.
1882-J. G. Bower, J. Mullally, C. Schieffelin, J. Kuhrts, J. Mascarel, M. Teed, J. S. O'Neil, A. W. Ryan, Robert Steere, B. Chandler, B. Cohn, G. Kerckhoff, W. S. Moore, J. P. Moran (president), O. G. Weyse.
1883-J. Mullally, C. Schieffelin, C. W. Schroder, J. Kuhrts, H. Hammel, P. Ballade, A. L. Bush, J. W. Wolfskill, J. P. Moran (pres- ident), O. G. Weyse, W. S. Moore.
1884-C. W. Schweder, W. T. Lambie, E. M. Hamilton, H. Hammel, P. Ballade, F. R. Day, C. Gassen, L. W. French, C. R. Johnson, J. W. Wolfskill, D. E. Miles, F. Sabichi, W. S. Moore (president), D. M. McGarry, J. B. Niles.
1885-E. M. Hamilton, W. T. Lambie, J. Velsir, F. R. Day, M. V. Biscailnz, J. F. Hol- brook, L. W. French, C. R. Johnson, A. Brown, D. E. Miles (president), J. D. Bullis, M. Santee, D. M. McGarry, H. Sinsabaugh.
1886 -- J. Velsir, T. Goss, G. L. Stearns, M. V. Biscailuz, J. F. Holbrook, A. Brown, (resigned), E. W. Jones, C. R. Johnson (vice Brown), J . D. Bullis, M. Santee, S. M. Perry, H. Sinsabaugh, J. Frankenfield, C. Willard.
1887-T. Goss, G. L. Stearns, E. A. Gibbs, M. Teed, M. T. Collins, J. Kuhrts, Chas. R. Johnson, L. N. Breed, E. W. Jones, J. Lovell, J. Hyans, S. M. Perry, Horace Hiller, J. Frankenfield,.C. Willard.
1888-E. A. Gibbs, James Hanley, N.
165
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mathews, M. Teed, J. Moriarty, M. T. Collins, J. H. Book, J. F. Humphreys, E. C. Bosby- shell, J. Lovell, B. Cohn, B. Chandler, H. Hiller, A. W. Barrett, H. Sinsabaugh .
1889-A. W. Barrett, J. H. Bryant, C. N. Earl, J. F. Humphreys, E. C. Bosbyshell, A. C. Shafer, E. R. Threlkeld, A. McNally, J. Hanley, J. Moriarty, G. O. Ford, H. Sinsa- baugh, H. T. D. Wilson, J. Kuhrts (president).
This council went out of office on the adoption of the new charter.
COUNCILS UNDER THE NEW CHARTER.
1889-90-H. V. Van Dusen, G. P. McLain, W. H. Bonsall, A. C. Shafer, J. Frankenfield (president), A. N. Hamilton, J. T. Brown, T. Summerland, R. Wirsching .
1891-92-F. M. Nickell, D. Inness, W. H.
Bonsall (president), W. H. Rhodes, J. O. Tufts, C. H. Alford, D. McGarry, Theo. Summerland, S. Rees.
1893-94-F. M. Nickell, Dan Inness, F. S. Munson, Wm. H. Rhodes, Freeman G. Teed, Geo. D. Pessell, T. Strohm, Jolın Gaffey, Geo. W. Campbell.
1895-96-Geo. W. Stockwell, E. L. Blanch- ard, T. Savage, Jas. Ashman, G. D. Pessell, F. G. Teed, S. H. Kingery, T. S. Munson, (president), M. P. Snyder.
1897-98-F. M. Nickell, Fred L. Baker, Z. D. Mathus, H. Silver (president), Chas. H. Toll, L. M. Grider, Jas. Ashman, E. L. Hut- chinson, E. L. Blanchard .
1899-1900-William H. Pierce, Fred. L. Ba- ker, Louis F. Vetter, H. Silver (president), Chas. H. Toll, Geo. D. Pessell, Robert L. Todd, E. L. Blanchard .
1
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE PRESS OF LOS ANGELES.
PIONEER NEWSPAPERS.
I
.N OUR American colonization of the "Great West" the newspaper has kept pace with immigration. In the building up of a new town the want of a newspaper seldom be- comes long felt before it is supplied.
It was not so in Spanish colonization; in it the newspaper came late if it came at all. There were none published in California during the Spanish and Mexican eras. The first newspaper published in California was issued at Monterey August 15, 1846, just thirty-eight days after Commodore Sloat took possession of the territory in the name of the United States. This paper was called The Californian and was published by Semple & Colton. The type and press used had been brought from Mexico in 1834 by Au- gustin V. Zamorano, and by him sold to the ter- ritorial government. Several of the territorial governors had used it for printing proclamations and official papers. For some time before the conquest it had not been used. Governor Pico's official orders and proclamations were all written
by hand and promulgated in script. The only paper the publishers of the Californian could pro- cure when they issued their first number was that used in making cigarettes, which came in sheets a little larger than ordinary foolscap.
After the discovery of gold in 1848 a number of printing outfits were brought to the coast, and soon all the larger towns in the mining regions had their newspapers.
LA ESTRELLA (The Star). The first propo- sition to establish a newspaper in Los Angeles was made to the city council October 16, 1850. I find the following record in the proceedings of the city council for that date:
"Theodore Foster petitioned for a lot situate at the northerly corner of the jail for the purpose of erecting thereon a house to be used as a print- ing establishment. The council, taking into con- sideration the advantages which a printing house offers to the advancement of public enlighten- ment, and there existing, as yet, no such estab- lishment in this city; therefore, Resolved, That for this once only a lot from amongst those that
166
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
are marked on the city map be given to Mr. Theodore Foster for the purpose of establishing thereon a printing house; and the donation be made in his favor because he is the first to in- augurate this public benefit, subject, however, to the following conditions.
"First. That the house and printing office be completed within one year from to-day.
"Second. That the lot be selected from amongst those numbered on the city map and not otherwise disposed of."
At the meeting of the council October 30, 1850, "Theodore Foster gave notice that he had selected a lot back of Johnson's and fronting the canal as the one where he intended establishing his printing house, " and the council resolved that he be granted a lot "forty varas each way."
This lot was located on the west side of Los Angeles street, between Commercial and Arca- dia, on what is now covered by Nos. 309 to 315 North Los Angeles street. The canal referred to was the Zanja Madre (the mother ditch).
A small two-story building was erected on the lot, and the first number of the paper, La Estrella, issued May 17, 1851. Foster does not appear as one of the first publishers. The first proprietors were John A. Lewis and John McElroy. It was a five-column, four-page weekly, two pages printed in English and two in Spanish. Sub- scription price, $10.00 a year.
The first job of printing done for the city was the printing of one hundred white ribbon badges for the newly organized police force. The in- scription on the badge, printed in both Englislı and Spanish, read, "City Police, organized by the Common Council July 12, 1851." The bill of La Estrella for the job was $25.00.
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