USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 25
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
74
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
STATEMENT OF NUMBER OF ARRIVALS AND THE AMOUNT OF TONNAGE MOVED AT SAN PEDRO ANCHORAGE FROM 1855 TO 1875, INCLUSIVE ..
NO. OP ARRIVALS.
YEAR.
Steamers.
Bail Vessels
IMPORTH. TUXH.
EXPORTS. TONF.
26
33
2,465
3,849
1850
21
46
3,422
3,959
1857
51
3,515
3,111
18DX
29
54
10,036
4,210
1859
39
8.640
3,925
1860
31
41
15,318
4,350
1803
12
51
12,81!
2,989
1865
61
15,82M
5,648
1867
H3
17,004
6,941
1809
XX
18.246
6,868
1870
147
20,855
7,050
1871
17H
70
34 760
9,306
1872
117
27,8121
10,489
1873
159
41.39X
12,240
67,384
18,050
153
80,548
11.811
*
*
1879
194
150
LAND TRAVEL.
In our farmer chapters we have noticed the Mexican car- retus (heavy lumbering wagons with solid wooden wheels, drawn by uxen) used by the natives in early days. Fur long journeys, of course such vehicles were not available, and here the saddle-horse was used exclusively. The better classes took with them a drove of horses, and one or two caqueros to take care of them. The cavalende was urged along constantly at full speed, nul whenever the ridden animals showed signs of fatigue, they were quickly exchanged for at' ors of the band, and on they went again as before. In this way it was not an uncom- mon thing for a traveler to cover eighty to one hundred miles ench day, and as horses were of but little value, und could be had for the breaking, it mattered not how many he ruined. For n time, American immigrants conformed to Mexican cus- toms in this as in other matters; but after the occupation Eastern traditions re asserted themselves, and the drove of wild horses was supplanted by those remnants of incdieval times known as
STAGE-COACHES.
The first intimation we have of this invasion of the untique by the antique is in 1851. when Gregory's Great Atlantic and Pacitie Express brought the Eastern mails to Los Angeles in the hitherto unheard-of time-" one month and nineteen days." Yet saddle-horses were not altogether discarded, and the Express
messenger who, in Theember, 1556, role from San Pedro to Los Angeles twenty-sven miles in sme hour and eighteen minutes, must have surely worn Mexican rowels. In the following year we find David Smith running stages semi- monthly to Visalia, and thener to San Francisco. In the same year Wells, Fargo & Co. established a branch office in Los Angeles. Already the Tejon road had been improved at large expense to the county, and in 1858 the County Supervisors voted an additional ontlay of five thousand dollars. In this year the Overland Stage Company rented a portion of the Mission building, at San Fernando, and established a station there. In 1859 Paul & Chapman established a weekly stage between Los Angeles and San Diego rio San Juan Capistrano, and in the same year we find " the overland" coming into Los Angeles three times a week.
In 1860 Mr. H. D. Barrows and wife made the trip from Los Angeles to St. Louis hy the Butterfield stage route in nineteen days, leaving the former place January 5th. The line led through Arizona. New Mexico, northern Texas, Arkansas and Missouri, and not one particle of snow did the travelers sce until they reached the Missouri river. In this same year a pony express was established by Butterfield & Co., between Las Angeles and Fort Sinith, Arkansas, connecting with the tele- graph line at each end of the route; time, live days; thence on by telegraph to St. Louis, and the East. Ah, those were times of hard riding on many a tender saddle!
In 1861 Cattick & Co. made bi-weekly trips between Los Angeles and San Bernardino. In his letters to the San Fran- cisco Bulletin, under date of July 3, 1862, Mr. Barrows writes :-
Why cannot onr Los Angeles and San Francisco stage line, which gets well paid, be made to do better service? it has been running now more than a year without any schedule time. The Butterfield line ran regularly in three days, or three days and six hours. This line is always fonr or four aud a half days, and sometimes more, and very frequently bringing no through mail. It does just such service as its parsimonious proprietors have a mind to. It gets forly-six thousand dollars from Government, and I know not how much for express and passengers per year, and is "cussed" by all as a big humbug. In San Luis Obispo county the passengers have to walk nearly a quarter of a mile (ladies and all) over a swamp on poles. It runs a large part of it+ route with two horses only and small mud wagons.
Possibly this had something to do with the issuance of the following time-table one month later :-
SCHEDULE OF TIME ON THE LOS ANGELES STAGE ROUTE.
Distance, four hundred and twenty- five miles.
Time, eighty-five hours.
Leaving San Jose Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at six A. M. Arriving in Los Angeles Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays at seven P. M.
Leaving Los Angeles Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at five A. M. Arriving in Sau Jose Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays at six P. M.
In September, 1862, we find that-
Alexander & Co. have established a line of stages between Los Angeles and the Colorado river (fare, forty dollars) also express for the safe transit of gold-ilust, letters, etr., etc.
In June, 1863, a stage line was established by ('. M. Small & Co., between Los Angeles and the Soledad mines, making regular trips to connect with the arrival and departure of steamers, In August Messrs, eorge P. Andrews & Co, had completed arrangements for running a line of four- horse stage. coaches between Los Angeles and San Bernardino, leaving Los Angeles Wednesday and Saturday of each week, leaving San Bernardino on Monday and Thursday, and connecting so as to accomodate steamer passengers,
In this year also Messrs. Bruce & Knight's stages inads regular trips between Los Angeles and La Paz; time four and a half days; fare, forty dollars.
In July, 1864, P. Banning established a line of stages between Los Angeles and Wilmington, and one month later Mr. Bar- rows writes;
Los Angeles is getting to be more than a "one-horse" stage town, Besides the overland stages, which arrive and depart three times a week, we have three daily stages to and from Wilmington und San Pedro, a tri-weekly line to San Bernardino, and a weekly to La Paz, and to San Diego, San Juan and Anaheim; and also a line to San Gabriel, and to the Soledad mines. Owing to the competition between bere and Drum Barracks and Wilmington, the fare is down to two bits, with stages loaded at that.
The only new line we find established in 1865 is that of Tomlinson & Co., who ran weekly stages from Los Angeles to the (Henr ('reck mines.
The year 1866 was a perpetual " Field day" for stage lines. Under date Inly 13th, we read in the News :-
In addition to the line of stages from Los Angeles to San Ber- nardino belonging to Tomlinson & Co., Messrs. P. Banning & Co. have just put on another line. There is now no less than xeven lines of stages arriving and departing from Los Angeles to San Fran- cisco, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, Clear Creek, Wihaington and San Pedro, at all hours of the day.
These were supplemented in September of that year by Messrs. Banning & Co's weekly line from Wilmington to Fort Yuma vio Los Angeles and San Bernardino, carrying the United States mails, etc., and by Lovatt's daily overland line, betern Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In 1867 we find that Tomlinson & Co. ran a line of weekly stages from Los Angeles to Tucson, Arizona Territory, but owing to increase of travel, in July of that year made arrange- ments to leave tri-weekly. A daily line to San Francisco was also in operation this year, which the proprietors claim was the longest stage line in the United States-with only one excep- tion. In October Banning & Co. drew off their stages fromn tlic San Bernardino route.
The only new line we read of in 1868 was that of Har- per & C'o., from Los Angeles to Owens river. Banning and Tomlinson still ran rival stages between Los Angeles and
1864
14,611
5,002
1860.
16,616
6,294
1861
4,612
13.519
3,91
3,015
2.170
is
RESIDENCE OF JNO:S. O'NEIL, LOS ANGELES CITY, 1% MILES SOUTH WEST OF COURT HOUSE.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST
75
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Wilmington, and the competition was bitter, making profit for the passengers, if not for the proprietors, fares constantly fluctuating between the two extremes of one dollar and tou dollars.
In 1872 we find that a new " overland" (who ever heard of stages traveling over water, except, perhaps, on a ferry boat. tri-weekly stage line was established between Los Angeles and Visalia; time, forty-eight hours; " los by several hours than is usually the case by the sea route, and less by a day than the present land route."
But by this time " stage-coaches" had received their death blow from the aggressive steam-horse of the railroad. Like the rugged frontiersman who nerds elbow-room, and feels ont of place in the neighborhood of large settlements, we see the dear, lumbering vehicle of our grand-dadlies push further into the interior, following nufrequented by-ways and mountain solitades unbroken by the profane steam whistle of the loco- motive. There are but three regular stage lines left in Los Angeles county, viz .: a daily line between Santa Ana and San Diego, comeeting with the Southern Pacific Railroad at the former place; a daily line between Las Angeles and San Buonaventura rin. Newhall, anla tri-weekly line between Los Angeles and Ventura rie Huenome. " The king is dead, long live the king:" We turn now to the Intest mode of locomotion.
RAILROADS.
Looking at the mup of Los Angeles county, we find the main line marked " Southern Pacific Railroad," extending from the north, through the Mojave desert, until it strikes the mountains at Alpine Station, thence westerly to Newhall, und down through the San Fernando valley to Los Angeles City. From here extend four divergent lines, marked respectively Los Angoles and Independence Railroad (extending west to Santa Monien), Southern Pacific Railroad (extending easterly toward Arizona), Los Angeles und Sin Pedro Railroad rextending southerly to Wilmington), wil Anaheim Brauch San Pedro Railroad (extenling south-easterly toward Anaheim). Of all these, the first built in the county, and therefore first in histor- ical sequence, is
THE LOS ANGELES AND SAN PEDRO RAILROMI,
So early ns May, 1861, we find that the Senate passed a bill authorizing the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles county to subscribe one hundred thousand dollars, and the Mayor und' Common Council of the city of Los Angeles to subscribe tifty thousand dollars to the capital stack of a railroad between Las Angeles aud San Pedro. Iu 1863 an aet for the construction of such a road passed both Houses of the Legislative. In December, 1864, a meeting of citizens was held in Los Angeles to deliberate upon the best means of bringing about the desired
connection with Wilmington now San Pedro and to provide for a convention of the citizens of Los Angeles and Sau Ber- nardino counties in furtherance of this object.
In the Newx of February 27. 1966, w. real.
Two remonstrances -one in los Angeles and one m El Monte town- ship-are being extensively circulated and signed by the property-hold ers and tax payers of the county, against the railroad bills introduced in the Fenate by llon. P. Hanning, of this county. In the one which we have seen, the principal objection is, that the terminu- of the road will be four miles from the steamboat anchorage, and it is contended that it will not have the clfect of relieving the merchants, business men and traveling public of the expense of lighterage, and the delays that result from low tides and an uncertain channel; that our city is ntready burdened with a heavy debt, and the additional debt of the hundred thousand dollars would so oppress the tax-payers as to make their burden unbearable.
Finally, in 1565, the matter came to a head. Bills were passed by the Legislature and only approved, authorizing the Board of Supervisors of the county to take and subscribe une hundred and fifty thousand dollars toward the capital stork of a railroad between Los Angeles and Wilmington, and the Mayor and Common Council to subscribe seventy tive thousand dollars toward the same object A proclamation was July published March 10, 1865, lo 'T D Mott, then County Cork. calling upon the people to vote in this question in their several districts on the 24th inst. The result of the election was favoralde to the project. In Los Angeles City the vate stood three hundred and ninety-seven for soloily two hundred and forty-five against Ground was broken at Wilmington Sep- temler 19th following, and from this time on the work was pushed vigorously The cars for this railroad were all built at Wilmington, thus keeping the money in the county, and the outlay had a marked reflect in an increased activity of trade at both ends of the line. A ship-yard was also about this time established at Wilmington, in which a tag and passage steamer for harbor duty was built. On October 26 1869, the last rail was laid, and the connection so long wished for was at last realized. Under date November 30, 1809, the following notice was published in the Veux ;-
Al a special meeting of The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad, on Monday, the 8th day of November, 1869,- Ordered, that the Superintendent of the Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad, in the matter of receiving and forwarding freight over the road, conform strictly to the rate- stipulated in the contract. And as the universal cu-tom heretofore established by the forwarding houses at Wilmington and Sau Pedro was to charge by the pound and not by measurement, it is further ordered that a ton carried over the road of the company sball be construed to mean two thousand pounds avoir- alupois.
CONTRACT RATES.
From anchorage at San Pedro to Los Angeles, dry goods, six dollars per ton: groceries five dollars per tou: empty pipes, one dollar each; staves, four dultars per ton: lumber, five dollars per JI. Allother mer- chaudise at five dollars per ton.
From Los Angeles to anchorage, grain, two dollars aud fifty cents per ton; wine, three dollars per ton: wool, three dollars and fifty cents
per ton; green hijes, three dollar and fifty cents per ton; dry hides, eight cents cach.
T. L. M. QUINTEN. & .
In 1972. this road was transformed baldy to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as a portion of a salesis to that. company The matter was arranged by a committee of thirty citizens, appointed la the people of the county and was ratitul at the November election.
MH THERS PAPIER RAILROAD
At the general election held in las Angeles county November 5. 1972. the people ratified and confirmed by vote certain pro- coralings of a committee of thirty citizens, previously appointed. and which included the following agreement with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, which had berg incorporated are year previous
The Railroad Company, upon their part, agreed within fifteen months from the announcement of a favorable vote to construct within the county lifty miles of its main trunk row.l. lending from San Francisen Fin Visalia, through San Bernardino, to conneri with the Texas Pacific at Fort Yumn , aud in addition to this to construct a branch road from los Angeles to An lim, lathe roads to le completed within two years from the announcement as above In consideration of the foregoing the podle agreed upon their part to pay a subsidy to the said com pany of five per cent on the entire taxable parquerty of the eminty as follows . The commy and city stork in the Los Angeles and San Pedro rond, amounting in all to two loundred aud twenty-five thousand dollars, bonds of the county at. twenty years, Imaring seven percent interest, three hundred and seventy seven thousand dollars, nud sixty acres of city land ; or say about six hundred and ten thousand dollars in all.
Early in 1873 the company began work both on the line wortherly to San Fernando and Fasterly toward Spira. The first trains from Los Angeles to these two points were run April 24. 1874 Work on the Anaheim branch was commeneed in the winter of 1873 + and the first through train reached that town January 17, 1875. This branch was subsequently extended to Santa Ana. which is its prosent terminus. A land- some bridge across the Santa Ana river cust forty thousand dollars, of which twenty thousand dollars was paid by the county.
The great engitarring feat of this road was the construction of a taunel through the mountain range lying north of San Fernando. Work was commenced thereon in July, 1875, by gangs of men at each eml of the ent, one thousand five Imindred men being employed upon this work aloue, yet more than a y .ar elapsed before the tunnel was completed This tunnel is situated about six miles north of San Fernando, aud twenty- seven miles from Los Angeles. It is six thousand nine hundred
and sixty four fort, or nearly a mile and a quarter in length. extends nearly dne north and south and rome nuler a vier. sion of ridges miel cations, the dos pet past b ng ex hundre- feel below the mountain komunit It is approache lat nach and by a heavy up grade A considerable stream of water flow, construtly out of its wathern and The total cost of this work www . thuuted at Two million dollars
September 6, 16, was marked by the union of law Ang los with San Franciso boy radrond Three hundred and fifty- live ghosts from the former cite availal themeshes of the company's invitation, and processed in a social trum of five rain, which had been provided, to the point of non, which was near Se halad Nation, where they met n deputation of mane fifty permis from San Francisco. including the Mayor of that rity and the President and Hvert- one of the wind The last spoke made of wood gold, and presented, together with a silver hummer to drive il by la. W Thatcher, Egy jeweler of los Angeles was driven by Colonel I'murken tracker, Frendout of the road Speeches were made by L'obol Crocker, General D) D Caltan, Ex-Governor Dawney. Mayor Beaudry, Mayer Bryant, Governor Stanford und Geu- oral Banning The Law Angelians and San Franciscans then required to los Angeles, whose in the evening a grand banquet was served at I'nin Hall, followed by a ball which lasted until early morning, when the San Franciscans boarded their train nord preverded home This the ceremony endel, and Los Angeles was no longer isolated from the great world
DE ANGELIS AND INDEPENDENCE RAILROAD.
Un December 12, 1876, a long agitated question of miting Santa Monica, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Independence tuyo county by a railway, found veut in a public meeting in trout of the l'ourt House on Main street, at which committee were appointed to solicit andescriptions, etc The upshot of the walter was the incorporation in January, foi, of the las Angeles and Independence Railroad Company, having as Dirvel- ors John P'. Jones . president), R & Baker, F P. F Temple, T. W. Park, fames A Pritchard and J & Slauson. The route was to be by way of Vajon Pass, and the enpital stock was pheed al four million dollars in shares of one hundred dollars each, twenty -three thousand, four hundred dollars being paid up. Work was al once commenced, and the first train between Los Angeles and Santa Monica was run December 1, 1875. Considerable grading was done on the line of the road beyond Los Angeles in the direction of Cajon Pass, and in the Pass itself; but this was tinally abandoned, and in Is75 the road was purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, which still own and conduct it; but they have destroyed the long railroad wharf built hy Senator Joues, as it interfered with their business at Wilmington.
The following is a complete list of the Southern Pacific Railroad Statwus in los Angeles county, with the date npour which each was opened, as furnished to us by the superinten- . je.nt
Oct 2, 15G!
Los Angeles
Wilmington
C'ampton
San Gabriel. .
March, 1×74.
Savama
.July, 1975.
El Monte .
March, INT+
Spadra
April, 187+
San Fernando
.Nov, 1573.
Downey .
March, 1974.
Norwalk
April, 1874
Anaheim
JJuly, IST5.
Pomona
Der, 1577.
Santa Ana
Dec., 1877
Nowhình
Sept . 1876.
Santa Monica
Nov., 1875.
CHAPTER XXVI.
JOURNALISM
11831-1XXD.)
The Star Southern Californian -FI Clamor Publico-Southern Vineyard - I'hrishian Church -News-Amigo del Pueblo-Chrunick-Express-La Cronica-Herald-Mirror-Sued Californiach J'ost Evening Republican -School . masler i. I'mon-Commercial- L'Union Novelle - Journal- Rescue-Wilvonglon Journal Anaheim Gazette -- l'ecjde's Advocate- Workly Review Young Californian-Santa Ana Valley News-Santa Ana lleral-Santa Ana Times-Downey City Courier.
THE popular belief -- that anyone can run a newspaper, has receivedl many a rude shock in Los Angeles county. The course of time throughout the past thirty years, like the Pom- peian "street of Tombs," is garnished by the Mausoleums of dead journals, whose untimely fate might well serve as a warn- ing to that enterprising cobbler, who would fain leave his last, tu assume the cares and responsibilities, and battle for the honors af " the fourth Estate."
THE LOS ANGELES STAR
Was founded in 1831, the first number appearing May 17th of that year, printed in English and Spanish, issued weekly, John A Lewis and John McElroy, publisher -. In July the style of the tiri was Lewi-, MeElroy & Rand, Win. HI Rand having become a partner that mouth. November 4th McElroy sold his interest to Lewis & Rand. October 19, 1554, Mr. MeElroy again became a partner. In 1535 the Star was conducted by
1. & White & Co. December 15th of the same year 1 S. White hexcame the sole publisher, at which time the Spanish depart- ment of the paper was transferrel to the Clamor Pablico. Mr Waite continued the publication of the Star until April 12. 1556, when he sold to Win. A Wallace, who, the following June, sold to Il Hamilton. Mr Hamilton published the Star until the fall of Ist4, when it was purchased by General P Banning, and removed to Wilmington, where the material was used to paldish the Wilmington Journal. In IS68 the Star was again established in Los Angeles, published and edited by Mr Ham- iltou. In 1572 G W. Barter became a partner, but retired in a few months. The daily edition also made its first appearance that year. Mr. Hamilton conducted the Mae until July 1. 1873, when he sold it to Major Ben. (. Truman. Mr. Tru- man edited and published the paper until detoler 1, 1877, when he retired. It was then published by Payuter & Co., and afterward by Brown & Co. During the Inst fifteen months of its existence it had several different managers and editors, and represented three or four partirs It ceased publication in the carly part of 1879.
THE SOUTHERN PALIFORNIAN,
Published weekly, was founded by C. N. Richards & Co. The first number was issued July 20, 1854, Win, Butts, editor. November 2, 1854, Win. Butts and John O. Wheeler succeeded Richards & L'o. in the proprietorship. Messrs. Butts & Wheeler conducted the paper for some time, when John P. Prodie became the publisher. In 1857 it was discontinued, und in the following year its press and material were used to publish the Southern Vineyard.
EL ELAMOR PUBLICO,
A Spanish publication, was established by Francisco P. Ram- irez, in 1855. It made its first appearance June 19th, of that year, and continued as a weekly until it suspended December 31, 1859, for want of sufficient support. The materials of the office were transferred to the Los Angeles News.
THE SOUTHERN VINEYARD
Was established by Colonel J. J. Warner, March 20, 1858, as a four-page weekly, twenty-two by thirty inches in size. It was devoted to general news, and issued every Saturday morning. December 10th, of the same year, this paper was transformed into a semi-weekly; size twenty by twenty-six inches; issued Theslay and Friday mornings. It continued under the management of Mr. Warner until June 8, 1860, when the office and materials were transferred to the Los Angeles News.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH,
A monthly paper, devoted to religious subjects, published by Win. Money, made its appearance April 10, 1859. It was
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
.AApril, 1874.
RESIDENCE OF R . NADEAU, CORNER OLIVE 9 5TH STS LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES CO CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
printed at El Clamor office, in both the English and Span- ish languages. The paper, not receiving sufficient support, discontinued after issuing a few numbers.
1.OB ANGELES DAILY AND WEEKLY NEWS.
The Semi-Weekly Southern Ares, independent, il every Wednesday and Friday, was established in los Angeles by C. R., Conway und Alonzo Wuite, January 18, 186u lu their opening announcement they speak of a "crisis and depression in business heretofore nuknown within the limits of our rich and prosperous State," as then existing. The short wux enlarged July 18, 1860, and again August 13, 1862. October 8, 1862, the paper was styled the Los Angeles Semi- Weekly News, and continued us n semi- weekly until January 12, 1863, when it upfeared us the Los Angeles Tri- Weekly News issued Mondays, Wednesdays, nud Friday's.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.