USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 50
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We find the following editorials in the Express of 1878 :--
A PITIFUL APPROPRIATION.
Between the present extreme end of the structure and Deadman's . priation bill for the improvement of Wilmington barbor. The same
The pitiful sum of twenty thousand dollars is set down in the appro- incagre suis was allotted two years ago. This is a mere frittering away of the money devoted to this important work. One hundred thousand dollars, available for all the improvements, would carry the work to completion, and give us a harbor in a short space of time which would accommodate a shipping fully equal to onr growing mari- time commerce. For less than half a million dollars the Government
WINE VAULT. ANAHEIM, INTERIOR.
WINE VAULT. ANAHEIM. EXTERIOR
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WINE CELLARS AND RESIDENCE OF F.A. KORN, ANAHEIM, LOS ANGELES CO.,CAL.
PVNLITHTO BY THOMPSON & WEIT
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
has accomplished at Wilmington more than bas been accomplished at other new barbor points with millions. It has laud-locked the estuary and wrested from the ocean a sheet of deep water capable of affording shelter and safety to a large fleet of vessels, It has cut a channel across the bar, which ntlord- now a depth of fourteen fret at ordinary bigh water, and of seventeen feet at the spring high tides. This chan- nel, however, is only one hundred and lifty feet wide. It should be at least three hundred feet. The depth of water in the channel before the work was commenced was only two fect. It will thus be seen that a very important result has been had so far. But why should the Government halt at this advanced stage of the development of the plans of its engineers? llaving spent hall' a million to accomplish the important improvements already achieved it ought to be eager to carry out ils work lo the successful conclusion of which it is susceptihle. One hundred thousand dollars in hund would give us in a very short time a depth of twenty four feet in tho channel at high tide, and enable the engineers to widen the entrance to three hundred feet. This would give Los Angeles a better harhor than Charleston las, a far superior one to that of Galveston, and a better one than Mobile can hoast of-and all for the insignificaut expenditure of six hun dred thousand dollars. Congress has frequently appropriated a larger suin in one year for the improvement of obscure harbors on the Lakes. Wilmington barbor is now the ocenn outlet for a vast and increasing commerce. It is the most available harbor for the ocean traffic that will spring up from Arizona, and it is the natural outlet of the richest and most extensive agricultural region in southern California. In a few years it will be sought by vessels from all quarters of the globe, and n foreign trade will he built up here which will make our harbor the key to an important commercial traffic. Under the circumstances, a supreme effort should be mnde to induce Congress to pass such an appropriation as will enable the engi- neers to complete the work as speedily as possible. Twenty thousand dollars is a mere bagatelle for such a work. It only serves to spread the process of improvement over a series of years when it might be fin- ished in one. The immense grain crops of these valleys this year will all bave to be shipped abrond by way of Wilmington harbor. If ves- sels can he brought inside to docks, the money saved to the producers and the encouragement given to industry would be a handsome return to the Government for its liberality. The duties on imports would soon halance the cash account with the United States Treasury, and our country would have the satisfaetion of knowing that it had added lo ils port facilities, on a coast peculiarly destitute of such facilities, a safe, secure, and ample harbor for less outlay than any such achieve ment has ever before been necomplished in this country. Our people, by letler and otherwise, should urge upon every member of the Pacific Coast delegation the necessity of an appropriation for Wilmington har- hor liberal enough to eunble the engineera to complete their work without further delay or interruption.
HARBOR FRONTAGES.
Colonel Smith has introduced three bills relating to Wilmington harbor. One of these bills provides that the marsh and tide lands of that harbor shall not be subject to purchase, and another proposes to anend tbe Code so as to make this principle applicable to the marsh and ride lands of all the harbors in the State. These bills are worthy of consideration. There is great danger that under the present law the Southern Pacific Railroad may gobble up the entire froutage of Wilmington harbor, and thus appropriate to themselves a port which belongs to the whole people. They are now trying to have the old application of Tichenor, to eight hundred and eight acres of the front- age of Wilmington harbor, vitalized and confirmed by the Surveyor- General, and from the ready obedience of thnt official to the demands ol ibe company, we should not be nstonished to find that the applica- tion had succeeded. If the scheme can be headed off' by the passage of the bill introduced by Colonel Smith, that will probably he the speediesl and easiest way of defeating an intrigue which would leave the railroad company complete master of Wilmington harhor. There is, bowever, another question involved in this matter, Wilmington claims that under the general Act ceding the frontage of harhors to incorporated cities and towns located in front of them, that town is entitled in the control of its harbor approaches. Wilmington was incor- porated in 1871, and in 1872 a board of town officers was elected. It is claimed that whatever power over the marsh and tide lands was
acquired at that time was subsequently lost, on account of the failure of the people of Wilmington to follow up their Act of incorporation by continuing to elect trustees after the first election. But this argu- ment is met by the one that the first set of officers were elected for two year», or until their successors had qualified, and that consequently 1hr Trustees elected in 1872 are still de jure in existence, and the incorpor- ation is still perfect as a legal proposition. We can understand that the people of Wilmington are jealous of their right to control the land approaches to their harbor, and will look with anspicinn on a measure which will take this control from them and lodge it in the State. Ent it will doubtless be safer to place all our harbor frontages under the operation of a general principle, such as one of these bills provides, than to leave them subject to the doubtful rulings of the chief of a Sacramento bureau.
At the mouth of the harbor on the north-west side, stamls a little cluster of houses known as San Pedro. This was, prior to the establishinent of Wilmington, the town of the harbor, and here all business connected therewith was transacted.
Within the harbor, upon the north-west bank, about a mile and a half from San Pedro, is a little settlement called Lindville, established about 1877. There are now some seven families resident there.
Near Point Firmuin on the const is a small tract of land marked on the map, "Government Reserve." This was reserved by the Government for a military-post, but was never occupied owing to scarcity of water, and when troops were required in this section during the rebellion, Drum Barracks were estab- lished at Wilmington. At one time about the years 1864 %) there were from one thousand to two thousand men constantly garrisoned here. This then was the distributing point for sup- plies for all the troops in Arizona and New Mexico.
WHARFS AND WAREHOUSES.
The improvements on land have ever kept pace with those of the harbor. Under date April 24, 1858, the Star says :----
Phineas Banning has nearly completed a wharf at Ean Pedro seven hundred feet in length. A railroad will run the entire length of the wharf. Schooners will he ahle to discharge cargo without lighters.
In 1878, James McFadden rented the okl Government wharf at Wilmington and ran the steamer Newport here from San Francisco, but sold out to the railroad company that satne fal !.
The Pacific Rural Press of March 6, 1880, has the follow- ing :-
San Pedro was formerly the great shipping point of southern Cali- fornia. More freight being handled there than nt all the other points south of Monterey combined. The railroad has largely decreased both freight and passenger husiness, and most of the trade to the port of late has been in lumuher, railroad ties, etc. Formerly a steamer touched here every third day, but unw only every fifth day. At the present time connection is made with the shore by means of small steamers and lighters, hut a new wharf is heing huilt at Timms' point. inside the har, and it is to be boped the large steamers will soon he able to dis. charge their cargo direct. The people of Los Angeles talk of' connect- ing ibis wharf with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Wilmington (four miles distant), the railroad company offering to stock the road when huilt.
The Express of May 1, 1880, says editorially :-
General Banning assures us that he will in a very few days, commence
work on Mormon Island, building the extension of the Wilmington railroad lo deep water at the western extremly of that island. It is also bis intention to eventually carry the road to Deadman's Island, at the mouth of the harbor, where he says four teet deeper water can be secured than there is now in the channel over the bar. He is expect. ing the British steamer Hylton firstle, now due with coal tion Belling- ham bay, to arrive sometime today, when he will place bis entire force nt work discharging her, and as soon us that is done, the men wiil be transferred to the work of estemlng the railroad. Thusn variety of circumstances are combining to ussure us of the early bringing of »bip and wharf together in our harbor. The days of bghterage are rapidly drawing to a close, and Les Angeles will soon enjoy the actual hevetit- of her fine harbor.
The Pacific Coast Steamship Company is doing some very substan. linl wharf work at Fan l'euro. The stone abntment and the approaches are of the spot endurable character, and when the pier is projected 10 deep water, the company will have one of the finest landings on the const. It is manifest that the steamsbip corporation mean to soon bring their steamers to dock in our inner harbor. When they do that, there will be no more chance to sneer at the Government lor the work it hus done to add to our court mother necesible mol secure harbor.
A must ingenious system of chutes is to be constructed by the Steam. ship Company at its whurf on San Pedro point. As all of our ronders are aware who have ever visited the pince, there is n blutl' of considerable altitude just back of the whuif site. Ten feet of earth will be removed from the top of this blutl'or plateau, back a distance of fifty fert from the edge, and here the warehouse will be beated. Teams with their loads of grain will be driven on top of the plateno, and ns the floor of the receiving warehouse will be ten feet below the level of the road. it is easy to see that the grain may be arnt down in a chuto for storage, and the handling thus greatly facilitated. On a platenu still lower there will be another warehouse, receiving its grain by a chute from the upper, or slornge wurphone. From the seroml ware- bouse it will be dispatched through still another chute to the derk of the vessel in the clmanel. By this contrivance, the force of gravitation being taken advantage of to its fullest extent, two men in the intermediate warehouse amy send down the grain as bist as ten enn store it in the ship's hold. Had every sack to he picked up hy muin foreu and carried aboard, thirty or forty men would be required to perform the same labor.
For the following general history of the town and harbor we are indebted to the courtesy of Major P. H. Downing, a well-known prominent resident :-
The port of San Pedro, where the town of Wilmington is now situated, was used as a port for the receipt of supplies and the shipment of hides aml tallow by the Mexican ranchers of the neighborhood long before the advent of the Americans.
After the American occupation this was speedily munde a port of entry, aul continued to be such for several years.
By an Act of Congress June 6, 1874, the name of the port was changed from San l'edro to Wilmington, and the port. declared a port of delivery but not a port of entry, this port. and Santa Barbara being comprised in the district of San Diego, where the collector is to reside.
The steamers of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company. owned by Goodall, Perkins & Co., stop here regularly both up and down between San Francisco and San Diego. Steamers have stopped here regularly for over twenty years. Prior to the completion of the overland railroad, the Panama steamers occasionally stopped here for cargo.
At mean low water there is about eleven feet of water on the bar, and sixteen feet at mean high water. Light draught
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
steamers and schooners occasionally enter the harbor, and deliver and receive freight at the wharf, but the regular line are obliged to remain outside the bar as a rule, and connect with the shore by means of lighters and a steam tug-boat. Inside the bar the harbor is two miles in length and from eight huudred to two thousand yards in width; is completely land- locked, and has a depth of water varying from thirty to sixty feet.
The lighters and two tug-boats are owned by General Phineas Banning. The wharf is owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, which railroad connects this port with Los Angeles; two trains each way daily. This branch of the railroad was built in 1868, and was then called the Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad; and was purchased by the Southern Pacific Company some years later.
There are two sailing vessels registered from this port, owned by Perry, Woodworth & Co., of Los Angeles. There are a very large number of vessels from other home ports plying here constantly, also many vessels hailing from foreign ports. Of these latter there were nineteen during the year 1879.
Since the New Constitution went into effeet (enforcing a pro rata tariff on all common carriers), most of the Los Angeles freight comes through this way. A fair proportion of the passenger travel comes this way also.
In the center of the mouth of the harbor is a small, rocky island (about two acres at the base), known as Deadman's Island. Tradition asserts that this name origiuated during the Mexican war, when a United States man-of-war entered this port, and landed their men with the intention of proceed- ing to Los Angeles, but were attacked by the natives and driven back with loss. The dead were buried on this island, and thence the name came. Another story is that it was long used by the whaling vessels as a burying-ground, aud that thence came its present title. It is at present wholly unocenpied.
Rattlesnake Island is a long, narrow strip, extending from the mouth of the San Gabriel river toward Deadman's Island, and is more properly a peninsula, being connected with the maiu-land except during high tide. This peninsula is con- nected with Deathman's Island by a solid breakwater, built of doultle piling filled in with rock. This breakwater was erected by the Government at au aggregate cost of about four hundred and eighty thousand dollars. The length of the break water is one thousand feet of double wood-work, and an extension of rip- rap stone-work. The total length is about six thousand six hundred feet.
The channel has also been narrowed by means of jetties built out from the other side, and in this way the water has been considerably deepeued in the present channel.
Rattlesnake Island and the breakwater above described, form the protection to the harbor. Only salt water enters this
harbor, the San Gabriel river emptying into the ocean at a point about three miles to the south-east.
In his "Homes in Los Angeles County " (pages +7,48), W. McPherson gives the following sketch of ---
WILMINGTON.
THE TOWN AND HARBOR.
In 1851, the entire transportation between Los Angeles City and San Pedro, as the town and harbor were then called, was done by three six- mule teams, assisted by a few ox-carts, and these were, at that time, more than sufficient to transact the business. The vessels doing the carrying trade along the coast, landed the freight with their own small hoats. A single four-borse teau, kuown as " the stage," conveyed pas- sengers to and from Los Angeles, and when over-crowded, the never- failing ox-cart was invoked. In 1858, in consequence of a violent storm, San Pedro was abandoned as a point for shipping, and wharves and commodions warehouses were established at Wilmington. A small steamer called the Clara was purchased, and for several years was used to transport passengers and freight between the anchorage and Wil- mington. In 1861, as many as six thousand head of cattle werc slaughtered for their hides and tallow alone at this place. In 1861 and 1862, the United States Quartermaster's Depot was established here, and during the war ahout seven regiments of volunteers and regulars werc quartered in extensive harracks. Business vastly increased since the days of 1851 ; so much so, that in 1862 one person alone bad as many as thirty-five mule-teams engaged in the business of transportation to and from the port. In 1867, after much opposition, the Los Angeles and San Pedro Railroad was voted a subsidy and speedily huilt. Within two years after its completion, the assessed valuation of property was very nearly doubled, and the saving in freight was not less than ahout one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the county. In 1851, transportation from Los Angeles to San Pedro was twenty dollars per ton, reduced now to five, and in some instances-as grain-to two and a half. Fare, in the old-fashioned so-called stage of 1851, was seven dollars from San Pedro to Los Angeles, twenty-four miles, now one dollar; and from San Francisco to Wilmington, by steamer, fifteen dollars. The tonnage in 1851 was two thousand tons; in 1872, sixty thon and. The passage, per individual, in 1851, from San Pedro to San Francisco was by steam tug and river boat, fifty-five dollars in gold ! The prosperity of southern California has been greatly retarded hy the steamship monopoly which does the carrying trade from San Diego to San Fran- cisco. The harbor of Wilmington has capacity for the anchorage of a large fleet of merchant marine, and the only trouble is in crossing the har. This difficulty, however, owing mainly to the indefatigable exer- tions of the Hon. B. D. Wilson and General P. Banning is rapidly being overcome through the anpropriations made hy Congress. In 1841 there was appropriated two hundred thousand dollars; in 1872, seventy-five thousand dollars; and in 1873, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. There is now ou hand the sum of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars for the completion of the breakwater, now rapidly progressing under the direct supervision of officers of the Engineer corps of the Government. In 1858 there was neither house nor inhabitant at what is now known as Wilmington. The population of the town numbers one thousand; and will soon become a very considerable place. A telegraph line is in operation between the town and Los Angeles City. The trains for several miles, as they approach the city of Los Angeles, afford a most picturesque view of the semi-tropical groves on either side, and the fresh grassy lawns in front of the white cottages look as if the sweet May still lay upon the earth, let the season he what it may.
TOWN OF WILMINGTON.
Major Downing furnishes us with the following account of the origin of this town :-
The town of Wilmington was established by General Phineas Banning upon the San Pedro Ranch, at the head of the harbor in 1858. In company with Governor Downey and others, he
purchased a tract of two thousand four hundred and twenty- our acres of land, which was surveyed and laid out in town lots (twenty acre blocks, and one hundred and eleven acre blocks), which were disposed of to settlers. A tract of about twenty acres near the center was reserved and deeded to the Govern- ment by General Banning and Hon. B. D. Wilson for a military post. On evacuation of the post by the Government, Congress passed an act re-deeding this land to the original owners and the barracks were sold at anetiou to the highest bidder for cash, they were bought by General Banning.
The town has now about one thousand two hundred inhabit- ants.
Under date November 30, 1854, we find the purchase hy capitalists of two thousand four hundred acres of land " on the creek six miles this side of San Pedro," noticed in the daily papers. This was doubtless the purchase referred to by Major Downing.
October 1, 1858, the first cargo of goods was landed from the steamer Medora at Newtown or New San Pedro. A party of ladies and gentlemen from Los Angeles by invitation of Captain Banning witnessed the disembarkation.
In the Los Angeles Star of May 16, 1857, we find the fol- lowing :---
San Pedro is not a place of much pretension in the way of houses, but the few there are occupied in the most profitable manner. At the landing of Banning & Wilson there is an extensive blacksmith shop, also a carriage manufactory, a saddlery and harness-making establish- ment, where the wagons, etc., required in their extensive transporta- tion business are manufactured and repaired. There are also extensive warehouses, stahles, corrals, ctc. Also a grocery, provision and liqnor store and hotel.
The Custom-house is at this landing, the duties of which for a long time have been discharged hy Deputy Collector J. F. Stevens. For the accommodation of the public a wharf has been erected on the heach, at which hoat- receive and land passengers and freight. A short distance from this point is Timms' landing. A pier of consider- able extent has been erected for the shipment of merchandise; ample storage is provided in an immense warehouse; barges and hoats of all kinds for the conveyance of goods and passengers to and from the steamers and sailing crafts, are also on hand. The best accommoda- tious and refreshments for families and all travelers can also be pro- eurcd here. In fact, at San Pedro everything is provided which can be desired to make the place agreeable, or for the transportation of the large amount of freight which is received at or exported from that point.
The following extracts regarding current events at Wilming- ton are from the News columns, on the several dates indicated :
APRIL 15, 1863-The work of bringing water from the San Gabriel river to Drum Barracks at San Pedro is progressing. Two hundred soldiers are engaged alternately on the work. The distance is seven miles from the harracks to where the water is to be taken out, and about three miles of which is necessary to he flumed. When the work is finished it will beautify and enhance the lands which are now har- ren and unproductive.
JULY 22, 1863-Sergeant Stanley, regimental handmaster of the Fourth Infantry, has established a Sunday-school at Camp Drum, New San Pedro.
MAY 31, 1864-A petition has been forwarded to the post-office department by the citizens of Wilmington praying the establish- ment at that point of a post-office.
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WINE CELLARS, VINEYARD @ RESIDENCE OF WM KONIG, ANAHEIM , LOS ANGELES C9. CALIFORNIA.
......... .. THOMPSON L WISH
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
NOVEMBER 5, 1864 -- The immense trestle work for the flume- between three and four miles long-of the Wilmington water-works is nearly completed. The water is to be brought about seven miles, from the San Gabriel river to Wilmington, Drum Barracks, etc.
NOVEMBER 5, 1864-A Grand Union Barbecue was held at Wil- mingtou; largely attended from Los Angeles.
NOVEMBER 8, 1864-The Union demonstration and barbecue hield at Wilmington on Saturday, November 5th, was the largest meeting ever held at that point.
DECEMBER 11, 1868-A few cases of small-pox reported at Wil- mington.
FEBRUARY 1, 1870-Several cases of small-pox at Wilmington.
The land under and surrounding Wilmington is ahnost entirely bare, owing to alkaline deposits. The water is also alkaline and very soft. It is supplied from private wells dis- tributed over the town. General Banning has a large elevated tank, which supphes the wharf and shipping.
A hotel was erected here by Thomas Thompson in 1864, at a cost of five thousand dollars. It burned down in 1879. Insurance two thousand dollars. The present hotel is kept by Samuel Thompson.
A post-office was established here in 1864. The present postmaster is A. Lanber Schiemer.
In September, 1864, the Los Angeles Star was purchased by General Banning and transferred to Wihnington, where it was published under the style of The l'ilmington Journal. Col. J. J. Warner was the first editor. The paper had but a brief existence.
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