USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 55
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The land owned by the company is a tract one and a half miles long by nue and a quarter miles broad. It is surrounded by a fence fyr and a half miles long, compared of forty thonsud pules, each of which ix eight feet long, bring six feet above ground; they ure planted ony and a half feet apart. und ure strengthened by there horizontal poles, and defended by a ditch fone feet deep, His feet wide as the tape, she ing to a breadth of vue foot at the bottom.
The water for irrigation is conveyed by n ditrh from the river, u distance of live miles, to the laiel, and through the land two nud n hall' miles. It is eleven fret wide, aod two and a half fret dyrp. making a zanja of seven uml a half nales long. Besides this, there are conductors fur leading the water over the grondla. of theer there are nine, each one und a half miles long, und fourteen, carh one and a quarter miles long, four to five feet wide, med our nod a half feet deep, making in all thirty one miles of mmmyetut. Again, there are ditches, six feet wide, along the bighent ridges, extending seven atol a half noles; and inferior ditches memidlering throughout the grouials three hundred mudes, making n total Iragthi of ditches three hundred and fortysix miles. The average velocity of the water is two noles per hour, discharging, on the calculation of twenty square fert, two hundred and eleven thousand two hun. dred cubic feet per hour, or live million misty eight thousand eight hundred cubic feet of water per day. The main zanja is finished, and the water dowing in it, yet there is no perceptible diaanation of the volume of water in the river.
Anaheim is divided into fifty luts, of twenty acres ruch, and these by streets three nels wide, having a town site of forty arres in the center. It is awanted to be necessary to spread over ble square foot of land one-third of a cubic foot of water; hence, los irri- gate one thousand acres it will require eight million seven hundred aud twelve thousand cubic feet of water. In the operations at present in progress, there are employed seven men, marieen losses, and even jos, in making ditches one man, one wayon and two borse. procuring provisions and fire wood, fourteen men, fourteen wagon- sol fifty six horse- in hauling fence polen, one man, yu
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
wagon and teu horses in bringing cuttings; thirty-three men making ditches and fences; there are two overseers, hesides cooks, etc., mak- ing in all eighty-eight men, ten women, eighty-four horses, seven plows and seventeen wagons; daily expenses two hundred and six- teen dollars.
As may be expected, Anaheim is a busy place. All is life, indus. try and activity. "The sounds of busy labor" are heard on all sides. The enterprise and industry exhibited at Anabeim have stimulated the neighboring rancheros, and we have been informed that men whu heretofore were inelined to put a light estimate on the plow have this year had several of them at work, and hundreds of acres of grain have heen sown in soil never before furrowed. A grist mill is also in course of erection on the Sauta Ana river-a novelty in that section of country.
January 31, 1858, Mr. H. D. Barrows writes to the San Francisco Bulletin:
The great Anaheim Vineyard Company have commenced work on a large scale, having a great number of men and teams plowing, ditching, fencing, etc, A while-nwake town seems likely to spring u at Aunheim, or Ana Home.
Under date December 22, 1859, the Star says :-
The enclosure at Aunheim contains one thousand one hundred and sixty-live acres, forty acres subdivided into sixty-four lots, one for the proprietors, and fourteen for school and other public buildings, squares, etc. Ready, alleys, etc., necupy twenty-five neres. The balance of the truct is divided into fifty twenty-nere vineyard lots, of which eight thou- sand vines (eight acres) were planted in 1858. The expense up to Sep- tember 13th-twoyears have amounted tosixty thousand dollars: Cost of land, two thousand three hundred and thirty dollars : for field laborers' wages, twenty thousand dollars; grape cuttings, two thousand three hundred dollars; jub-work, one thousand one hundred and fifty- xix dollars ; transportation, une thousand one hundred and thirty- eight dollars; provisions, fourteen thousand five hundred dollars; stable hostlery, etc., two hundred and nineteen dollars; smiths' shup, five hun- dred und sixty dollars; kitchen, five hundred and fifty dollars; horses, une thousand two hundred dollars; fence poles, three thousand three Imindred and fifty-three dollars; carpenter shop, two hundred and five dollars ; lumber and buildings, two thousand two hundred dollars; agricultural tools, two thousand five houdred dollars; blankets, fur- niture, furuge, arms, fuel, legal services, medicine», stationery, etc., five thousand four hundred and fifty-nine dollars. There has been twenty- two thousand seven houdred and eighty-nine days' labor in the field at n cost of eighteen to thirty-five dollars per month. The vineyards have been valued at their present relative worth, and a division made. From December 15th each proprietor will assume control of his own vineyard. The vines are remarkably thrifty, and most of the vineyards will produce a large quantity of grapes in 1860.
The following account of the establishment of the Anaheim colony is condensed f'rom Nordorf's book on California (written 1872,) and the statements therein contained having been duly veritied and corrected by us, through interviews with George Hansen, Esy., of Los Angeles, and many others, are now found to be substantially correct. We give this as a resume of what has preceded :-
In the year 1857, several Germans, resideut in San Francisco, pro- posed among themselves to purchase a piece of land, lay it out into small farins, and plant these with vineyards, the whole enterprise to be conducted hy one general head or manager, and in the cheapest and most effectual manner possible.
In furtherance of this plan, fifty persous joined to buy a tract of one thousand one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, lying some twenty- eight miles south-east of Los Angeles. The price paid was two dollars per acre, this including sufficient water privilege to insure ample irrigation.
Mr. George Hansen, of Los Angeles, was the leader in this enter- prise. By him the laud was selected, purchased, and laid out into
fifty twenty-acre lots, and fifty house lots, with fourteen additional village lots, these being reserved for school-houses and such other public buildings as the colony might require.
The company consisted principally of mechanics. There were several carpenters, a gunsmith, an engraver, three watch-makers, four blacksmiths, a brewer, a teacher, a shoe-maker, a miller, several mer- chants, a book-hinder, a poet, four or five musicians, a hatter, some teamsters, a hotel-keeper, and others. There was not a farmer among them, and they appear to have been meu of about average business capacity. For the time heing they continued to follow their respective eallings in San Francisco, while their manager went ou with his improvement of the land by means of hired labor.
Ile dug a main ditch some seven miles long, to lead the irrigating water over the whole area, also four hundred and fifty miles of sub- sidiary ditches, aud twenty-five miles of feeders to these. Upon each twenty-acre lot he planted eight acres in vines tone thousand to the acre) and some fruit trees, He fenced each lot with willows, making five and a quarter miles of outside, and thirty-five miles of inside, feuc- ing. This dane he continued to cultivate, pruue, and keep up the whole place.
At the end of three years all the assessments were paid; each stock- holder had expended one thousand two hundred dollars, and a division of lots was made. This was done by means of a lottery. All the lots were viewed, and assessed each at its respective relative value, from six hundred to oue thousand four hundred dollars, according to situation, etc. Wheu a lot was drawn, if it was valued uver one thousand two hundred dollars, the drawer paid the difference; if less, he received the difference. Thus he who drew a one thousand four hundred dollar lot would pay two hundred dollars; he who drew a six hundred dollar lot would receive six hundred dollars additional in cash. When all were drawn, there was a sale of the effects of the company-tools, horses, etc .; and, on balancing the books, it was found that a sum remained on hand which sufficed for a dividend of over one hundred dollars to each shareholder. The actual cost of the lots was about one thousand and eighty dollars. For this amount, each had twenty acres and a town lot one hundred and fifty hy two hundred feet. with eight thousand bearing grape vines, and some fruit trees.
Then most of the owners came down from San Francisco to take possession. Lumber for building was bought at wholesale; a school- house was quickly erected: shop-keeperx flocked in and bought town lots: a newspaper was started; mechanics came; and the colonists had at ouce all those conveniences for which, had they settled singly, they must have waited many years.
Now it must be remembered that these colonisty were ueither farmers nor gardeners hy trade. Only one had ever made wine. They began as green hands. Some of them borrowed money to make their improvements, and were obliged to pay heavy interest, They had to build their houses, make their gardens. aud support their families. The results of the experiment are briefly these :-
1. There was a struggle for some years, but every one had abundance to eat, a good school for their children, music and pleasant social amusements, aud each was his own master.
2. Only one of the original settlers has moved away, and the Sheriff has never issued an executiou iu Anaheim.
3. The property which cost que thousand and eighty dollars, is now worth from five thousand to ten thousand dollars.
4. There are no poor in Anaheim.
(The above account was written some eight years ago. Our readers will notice that while following the text of Mr. Nor- dorff's book closely, we have made several changes, these to conform to the facts.)
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The first house erected in Anaheim was built by Mr. Benjamin Dreyfus in 1857. In 1865 John Fischer built the first hotel on the site where the Planters' Hotel now stands. This pioneer hotel was also known as the Planters' Hotel. It was burned down in 1871. He built the present hotel immediately after, and owned it up to 1878, when it became the property of J. Jones, the present owner, - Dunham, proprietor.
The Anaheim Hotel was built by Henry Kroeger in 1872, and is still owned by him.
For the following information we are indebted to Mr. John P. Zeyn, who settled in Anaheim in 1800 :-
George Hansen was engaged by the Los Angeles Vineyard Society as surveyor. George Hausen, John Fischer, John Froe- lich, Charles Kohler, Utmor Kohler, C. C. Kutehel, C, Biltsen, 11. Schenck, H. Brunnehnan. Julius Weiser, John P. Zeyn, Hugo Currance, formed a corporation in 1857, under the name of the Los Angeles Vineyard Society. They purchased a tract of one thousand one hundred and sixty-five aeres from Pacifico Ontiveras, which they laid out in lifty twenty-acre lots, and the balance in town lots, Kach stockholdler got one town lot and a twenty-acre vineyard. The remaining lots belonged with the streets to the society.
In 1860 the Vineyard Society sold out to the Anaheim Water Company, which is still in existence. The same share- holders formed this second company, and in effect only the name was changed. The Aunheim Water Company has a president and four other trustees, a water oversver, and a water commissioner. One trustee acts as secretary and another as treasurer. The Water Company incorporated in the first instance with twenty thousand dollars capital stock, hut in 1879 this was increased to ninety thousand dollars. No spec- ulation in this stock is allowed. Owners of land only can purchase it. The stock can be transferred from one piece of land to another. If assessments are not paid, the stock of the individual is advertised and sold at public auction; in which case anyone, whether owning land or not, can purchase it.
For information regarding the water system, we are indebted to Mr. B. F. Scibert, of Anaheim :-
Up to the year 1879 Anaheim was supplied with water from scattered wells only. These giving out in dry seasons, in that year an artesian well was sunk one hundred and three feet deep, which furnishes an inexhaustible supply. By means of a six horse-power engine the water from this well is Forced upward into a tank (capacity twenty-two thousand gallons) twelve feet in height, erceted upon a stage thirty-five feet high. From this tank pipes are laid along the principal streets, and the water flows readily to the upper floors of even the highest buildings. In case of fire the water can be thrown by means of hose thirty feet from the ground. Constant pumping by the engine never lowers the supply more than two feet, and a l'ew moments cessation is sufficient to restore its usual level. The water-works are town property, and a water tax is levied on those of the inhabitants benefited thereby.
Anaheim was incorporated as a city and duly chartered February 10, 1870. This charter was revoked March 7, 1872, owing to some misunderstanding among the officials.
March 18, 1878, an Act of the Legislature was duly
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WESTMINSTER, LOS ANGELES C9 CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
approved granting a town organization and duly incorporat- ing the town of Anabeiu.
The town of Analihm owns a town-hall (frame, sixteen by twenty fret, The front room is nsed for meetings of the Water Company, and the back is divided into two cells for prisoners.
We find the following account of a destructive lire at Ana- heim in the Los Angeles Herald of January 18, 1877 :
FIRE AT ANAHEIM.
A disastrous fire occurred at Anaheim on the night of Tuesday, January 16, 1875. About fifteen minutes to 12 o'clock fire was dis- covered in a building known as Enterprise Ilall, situated on the corner of los Angeles and Second streets, The alarut was given and the town uronsed, but the flames had obtained too great a headway to be imme. diately extinguished or even confined to the building in which the fire originated. There was no engine in the city, and the only organiza- tion which might have done effective work was a hook and ladder company, which had not held a meeting for many months, and conse- queutly lacked that discipline which would enable them tosuccessfully fight the flames. The fire burned furiously until 2 o'clock, at which time it was brought under control. The buildings burned are as fol- lows: Enterprise Hall, a two-story building, owned by Bittner & Jordan, and valued at four thousand dollars; no insurance. This building was uuoccupied at the time of the fire. Adjoining this was u Chinese wash- house, and a saloon owned by Mr. Conrad. both of which were destroyed. The fire then communicated to the Daily Gucette building, which was also completely destroyed, nothing being saved by Messrs. Melrose & Athearu but their hooks, all the type, material, presses, etc., of this firm were destroyed. Their loss cannot be ascertained, but we are informed that they had a partial insurance on their stock. On the first floor of this building was the store of Messrs. D. & G. D. P'lata. dealers in general merchandise-unable to learn loss or insurance, but they were carrying a large stock of goods and were probably heavy losers, The building was owned by Mra. Kucher, valued at four thou- sand dollar4, and insured for one thousand dollars. The Odd Fellows' Hall, which faced Enterprise Hall on the north, was slightly damaged, and the furniture considerably so, the Intter from water and smoke. At the inception of the fire it communiented to the furniture store of Messrs. F. & J. Backs on the opposite corner, and fears were en- tertniued that it would sweep both blocks. The fire in the furniture store and adjoining saloon were extinguished, however, before any serious damage was done. The total loss is estimated at eighteen thousand dollars, with a probable insurance of eight thousand to nine thousand dollars.
It is not definitely known how the fire originated, but it is supposed to have been cunsed by the carelessness of a man who slept in one of the back rooms of Enterprise Ilall.
INDUSTRIES. TANNERY.
The Anaheim Ilide and Leather Company was organized in 1879 for tanning purposes. A lot was leased, and buildings and machinery erected at an outlay of some three thousand dollars. At the end of some eight or ten months the euter- prise, not proving protitable, was abandoned. The machinery is still in the hands of the association, who contemplate at some future time renewing operations.
FRUIT DRYING.
The Alden Fruit Drying Company was here established for some time, but their building was destroyed by fire, and this broke up the business.
Thomas S. Grimshaw und Daniel J. Sorenson are about erect-
ing a fruit drying establishment. It will differ from the Allen dryer in using a cold blast instead of hot air
They propose having a cannery for canning fruit in the sante building.
We clip the following notice of this enterpris from a late member of the Los Angeles Express;
Mr. Foreuson was in town to-day from Anaheim. He is now experi- menting ou a new process of drying potatoes for distant markets. Ile believes that the cold blast will ultimately prove the best method. It goes on the principle that a powerful hlast of cold air will speedily absurb all the moisture in the potato, leaving nothing but the dried anbytauce, which can be kept for any length of time, and restored to its normal condition by being worked in water. If Mr. Sorenson can make his experiment snerced and he is well assured that he can-he would njen a rendy source of profitable consumption for all the pota- toes that could be raised in this county. He says there is always a market for potatoes in l'europe, and if he enters into its deviceation out a large weale, he will address himself to the supply of that market through established agencies.
M11 .. S.
A. Guy Smith & Co. at Anaheim, conduct a steam grist- mill and planing-mill combined. The mill was built in the winter of 1873 -6. They have a lumber yard in connection with the mill. Also have two large warehouses, and do gen- eral forwarding and commission business.
They deal principally in California redwood and Oregon pine. Their mill engine is lifteen horse-power. They are using Santa Clara coal for fuel, und find it very good.
They make graham flour and meal, but not fine llour. They do moulding and seroll-work of all kinds.
Should the wheat crop turn out well, they intend increasing power and putting in machinery for fine Hour
Miles Brothers conduct a steam grist-mill at Anaheim. Eight horse-power engine. Only make meal, feed and grahans llour, but not fine flour. Should the wheat erop turn out well, intend putting in forty horse-power engine, another rim of stones, etc., for line flour. Huve nine hundred and eighty acres of land, of which between five and six hundred acres are under wheat, and the rest rye, corn, barley, and other smaller grains.
D. E. Miles conducts a warehousing and counnission business in connection with the mills.
BREWERIE'S.
Hind's brewery, Anaheim, was established by Theodore Reiser in 1874. He sold it to Thomas Hinds, who still owns it, and rents to John Goodale. Goodale manufactured from three to four hundred barrels of lager in 1879.
The California brewery is condneted by F. C'onrad.
BANKS.
The bank of Aunheim was organized September 27, 1876, S. H. Mott. President: B. F. Seibert, Cashier. Anthorized
capital, one hun Ired thousand dollars Paid up enpital, twenty thousand dollars The present officers are the same. Present Director E. F. Spence. S. HI Mott O & Witherby, 11. Malery. B F Seibert This bank conducts n general bank- ing business
The banking house of P. Davis & Brother, Anaheim, with established February 2. IF, by Philip & Gustave Davis. This is a private banking company A W Steinhart, Cashier
For a full history of the newspapers of Anaheim, se chapter on . Journalisin."
CHURCHES
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
At Anaheim was organized in 1969. Hoy L P Wobler wus the first pastor. He remained until 1573, and was succeeded by Rev. J. M Mlis, who remained until the spring of 1875, whou he was seecoded by Key I'D Young, who was succeeded by Rev. J. A. Mitchell, in early part of 1978 Mr. Mitchell wie sue coddel by Rey E. Halliday in November, 1874 In November, 1879, Mr Halliday left There is at present no regular pustor, the church being in debt. There is a church Imibling which wus erectel iu 1872. This is paid for all luit two Ismubred dol- lar. Total cost, three thousand live hundred dollars. Roy E. Halliday is now preachng ut Orange in the Methodist Church building
THE EPISCOPAL CHE ACH
The list services or meeting of persons interested in this church, was held in Enterprise Hall, Aunhenn, npon the 7th day of April 1875 Rev. W' S. Nonles was the officiating clergyman und chairman. An application wus then made to the Bishop to consent to the organization of a mission nuder the Board of' Missions.
April 27th of the same year, Right Rev. W Ingraham Kipp. D. D., visited Analiim, and gave Mr. Kellogg the necessary papers of organization, and confirmed the trustees in office, as nominated at the meeting of April 7th.
January 13, 1876, a meeting of the congregation was bell at which a committee was appointed to procure plans for a church seating one hundred and fifty persons, and onting about three thousand dollars.
March 29, 1876, a meeting was held at which it was announced that seven hundred and fifty dollars had been raised by subscription in San Francisco by the Rev. W. S. Neales. In a bition to this, a donation of four hundred dollars from the Los Angeles and San Bernadino Land Company was acknowledged.
Committees were subsequently appointed to canvass the towns of Anaheim and Los Angeles for funds. The sum of
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
eight hundred and fifty-four dollars was collected in Anaheim. The present church edifice (seating capacity one hundred and fifty) was finished in the fall of 1876, at a total cost of three thousand six hundred dollars. Rev. W. S. Neales was the first pastor, and officiated from the early part of 1875 till the fall of 1876. 'Temporary services were afterward hell by Dr. Kellogg until the arrival of Rev. George H. Hubbard, who remained until October, 1877. He was succeed by Rev. A. G. L. Trew, who remained until July, 1879, since which time ser- viees have been occasionally hell by Rev. James Abererombie, D. D., of Los Angeles.
At the present time regular lay services are conducted by Mr. John A. Emery, who is preparing for ordination.
The church buikling is now entirely free of debt, and will shortly be consecrated.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIETY
Was organized by V. Foran in 1876. A church was erected in 1879, at a cost of one thousand dollars, which is fully paid, leaving the society free from debt. Including those of the Upper Santa Ana Church, of which the Anaheim pastor has charge, there are about five hundred members. Mr. V. Foran still acts as pastor of this church.
SOCIETIES.
MASONIC.
Anaheim Lodge, No. 207, F. & A. M., was organized in Oc- tober, 1870. The first officers were: T. Casad, Master; William M. McFadden, S. W .; G. W. Vance, J. W .; T. Reiser, Treas- urer; F. W. Athearn, Secretary; William M. Higgins, S. D .; Phil. Davis, J. D .; T. J. Kerns and E. A. Pullen, Stewards; Edward Evey, Tyler.
The charter members were: T. Casad, William M. MeFadden, G. W. Vance, P. Davis, B. Simon, E. A. Pullen, W. H. Tichenal, William M. Higgins, T. J. Kerns, J. M. Collier, T. Reiser, Ed. Evey, David Evey, J. J. Ginn, F. W. Athearn, S. Goldstein, (. O. Sweetser. Of the same the following are still active members: William M. MeFadden, Phil. Davis, William M. Hig- gins, 'T' Reiser, E. Evey, D. Evey, J. J. Ginn, Fred. W. Athearn. The present officers are: Alphonse W. Steinhart, Master; Thomas S. Grimshaw, S. W. ; Charles S. Miles, J. W. ; M. L. Goodnian, Treasurer; William M. McFadden, Secretary ; J. J. Ginn, S. D .; Amein Gwin, J. D .; David Avey and F. A. Korn, Stewards ; S. Holman, Marshal ; R. D. Curtis, Tyler. The greatest nnmn- ber of members at any one time has been forty-nine. Men- bers at present thirty-nine. The character and present value of property, real estate and personal, four thousand dollars. The financial condition is said to be fair. The lodge inects in Masonic Hall, Anaheim, on the Monday of, or next preceding the full moon.
ODD FELLOWS.
Anaheim Lodge, No. 199, 1. O. O. F., was organized Jan- nary 23, 1872.
The first officers were: John Fischer, M. L. Goodman, E. W. Champlin, John P. Zeyn, Frank R. Lafanchrie and John Adams. Charter members: John Fischer, M. L. Goodman, E. W. Champlin, John P. Zeyn, J. J. Dyer, S. H. Dyer, John Adams, V. Dassonville. Of the same the following are still active inembers: M. L. Goodman, E. W. Champlin, John P. Zeyn, J. J. Dyer, S. H. Dyer and John Adams. The present officers are: L. A. Evans, N. G .; J. H. Gooch, V. G .; William J. Hill, Secretary; William M. Iliggins, Treasurer; R. Bohn, W .; D. J. Sorensen, C; J. P. Zeyn, O. S. G. ; T. Smith, I. S. G .; G. C. Knox and J. M. Bush, L. S. of the N. G. The greatest nun- ber of members at any one time, seventy-three. Number of members at present, sixty-four. The character and present value of the property is hall stock, and cemetery lot and cash, two thousand three hundred and eighty dollars. The financial condition good. Amount disbursed in benefits, charities, etc., two thousand one hundred and ninety-three dollars and fifteen cents.
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