USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > History of San Diego, 1542-1908 : an account of the rise and progress of the pioneer settlement on the Pacific coast of the United States, Volume II > Part 14
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497
VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS
published in Chicago and San Diego, by J. Harrison White, and edited by Dr. P. C. Remondino.
In 1893 the South California Farmer was published by J. S. Richardson. It was devoted to horticultural interests.
Out of Doors for Woman was the title of a publication begun in November, 1893, by Dr. Olive L. Eddy Orcutt.
The San Diego Real Estate Journal was started in 1895. It was a weekly, edited by R. H. Young and managed by W. H. Porterfield.
WALTER GIFFORD SMITH Author of Story of San Diego, an interesting historical sketch
The Philosophical Journal was established in 1865 and was formerly issued at Chicago under the name of the Religio- Philosophical Journal. It was removed to San Diego in 1896 and remained until December of that year, when it was removed to San Francisco. It was a monthly.
The Weekly Drift was first issued April 17, 1897, by W. A. Rugg, editor.
The San Diego Chieftain was published in 1901 by John A. and Edgar B. Helphingstine. It was a social Democratic weekly.
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
The Bulletin was a small "woman's own" paper, published late in 1901.
The San Diego Open Court, a fortnightly magazine, was estab- lished September 1, 1901.
Wealth was published twice a month by Ralph Elliott Field, beginning in November, 1903.
The San Diego Co-operator was the organ of the Rochdale Company; the first issue appeared January 1, 1904.
ROSE HARTWICK THORPE
Author of the famous poem, "Curfew Shall not Ring Tonight," who resides at La Jolla
The San Diego Herald was established October 6, 1905, under the name of the San Diego Tourist Informant, and under the management and editorship of B. J. McDowell. In December, 1905, George H. Hazzard became the editor. In 1907 the paper changed ownership and R. Beers Loos became editor.
The Mirror was established January 1, 1906, and is an illus- trated weekly of industrial character. A. G. Stacey is the editor and publisher.
The Harbor Light was published quarterly in the interest of the floating Endeavor work; Mrs. W. W. Young, editor.
499
VARIOUS PUBLICATIONS
San Diego Bay Region Resources was a monthly published by Burgess, Moore & Co., on lines similar to California Resources, of San Francisco.
C. R. Orcutt has been connected with the publication of quite a number of periodicals. Besides the West American Scientist, which has been mentioned, and which still continues, and the Semi-Tropic Planter, which he took over from Cooke & Han- ford, he has established the following publications :
WILL H. HOLCOMB
Who has touched the life of San Diego at so many points-political, religious, legal, frater- nal, business and financial-that it is difficult to classify him. A man of marked literary gifts, he came originally with the purpose of writing a history of the city and region. He contributed extensively to descrip- tive literature concerning San Diego County
Young Men's Journal, a religious weekly in the interest of the Y. M. C. A., 1887; San Diego Magazine, April 1, 1888; The Work, October, 1889, also in the interest of the Y. M. C. A. ; Old Curiosity Shop, 1881; Science and Horticulture, March, 1891; Golden Hints for California, November, 1891; California Art and Nature, December, 1901; Presbyterian Herald, a weekly church paper, 1901; The Manzanita, or Lower California Magazine; Cal- ifornia Trees and Flowers, and Western World.
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
Besides all these, San Diego has had The Coronado Argus, the Sunday Telegram, the weekly County Reporter, the weekly Neuigkeiten, the weekly Argosy and the weekly Enterprise; and among live periodicals are: the San Diego Weekly News, the New Century Path, and the Raja Yoga Messenger, the two latter being published by the Theosophical headquarters at Point Loma.
In 1883, W. W. Elliott & Co., of San Francisco, published their San Diego County Illustrated. It is a thin quarto with quite a number of views, maps, and portraits, and contains con- siderable fragmentary information. But its contents are largely of the "write-up" order, and as a history it is scarcely to be taken seriously.
One of the duties of Douglas Gunn, while editing the Union, was to write the annual review of the progress of city and county. In 1885, these articles were gathered up and issued in pamphlet form. A year later the work was revised and enlarged, and more than 35,000 copies sold. This success doubtless had a good deal to do with inducing Mr. Gunn to undertake the prep- aration of a more ambitious work after his retirement from the Union, in August, 1886. His own tastes would also naturally lead in the same direction. He spent some months collecting and arranging additional material, and in February. 1887, employed Herve Friend, representing the American Photogravure Com- pany, to make the views for his book. October 2. 1887, the Union began the publication of the advance sheets of his new work, and the book itself appeared soon after. It was entitled Pictur- esque San Diego, with Historical and Descriptive Notes, printed by Knight & Leonard Co., Chicago, and bound in heavy morocco with gilt edges. Although there were but 98 numbered pages of reading matter, there were 72 full-page illustrations of a very superior character, and the whole made a rich volume. The work was not intended, primarily, as a history, but rather to provide an appropriate setting for an up-to-date statement of the resources and advantages of the city and county. Mr. Gunn was a clear and forcible writer and it can fairly be said that he achieved his chief object. His historical outline, too, although brief, is painstaking and shows wide reading and information. The venture proved a heavy loss to Mr. Gunn. however.
In early days, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce turned out a large number of descriptive pamphlets. some of which were prepared by competent men and are quite valuable. In 1880. this body varied its program by employing Theodore S. Van Dyke to prepare a more ambitious work, containing a more com- plete statement than had generally been attempted of the county's resources, together with an historical outline. The results of his labors were published in the same year, under the
501
LOCAL HISTORIES
title of The City and County of San Diego, and the eighty pages for which he was responsible justified the confidence reposed in the author. The historical outline, though brief, was accurate ; and no man has ever described the county's characteristics and summed up its advantages and disadvantages more accurately or brilliantly. The latter part of the book was devoted to biog- raphies, for which the publishers, Leberthon & Taylor, were responsible.
In 1890 the Lewis Publishing Company, of Chicago, issued their Illustrated History of Southern California, which contained 390 pages devoted to San Diego County, 102 of which are his- torical and the rest biographical. The historical section of the work was largely performed by J. M. Guinn, secretary of the Historical Society of Southern California, Los Angeles. The book is an immense one, prepared for sale by subscription, and covers too large a field to give the city of San Diego the setting to which its importance entitles it. The historical work was competently done and of considerable value.
The first attempt to write a history of the city of San Diego, apart from commercial features, was that of Walter Gifford Smith, in his Story of San Diego, published in 1892. It is a book of 163 pages, and undertakes to deal seriously, though briefly, with the city's history. Mr. Smith had had considerable training as a newspaper writer, and, considering the limited time training as a newspaper writer, and his book was written in a charming style.
A number of newspaper writers and other bright men and women have studied the history of San Diego with fascinated interest and written sketches about it which have appeared in periodicals all over the land. Ben C. Truman was one of the earliest and brightest of these, and all the others-Will H. Gould, Thomas Fitch, Theodore S. Van Dyke, Douglas Gunn, Walter Gifford Smith, and so on-have tried it at one time or another. Will H. Holcomb came to San Diego with the intention and expectation of writing a history of the place, and went so far as to collect a large quantity of materials. Probably it was only the accident of his having a satchel full of these papers stolen which prevented his carrying out the plan. As it is, he has contented himself with writing the Rhymes of the Missions and a number of historical sketches for the newspapers. L. A. Wright is another writer from whose published sketches consid- erable information has been collected.
During his residence of six years in this city, William E. Smythe has written Constructive Democracy and the History of San Diego. revised and largely rewritten his Conquest of Arid
502
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
America (new edition), and contributed extensively to maga- zines and newspapers. In the same period he has written sev- eral elaborate government reports and prepared many formal public addresses, which have also been published.
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CHAPTER IV
THE DISASTER TO THE BENNINGTON
HE explosion on board the gunboat Bennington, T which occurred in San Diego harbor on Fri- day morning, July 21, 1905, was an event of national importance. The vessel was lying in the stream at the foot of H Street, with steam up, ready to depart. The crew num- bered 179 men, Captain Lucien Young com- manding. The captain had gone ashore and the crew of his launch were awaiting his return at the wharf, when the boat was to leave for Port Harford to take the Wyom- ing in tow for San Francisco. At 10:33 A.M. there were two explosions in quick succession and the ship was enveloped in steam and listed to starboard. The forward and main port boil- ers had exploded. The explosion and escaping steam killed or injured more than half the crew. Many were blown into the water; others were penned between decks and cooked by steam; the passageways were blocked with dead and dying; the decks covered with blood and debris ; and a scene of horror impossible to describe was created.
Captain Young was notified and hurried to the wharf and boarded the vessel. With him went a reporter of the San Diegan- Sun; and they were the first to set foot on the deck after the explosion. Boats and launches were sent from the vessels anchored near, and from the wharves. Volunteers came on board and offered their services in rescuing the living and removing the dead. They went down into the reeking hold, groping amid wreckage and blinding steam, and in a short time did everything possible. The explosion of the boilers left the blow-off pipes open and water began to come in rapidly. The danger of fire was also great, and for this reason the magazines were flooded. The water thus coming in settled the vessel in the bay and made the work of removing the bodies much more difficult. An engine was provided and placed on a lighter alongside to pump out the hold. It took three days to finish this work. On the evening of the 24th, the water was under control and the vessel having been lightened by the removal of supplies, she was towed to the Santa Fé wharf and made fast.
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
The dead and wounded were transferred to the nearest wharf and arrangements for their care immediately made. Mayor John L. Sehon was quickly on the scene and organized the relief work with military skill and efficiency. There were comfortable beds for the sufferers, hot water, physicians, and nurses in waiting. There never was a case where so much was done in so short a time, with such magical celerity and absence of confusion and friction. The police kept back the crowd and co-operated in many ways. The doctors and nurses of the city volunteered their
THE GUNBOAT "BENNINGTON" AFTER THE EXPLOSION
services. The Agnew Sanitarium and St. Joseph's Hospital were thrown open and the injured removed there, where they were tenderly cared for until death relieved them or until they recov- ered sufficiently to be removed to the army hospital at the barracks.
The number of men killed outright at the time of the explo- sion was 51, and 9 died from their injuries, making the total deaths resulting from the disaster 60. The injured numbered 46, and only 91 escaped uninjured.
The funeral of the victims of the explosion on July 23d was observed as a day of mourning, and the citizens of San Diego did everything in their power to show their appreciation of the occa-
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HEROES OF DISASTER
sion. The 47 coffins were placed side by side in a long trench at the military cemetery, and the ceremonies were of an impress- ive character.
There were many instances of individual heroism at the time of the explosion. Injured men worked like heroes, and saved their comrades regardless of their own sufferings. One of the men who escaped uninjured was J. H. Turpin, a colored man, who had been badly injured in the Maine explosion. The forti- tude of the sufferers was beyond all praise.
There were rumors which gained currency at the time that the boilers of the Bennington were known to be weak, and that the commander had repeatedly reported this fact. The affair was passed upon, first by an investigation board under Admiral Goodrich, and then by a courtmartial, the latter body recom- mending the censure of Captain Young.
The Bennington was a gunboat and a warship of the third class. She was built at Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1889-90, and cost $553,875. She was equipped with two screws and was schooner-rigged. She was taken to Mare Island Navy Yard to be rebuilt.
CHAPTER V
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY DAYS
O HISTORICAL work of any value can bring N its story down to the day of its writing, at least with any degree of fullness. Not only is per- spective lacking, but the influence of events cannot be measured until there has been time for them to work out their results, nor can the importance of men engaged in active life be estimated until their work is finished. For this reason, the early history of San Diego is dealt with exten- sively in preceding pages, while its later history receives less attention as we approach the present day. For the same reason, the plan of emphasizing the old and dealing lightly with the new is followed in the closing department of the work which is concerned with "Institutions of Civic Life." It will be the work of a later historian to deal at length with the narrative of San Diego's development after it became a city of substantial size and permanent character, and he will find the materials both abundant and easy of access. But while no attempt is made to set forth with any fullness the life of the last few years, it is nevertheless interesting and important to sketch in broad out- line the expansion of the twentieth century city, and to mention the more powerful influences from which its impulse was derived.
The decade between 1890 and 1900 was a negative period in the history of San Diego. By the national census of the former year, it had a population of a little less than 17,000; by the census of the latter year, a population of a little more than 17.000. The decade is memorable throughout the nation as a period of depression, a part of which was marked by acute hard times. Thus the stagnation of San Diego during those try- ing years was in no sense peculiar to this locality, though it must be confessed that its recovery from depression was somewhat slower than that of other American cities, and even of most of those in California. The new prosperity began almost simulta- neously with the new century. It came so gradually and silently as to be almost imperceptible at first. While the enterprising men of the city were not slow to take advantage of it, and to put their energies aggressively at work in carrying it forward, it cannot be said that it took its initiative from their efforts. The
507
THE RISING TIDE
tide was rising throughout the world, particularly the world of the Pacific. San Diego rose with the tide. What were the forces behind the tide ?
First of all, a series of wars quickened the demand for men and for all sorts of supplies and provisions, putting almost un- imaginable sums of money into circulation through all the arter- ies of trade throughout the world. The Japanese fought the
LOUIS J. WILDE
Who was the strongest personal force in turning the tide for San Diego at the beginning of the new century. Coming here in 1903 and proclaiming his faith in the early realization of the city's dream of greatness, he proceeded to inaug- urate important enterprises which contributed materially to the city's growth and prosperity
Chinese, the Americans fought the Spanish and the Filipinos, the British fought the Boers, the Japanese fought the Russians, and there were many other armed conflicts of less consequence. While these struggles were remote from San Diego, they set cur- rents in motion which affected commerce and material develop- ment everywhere, especially in the regions about the shores of the Pacific Ocean. In the meantime, gold discoveries were made in Alaska and the hunt for the precious metal was renewed with
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
fierce energy in many different parts of the West. Then came the aggressive effort to cut the Isthmus of Panama, and to reclaim the deserts of the West. By this time the wind in the national sails had stiffened to the freshest gale of prosperity in American history.
It was natural that Southern California should collect early and large dividends from this national and even world-wide up- lift of good times. Southern California has two strings to its bow-vast material resources of its own to develop, and superla-
D. C. COLLIER
President of the Ralston Realty Co. A builder of University Heights, projector of magnifi- cent improvements on Point Loma, and participant in other great enterprises; he is a man of creative instinct and substantial achievement
tive attractions which drain the profits made in other localities. Beginning in 1901, and steadily increasing with every passing year. the Southland has gone forward with leaps and bounds, developing its resources, gaining population, attracting capital for investment. and enhancing its natural attractions by the most daring creations of the architect and the engineer.
Los Angeles scored an amazing growth in consequence of these conditions. acquiring an impulse which set the entire southern section of the state in motion. If there were those who once
RALPH GRANGER
President of the Merchants National Bank, builder and owner of the Granger Block. The erection of this building in 1904-05, was an important influence in the subsequent growth of the city
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
thought that Los Angeles and San Diego were rivals, and that the prosperity of one could be promoted by injury to the other, recent events have clearly shown the folly of their reasoning. If the Southern Pacific had built to San Diego instead of Los Angeles, or if Scott had been able to extend the Texas & Pacific to this port, it would certainly have altered the fortunes of these two important cities. But that battle was lost long ago. Since then, San Diego has had everything to gain and nothing to lose by the rapid development of Los Angeles and its surroundings.
E. BARTLETT WEBSTER
President of the Bartlett Estate Co. and of the South Park and East Side Railway Co. A leader of aggressive enterprise in transportation and suburban development
Sooner or later, this development must extend its sphere of operations to all eligible points in the South, most surely of all to the region about the lovely Bay of San Diego. This is what happened in the first decade of the new century, and it is now so clearly apparent that Los Angeles capital freely invests in San Diego real estate. Indeed, the marked change of sentiment on this subject may be regarded as the most significant event in San Diego history during the past few years. It is an event
U. S. GRANT, JR.
The building of the great hotel, bearing the name of the soldier president, permanently identified the Grant tradition with the city of San Diego, and is regarded as the crowning service of the son to the community which he chose for his home and his field of activity
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
which has already borne fruit and which will bear more in the future, for it signalizes the end of clannishness in both cities and the beginning of an era of patriotic-one might almost say brotherly-co-operation in the development of the region. Striking illustrations of the tendency are seen in the investment of great sums of Los Angeles capital in land, power, and town- site enterprises in the northern portion of San Diego County, and in similar investments in gem mines, and in the lands of
M. W. FOLSOM
President Folsom Brothers Co.
0. W. COTTON Manager Folsom Brothers Co.
BUILDERS OF PACIFIC BEACH
El Cajon Valley. The point has already been reached when any good San Diego enterprise may appeal hopefully to the Los Angeles market. Ten years ago it was very different.
Coming now to more purely local influences in forming the twentieth century spirit of the San Diegan people, the dramatic events on the Colorado River are worthy of first mention. This is said with full appreciation of the fact that the city has yet realized but meagre dividends from this unexpected develop- ment, owing to its lack of railroad facilities. In spite of this
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RIO COLORADO
fact, real inspiration has been drawn from this source, and if San Diego is to be a very large and prosperous city during the present century it will be because the traffic arising from the use of the Colorado River breaks down the barriers of its isola- tion and forces the opening of the port to the commerce of the world. A few years ago, the eastern portion of San Diego County was an absolute blank. Neither animal nor human life disturbed its primeval silence. Few gave it a thought, fewer
ED. FLETCHER
FRANK A. SALMONS
Who interested Los Angeles capital in great plans of development along the San Luis Rey, at Del Mar, in El Cajon Valley and the city, thus identifying themselves with land, power, irrigation and transportation enterprises of high importance to the community. Built Fletcher-Salmons Block, Sixth and D Streets, in 1906
still believed it would ever become an important asset of the country. Today, it is known to all that a region bigger and richer than the country of the Sacramento, or the country of the San Joaquin lies at the back door of San Diego, less than three hours by rail from the water-front-if the rail were there !
Only a few far-sighted men realize the true significance of these conditions, yet, dimly as the public has seen it, the public has yet put forth many efforts during the past few years to stretch a hand of steel from the perfect har-
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
bor to the Colorado River. These efforts have been almost pathetic in their eagerness, almost tragic in their repeated dis- appointment. The first one, at least, was carefully planned and many steps were taken successfully. The author of the plan was Major S. W. Fergusson, a man who ranks among the builders of California. He had a large part in the colonization of Imperial Valley, and it was from the standpoint of the needs of the valley that he approached the railroad proposition. He
L. L. BOONE
Located, 1886; Police Judge, 1887-88. Rendered important services in connection with the San Diego & Eastern Railroad Committee; foremost authority on San Diego harbor
interested the Chamber of Commerce and secured the appoint- ment of a committee with large powers. This committee raised over $40,000 in cash subscriptions to make complete surveys of a route from San Diego to Yuma. The surveys were made under H. T. Richards, chief engineer, with H. Hawgood as con- sulting engineer. The road was found entirely feasible, and the cost of construction and equipment estimated at $4,573,850, or $21,780 per mile. Rights of way were obtained over a large portion of the line with the necessary terminal property on the
515
FIGHTING FOR A RAILROAD
water-front and franchises from the city. The San Diego- Eastern Railway Company was incorporated with the follow- ing officers :
George W. Marston, president ; John E. Boal, vice-president ; L. L. Boone, secretary; G. W. Fishburn, treasurer; the fore- going and U. S. Grant, Jr., Charles N. Clark, Julius Wagen- heim, Homer H. Peters, H. P. Wood, and F. S. Jennings, directors.
HENRY TIMKEN
A type of the class of eastern capitalists who have come to San Diego to make their home and join the ranks of the city's builders
The company approached great railroad financiers, like E. H. Harriman, George J. Gould, Phelps-Dodge & Co., and those in control of the Rock Island system, as well as many other capi- talists of lesser note. Again and again, it was believed that the success of the undertaking was assured, but each time some potent influence intervened to prevent it. C. W. French acquired the rights of the company for a time and tried to pro- mote it, but without results. Chief Engineer Richards organ- ized a company of his own with a view of developing a similar
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