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 21
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617
CREATION OF THE PARK
future as an enduring memorial to Mr. Marston's public spirit and civic pride.
Before the coming of Horton, there was so much land belong- ing to the city, and it was worth so little, that it did not occur to anyone that it was necessary to reserve a large tract from sale for park purposes. The trustees were glad to get rid of it, to secure settlers and pay the city's debts. There is a record of two 160-acre tracts being sold for less than seven cents an acre. But when the great dream began to come true, when Hor- ton's new town began to rise on the brushy mesas, and the city lands began to sell rapidly, it was seen that the best of them would soon be gone and that, if a park were to be reserved, it was necessary to act without delay.
The first official action was taken on February 15, 1868, when E. W. Morse presented a resolution to the board of trustees "that the present board reserve two of the one hundred and sixty acre tracts of the city lands for the purpose of securing to the inhabitants of the city of San Diego a suitable park." The members of the board were J. S. Mannasse, Thomas H. Bush, and E. W. Morse. President Mannasse appointed Morse and Bush a committee to select the 320 acres, which it was thought would be sufficient; "but afterward," said Mr. Morse, "when we found so much land, we concluded to lay out a larger park." The committee certainly exercised excellent judgment in its selection. They selected pueblo lots 1129, 1130, 1131, 1135, 1136, 1137, 1142, 1143, and 1144, comprising a solid block of nine quarter-sections. In the meantime, however, on the 13th day of February, 1868, Isabella Carruthers stole a march upon them and bought the southwest quarter of lot 1144 for $175, which took a 40-acre "bite" out of the southwest corner of their tract. The minutes of the trustees' meetings are very scanty, but it appears that on May 26th it was resolved that this tract "be for a park." The trustees who took this action were José Guadalupe Estudillo, Marcus Schiller, and Joshua Sloane.
It was scarcely to be expected that the reservation of this large tract at such an early day would pass unchallenged. There were those who honestly thought it against the public interest to try to maintain so large a park, and. it is to be feared, others who were interested only in the profits they hoped to make out of the sale of these lands, if they could succeed in hav- ing them thrown upon the market.
The effort to cut down the size of the park began early and lasted long. On February 4, 1870, an act was passed by the state legislature to insure the permanency of the reservation, which declared that the tract should "be held in trust forever by the municipal authorities of the said city for the use and pur-
GEORGE W. MARSTON
San Diego's leading merchant who began with the town's small beginnings and grew with its growth. Conspicuously identified with every movement for civic progress, his great and lasting contribution to the community is his work for the City Park
619
FIGHTING FOR THE PARK
poses of a public park, and for no other or different purpose." After this bill had been introduced, it was discovered that an effort had been made to defeat its purpose surreptitiously by inserting a provision for the sale of 480 acres, and the restora- tion of the bill to its original form was only accomplished by prompt and strenuous action by the friends of the park. At the next ensuing session an effort was made to repeal this act, which was only defeated by a remonstrance signed by all the leading citizens, and nearly all the voters, of San Diego. Among those most active in working for the preservation of the park were Daniel Cleveland, Levi Chase, George W. Marston, E. W. Morse, Dr. R. J. Gregg, Charles Hubbell, A. E. Horton, George N. Hitchcock, James M. Pierce, Thomas L. Nesmith, Captain Mathew Sherman, Joshua Sloane, and many others. It would be impossible to enumerate all these earliest and truest friends of the park; perhaps a word for those who are dead and gone and cannot speak for themselves may be pardoned.
Besides having the honor to introduce the resolution for its reservation, and to act as one of the committee which selected it, Mr. Morse remained one of the park's staunchest friends and in the front of every fight for it. Joshua Sloane was one of the trustees who voted to confirm the committee's report, and in his capacity as clerk of the board was watchful of its interests and filled with righteous indignation against its enemies.
Certainly, the slow development of the park gave aid and comfort to those who thought it too large. The first improve- ment work was accomplished by the Ladies' Annex to the Cham- ber of Commerce. About the year 1889 they raised $500 by popular subscription and planted a strip of 10 acres along the west side of the park with trees. Perhaps a third of these trees survive and some of them have prospered fairly well. In 1892 a tract of 36 acres in the northwest corner was leased to Miss Kate O. Sessions for use as a nursery, on condition of the per- manent planting of 100 trees, and the donation of 300 more to the city, annually. When Miss Sessions removed her nursery there was left the beginning of the first satisfactory planting in the park.
The first definite move toward the systematic development of the park began on August 15, 1902, when Mr. Julius Wangen- heim suggested to the Chamber of Commerce the appointment of a "Park Improvement Committee." The committee consisted of Mr. Wangenheim, chairman; U. S. Grant, Jr., George W. Marston, William Clayton, and D. E. Garrettson.
It was at this time that Mr. Marston came forward with his offer to provide for the preparation of adequate plans. Thus encouraged, the work of obtaining subscriptions was begun by
620
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
sub-committees. The late John Allyn had bequeathed the city $3,000 for park improvement and, with this nucleus, the fund soon reached $11,000, exclusive of Mr. Marston's contribution. Correspondence was begun with a number of persons qualified to give advice on the subject.
The result was the employment of Mrs. M. B. Coulston as sec- retary of the Park Improvement Committee and the employment of Samuel Parsons, Jr., & Co., of New York, to prepare the plans
GEORGE COOKE
Associated with Samuel Parsons in planning park improvement and superintendent in charge of the work; also identified with other works of landscape architecture which have beautified the city and its surroundings
for the improvements. Mrs. Coulston had been for ten years one of the editors of Garden and Forest, in New York City. She arrived in San Diego late in September, and at once began act- ive work on behalf of the park, delivering addresses and writing a large number of contributions to the local newspapers on the subject, besides conducting correspondence, keeping accounts, and aiding the committees in many ways. This gifted woman went to Berkeley to pursue her studies in 1904, and died there
621
WORK OF PARSONS AND COOKE
in July of that year. Many citizens rendered important serv- ices to the park at this time, but probably no other persons gave so much of the best that was in them as did Mrs. Coulston. She was of a sincere and intense nature and threw herself into the work with a joyful abandon. Her name and labors will not soon be forgotten.
Mr. Parsons arrived in San Diego on December 21, 1902, and after a reception by the Chamber of Commerce entered imme- diately upon his work. A contour map being needed, Mr. J. B. Lippincott, of Los Angeles, was employed to prepare it, and as fast as the sections were finished they were sent to the architects in New York. The map of roads and paths for the southwestern section of the park was received by the committee in May, 1903, and in September a planting list showing the number and kinds of trees. In July, George Parsons came and spent five weeks. In August, an appropriation of $1,700 was made for laying water pipes on the west side of the park. On December 20th, George Cooke, Mr. Parsons' partner, arrived and brought with him a sketch of the entire tract to be worked out. The grading at the south end was at once commenced under his direction. In January, 1904, the park map was approved.
On January 27, 1905, the city charter was amended with the emphatic approval of the voters so as to provide an annual park appropriation of not less than 5 or more than 8 cents on each $100 of assessed valuation, to be expended by the Park Commis- sion. In 1906, on the basis of 7 cents per $100, this amounted to about $14,000.
April 17, 1905, the first board of park commissioners, consist- ing of George W. Marston president, Ernest E. White secretary, and A. Moran, was appointed. This board is still serving.
The architects consider that their real work was only begun when the plan was completed, and expect that it will continue through all the years in which the plan is being developed. The general features of the plan include the planting of palms and other trees which flourish with a moderate provision of water, arranged in harmonious groupings as to foliage and color- scheme, care being taken not to spoil the fine views by the growth of tall shrubbery at strategic points. Considerable planting has already been done and a few of the principal roads and paths, following the winding contour of the hills, constructed. The place offers unusual opportunities for artistic achievement and magnificent natural effects. That the future management of this great endowment will be worthy of the beginning that has been made must be the hope of every citizen of San Diego.
The first park in New San Diego was not, of course, the great park, but that dedicated to public use by William Heath Davis
622
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
and his associates in 1850. This is in the block bounded by F, G, Columbia and India Streets, known as "New Town Plaza." The flagpole now standing in this park is the one erected there in 1869. It was brought from the Territory of Washington by steamer. It was originally 125 feet long, but the lower part rot- ted and was cut off. Dr. Stockton says he paid Ed. Westcott $20 for plowing and leveling the block twice in 1869-the first time it was ever plowed. The little plot is handsomely improved with rubber and other attractive trees, is well maintained, and
TORREY PINES
forms a beauty spot in a district that needs such a feature.
Golden Hill Park, at Twenty-fifth and A Streets, is a section of the City Park. There is also a park on H Street between Ninth and Tenth, another on the southeast corner of Thirteenth and K, and a very attractive one known as Mission Cliff Park, on Adams Street between Alabama and Texas, overlooking Mis- sion Valley, which is one of the chief scenic attractions of the city. The New Town Plaza is a half block bounded by Third, Fourth, D, and Witherby Streets. It is historically interesting, as it stood immediately in front of the Horton House and was kept by "Father" Horton as a breathing space for his guests. In later years he conveyed it to the city and it has been officially
623
THE TORREY PINES
named "Horton Plaza." These parks are cared for by a super- intendent under the control of the board of public works. The present incumbent is Samuel E. Webb.
In the year 1900, the city council added one more to the res- ervations of land for park purposes, by setting apart 369 acres at the northern extremity of the city's lands, on the bluffs near the ocean, four miles south of Del Mar and one and one-half miles north of Sorrento. This was done for the purpose of safe- guarding a grove of one of the rarest of trees-the Pinus Torre- yana, or Torrey pine. There are but two places in the world where this tree is found, one of which is in this park and the other on Santa Rosa Island. The trees were discovered in 1850 by Dr. J. L. Le Conte, who was then staying in San Diego. Upon consulting with the naturalist, Dr. C. C. Parry, they both became much interested in the tree, and dedicated it to their hon- ored instructor, Dr. John Torrey, of New York, by giving it the name of Pinus Torreyana. Since then, the grove has been visited by many eminent travelers and scientists, some of them having journeyed thousands of miles to see it. Among these are Bayard Taylor, Asa Gray, Engelmann, Sargent, Nelease, and others.
The tree is found on the high wind-swept bluffs and in the sheltered ravines between. Its growth is often in fantastic forms, sometimes with a trunk three or four feet in circumfer- ence, yet rising to a height of scarcely ten feet. In sheltered spots it reaches a height of fifty feet or more. It seems to delight to wrestle with the winds in exposed positions, and exhibits a tenacity of life and an ability to reproduce its species seldom equalled. The trees bear cones four or five inches long, ovate, with thick scales terminating in strong prickles. The nuts are about an inch long, flattened, and with a black wing. The shells are thick and hard and the seeds edible. The pollen-bearing (male) flowers are terete, from two and one-half to three inches long, and three-eighths of an inch in diameter. The leaves grow in fascicles of five and are the largest pine leaves known, being from six to eight inches long.
The view from these bluffs is superb. The water-worn and wind-beaten sides of the canyons show the rocky formations in many colors. On the west is the ocean, and landward the top of the San Bernardino Mountains is visible. There is a carpet of pine needles, and in the season wild flowers make a riot of color. The reservation includes the Point of Pines, the natural salt lagoons of the Soledad, and other attractive features. Here in days to come the dwellers of the city will resort for rest and recreation and bless the care and foresight of the city fathers no less than the natural upheavals which left this driftwood of prehistoric ages upon our shores.
CHAPTER VII
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
T
HE very efficiency of the Chamber of Commerce as an organized agency for promoting the development of San Diego makes it unneces- sary to write its history with any degree of fullness. This is so because the great affairs with which it has been identified belong to the history of the city as a whole, and have therefore been dwelt upon elsewhere in these pages.
During its existence of thirty-six years, the Chamber of Com- merce has had an active and influential hand in all public efforts to increase transportation facilities by land and sea ; in the pro- · motion of all state and national legislation related to the . material development of the Southwest; in all that has been attempted or accomplished in connection with harbor improve- ment and local coast defenses; and even in matters of such world-wide significance as the opening of Oriental trade and the construction of the Isthmian Canal.
A mere statement of its activities in connection with these large affairs conveys no adequate impression of the institutional value of the Chamber of Commerce. It fills an important gap between the machinery of the municipality and the ranks of pri- vate citizenship. Its functions are such as could not be per- formed by city officials, on one hand, nor by unauthorized indi- viduals, on the other. It is an organized body of the highest representative character, and as such speaks for the community upon a wide range of matters not within the purview of city or county governments. It is the forum in which all propositions for civic improvement, especially those of a commercial kind, are first discussed. It is the reception room which is always open to greet the city's guests, to the humblest stranger. Its rooms supply a permanent exhibit of the utmost variety of local products, showing the country at its best. Possibly more impor- tant than anything else, the Chamber is a great bureau of pub- licity which keeps the world constantly informed of the needs and progress of San Diego. Its work under this head has become immensely effective in recent years under the manage- ment of Secretary H. P. Wood, and of his successor, Secretary James A. Jasper.
EDWIN M. CAPPS Mayor of San Diego 1899-'00.
JOHN B. STARKEY A leading druggist.
C. W. BUKER Dealer in electrical supplies and promi- nent in fraternal circles.
JOHN G. BURGESS
FRANK MERTZ
Lessees F. T. Scripps Block and leading promoters of real estate investments.
C. W. ROBINSON
Proprietor Hotel Robinson, formerly con- nected with Hotel del Colorado.
J. T. WELDON A Pioneer Mill Man of San Diego
625
BEGINNINGS OF THE CHAMBER
Like most organizations of the kind, the Chamber of Com- merce has had a somewhat uneven existence. It has seen days of growth, and days of decline. But latterly it has become so serviceable to the community, so strong in public confidence that membership is regarded as a duty of citizenship, while a call to office in the organization is considered a substantial honor.
The history of the Chamber dates back to the beginning of 1870, when David Felsenheld called a preliminary meeting at his store on the corner of F and Sixth Streets, where the Express building now stands. Formal organization was effected on Jan- uary 22d, Aaron Pauly being elected president; G. W. B. McDonald, vice-president; Joseph Nash, secretary ; and A. E. Horton, treasurer. The constitution and by-laws were drawn up by a committee composed of G. W. B. McDonald, E. W. Morse, D. Choate, David Felsenheld, and Joseph Nash. The purpose of the organization was stated as follows in the preamble to the constitution :
To take some practical steps to unite the business men of the city for the better promotion of the public interest; to aid in the development of our back-country, and make known its resources; to give reliable information of the commercial advantages of our harbor, and of our natural position as an overland railroad terminus on the Pacific Coast.
The first important business transacted by the Chamber was the passage of a resolution instructing the secretary to commu- nicate with W. B. Webb of New York in regard to the need of a competing steamship line between San Diego and San Fran- cisco. As an inducement, Mr. Horton offered the free use of his new wharf at the foot of Fifth Street. While the offer was not accepted by them, the desired competition was obtained before the close of the year, the steamer William Taber being put in service between the two ports. Competition did not last, however, as the new line was soon absorbed by the Pacific Coast Steamship Company.
On May 5, 1870, the first advertising matter was issued by the Chamber. It took the form of a pamphlet prepared by D. Choate and E. W. Morse, and entitled Climate, Resources, and Future Prospects of San Diego. The first memorial drafted was addressed to the state legislature. It urged the passage of a bill authorizing boards of supervisors to levy special taxes for the construction of roads and highways.
One of the earliest and most successful enterprises with which the Chamber of Commerce became identified was the building of a turnpike to Yuma to accommodate the overland freight shipped from Arizona to tide-water. There was already a high- way in use between San Pedro and Fort Yuma, but the haul was
626
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
120 miles longer. A turnpike company was formed for the pur. pose of forwarding the work. Aaron Pauly was elected presi- dent; H. H. Dougherty, secretary ; O. P. Galloway, superintend- ent of construction : and C. J. Fox, civil engineer. Subscription lists were opened and $10,000 pledged in a short time, the citi- zens appearing to realize from the start the vast importance of the project.
Among the prominent names on this list were the following : John G. Capron, $1,000; T. J. Higgins, $100; E. W. Nottage, $100; Charles Gassen, $150; E. W. Morse, $100; George W. Haz- zard, $100; J. M. Pierce, $100; Steiner and Klauber, $250; J. S. Mannasse, $200; A. Pauly, $100. It is interesting to note that the sum of $6,000 was raised in San Francisco for this purpose.
The records of the Chamber reflect something of the excite- ment occasioned by the controversy over the tide-lands, and tell of a stormy meeting held January 21, 1871, when Editor Tru- man of the Bulletin appeared to press the charge made in his newspaper, to the effect that two of the city trustees had "packed" the Chamber in order to obtain its endorsement of a big land steal. Truman seems to have held his own, as resolu- tions were passed declaring that more care should be taken in admitting members.
The Chamber was very active in connection with the move- ment for turning the San Diego River into False Bay, and its influence was strongly and persistently used in behalf of the Texas & Pacific during the whole period in which the town had hopes of Scott's ill-fated enterprise.
Next to its work in behalf of railroad promotion, the constant activity of the Chamber in urging harbor improvement was probably its most important service. Despite the fact that the Bay of San Diego was at that time the only port on the coast of California outside of San Francisco, considerable difficulty was experienced in maintaining its position. After gaining rec- ognition as a port of entry in 1872. we find in the minutes of March 4, 1880, notice of the appointment by President George W. Hazzard of a committee, consisting of Douglas Gunn, A. Klauber, and J. S. Gordon, to memorialize Congress relative to permitting San Diego to remain a port of entry. This effort was successful.
After a long agitation of the subject of more frequent mail service between San Diego and northern points, there occurs in the record of a meeting, November 24, 1876, a resolution of thanks to Senator A. A. Sargent for having secured for San Diego a daily mail service.
The matter of proper fortifications for the harbor was taken up at an early date by the Chamber of Commerce and never
627
HARBOR FORTIFICATIONS
permitted to drop until adequate military protection had been provided. The defenseless condition of the harbor was empha- sized with no uncertain force and endless repetition, communi- cations and many memorials urging the necessary appropria- tions being sent to Congress. October 4, 1883, General Scofield wrote from Washington that a two-company post had been decided upon for San Diego, and this has since been maintained.
W. L. FREVERT, 1902-03
GEORGE H. BALLOU, 1900-01
PRESIDENTS OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
In the same year a curious proposition was made to the Chan- ber of Commerce regarding the waters of that portion of the bay region known as False Bay. G. S. Pidgeon had invented a tide-power machine, capable of producing enormous horse- power from the inrush and outrush of the 12,000,000,000 cubic yards of water taken in and emptied from False Bay every eight hours. This power was to be distributed throughout the city for every known purpose. Messrs. Gunn, Marston, and Silliman were appointed an investigating committee. Their report was favorable to the enterprise, whereupon a mass meeting was called under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce. Horton Hall
628
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
was crowded to the doors. Inventor Pidgeon explained his device at great length. He wanted $200,000 capital to start the enterprise, and prophesied that its inception would mean "the making of San Diego," inasmuch as his plant would supply power for factories of all kinds at a ridiculously low figure. The Chamber of Commerce appears to have been quite favorably impressed with the scheme, but whether expert mechanics and engineers reported the device faulty or whether the inventor himself gave up the enterprise is not recorded in the minutes of the Chamber. At any rate the Pidgeon Tide Power Company never materialized.
With the growth of the city and the harbor, the need of better fortifications was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce. Con- siderable correspondence passed between the Chamber and the War Department relative to the allotment of land for this pur- pose. July 11, 1890, Senator W. M. Stewart received a commu- nication from Secretary of War Proctor offering to accept all North Island as a gift to the government for fortification pur- poses. This letter was sent to the Chamber and the "offer" was promptly rejected.
December 3d of that year resolutions were adopted instruct- ing Congressman Bowers to urge greater fortifications in the neighborhood of Ballast Point at the entrance to the harbor. The Chamber also called attention to the fact that San Diego's location and strategic importance demanded the establishment of a 10-company post. Congressman Bowers found an able ally in the person of Senator Stanford. It was not until 1894, how- ever, that an appropriation was finally secured for San Diego harbor defenses. Congress atoned for its delay by setting aside nearly half a million dollars, and the result is the Fort Rose- crans of today.
Long continued efforts were made by the Chamber, seconded by the whole people, to induce the great Japan steamship line. known as the Nippon Yusu Kaisha Company, to make San Diego its sole American terminus upon a guarantee of a shipment of at least 4,000 tons of freight per month through this port. No satisfactory arrangements were made, however, and the Japan- ese steamers never ran for any considerable length of time. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company also withdrew its steamers, although it had a contract with the government to touch at San Diego on every trip for freight, mail, and passengers. In the latter case the government seemed powerless to enforce its own contract. This state of affairs elicited much unfavorable com- ment from the press throughout this country.
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