USA > California > Los Angeles County > Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities prefaced with a brief history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County, 1542-1908 > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
February Ist, 1888, Geo. S. Van Every and T. A. Lewis, two well known residents of Santa Monica, made an application for a franchise to build a wharf at the foot of Bicknell avenue. At the next meeting of the city trustees a petition was presented by the Santa Monica Wharf Company, signed by forty- five citizens, asking that an election be called for the purpose of submitting the question of voting $10,000 bonds to be given to the company on the comple- tion of the wharf according to the franchise asked by Messrs. Van Every and Lewis. The discussions and public meetings that followed this action were lively and some warm language must have been used, for a few weeks later the following note was published: "To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the town of Santa Monica. Gents: Whereas we hear it talked by divers per- sons that the proposition to vote $10,000 subsidy to the 'Santa Monica Wharf and Shipping Company' was simply a scheme to extort and obtain money from the said town for personal purposes ; and, whereas, from the said talk, we are advised and believe that the decision will be against us, therefore we beg to withdraw our proposition to construct a wharf and here announce that we will have nothing to do with the matter; but would recommend that the town vote bonds necessary to build and maintain a wharf of its own. George S. Van Every, T. A. Lewis."
After more discussion and public meetings, it was generally agreed that it would be feasible for the town to vote bonds for a wharf; but this scheme was decided by the city attorney to be illegal and, notwithstanding their little " defi," Messrs. Van Every and Lewis again came to the front with an appli- cation for a franchise, which was granted, to build a wharf at the foot of Front
179
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
street. Mr. Van Every started north to investigate the cost of piles and the Outlook ventured a cautious blast of triumph-with strings on it. Past expe- rience was beginning to tell. After which there is an ominous quiet on the subject of a wharf until the organization of the Board of Trade in December, 1888, which began an immediate agitation of the subject. The "Wharf Com- mittee " reported in favor of organizing a stock company, which proposition was at once acted upon. Papers for subscriptions were circulated, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade were entertained by the Santa Monica Board of Trade and, incidentally, urged to subscribe. More public meetings, more discussion, pro and con. But at last sufficient subscrip- tions were obtained to warrant the incorporation of the " Santa Monica Wharf Company." July 13th " Critic " in the Outlook writes a sharp letter in which he objects to the acts of the committee in electing itself as directors of the new company and immediately demanding an assessment of 40 per cent from sub- scribers. He also demands where the wharf is to be built and who is to decide that important question.
Another lull followed while the question of the outfall sewer and an occa- sional editorial as to the "harbor " seemed to occupy the attention of Santa Monicans. But in December, Mr. J. B. Dunlap appeared before the board of trustees, representing " capitalists "-that magic quantity-and asked what subsidy Santa Monica was prepared to give for a wharf. This question led to the proposition that the town vote bonds for a sewer system and then pay a wharf company to carry their sewer out to sea. After much legal lore had been expended, it was decided that this might-or might not-be done.
After which matters seem to have simmered until March, 1890, when the Outlook indulges in this mysterious language: "There is music in the air! Glad tidings float on the breeze. Rumor says Santa Monica is to have a wharf! Our people generally believe it. So does the Outlook. We are not at liberty to enter into details, as everything is not beyond the possibility of failure. There is every reason to believe, however, that our wharf scheme, for which the Outlook and many zealous residents of Santa Monica have so striven, will be a most gratifying success, at an early day, and that, too, in a shape more satisfactory than any of us have dared hope for."
At a public meeting of the subscribers to the " wharf fund " held May 6th, Messrs. L. R. Vincent, D. L. Bancroft and W. D. Vawter were elected com- missioners to act for the subscribers, and S. W. Luitweiler, representing the Los Angeles & Pacific Railroad, was present with a proposition. In June articles of incorporation for a new wharf company were filed. This was the "Santa Monica Wharf and Railway Terminal Company," the incorporators being J. A. Stanwood, E. E. Hall, Elwood Chaffey, Arthur Gayford and W. L. Cor- son ; the capital stock fixed at $300,000, $80,000 of which had been subscribed. " The company have acquired an ocean frontage of about a mile and a half and
180
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
a large tract of land " (the present site of Ocean Park and Venice). In the meantime many rumors were afloat as to the intentions of the Southern Pacific Company, which had again sent representatives to Santa Monica and looked at the old stump which still represented past commercial importance. During 1800 the town was in a fever of expectation as to the possibilities of the South- ern Pacific action and the probability of the Santa Monica Wharf and Railway Terminal Company actually doing something. But after waiting until the spring of 1891 for some tangible signs of fulfillment, the citizens again took a hand. In May a petition signed by about a hundred citizens was presented to the board of trustees requesting them to call an election to determine the ques- tion of issuing bonds for the construction of a wharf. After a full and enthu- siastic discussion of this project by the trustees and the citizens, the matter was put to vote and was defeated by the vote of two trustees. Another meet- ing was called and some very hot language was used : a new petition was pre- pared, urging the trustees to respect the wishes of the citizens; but the two obdurate members remained firm and again the petition was denied. The excitement ran high and the feeling against the two trustees was very bitter in some quarters.
The following emphatic words expressed the feeling of the editor of the Outlook. "We haven't voted any bonds for a wharf at Santa Monica, nor has any person or persons agreed to build one; yet when a location is mentioned for a wharf, it is like shaking a red rag at a mad bull. If there is any one thing that some Santa Monicans can do better than anything else, it is getting up a raging opposition when something is proposed upon which all should agree. If a man started out tomorrow with a pocket full of twenty-dollar gold pieces, some ' chronic' would start a howl of opposition because the right per- son, in his opinion, had not been selected to make the distribution."
But the question of building a wharf and of selecting a location was at last settled, without regard to the opposition or opinions of Santa Monicans. On August Ist, 1891, the Southern Pacific Engineering Corps began a survey in " old " Santa Monica canyon, and it was definitely known that C. P. Hunt- ington had decided on a wharf for Santa Monica. Thus ended the history of the agitation for a wharf.
JOHN J. CARRILLO .- There is no better known figure in Santa Monica than that of John J. Carrillo, at present Police Judge of the city. He is a native son-the son and the grandson of native sons, and belongs to one of the oldest and best known families of California. He is a descendant of José Raymundo Carrillo, a native of Loreto, who came to California in 1769. Of him Bancroft says: "He may be regarded as the founder of the Carrillo fan- ily, which must be considered in several respects the leading one in California. by reason of the number and prominence of its members and of their connec- tion by marriage with so many of the best families, both native and pioneer."
181
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
Captain Carrillo married Tomasa Ignacia Lugo and their sons, Carlos, José and Domingo, were among the most prominent citizens of the Mexican period of California history. Their only daughter, Maria Antonia, married Captain José de la Guerra y Noriega, one of the most brilliant figures in Santa Barbara history.
Carlos Antonio Carrillo, grandfather of Juan J., was born at Santa Bar- bara in 1783. He began life as a soldier and was engaged in many military affairs. In 1830 he was elected a member of the Mexican Congress and worked earnestly for the interests of his country and the preservation of the missions. One of his speeches, "El Exposicion sobre el Fondo Piadoso " was the first production of a native Californian, printed in book form. In 1837, his brother José Antonio, who was an active politician, secured for Carlos an appointment as governor of California, with the privilege of locating the capital of the state at his pleasure. In consequence of this document, the original of which is now in the possession of Mr. Juan J. Carrillo, Señor Carlos Carrillo chose Los Angeles as capital and was inaugurated there with an elaborate ceremony-the only time that Los Angeles was ever made the capital. The distinction was short-lived, however, as Governor Alvarado refused to recognize the authority of his Uncle Carlos and after a brief and bloodless military campaign, Don Carlos retired from the field. He was the grantee of the Sespe Rancho and of Santa Rosa Island. He died in 1852. Bancroft says of him: " In person Don Carlos, like most of his brothers and cousins, was large and of magnifi- cent presence, distinguished for his courteous and gentlemanly manners. In all California there was no more kind-hearted, generous, popular and inoffen- sive citizen than he." His wife was Josefa Castro; his sons, José. Pedro C. and José Jesus; his daughters, Josefa, wife of Wm. J. Dana : Encarnacion. wife of Thomas Robbins; Francisca, wife of A. B. Thompson : Manuela, wife of John C. Jones, and Maria Antonia, wife of Lewis Burton.
Pedro C. Carrillo, father of Juan J., was born in Santa Barbara and was educated in Honolulu and Boston. On his return to California he took an act- ive part in affairs, filling various offices in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and being the grantee of Alamos y Agua Caliente, Camulos ranchos and San Diego island. During the American conquest, he favored the Americans and was active in their behalf. In 1847 he was the guide who led a messenger from Stockton to Fremont through the enemy's country. He was made receiver of the port of San Diego, after the American occupation and later served as receiver of port at Santa Barbara and at San Pedro. He spent the last years of his life in Santa Monica and died here May 28tl1, 1888. His wife was Josefa Bandini, a sister of Mrs. Arcadia de Baker and the oldest one of the famous Bandini sisters. It was she who made the American flag which was used by Commodore Stockton at San Diego-the first American flag raised in South- ern California.
182
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
Juan J. Carrillo was born in Santa Barbara, September 8th, 1842. When he was ten years old he was sent with a party of boys, sons of Californians, to New York, making the trip around the Isthmus of Panama in charge of a priest, who placed the youths in a private family in New York City. The woman in charge proved to be a fraud, and the boys were taught nothing and were badly treated in every way, until an old friend of Mr. Carrillo's father discovered them. Then Juan and his brother were removed to the College of the Holy Cross at Worcester, Mass., near Boston. Here they remained six years, returning to California in 1858.
In 1864 Mr. Carrillo came to Los Angeles and entered the store of Caswell, Ellis and Wright, then one of the largest establishments in the state. He re- mained with this firm for 14 years, then served for four years as city marshal of I.os Angeles. In 1881 he located in Santa Monica and has since that date been intimately associated with the history of this place. He acted for a time as agent for the Baker interests in this vicinity and has been instrumental in se- curing many valuable concessions for the city. For instance, in 1884 Mrs. Baker deeded the site of Woodlawn cemetery to him and he in turn, without compen- sation, deeded the same to the city. In 1888 he was elected as city trustee and for twelve years thereafter he was re-elected regularly, thus serving the city longer than any other trustee ever chosen. During this time he was for seven years, from 1890 to 1897, president of the board and thus acting mayor of the city. During his entire service he gave much time and energy to city affairs and Santa Monica has never had a more disinterested and honest official. In 1888 he took an active part in the contest made by Santa Monica against the proposed outfall sewer of Los Angeles, with its discharge on the beach between what is now Pier avenue and Venice. Mr. Carrillo personally canvassed the Ballona district and secured the signatures of the property owners to a protest against this action and to an agreement which prevented Los Angeles from securing the proposed right of way for the sewer. When the first board of trade was organized in 1888, Mr. Carrillo was chosen as secretary, an office which he filled for seven years. He was one of the active movers in the efforts to secure a wharf and a sewer system, and has always been a strong advocate of good roads and parks. During his service on the board of trustees he accomplished much toward securing improved roads and streets. Old citizens have not for- gotten the long and weary fight he made to secure the road to Calabasas in January, 1897. After his retirement from the council he served two years as superintendent of streets, from 1904 to 1906.
In personal appearance and in character Mr. Carrillo is a worthy son of his ancestors, indeed, the description of his grandfather might apply with equal truth to himself. Honorable in all his dealings, generous to a fault and kind- hearted, even to his enemies, probably no man in Santa Monica commands a more sincere regard. He was married, October 7th, 1869, to Miss Francisca
183
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
Roldan, a woman of great beauty of character and person. She died in Los Angeles March 2nd, 1897, and her funeral here in Santa Monica was a rare testi- monial of the love and respect which were felt for her and her family.
Mr. and Mrs. Carrillo had 13 children, of whom are now living Elisa, Mrs. Eliza Lopez; Atala, Mrs. A. H. Calkins; Diana, Mrs. Will Holton; of the sons, Ygnacio is a well-known dentist, practicing in Los Angeles; Eulogio is assistant engineer on the Southern Pacific; Leopold, or Leo, as he is more familiarly known, is traveling in the east, where his talents as a monologist and caricaturist have given him distinction. One son, Charles, died in Santa Monica, April Ist, 1905, and che youngest son, Octavio, is now in the employ of the Southern Pa- cific. In 1904 Mr. Carrillo married a second time, Mrs. Eva Fellner, an accom- plished and beautiful woman.
Old Mill
W. S. VAWTER.
CHAPTER IV.
GROWTH. 1890-1900.
N ATURALLY, Santa Monica shared in the reaction which followed the too rapid expansion of 1887-88; but she did not suffer the collapse which followed in many sections of Southern California. She was in no sense a "boom " town and aside from some speculation in South Santa Monica prop- erty and some rather previous railway schemes, her growth had been a natural result of her advantages and it continued during the new decade with a steady forward movement which gave a solid basis for the marvelous prosperity of her later history.
The population of the town, as shown by the census of 1890, was 1580, an increase of over 400 per cent. above the population of 1880. The assessed valuation of the town, which under the inflated values of 1887 had been swelled to $2,405,048, dropped back to $1.565.773 in 1891. Since that date, however, the annual assessments have shown a remarkably even and healthy increase up to the present time.
One of the most important events of the year 1890 was the completion of the street car line to the Soldiers' Home. This line ran out Nevada street and was formally opened to the public April 3rd, with a special trip followed by a banquet at the Hotel Arcadia, where many complimentary things were said of W. D. Vawter, whose enterprise had provided the town with a street car service extending from the southern limits of the city to the Soldiers' Home. The route from the railroad bridge was along Ocean avenue to Utah, on Utah to Third, thence on Third to Nevada avenue, which leads in a direct line to the Soldiers' Home, a distance of three miles. This boulevard had already been improved and adorned with handsome shade trees. All "old timers " retain many recollections of this line which, for a number of years, was the only means of communication with the home and which was only superseded by the present electric line in 1905.
There was a strong feeling that Santa Monica was now sufficiently urban to support an electric light system and applications for franchises for this pur- pose were made by two different parties ; one was granted to Messrs. H. M. Russell and H. A. Winslow, but they were apparently not able to " make good " at this time.
In February, W. S. Vawter was appointed postmaster to succeed Miss Mag- gie Finn, who had held the office during the past four years. Many people yet
186
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
recall their astonishment when, on going for their mail on the morning of April Ist, 1890, to the old location on Second street, where the postoffice had been for years, they found no postoffice there. During the previous night the change of administration had unexpectedly taken place and the postoffice had been moved to its new quarters in the bank building on Third street. The new offices were fitted up temporarily, but within a few weeks were supplied with the latest style of boxes and conveniences and was then counted as being one of the best equipped postoffices in the county. It was presided over at this time by " Johnny " Sum- merfield, who made a genial deputy postmaster.
In April, 1890, the new board of trustees, after the election of Messrs. John Steere and J. L. Allen, was made up of these two with J. J. Carrillo, who was elected president of the board, a position which he ably filled for seven years, T. I. Lewis and E. J. Vawter. E. K. Chapin was re-elected treasurer, M. K. Barretto was marshal and H. E. Pollard town clerk. The matter of licenses aroused a good deal of discussion this year, as many objected to the plan of licensing business houses at all, and others thought the licenses altogether more than the traffic could bear. But, in spite of much pressure, the new board made few changes and continued the liquor license at $300 per year, only making an effort to limit the number of saloons to ten.
Messrs. Jones and Baker this year deeded the bluff and the city park to the town, on condition that they be kept up as public parks. A large number of streets were graded, graveled and sidewalked. The question of providing for some disposition of the sewage was also agitated and a solution was thought to be offered to that and the wharf problem which so troubled the town. But after much talk, legal advice was sought and, in view of the later developments, the following extracts may be of interest: "In order that there might be no 111- certainty in the matter, the town attorney was instructed to employ assistant counsel. This was done and two opinions were read before the board and a number of citizens on Monday night, one from R. F. H. Variel, the other from Messrs. Edgerton & Blades. Shorn of all unnecessary verbiage, the opinions were based upon the proposition, can the town authorities of Santa Monica legally submit to the voters, at an election called for that purpose, the proposi- tion of voting $40,000 in bonds for the ostensible purpose of constructing a sewer system, having its outlet in the ocean, but really for the purpose of aiding a private corporation in building a wharf? This proposition was ably argued by the gentlemen and they very properly came to the conclusion that the city's funds could not be legally expended in that way."
In November the ladies of the W. C. T. U., who had maintained a public reading room and library since 1886, offered to turn their library of 800 volumes over to the city, provided the city would maintain it as a public library. The proposition was accepted and the Santa Monica public library was thus established.
187
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
1891
This is a memorable year in Santa Monica annals for many reasons. It developed that the Southern Pacific had secured the right of way along the beach to the cañon and purchased the Santa Monica Heights tract. In the fall surveyors began work and the company secured a franchise from the city to build a line under the bluff and to build a wharf, within one year, under a $5000 forfeit. At the same time the Santa Monica Wharf and Railway Ter- minal Company was applying for a franchise to build a wharf at South Santa Monica and offered to put up a tract of thirteen acres of land as indemnity. This offer was received with a good deal of derision at the time, as the land was supposed to be utterly useless " sand dunes." The Los Angeles and Pacific road had been revived-to a certain extent-and was also endeavoring to secure a franchise to build a wharf; but the $5000 forfeit demanded by the board of trustees seemed to put a damper upon their wharf ambitions. With so many propositions coming before it, the board of trustees had some very lively sessions, especially as there were strong objections to everything proposed and much " kicking " at the meetings and through the papers. The harbor question also demanded more or less attention and the board of trustees and board of trade were prompt to act whenever an opportunity presented itself.
In October H. M. Russell and H. A. Winslow, two enterprising citizens of Santa Monica, again applied for a franchise for an electric light plant, which was at once granted them. They took steps to carry out their plans and made a beginning toward this important improvement.
Among the business buildings of the year was the Bryson block on the corner of Utah avenue and Second street, which was erected at a cost of some $15,000. Other buildings were the handsome home of Dr. Elliott, a Minneapolis capitalist, on the corner of Nevada and Fifth and the homes of Dr. Place and J. L. Allen. In January, 1891, Mr. Frederick Rindge visited Santa Monica and was so pleased with the place that he purchased two lots on Ocean avenue and soon thereafterward began the erection of a residence which cost some $12,000 and was occupied for a number of years by his family as a home. At the same time he began making other investments in this locality and in 1892 purchased the Malibu ranch of H. W. Keller and at once built a handsome residence and made substantial improvements on this fine property.
1892.
The year of 1892 was a prosperous one. The reaction after the depression of the past two or three years had set in here. although this was generally a season of depression in the state. The Southern Pacific pushed its improve- ments and work was well under way on the long wharf before the close of the year. It is estimated that their expenditures in the vicinity of Santa Monica for the year were not less than $200,000. The Santa Fé also came in during
188
HISTORY OF SANTA MONICA BAY CITIES
the year and spent considerable money in making improvements in South Santa Monica. A large amount of money was also expended at the Soldiers' Home in putting up new buildings and improving the water service. These large sums put into circulation, of course, meant much to the merchants and the working men of Santa Monica. The Keller block on the corner of Third and Utah was planned and partially built, at a cost of $25,000. The Windemere and the Para- dise, both intended as first-class family hotels, were built during the year.
During the summer there were no vacant houses and tennis, polo and cricket games and tournaments were attractions which drew many visitors. On June 18th the Santa Fe trains reached Santa Monica and the event was duly cele- brated. The road at once put on seven trains daily and made a round-trip fare of seventy-five cents. The Outlook esti- mates that in July fully 5000 people came to Santa Monica on one Sunday. In September the fare to Santa Monica was dropped to fifty cents, the result of competition. The Los Angeles and Pacific NORTH THIRD STREET. road was not yet dead and many rumors were rife about it during the season. It had now passed into the hands of the Terminal Company and great things were promised from it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.