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19
MEXICAN WAR
tunes. From 1830 to 1845 it was scarcely noticeable. A few parties of hunters and trappers found their way from the East across the mountains and plains. They were re- ceived with scant courtesy by the colonists, who, faithful in their allegiance to Mexico, instinctively felt the danger to their quiet, pastoral ex- istence in this advance of eastern energy and ambition. The ar- ---- rival of Commodore Sloat with his war- ships; the action of his successor, Commodore Stockton, in taking possession of Mon- terey in advance of the beginning of war between the United States and Mexico; the subsequent cap- ture of Los Angeles- then the capital of the colony-by the com- bined forces of Com- modore Stockton and General Fremont, are matters of history fraught with great sig- nificance to our embryo metropolis. There was a serious revolt against American authority; the garrison under Major Gillespie left by Fremont to hold the captured city was forced to leave. Afterwards the American forces were defeated at the battle of Dominguez Ranch.
The arrival of General Stephen Kearney with troops from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the return to this city of General Fremont, finally resulted in the battle of
20
GROWTH OF THE CITY
San Gabriel, ten miles from. Los Angeles, and on January 10, 1847, the city was again in possession of the Ameri- can troops, of which Commodore Stockton as superior
Building Occupied by Stockton
officer was in command. The house chosen by him as military headquarters is still standing on Olivera street. A fort was built on the hill above the present Broadway tunnel, called Fort Moore. The Californians surrendered to Fremont, who had arrived with his army from the north. A conflict of au- thority between Stock- ton, Kearney and Fre- mont resulted in the ap- pointment by Stockton, of Fremont as governor of the territory. He served in the capacity less than two months, when, as a result of the controversy between these authorities, Fre- mont was recalled to Washington, found guilty of insub- ordination and was allowed to resign from the army.
21
INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS
The city was under military authority, represented by about five hundred troops, until August, 1848.
The first American legislature of California met in 1849, and divided the state into counties, of which Los Angeles was one, its bound- aries including part of the present Kern County, all of San Ber- nardino, part of River -. side, and all of Orange and the present Los An- geles County. The first assessment taken in this large territory showed a total valuation in real estate of $748,000, in improvements of $301,000, and of $1,180,000 in personal property. A com- parison of these figures with the vast aggregation of wealth now apparent in this area is the strongest com- mentary upon the industrial progress of Los Angeles and
Sixth Street Park, 1882
the surrounding country, of which it is the acknowledged metropolis.
Owing to the discovery of gold further north, the great influx of population to California concentrated at San
22
GROWTH OF THE CITY
Francisco, and Los Angeles, which had been the most important and most populous town in Mexican California, was entirely ignored. There was no railroad, and the only regular means of communication with the outside world was a steamer line from San Francisco. In 1850 the popu- lation was only 1,610; in 1860 it had grown to 4,400; in 1870 the census showed 5,614 inhabitants.
During this period the condition of the city may be compared to that of a seed sown on fertile soil. It had reached the stage of cor- ruption. It was perhaps the wickedest city in the United States. Fights, murders, lynchings and robberies were of almost daily occurrence. Law - - and order were at a dis- count. Vigilantes were organized to punish ban- dits and outlaws. At one time the mayor re- signed his office to be- come the leader of a lynching party. This ac- tion seemed to be fully justified by the circum- First Court House stances. Three sheriffs and two city marshals were killed during their terms of office. Finally fifty crim- inals were captured and placed in jail, eleven were hung, and the social atmosphere became somewhat clearer.
Soon the seed began to sprout. In 1850 the first protest- ant church was established and others followed. The Ma- sonic order opened a lodge in 1854. The first hospital was established in 1858. In 1856 the yield of oranges was about 400 boxes. The first telegraph line was established in 1860 with San Francisco. In 1868 the first bank was established by Alvinza Hayward. In the autumn of the next year
23
FRUIT SHIPMENTS
a railroad was constructed from San Pedro to Los An- geles. The Southern Pacific Railroad from San Francisco was completed in 1876. The next year the first carload of oranges for the eastern market was shipped by Mr. Wolfskill, taking a month to reach the St. Louis market. About 1,500,000 gal- lons of wine were exported, and now the sprouting plant of industrial devel- opment was visible above the surface.
In 1880 the population had become 33,881 and the as- sessed valuation of city property $18,000,000. The prog- ress of growth until the autumn of 1885 was gradual.
-
Copyright by C. C. Pierce & Co. Second and Broadway, 1885
The Southern Pacific had completed its connection be- tween Los Angeles and the East over its southern route; oranges and other· natural products had been exhibited at
24
GROWTH OF THE CITY
the New Orleans Exposition, and the former .had taken first prize in competition with Florida fruit.
The world at large began to see the possibilities of Southern California as a health resort as well as a pro- ducer of horticultural products. The completion of the Santa Fe Railroad and the consequent completion of freight and passenger rates induced large numbers of eastern people to inspect the new land of promise. As at the present time, those who came to look remained to live. The rate of fare from Chicago was for some time
only twenty-five dollars and even for a short period as low as five dollars. People of every class came, among them real estate speculators, honest and fraudulent. This sud- den influx of optimists caused the most phenomenal ad- vances in prices of real estate and an era of wild specula- tion resulted, which could have only one ending. The whole country was laid out in town lots. Twenty-five town sites were surveyed between this city and San Ber- nardino, a distance of thirty-six miles. Farm land for- merly worth $30 per acre was sold as orange land for $300 to $500. The recorded real estate transfers in the county for the year 1887 amounted to about $100,000,000. The as- sessment of land values in the county outside the city
25
THE BOOM
rose to $32,000,000 in 1886, and in 1888 was $63,000,000. The plant which had hitherto grown so steadily and strongly, now, under the stimulus of the forcing process of wild speculation, shot upward so rapidly that only one course was possible; a careful pruning alone would assure continued healthy growth.
Then the reaction came; the next year the assessment was $47,000,000, and in 1890 had fallen back to the figures before the boom started, $20,000,000. These figures tell the story of the real estate boom in and about Los An- geles with which the world is familiar.
Now we have followed the propagation of the seed of industrial progress from its planting after the Mexican war, through flood and drouth, revolutions and rioting, through slow sprouting and forced growth, until we are ready to present to our visitors, to the guest and the home-seeker, for personal inspection and judgment, the fairest of municipal industrial trees, loaded with flowers and fruit. Hundreds of smaller trees are growing about it; you may have one of your own; it will grow from slip or seed. Help yourselves; sit down and take care of your portion, and, under the stimulus of good soil, good climate, good associations, and that still more potent factor-the success of Success-you may reach the fullest develop- ment vouchsafed to man. 3
26
GROWTH OF THE CITY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The public school system of Los Angeles consists of seventy-nine different organizations, each bearing its separate school name. These schools are housed in seventy-seven buildings, the two evening schools being held in buildings occupied also by day schools. In size
Polytechnic High School
the schools vary from one class of fifty pupils to twenty- five classes of like size. The total enrollment of pupils for the year 1906-7 was 41,578; the number of teachers employed, 1,025.
Three of the seventy-nine schools are high schools, two of them being general literary and scientific institutions, the other, polytechnic. Twenty-eight of the grammar school buildings contain sloyd rooms and twelve of them cookery rooms. These sloyd and cookery rooms are maintained as centers to which boys of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades are sent for sloyd, and girls of the seventh and eighth grades for cooking lessons. Kin- dergarten classes are held in fifty-two of the buildings.
In an effort to reach individual pupils who are working at more or less disadvantage in the grades, twenty-two ungraded classes have been established and are main- tained as centers to which boys and girls needing indi-
27
SCHOOL SYSTEM
vidual teaching and discipline may be sent. Only twenty pupils are assigned to a teacher in these rooms, so that each one may get the advantage of individual teaching. Any pupil who in the judgment of his teacher and princi- pal needs individual teaching, is eligible.
In addition to the twenty-two special ungraded rooms, there are three spe- cial classes for tru- ants. These special schools are placed in charge of young men whose aim in management is to make the school life of the boys as far as possible like real life outside of school, the theory being that if school is made like life, boys will like to go to school, for the same reason that they like to live. The theory and plan works so well that the percentage of at- tendance in these schools averages 99 as against 94 in the regular graded classes.
In connection with the Juvenile Court and Detention Home, a Parental School is conducted in temporary quarters pending the completion of the Parental School building now in process of erec- tion. The plant when com- pleted will consist of school buildings, dormitories, living rooms, shops for manual training and ten acres of land for agricultural education.
28
GROWTH OF THE CITY
It is hoped to have this school ready for the opening of the school year on September 16, 1907.
The one feature of the Los Angeles School Department which has in it more of significance for good than all other things combined is the non-partisan Board of Edu- cation. In 1904 a new charter went into effect in the city, which changed the membership of the Board from nine members elected by wards to seven elected at large. Be- fore the first election under this charter, at the call of the Municipal League, a committee of one hundred citizens
was formed to try to lift the schools out of politics. This committee elected seven of the busiest and most prominent citizens and placed them before the voters. Two of the political parties endorsed them, and the people elected them nearly unanimously. Since then an- other election has taken place of the same kind, and the city is well established in non-partisanship in school af- fairs with all that it augurs for clean and efficient service in the Department.
The Los Angeles State Normal School was opened in September, 1882, and is this year celebrating its twenty- fifth anniversary. In the order of establishment, it is the second of the California system of normal schools, and
29
THE STATE NORMAL
was for the first year maintained as a branch of the par- ent school at San Jose. From the first the institution has maintained the highest practicable standards of prep-
aration and instruction. Beginning with a two-year course, it quickly abandoned this for one of three years, which in turn gave way to a four-year course above the ninth grade. Since the clo se of the year 1903 graduation from a four-year high school course or its equivalent has been necessary for admission. In 1905, in addition to its regular two-year course, it has had an optional course of three years, offering advanced academic work and securing for its graduates two years credit which may be used in a University course.
The school has a fine gymnasium, well equipped manual training and domestic art departments; and it is the only
30
GROWTH OF THE CITY
normal school in California which maintains a department for the training of kindergartners. The school museum is being reorganized on modern lines, so as to serve more fully the educational needs of the school. New and well planned courses in nature study and agriculture have been introduced and, together with the advanced course in manual training for special students, are proving their great value increasingly.
Besides the regular work of the school, an extension
department is one of the more recent developments, which has for its end the more efficient cooperation of the Nor- mal School and other educational activities of Southern California. The work of this department is conducted by the instructors of the several departments by means of lectures, conferences, and study courses. During the pres- ent year this work has been carried on with Women's Clubs, Child-Study Clubs, Teachers' Reading Circles and Farmers' Clubs.
During the twenty-five years of its history, the Los Angeles State Normal School has achieved the magni- ficent record of an attendance of more than four thou- sand students, and of having graduated approximately two thousand, who have contributed very greatly to the educa-
31
COLLEGES
tional progress of not only this, but also other states. Besides the public schools in Los Angeles, there are private schools and colleges of every curriculum and de- nomination for both boys and girls. At Highland Park be- tween Los Angeles and Pasadena in the midst of twenty-five fertile acres is Occi- dental College, a Presbyterian institu- tion of high rank and liberal teachings. The Stimson Library is one of the best li- brary buildings on the coast. The University of Southern California is a Methodist institution and has a medical department. The Catholic schools and convents are so well appointed and prosperous that they maintain a summer institute for teachers from the dioceses of Monterey and Los Angeles every year.
There are nu- merous day and boarding schools under the various Catholic orders which maintain a high standard of scholarship and culture. One of the most interesting of these is the St. Boniface Industrial School for Indian boys and girls at Banning. Here in the foothills, be-
32
GROWTH OF THE CITY
tween Grayback and San Jacinto, the Indian children learn the trades and accomplishments of the white man. Numerous private schools, both classical and military, are scattered through- out the city. Harvard Academy, near the grounds of the Country Club, is conducted on the most improved En- glish plans.
The Girls' Collegiate School in the pictur- esque Casa de Rosas is one of the best known of the schools for girls and the Cumnock School of Oratory and Expression attracts in- terest because of the building in which it is located, which is a di- rect copy of Shakespeare's home at Stratford. Though not in Los Angeles, Pomona College at Claremont de- serves attention because it is the largest Christian college west of Colorado. It was organized in 1888, under Con- gregational auspices but it is not in any sense denomina- tional, having teachers and graduates of every class of religion.
33
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EXHIBITS
Since its beginning the Los Angeles Chamber of Com- merce has been inseparably connected with the growth of the city of Los Angeles. The Chamber was organized in 1888 on a small financial basis with only one hundred and fifty members. Since then it has done more than any one other factor to assist in the progress of the city until now it is a successful institution with nearly 2,500 members.
There is no other city in the country that has so large an organization in proportion to its population. Its work is not limited to the city alone, but embraces Los Angeles County and all Southern California. It is located in a six- story building in the center of town and devotes the second and third floors to its exhibits and offices. The exhibits are on the main and gallery floors, the first having 14,000 square feet of space and the latter 7,000. The attractions which aroused comment at the Columbian Exposition, at the Mid-Winter Fair in San Francisco, the Trans-Missis- sippi Exposition, the Pan-American, the Lousiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clarke Expositions still bring thou- sands of people from all parts of the world to visit it yearly. There is shown a great variety of Southern California
34
GROWTH OF THE CITY
products, especially fruits, dried, canned and crystalized, some of which are built into artistic and striking shapes.
In a room especially se't aside for the purpose is the Coronel Collection, donated in 1901 by Doña Mariana, widow of Don Antonio Coronel, one of the most picturesque and charming figures of the old regime in California, justly one of the most honored in his day. The collection is varied and interest- ing, including Toltec relics from Mexico, many California Indian artifects, and a large quantity of articles relating to Don Antonio himself and to the old regime in California. All are worth while, but the Spanish-California part enormously overbalances all the rest in historic and scientific in- terest, and is literally priceless. Copyright by C. C. Pierce & Co.There is the San Diego cannon, Don Antonio Coronel the first piece of artillery which came into California with Juni- pero Serra, and the powder can which was brought at the same time in the ship, the San Antonio. There are articles made of iron by the Indian blacksmiths at San Fernando, -plow points, bells, anvils, locks and keys, spurs, scissors, chains and other articles used in the mission com- munities of the past century, vessels of hammered copper and raw-hide chain used in surveying the Mission San Gabriel. There is the mission cattle brand, T. S., so marked for Tembolores, the Earthquake Mission, as San
35
INDIAN RELICS
Gabriel was often called. There are lamps, candlesticks and books that belonged to Padre Zalvidea; there is the cruet used by Junipero Serra at Carmel Mission; and a hundred other priceless relics. Just as interesting and as valuable, because absolutely identified, are the personal be- longings of Don An- tonio and the me- mentos of Helen Hunt Jackson. The room is full of mem- ories and historical associations and is well worth an ex- tended visit.
A feature of par- ticular interest, especially to eastern visitors is the Palmer collection of Indian antiquities, one unique and complete in the field that it covers and containing many perfect and rare specimens. Even a superficial study of these ancient relics will give a fairly good idea of the manner in which the primitive races of this locality lived. The mineral col- lection whch was formerly the property of the Southwest Miners Association, well classified and arranged, has a po- sition on the main floor. Other objects of interest can only be appreciated by those visiting the exhibit in person. Every afternoon there is a stereopticon lecture on Southern California in Assembly Hall.
36
GROWTH OF THE CITY
SOUTHWEST SOCIETY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF AMERICA
The Southwest Society of the Archaeological Institute of America is the largest and most active scientific society in the country. At present its collections are on exhibition in the Pacific Electric Building where visitors are received from two to four every after- noon. There is nothing in Los Angeles that will appeal more strongly to the scholar- ly than these objects which recall and illustrate the his- tory and romance of the Southwest-"the lives of the men before us." The ex- hibit includes a series of oil sketches of the Southern California missions painted by William Keith, sketches of priceless value, and the Ca- balleria collection of 34 oil paintings which hung in various missions before the order of secularization was passed. There is also a fine and, in many respects, a unique col- lection from the pre- historic pueblos and cliff dwellings of Ari- zona and a remarkable collection of the arti- fects of the "First Southern Californians" -the coast tribe of In- dians. In a minor col- lection is a unique group of Southern California Indian baskets; the largest and most important collection of Spanish and Indian folk- songs ever made; and the personal relics and papers of
37
THE SOUTHWEST MUSEUM
John C. Fremont, the Pathfinder, including the Rocky Mountain flag, which he unfurled on the crest of the Rockies in August, 1842.
The Society has purchased thirty-eight acres which will be the site of a building to be known as the Southwest Museum.
The plans call for a magnificent structure in the Spanish style, modelled somewhat after the old Alhambra. It will be situated on the hill in the valley of the Arroyo Seco in the northeastern part of town opposite Sycamore Grove, on the main highway between Los Angeles and Pasadena. This site will insure a marvellous view "down the valley over the city of Los An- geles and out to the Islands of Santa Catalina and San Clemente; across the wonderful hills which wall the Arroyo Seco from the east; straight down upon the little urban cameo of Highland Park and then for ninety miles along the tremendous bulwark of the Sierra Madre from the Tejunga to San Jacinto."
38
GROWTH OF THE CITY
LOS ANGELES BANKS AND TRUST COMPANIES
To the discriminating visitor-the one who by knowl- edge and observation is capable of making comparisons- the visible strength and prosperity of the financial insti- tutions of Los Angeles is one of the most impressive facts to attract immediate attention.
Grand structures, magnificent banking quarters, wide- awake people in charge, and a genuine aspect of business -. like methods, on all prominent corners in the city's center, in- variably conveys the idea that in the matter of banks this city is well represented.
The underlying facts fully sus- tain such an impression, for we have-taking the figures officially compiled Jauary 1, 1907-thirty- nine banks, whose combined cap- ital and surplus exceed the sum of $18,000,000 and whose deposits amounted to over $100,000,000.
Los Angeles is a very young city, but the size and importance of its leading banks as compared with older cities of equal popu- lation are noticeably in its favor. Taking four other cities, having each a population of about 250,000 the standing of their three leading banks, and of the three leading banks in Los Angeles, is as follows:
Deposits of the Three Largest Banks in the Following Five Cities.
1. Los Angeles $44,000,000
2. Minneapolis 38,000,000
3. Jersey City 32,000,000
4. Indianapolis 23,000,000
5. Louisville, Ky. 15,000,000
39
THE BANKS
Viewing the entire banking field in Los Angeles as a whole, the showing on January 1, 1907, as to names of banks and total deposits, is as follows:
1. Security Savings Bank $15,515,339.36
2. First National Bank 15,450,468.06
3. Farmers and Merchants National Bank .. 13,110,929.00
4. German American Savings Bank. 9,373,447.90
5. Southern California Savings Bank 7,569,673.14
6. American National Bank. 4,701,616.76
7. Merchants National Bank. 4,286,664.17
8. Los Angeles Trust Company 4,154,920.74
9. Citizens National Bank. 3,135,188.80
10. Central Bank 2,367,273.11
11. Broadway Bank and Trust Company
2,262,708.72
12. National Bank of California
2,150,000.00
13. State Bank & Trust Company
1,980,203.86
14. American Savings Bank.
1,450,126.56
15. Equitable Savings Bank.
1,348,295.93
16. Commercial National Bank
1,320,111.89
17. California Savings Bank.
1,154,555.63
18. Southern Trust Company .
1,138,857.30 1,073,000.00
19. Merchants Trust Company .
1,050,331.39
21. Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company. 871,303.00 748,194.20
23. State Bank & Trust Company 578,787.11
24. Bank of Southern California. 567,482.11
25. International Savings & Exchange Bank ..
533,000.00
26. National Bank of Commerce 352,584.72
27. Bank of Los Angeles 312,118.14
28. Federal Bank 215,265.00
29. Fraternal Savings & Commercial Bank 207,248.04
30. Japanese-American Bank
165,000.00
31. Market & Produce Bank. 150,000.00
32. Bank of Highland Park 100,000.00
33. Kimmon Ginko 100,000.00
34. South Side Bank.
81,034.50
35. Manhattan Savings Bank
73,000.00
36. Pacific Savings Bank 59,668.20
37. Main Street Bank.
52,000.00
38. Globe Savings Bank.
50,156.00
39. Bank of Huntington Park. 35,000.00
Scattering banks, estimated
75,000.00
Grand Total Deposits
$100,020,553.28
20. Dollar Savings Bank & Trust Company ..
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