San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I, Part 30

Author: Black, Samuel T., 1846-
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago, S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 540


USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 30


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).


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Of all the state normal schools there is none more eligible than is the local school to a permanent place in this development of professional training of teachers. It has a splendid equipment, in structures not surpassed among the public buildings of the state. It has a faculty of trained teachers sufficiently large to give individual attention to each of the members of a student body, not too large to admit of the personal touch; it has the stimulus furnished by every-day contacts with a splendid city school system, and it has the supreme advantage of climatic conditions which make possible steady, purposeful, even strenuous work, throughout the year, a climate affording working conditions stimulating to strenuous endeavor, but free from the really dangerous handicaps inevitable in less favored environment.


4 - D


SAN DIEGO FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY


SCENE IN MISSION CLIFF GARDEN. SAN DIEGO


CHAPTER XXX


SAN DIEGO PUBLIC LIBRARY


Mrs. H. P. Davidson of the Carnegie Free Public Library began advertising in October, 1912, the advantages and service of the library in the papers and street cars and in the latter appeared cards reading: "San Diego free public library, E street, between Eighth and Ninth. Reading rooms and art gallery. Visitors may become patrons under the same conditions as residents. Hours, 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. Sundays, 2 to 5 p. m." And he who lingered to scan the elec- tric revolving advertiser, which at the city's busiest corner so attractively called attention to numerous advantages not to be neglected, would have recognized a copy of the same announcement.


This concrete expression will be helpful not only to new residents and visitors but may attract the attention of another class who in their busy lives have had a vague idea that there was somewhere in town a public library.


It is probably to this very class who entertain a misconception of the func- tions of the public library of today that it can be of the most advantage. When these busy people who are forging ahead, doing things at the work bench, the wheel or the desk, come to realize that by applying to the public library they can have the aid of authoritative writers, and perhaps the very latest word on their mechanical problems, the work will take on a new interest and its develop- ment forestall time.


The demands on the resources of the present day public library cover a range as wide as human interest. On some days it may be from the religion of the Egyptians to up-to-date plumbing, from statecraft to bungalow plans, from the nebular hypothesis to a name for the baby. The answer may come from a book, a magazine, a pamphlet or a newspaper. And, when necessary, material is procured through the inter-library loan system. In the past year the San Diego library has had for special work the loan of books from the Los Angeles Public Library, the California State Library, the California State University and the Congressional Library. When an extensive list is required, even if the material is practically at hand, the result is usually more satisfying if a few hours' notice can be given.


The San Diego Public Library was organized in 1882. The first board of trustees consisted of George W. Marston, George N. Hitchcock, Dr. R. M. Powers, E. W. Hendrick, and Bryant Howard. For the first five years, while the 'board with limited resources was slowly acquiring the nucleus of the present library, the service was principally that of a reading room, in charge of a curator who also served as janitor.


243


244


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


For the first year the work was carried on in rooms of the second floor of the Commercial Bank and then was moved to the upper floor of the present city hall building, as the bank of that name occupied the first floor. Rooms in this building were occupied for ten years. The next move was to the second floor of the St. James, at the northwest corner of Seventh and F streets. After oc- cupying these rooms five years a move was made to the fifth floor of the Keating block, now the McNeece block, northwest corner of Fifth and F streets, the en- tire fifth floor being occupied. At the expiration of the five year lease in the Keating block the present library building was ready for occupancy.


Although this building was not completed until the spring of 1902, the gift to San Diego was the first of its kind made by Andrew Carnegie on the Pacific coast. The building at Oakland was opened somewhat earlier than this, as, through failure of agreement on the matter of site, the construction of the San Diego building was delayed nearly three years.


This building has been occupied for ten years, and as to its interior appear- ance will compare favorably with most private houses in use for that length of time.


While the proper housing of books and efficient service in handing out due supply for information desired are important and practical general features of library administration, there are other considerations of importance to a large class of readers-that class which is made up of persons in middle life, and sometimes past, who are really having their first intellectual awakening. Not that they did not dole out the required number of years in the schools, but it was perhaps with a mind practically inert, so that now with the broadened vision of today they are actually beginning to live intellectually.


The library contains forty thousand volumes. The home circulation averages about five hundred a day. With the exception of teachers, but one book is issued on a card. The attendance is upwards of one thousand one hundred a day, the greater part of whom read or do research work in the reading rooms.


It is to be hoped that the city administration will see that in the coming years the library department receives an appropriation for maintenance con- sistent with its dignity and its importance to the city.


CHAPTER XXXI


POSTOFFICES AND POSTMASTERS OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


In the year 1850 the United States postoffice was established at Old San Diego, and Richard Rust was appointed to preside over it. He was succeeded the following year by Henry D. Couts. George Lyons was the incumbent in 1853, Richard Rust in 1856, and George Lyons in 1857. W. B. Couts was the postmaster in 1858, and Joshua Sloane the following year. D. A. Hollister was at the head of this office in 1865-6-7, when he was succeeded by Thomas H. Bush. Bush's successor was Louis Rose, who served ten years, resigning in 1883. His successor was Paul Connors.


The postoffice at South San Diego, now the city of San Diego, was established April 8, 1869. Dr. Jacob Allen was the first incumbent, having received his commission on April 8th of that year. Dr. Allen received and distributed the mail from his drug store. Freeman Gates was appointed postmaster December 23, 1869, and removed the office to the Dunham building on Fifth street, between F and G. Under his incumbency, South San Diego was made a money order office. Columbus Dunham succeeded Gates, his commission having been dated April 28, 1870. Mr. Dunham served as postmaster until his death, March 18, 1876. Under his administration, on April 14, 1871, the name of the office was changed to San Diego. Dunham's successors have been as follows:


Daniel Choate, March 27, 1876; H. H. Burton, February 25, 1881; George D. Copeland, May 23, 1881; Gustav W. Jorres, October 12, 1885; Allen D. Norman, November 10, 1887; H. M. Kutchin, January 27, 1890; Richard V. Dodge, February 16, 1894; Moses A. Luce, February 1I, 1898; John N. New- kirk, February 28, 1902; Charles H. Bartholomew, February 18, 1908. In March, 1913, the office was moved into the new Federal building occupying the block bounded by State, Union, F and G streets, and fronting on F.


CHULA VISTA


Office established July 28, 1890, Sarah B. Fleming, postmistress; C. D. Cal- kins, March 18, 1891; S. L. Merstetter, January 12, 1897; Weiley Perry, June 23, 1897; E. W. Dyer, January 7, 1905; Carl S. Kennedy, November 30, 1907; William B. Farrow, November 18, 1910.


CORONADO


Office established February 8, 1887, Norbert Moser, postmaster ; J. D. Brown- lee, August 20, 1887; Henry F. Prieu, January 5, 1888; James L. Dryden,


245


246


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


May 14, 1889; H. G. Gwyn, March 7, 1894; Elizabeth S. Newcomb, March 22, 1898; Adaline Bailhache, June 14, 1905; the office was discontinued De- cember 31, 19II.


EL CAJON


Office established June 6, 1878; Amaziah L. Knox, postmaster ; E. E. Burgess, December 15, 1888; A. J. Derbyshire, July 30, 1890; E. E. Burgess, March 14, 1891; John H. Dodson, March 6, 1895; John G. Burgess, March 2, 1899; William Stell, February 23, 1906.


APEX, NOW ESCONDIDO


Office established February 17, 1881, Charles A. McDougall, postmaster ; Thomas W. Adams, June 28, 1883, under whose administration the name of the office was changed from Apex to Escondido; Thomas W. Adams, April 24, 1884; N. C. Whims, October 24, 1887; Ebin T. Case, May 15, 1888; Estella Bettens, February 20, 1889; N. C. Whims, March 26, 1889; B. F. Griffin, March 7, 1894; John N. Turrentine, March 16, 1898; W. B. McCorkle, May 18, 1910.


FALLBROOK


Office established June 28, 1878, Charles V. Riche, postmaster. The office was discontinued March 5, 1888, but was reestablished May 13, 1889, with E. J. Johnson as postmaster ; George A. Scott, May 13, 1892; Orin Rice, November 29, 1893; Robert Cromwell, January 13, 1898; Bert Woodbury, September 29, 1910.


LA JOLLA


Office established August 17, 1894, Charles A. Ritchie, postmaster; Charles A. Hubert, April 20, 1895; Charles S. Dearborn, October 2, 1895; William F. Ludington, October 28, 1899; L. O. Glover, March 16, 1904; Conrad Solem, June 19, 1905.


LA MESA


Office established June 17, 1891, A. W. Gray, postmaster; Rocena Youngs, June 22, 1892; Rocena Agnew, March 1, 1894; S. J. Agnew, January 26, 1898; E. W. Strachan, November 15, 1899; George H. McMillan, April 6, 1901 ; Lincoln McMillan, July 13, 1905; Frederic Rapson, August 16, 1905; S. G. Pennoyer, July 31, 1906; R. L. Verlaque, April 29, 1907; Richard Smith, June 6, 1908; Lorne J. Palmateer, December 29, 1909; Robert K. Haines, August 23, 1912.


NATIONAL CITY


Office established December 29, 1869, Danford B. Carpenter, postmaster ; George L. Kimball, March 14, 1870; L. W. Dimond, January 23, 1874; George H. Parsons, January 18, 1877; Lynn Boyd, July 23, 1886; Ellis Pattee, June 11, 1889; O. H. Noyes, December 23, 1893; Samuel S. Johnston, April 30, 1898.


.


247


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


OCEANSIDE


Office established May 24, 1883, Andrew J. Myers, postmaster; John H. McNeil, December 8, 1884; John McCullough, November 24, 1885; George W. Groves, May 3, 1886; Samuel Carter, August 16, 1887; H. K. Weitzel, No- vember 20, 1888; John Mitchell, April 16, 1889; J. L. Nugent, August 8, 1890; H. K. Weitzel, August 17, 1894; John M. Jolley, July 12, 1898.


NEW POSTOFFICE BUILDING


The new postoffice building is three stories in height with basement and attic, occupying the block bounded by State, Union, F and G streets. The main front on F street is 174 feet with a depth of 95 feet. The contract price is $190,000 and the available appropriation was $230,000. The first appropriation was $150,000, which was later increased by $80,000. This, however, does not include the site, which was originally owned by the war department and exchanged for other real estate in San Diego with the treasury department. Title was acquired by the war department years ago in the early history of San Diego.


In keeping with the general style of Mission architecture, so popular in California, this idea has been followed out in the construction of San Diego's federal building. The exterior of the building is finished in light colored material. The roof is of tile, and the towers in the main are made to resemble those to be found on the old Franciscan missions. The colonnade on F street front extends through the two stories, giving the idea of unity to the general design. Climatic conditions were not lost sight of in planning the structure. The windows are large and so arranged that the entire space may be opened if so desired. There are numerous other openings in the building for fresh air, which in this climate may be admitted at all seasons of the year at natural temperature.


On the first floor, the public lobby at once arrests attention, and on account of its beauty of architectural design compels admiration. It is arranged to pre- sent rather a monumental effect. The floor is of terrazo with marble borders. A corridor runs the whole length of the building's front, about 171 feet, and parallel to the main front. Along its sides are ranged handsome marble pilasters, and there is an ornamental coffered ceiling, the panels of which, in high relief, are of plaster. This lobby is very beautiful, simple rather than ornate, and striking, more because of the materials used and the workmanship than because of an excess of detail. There will be specially designed standing desks for the use of the public, of ornamental wrought iron work with plate glass tops. On this floor is the big work room of the postoffice, besides rooms for the post- master, assistant postmaster, money order and registry divisions, vaults and toilet conveniences.


The main staircase rises from the west end of the lobby. It is constructed of marble and wrought iron. The rails of ornamental wrought iron. The stair- way extends from the first to the third floors. There is an elevator of the latest and most approved design at this end of the lobby, and the grille work in con- nection with it is artistic and harmonious with the general design. The deliv- ery windows and boxes fit into the harmony of the whole plan and are ornamental and pleasing in appearance.


248


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


On the second floor the public part is finished in style similar to that of the lobby. The court room is twenty feet to the ceiling, with impressive decoration and ornamentation.


Marble pilasters support an ornamental entablature surmounted by a heav- ily paneled ceiling of plaster. Hardwood was used for the floors and the finish. There are bronze wall grilles, where grilles are required, as over ventilators or radiators. The upper portion of the walls, above the wainscoting, is paneled in plaster. Especial attention was given to designing the judge's bench, which is in keeping with the design of the room as a whole.


The suite of rooms assigned to the judge, connected with the court room by a private door opening close to the bench, include an anteroom, library and private rooms, with a private bath attached. Rooms for the district attorney, male and female witnesses, etc., occupy the remainder of the floor.


Offices are provided on the third floor for various federal officials. Rooms are set apart for the local weather bureau officials, for the civil service people, for the collector of customs and other customs officials, and for the local repre- sentative of the bureau of forestry.


In the basement, which is well finished in every respect, space is set aside for the appraiser's store, for postoffice storage and the boiler room. There is a commodious "swing room" for the use of carriers when they are off duty, and all necessary conveniences will be provided in connection with it. The postoffice inspector has quarters on the second floor, as has also the employes of the bureau of animal industry, the internal revenue service and the immigration service.


San Diego has a greater number of federal departments represented than the average city and in view of this fact, provisions have been made in the new building for office room. These officers, formerly scattered about the city, have moved into their new quarters, thus making it much more convenient for the public to transact business. They include the postoffices, customs office, immi- gration, weather bureau, animal industry, United States courts, forestry, inter- nal revenue, rooms for the United States marshal and the local board of civil service examiners, postoffice inspector, special agents of the internal revenue service and the public health and marine hospital service.


CHAPTER XXXII


SAN DIEGO CUSTOM HOUSE


For the year 1912 the San Diego custom house showed a series of exceedingly satisfactory figures, not only as to the amount of business done during the last six months of the year, but also as to the percentage of increase of those figures over the preceding year and over all previous years in the history of the custom house, with the possible exception of the year when the Kosmos liners from Europe and the California and Oriental liners from Japan, China and the Philip- pine Islands were calling at San Diego at the same time.


The cash receipts of the custom office show an increase of more than $30,000 over those of 1911, slightly larger than the increase of previous years, which was steady and consistent, so that compared with the receipts of four years ago those of 1912 show an increase of more than 134 per cent.


For the first time in some years the imports into San Diego district have passed the million mark, reaching $1,251,733, or close to $337,000 more than last year. This increase in importation has been almost entirely due to the coming of the tie steamers of the Santa Fe railroad from Japan, bringing rail- road ties and car lumber from that country.


Because of the troublesome conditions across the line in Mexico, there has been a falling off in business with that country which has been more than made up in the import column by the coming of the tie steamers; but in the export business there is no counteracting cause and, Mexico being the best, because the nearest customer, the figures show a decrease. With a settlement of troubles in Mexico there will without doubt come such a betterment of condi- tions that business will resume its natural course and the export figures to Mexico will return to between the $800,000 and the one million mark. This year they are down to $600,000.


The importation business of the year has been done with twenty-four differ- ent countries, and half that number have taken the exports.


During the year 1911 the San Diego custom house accepted entries of imports from twenty-two different countries. Very nearly the same countries were rep- resented in the list in 1912, but the imports from Japan were very much larger. The list for the two years follows:


19II


1912


Austria-Hungary


$ 6,810


$ 6,37 I


Belgium


6,791


392


France


6,893


8,151


Germany


181,892


134,587


249


ยท


250


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


I9II


1912


Greece


.$


1,377


$ 9II


Italy


906


5,986


Netherlands


457


375


Norway


9,897


4,22I


Spain


19


1,260


Sweden


1,448


103


England


25.085


35,142


Scotland


958


2,845


Ireland


1,684


3,790


Canada


102,00I


77,815


Mexico


558,823


571,691


Cuba


2,169


3,810


British East India


805


76


Chinese Empire


340


Hong Kong


584


4


Panama


3,142


392,817


Siam


541


630


Fr. Oceanica


2,675


Turkey in Asia


303


Manila, P. I.


8


103


Total


$914.965


$1,251.733


Increase of 1912 over 1911, 37 per cent.


COMMODITIES IMPORTED


This twelve hundred thousand dollars' worth of merchandise passing through the custom house included the following :


Cattle


$ 121,029


Horses


II,270


Mules


3.784


Swine


12,542


Sheep


14,125


Products returned


141,759


Fish in oil


3,932


Fresh fish


4,950


Lobsters


14,573


Dried and smoked fish.


1,215


Guano


10,892


Sulphate of potash


63,982


Bran


4,842


Wheat


34,925


Corn


4,914


Barley


36,956


IO


Japan


Aden


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


251


Hay


$ 5,676


Wool


4,000


Honey


4,550


Silver coin


1,494


Silverware


976


Glassware


1,325


Flour


2,228


Dried currants


1,24I


Oil paintings and art goods.


3,203


Motor train


15,000


Sugar beets


5,214


Sugar beet seed


18,317


Cotton


12,253


Broom corn


5,214


Gold bullion


10,742


Malt liquors


6,628


Spirituous liquors


17,04I


Onyx


21,049


Beeswax


3,204


Coal


57,768


Coke


8,724


Household goods


24,178


Firewood


2,396


Coffee


7,212


Hides of cattle


4,343


Pig iron


1,290


Tobacco leaf


5,20I


Baskets


I,II4


Hats


1,569


White china


3,890


Decorated china


14,846 '


Drawn work


1,286


Enamelware


2,498


Linen


3,251


Toys


13,515


Wool blankets


3,432


Panoche


2,215


Iron drums


1,586


Fire brick and fire clay


1,967


Almonds


1,218


Olives and olive oil


3,569


Linoleum


3,394


Moving picture films


1,39I


Toilet preparations


1,77I


Dolls and parts thereof


18,113


Lumber


59.728


Railroad ties


333,787


Wool rugs.


1,52I


252


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


Melons and other vegetables $ 4,575


Miscellaneous 135,340


Total


$1,251,733


While the imports that have passed through the port and been entered and liquidated at the custom house have increased in a very satisfactory manner- thirty-seven per cent. in a year-there is also a large and growing business which passes through the port but entries for which are made and liquidation completed through other custom houses, principally at Los Angeles. During the year just closing, the business has amounted to 80,105 packages, valued at $648,349, on which the estimated duty was $143.967.28, as follows :


Number Packages Value Estimated Duty


January


5,034


$ 26,247


$ 10,712.31


February


3,969


33,259


10,318.22


March


5,945


21,225


11, 159.66


April


3,392


28,851


8,609.81


May


17,866


103,642


15,744.51


June


12,086


25.735


7,133.14


July


5,935


15,316


4,033.72


August


6,925


80,732


26,071.21


September


1,483


76,831


5,897.85


October


9,863


112,723


28,859.46


November


3,273


91,970


8,244.86


December


4,334


31,818


7,128.53


Total


80,105


$649,349


$143,967.28


Several shipments of ore concentrates and of dried shrimps from Lower Cali- fornia went to San Francisco, but both of them are on the free list, so that while they increase the number of packages shipped under immediate transportation bonds, they cut but little figure in the column of estimated duty, so that practi- cally all of the $143,967.28 was collected at Los Angeles on these importations that were landed here. The cost of supervising this unloading of merchandise is paid out of the funds of the San Diego district. Nevertheless, the cost of collection in San Francisco has been gradually getting lower and last year dropped from .194 to .177, while the cost of collection in Los Angeles, where many of the ex- penses are paid by outside districts, increased last year from .065 to .072.


In 1911 the packages forwarded under immediate transportation entries num- bered forty-seven thousand and one and their value was $410,447, so that the figures of 1912 show an increase of considerably more than 50 per cent. for the year.


Naturally the exports of the year have gone largely to Mexico, as the north- ern portion of Lower California draws the principal portion of its supplies from this district, both overland across the line at Tia Juana, Campo and Calexico and by the two lines of steamers running to Ensenada.


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


253


Germany has, however, proved a good customer, as has France, England, Belgium and Holland, these European countries taking large quantities of dried fruit, nuts and honey. The exports for the year were as follows:


Agricultural Implements


$29,533


Cattle


55,625


Hogs


9,45I


Horses


28,480


Sheep


12,722


Mules


19,880


Other Animals


8,57I


Barley


936


Bread and Biscuit.


3,947


Oats


2,802


Oatmeal


276


Rice


4,265


Flour


I3,466


Feed


8,091


Cement


856


Chemicals


10,212


Coal


5,517


Coffee


5,472


Manufactures of Cotton


8,454


Eggs


7,52I


Explosives (mostly dynamite)


25,227


Cordage


3,169


Canned Salmon


1,27I


Apples (fresh and dried)


2,631


Dried Apricots


109,582


Dried Peaches


6,150


Prunes


5,319


Raisins


430


Nuts


50,778


Glass and Glassware.


2,989


Hay


8,148


Honey


48,887


Ice


2,868


Manufactures of Iron


83,878


Boots and Shoes


7,992


Harness


3,888


Lime


614


Tallow


10,152


Bacon


2,748


Ham


1,185


Lard


3,784


Lard Compounds


4,798


Sausage Casings


2,822


Canned Meats


4,868


254


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


Butter


$ 2,913


Cheese


1,947


Condensed Milk


4,903


Pianos


1,065


Crude Oil


9,575


Illuminating Oil


5,889


Lubricating Oil


1,505


Residuum, including Tar


4,834


Paper Stock


1,950


Cotton Seed


470


Soap


2,085


Malt Liquors


5,426


Spirituous Liquors


5,252


Wine


3,735


Sugar


16,443


Candy


2,297


Beans and Dried Peas.


3,95I


Onions


938


Potatoes


7,898


Canned Vegetables


4,97I


Pickles


2,044


Lumber


45.325


Furniture


1,523


Miscellaneous


80,502


These exportations were divided among foreign countries as follows :


Belgium


$ 19,891


Denmark


1,145


France


56,161


England


30,13I


Germany


109,245


Italy


1,553


Mexico


600,27 I


Netherlands


28,832


Norway


3,228


Russia


443


Scotland


1,127


Sweden


669


$847,696


In the figures foregoing, domestic merchandise only is taken into considera- tion. During the year there passed through the district, nearly all being bound for Mexico, foreign merchandise to the value of $40,595. This was made up largely of tea, coffee, rice and liquors.


To this business should be added possibly the "in transit" business relative to merchandise coming from Mexico and being returned to Mexico without the payment of customs duties in this country. During the year this business


255


HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY


amounted to $102,273 and was made up quite largely of flour, wheat, barley, leather and empty bottles.




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