Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-09-13
The Mayoralty.

men whose names have been mention
ed in convention with the candidacy
for Mayor, Mr.. p. BEAUDRY, present
member of the Common Council from
the Second Ward, is probably the most
popular with the people, besides being
q man possessed of those qualities
energy, intelligence and far sighted
ness-whlch proper regard for the
interests, present and future, of our
city requires In the Mayor. Mr..
BEAUDRY became resident of Los
Angeles in the early part Of the year
1852 and his interests have been here
ever since. In 1854 he purchased
what is now known as Beaudry Block
and thenceforth he has been engaged
in building up and improving some
part of the city. His attention was
attracted to the hill lands in the north
western part of the city as early as
1856, and when he said that elevated
plateau would one day be covered
with dwellings surrounded by groves
and gardens, he was called wild and
visionary. Those lands were consid-
cred next to worthless and the wise
thought it an excellent joke to sell
Mr.. BEAUDRY tracts here and there
for nominal sums. Who the joke was
on will be seen from the light of sub
sequent events. From one piece for
which Mr.. BEAuDRY paid $517 he has
sold lots to the amount of $4,000 or
$1,000 and still has one-half of the
land. For the Bellevue Terrace tract
he paid $500, divided it into $50 lots
from which he realized $4,000 ard
has Bellevue Terrace, one Of the most
beautiful spots in the city remaining.
He purchased the plot known as
Beaudry Terrace for S55, sold $4,000
worth of lots, has half of 1t left on
which stand five or six cottages that
pay twoper cent. on the money invest
ed. These are the results of the jokes
played on Mr.. BEAUDRY by the wise
ones in selling him hill lands. Mr..
BEAUDRY was one of the organizers
and the first President of the original
Los Angeles Water Company,
and until its last assessment
was paid he owned one fifth
of its stock. He was one of
the originators and organizers of the
Canal and Reservoir Company. He
went out on the river with Capt.
MOORE and GEO. HANSEN, and DEM
onstrated the practicability Of convey
ing the water over the proposed route.
He has taken active part in each OF
the steamship and railroad enterprises
inaugurated for the advancement of
the interests of our city and valley. 1t
is due to Mr.. BEAUDRY's energy that
the hill lands, once considered worth
less, and from which the city derived
no revenue, are now assessed at S120
per acre. 1t is haZarding nothing to
say that he will yet increase the as
sessment value of this property to at
least $1,000 per acre. AS early as 1867
Mr.. BEAUDRY conceived the idea OF
throwing water on the hill lands by
means of steam power, and from time
to time he purchased these lands as
they were rendered him by those who
considered them worthless. To day
an abundance of excellent water Is
flowing over the highest parts, forced
there by an engine and pump through
a system of pipes designed to irrigate
the entire area, all costing not less
than $4,000. Mr.. BEAUDRY has ac-
complished this great work unaided
and alone. He has expended this vast
sum of money against the judgment
of his friends and amid the jeers of
the wise ones, who called him Wis.,
ionary. 1t is grand work, and in its
successful carrying out Mr.. BEAUDRY
has done more for Los Angeles than
any other of her enterprising citizens.
1t is such man as this that our city
will need at the head of her municipal
government in the future. Mr.. BEAU
DRY thoroughly understands the city's
wants. He became member of the
Common Council in December, 1871,
and has occupied a seat in that body
ever since. He has devoted much
time and study to street grading, the
drainage question and the water sys-
tem-three important problems which
must be solved by the city authorities
of next year. He Is man of superior
intelligence, untiring energy and the
purest integrity. With a Common
Council composed of such men as may
be, and, we hope, will be selected, and
with Mr.. BEAUDRY as Mayor, the muni-
cipal affairs of Los Angeles will be ably
and honestly conducted and the city
will begin to show those improve
ments to which her wealth and beauty
of location entitle her.