Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-07-03
Santa Monica in 1880.

The following is an extract from an
editorial published in the Santa Mon
ica HERALD on the 9Th of July, 1880:
The celebration of the 104th anniver-
sary Of American Independence yes
terday, was the grandest occasion
Santa Monica has ever witnessed. We
have seen the grand reception given
to King Albert Edward, of England,
on his arrival in the Great Eastern In
our beautiful bay; we witnessed the
enthusiasm on the occasion of Pres
dent GRANTS Inauguration of this as
the Summer capital for the third term;
we remember the triumphant return
Of Senator JONES from his visit to the
Emperors of Russia and Germany, but
all these sank into insignificance be-
fore yesterdays celebration. The
ancient triumphal entries of CAESAR
into Rome could only approach it in
magnificence and splendor, though in
point Of actual outlay, ours far exceed
ed the Roman fetes. This is the more
remarkable, as CAESAR had con-
quered world to draw upon, while Sem
ator JONES merely contributed the
profits Of a little venture in Wall
street, New York, in which CoMMo-
DoRE DREW, DANIEL GOULD and JAY
VANDERBILT were conquered. The
census which has been just taken,
shows population of LIS, 900, and
every citizen felt that he was rejoicing
over our youthful but wonderful city,
as well as celebrating the nations
birth. In this spirit of holy joy, the
day and evening passed. In the af-
ternoon President GRANT and Assist
ant President BABcoCK, accompanied
by the foreign minister's visited Sena-
tor JONES, and presented their congrat-
ulations on the triumph of bis idea.
Lord DUFFER, the British Minister,
presented cable congratulation from
King ALBERT EDWARD. while Prince
Won HAMMERsLoUGH handed the
Senator an autograph letter from BIS
MARCK himself. The Russian Emperor
charged Prince MErTERNIcH with a
special message to the Senator, which
had been delivered earlier In the day.
In the evening the JONES monument
was illuminated by means of electric
ity. Far out in the bay, this shaft of
light 44O feet high was well
come beacon to the. steamers seeking
our capacious harbor, President
GRANTS castle, on Federal Hill, was
surrounded by vast crowds listening
to the White House band of one hun
dred and eleven pieces, while the rep
resentative of the Viceroy of Egypt
had magnificent ballet troupe dane
ing in his orange grove, under the
glare of thousand jets of electric
light, thrown from his Summer foun-
tains. The festivities continued until
a late hour, and 1t rejoices us to be
able to announce that there was no
accident, though the steam fire EN-
gines were steamed up and the central
reservoir had 100000 gallons of
water ready to extinguish the slight
est confiagration. But. we desire
to warn our readers to be-
ware in this their day of triumph.
Our success has prompted others to
establish cities along the coast, which
they vainly hope will eclipse our COM
mercial Importance and diminish our
swelling population. In fact, the
alarming feature of people abandoning
the mines and farms and fiocking to
these cities, stares us in the face.
Mining, sheep-raising and agriculture
are neglected, and the interior is fast re-
lapsing into desert. This is wrong
state of affairs, and we trust these mis-
guided people will listen to reason,
return to their deserted ranches and
mines, thus restoring the proper equi-
librium of the commercial, agricul-
tural and mining interests. We hope
no federal legislation will be needed to
prevent this disastrous building up of
cities on the coast where commerce
does not demand them. In conclusion,
let them consider that there can only
be one Santa Monica, as there Is only
one JONES. He has shown his genius
in building up an immense city on a
barren coast, and while we bow down
to his commercial success, we believe