Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-01-01

lc. The panorama Wnlcn now uniolus
itself from the nelghboring hill-tops,
lovely and grand as it is, is but a faint
picture Of what future years will dis
close.
IT'S HISTORY.
We are accustomed to look upon Los
Angeles as the creation of the last few
years. Strictly speaking, it is, for she
did not enter upon her career of pros
perity till the influx of American pop
ulation had infused life and vigor into
her system, and showed to the world
what energy and capital could accom-
plish with such delightful climate,
and fertile soil. The foundation of
Los Angeles, however, dates back to
the Goth Of August, l7Sl. The Gov
ernor of California at that time, l..
Felipi de Nieve, issued an order di-
recting how the town should be laid
out, and where located, and The city
of the Queen of the Angels was
started by discharged Spanish SOL
dIers. The community numbered in
all As souls, of which % were children.
The growth Of the town was very slow,
being confined to the natural increase
of the pioneers, and additional SOL
diers as they were discharged from SER
vice and permitted to settle in the
place. In 1886 it was made a city, and
created the Capital of Alta California
by the Mexican Congress. 1t was the
Df ant fn
1916. At that time the city, for a
time, passed under the dominion OF
the Z. S. Army. After two sharply
contested battles, one at the San Ga
briel River crossing, and the other up
on the Mesa opposite the town, the
army of Gen. Kearney, Joined by a
detachment of Marines from Commo-
dOre Stockton's vessels, occupied the
place, but, though subsequently rein
forced by the forces of Gen. Fremont,
they were compelled by superior num-
bers to abandon their position and re-
treat to San Pedro. At the termina-
tion of the Mexican war, Los Angeles
had a population of 1000. The houses
and ill-paved, and there we're no fea-
lures to distinguish it from a regular
fourth rate Mexican settlement. In
1859 lericans and Europeans began
to cob. in and make improvements,
and the remarkable success which at
tended the efforts of the early Anglo
Saxon settlers soon attracted atten-
tion. The gold fever, however, was
drawing all the incoming population
of California Northword, and 1t Was
long ere the superb climate and fertile
soil of Southern California exerted
their due influence. About 1868 the
city began to improve rapidly. Ele-
CANT and substantial dwellings were
churches, hotels, school houses, banks,
manufacturing establishments, &C.,
began to spring up, and an American
city soon stood in the place of the un-
slightly Mexican settlement. The area
of the city Is now overl six square
miles and extending rapidly.
THE CONDITION OF SOCIETY
in Los Angeles, as elsewhere in Cali
fornia, is surprising to the new conner.
In commonwealth peopled by ad-
venturers from all parts of the world,
and where society has scarcely crys-
talized sufficiently to exert a strong
moral power over individuals, it would
not be a matter of surprise if lawless-
ness prevailed, and life and property
were insecure. But such is by means
the case. Indeed the records of ouf
courts will compare favorably with
those of any State in the Union. The
many avenues of remunerative occu-
patton, open to all, affords every one
the means of obtaining a livelihood.
Poverty it the most prolific source OF
crime, and one in good health in this
section need fear no want. Farm la
Dor is paid more than double what it
is worth in any Western State. The
mines are open to all, and any trades
man or artizan is sure of employment
at his proper vocation, and at large
wages. Indeed, there is no State in
the Union that offers such terms to in
dustry and skill. Under these circum-
stances there is comparatively little
law breaking, and life and property
are as safe as in the Oldest communi-
ty. In the rural districts bolts and
bars are unknown, and property is ex-
posed by the roadside in manner
which even seems reckless to the new
| conner.
THE COST OF SUBSISTENCE
in country producing such wonder
full variety of products is, of course,
reasonable. All the vegetables known
flourish during three-fourths of the
year, and in some sheltered localities
on the Southern mountain slopes, the
most tender plants grow dnring the
entire Winter. Meat is cheap, and
the cereals are abundant and sell at
comparatively low rates. House
keeping, therefore, costs no more than
in the most favored Western State,
and board can be had at from S4 to SIS
per week, the latter at good hotels and
restaurants.
| THE MINING INTEREST
of Los Angeles has not heretofore been
of much consequence, yet the first
gold discovered in California was in
the upper border of this county in 1888,
or fifteen years prior to the Sutter