Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-10-03
TEN YEARS.
Doings of a Decade History of the
Herald-Blood VIII Tell--Prog-
ress of the Country.


Herald Blood viii Tell-Prog-
ress of the Country.
EDITOR Los ANGELES DAILY HERALD:--
Ten years ago, to-day, the first num-
ber Of the Angeles DAILY HERALD
appeared before the world as an inde-
pendent journal. 25xS6. published by C.
A Storke, Esq. After few weeks effort
at what is called an Independent posi-
tion in politics, the policy of the paper
became Democratic. aud has since re-
mained so. The present editor and pro-
prietor of the HERALD was then editor
OF very lively sheet called the World,
which he was publishing at San Diego.
The writer hereof has recollection of
being the author of the first article, in
the first column, Of the first page, of the
first number of the DAILY HERALD. The
HERALD started on the spot. where it is
still published, on Spring street, oppo
site the end OF Market street, and strug.
gled through years Of adversely till it
now appears to be on the topinost wave
OF success, which il has earned through
years of toll and ceaseless energy. At
that time the Daily Star was published
as a morning journal by Major Ben G.
Truman, and the Ecening Eapress by
George A. Tiffany, with James J. Ayers,
editor. The changes in this city and
county since the establishment of the
HERALD are very noticeable.
AT that time Judge r. NJ. Widney
was District Judge in the rooms now
occupied by Judge SepuIveda, andJudge
II. X. S. 0'Melverny was County Judge
in the rooms now occupied by Judge
Howard. Frank Burns was Sheriff OF
the county, Hon. z. d. Mott was
Recorder, c. w. Gould, Auditor, and
A. w. Potts, County Clerk. The Mayor
of the city was ]. r. Toberman, Esq,
and "a. w. Hutton, Esq, was City At
torney. and George H. Peck County
School Superintendent. r. ]. Wolf was
then City Marshal, or Chief of Police,
and NJ. Kremer City Clerk. There was
at that timcsnot street en- an estab-
lished grade for single block, and not
sidewalk extending the length OF
block. No street railway was in the
city, and the only steam railway was
that of the Southern Pacific Railroad
from Wilmington to Commercial street,
distance of twenty-five miles. A gang
of men were at work grading through
the bluff on the east side of the river for
the track of the Southern Pacific Rail
road.
An exciting election had recently been
held to decide whether the county
should vote a subsidy TO the Texas < Pa
ciiic OF to ths Southern Pacific Railroad.
A pamphlet prepared by Judge Widney,
entitled (which Subsidy shall / Vote
For? Shall Vote Against Both! :" This
pamphlet showed by unerring logic that
it was for the interest of the people to
vote for subsidy to the Southern Pa
cific Railroad. This was circulated far
and wide and its logic was convincing
and figures indisputable, aud the sub
sidy was carried, which donated bonds
amounting to s377,0Oo. at : per cent.
per annum, to the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company, the Interest on which
is much less than the taxes which the
railroad company pays into the County
Treasury.
After this election the Southern Pa
cific Company at once commenced active
work, and the result as set forth in that
pamphlet. that nowlies before the writer,
has been more than fulfilled, with three
transconIinental railways and lateral
railways in every direction. From that
time Los Angeles commenced rapid
Improvement that has never stopped.
Even in the dull times largs buildings
were erected, and manufactures estab-
lished without hesitation or stint.
1t is only truth to say that the HERALD
has championed faithfully theinterestsaf
the country at all times and in all sea-
sons, wet or dry. When that Journal was
started the Pico House was new, the
Cosmopolitan had not been built, the
St. Charles was the Bella Union, the
Grand Central was not known, the Unit
ed States Hotel was about half its present
size, the site of the Baker block was
one-story adobe, as was also the site Of
Dotter & Bradley's, the Kurtz building.
the fine building of L. J. Rose, w. Fer
guson and the .Signoret buildings. In
fact. Main street, Spring street and
First street have been utterly trans6g-
ured during that period. and the same
may be said Of Los Angeles street and
dozen other streets. All the church edi-
fees in the city, except the church of
Our Lady of Angels, have been built,
and all the good school houses, except
the High school building, have been
erected since the HERALD first appeared.
The population of the city has tripled
and the vote of the county OF Los Ange-
les has doubled in the same time.
Ten years ago there was no grain field
in San Fernando. The only wheat
field was piece Of about
400 acres belonging to the late
Hon. B. D. Wilson, where part of
Pasadena now rests in beauty. All the
-four, lard, bacon, pork, apples, and
nearly all the potatoes were then brought
from San Francisco. Pasadena, the Al
hambra, Pomona, San Fernando Except
the Mission buildings), Newhall, La
Canada, Santa Monica, Cahuenga, Nor
walk, Downey City, Placentia, Orange.
Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Ontario, Ell.
wanda, Hermosa, Cncamonga Colony,
and Orangethrope were unknown. A few
houses had been erected at Orange and
Santa Ana, but they were not known as
settlements with name attached.
Since 1873 all the oil wells in this
county have been sunk. and the coal
mines opened. At the time of the birth
of the HERALD there was not single
first-class house in ike whole San Ca
bsiel Valley. where now are a score Of
the best villas in the State, and hun.
dreds Of other houses Of comfort and
elegance. No fruit driers or canneries
or packing houses were then to be seen
where now are dozen; while l5,0OO,-
900 grapevines and 2,0O0,00O fruit trees
show the horticultural work of the de-