Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-02
THE DEPOT BALL.
An Evening Of Uninterrupted
Festivity.
VERY HANDSOME DECORATIONS
Addresses by Mayor Brys0n and
General Hewitt-The Rail-
road Reviewed.

The dedication ball with which the
Wolfskill Depot was opened on New
Years eve and briefly referred to in yes
terday's HERALD, will always be remem-
bered in railroad circles as one of the
most successful gatherings of the kind
ever held. The proceedings we're in the
hands of Paradise Lodge No. "a, Brother
hood of Railroad Brakemen, and nothing
that could in any way insure the success
Of the affair was left undone. The depot
building was decorated in most tasteful
manner, flowers and bunting being liber-
ally distributed, while the presence of
railroad emblems added an effect to the
scene that only those in the business
could thoroughly enjoy. At 7 O'Clock
the lights were all turned on and huge
headlight which had been placed at the
main entrance on Fifth street sent glare
along the road, lighting up the way for
the many visitors who came in from
the central part of the city. The
principal throng came, however, from
San Fernando street depot, where a
band of sixteen pieces played from un-
ill 8 o'clock, number of French s.lec-
tions being given in honor of the Coqulin-
Hading troupe, which had arrived in
special car on No. II, and waited here for
fifty minutes. At O'Clock a start was
made for the scene of pleasure, the spe-
sial train of six coaches which had been
provided by the Southern Pacific being
crowded to overfowing. On arriving at
the Wolfskill depot a rush was made for
the chief wsiting-room so as to secure
good seats for the literary exercises,
which were opened by Mayor Bryson
with the following address:
MAYOR BRYsoN's ADDRESS.
LApIIs AND GENTLEAEN-I feel my duty to-
night In opening this great monu ment of enter
prise, one of unusual importance. The first
question asked by stranger, accustomed to
the magnificent scale of tn = Eastern Cities on
his arrival In the cities on this coast is usually
cisco cannot answer this in the affi firmative, and
1t becomes a matter of congralulation to Los
Angeles that she can say to-day that in her linn
the kind on the coast This is DUE of course
to the fsrsigntednsss of the Southern Pacific
Company, who were the first to recognize years
ago the high promise Of the southern part OF the
State. and were the first to make an iron
pathway and open. an artery of travel
from The metropolis OF the coast to
bQG small tOWu O1 LUb AuReleE, WQ1cn
through this and other more recent connec-
tions has steadily and phenomenally grown in
size, until to-day it is the great and wonderful
capital Of Southern California. have high
admiration for the men who follow your
calling, gentlemen of the Order Of Railroad
Brakeinen, knowing how thonghtless, thank-
less and ungrateful the ordinary public is to
the risks you constantly undergo, and how de-
pendent their lives are to your intelligence and
fidelity. l am very glad to be able to psy trib-
ute to You as class, and hope that the step
ka aiohf tiv,r 10 ho
structure will prove most arspic;cGs enc
congratulate you on the excellent way in which
your arrangements have been carried out and
able evening and happy New Year"
A thunder OF applause rang out when
the speaker finished and was echoed and
re-echoed when General E. E. Hewitt
rose to his feet to respond for the rail-
road. He spoke as follows:
SUPERINTENDENT E. E. HBwITr's ADDRESS.
beg to assure you that feel greatly honored
in being selected by the Brotherhood to respond
70 the very pleasing address Just delivered by
my friend, His Honor Mayor Bryson; but those
who expect from me anything that even bor-
ders upon an oratorical display will, regret 10
aay, be disappointed, as do not by nature or
training pos ess any OF the attributes of pub
writing such thoughts as occurred to me as
fitting for this occs ssion, which, with your kind
permission, will read in conversational sort
Flrst allow me TO congratulate the Brother
hood upon the success tnat has attended their
efforts to bring about this re union of the or
and in respectability, would be difficult to sur
pass on any event of the kind, and should be
recognised by you as token that you have the
eitiseIs and also Of your co-worfers in all the
departments of railroad service.
think this an appropriate time to take
brief reminiscent view Of the beginning aud
nf railroad hnildin0 In
county. Prior to 1868 all the travel was done
by stages, or horseback or by private convey
ance, and all the merchandise, lumber and pro
ducts of tt county were transferred by teams
But great change was soon to follow. During
the session of the Legislature OF 1s66-67, Gen
eral Phineas Banning, who was member
succeeded in p ssing a bill granting
franchise to the Los ANGELES and San Pedro
Railroad Company. The first directors of this
J. G. Downey, Don Mateo Keller, DR.. J. 8. Grit
IN. Hon B. ID, Wilson, Mr. Wallace Woodwork
aud Mr.. o. W. Childs. Mr.. H. B. Tichnor,
and monied power Of the enterprise. Messrs.
Banning, Keller and Wilson OF the directory,
and Mr.. Tichnor, the contractor. have passed
directory are still with u.s. honored mem bers s Of
pride the results Of the work they helped to in.
sugnrate. Ground was broken in September,
1887, and the road completed and opened
for business in october, 1868 This enter
prise gave Los Angeles city It's first
upward bound In 1868 there were less than a
dozen two-story buildings in the place, and its
population, / would say, did not exceed 5000.
There was ihe n no East Los Angeles, no Bo, lie
q reoklyn Heights, no city on the Hill, no
street rallrosd-and no Colonel Banbury.
Where Mayor Brysons magnificent block
stsn 10 was far outside of the business portion
OF the city No one present need be told what
Los Angeles and its surroundings are to-day
or what Colooel Banbury's majority was. Los
Angeles Is the Queen City of the South, situated
IN the faire.t land on earth. The Los Angeles
and san Pedro Railroad was purchased by tie
Southern Pacific Railroad, the latter company
assuming control of the property July 1, 1878
A. Lang's Station, on September g., 1875. the
last spike was driven, giving this city all rsil
connection with San Francisco From the small
beginning just outlined, behold what we
have in the county to-day. The Southern
racihc Company is operating 222 miles and
miles. Besides these there are other steam
rosds Of considerable magnitude, aud almost
tnnumerable street lines. We are also on the
lire OF two trunk railroads, which carry pas
sengers M GER ana g heighs ,y to every important point
permit me to say q word to my friends, the
brakemen. 1t is from the ranks of brakemen
that conduct tors on all well regulated roads are
selected, and it may also be said that
In the operating department are from the
roster # conduc ors. There are innumerable
instances whero railroad presidents, general
i%an:Sers n general asendents ard others
reer IS brakemen. Vice-President and Gen.
eral Manager Towne and General Superintend
ont umcre are among those who rose from
the rank OF brakemen to their present exalted
positions. good brakeman In nearly all cases
makes good conductor. I would therefore
encourage every brakeman to strive for promo
ton, which he Can only attain by integrity,
no m, Apn0 Il md eh Ill