The herald., 1894-01-15
LRBAT THINGS AHEAD FOR THE CITY
BY THE SEA.

The pretty little city OF Santa Monica
has played in hard luck for a good many
years, but the signs are multiplying
that her evil days are about over, and
that career OF great prosperity lie about
to set in for the City by the Sea. The
city already possesses one OF the most
attractive seaside hotels on the sou thern
coast. She has a great wharf, for Santa
Monica proper, before many years, will
reach up to the depression in the bluff
which forms old Santa Monica cefion.
While the place has not yet attained
the distinction OF a fashionable water
ing place, it is nevertheless admitted
on all hands that it is better adapted to
that purpose than any other beach on
the Pacific coast. Those who cannot be
content without endorsement from
abroad may pick up the book
covering his American trip writ
ten by DR.. Eussel-known as
"Pull Run Russell"-the famous war
correspondent OF the London Times,
and they will end that he pronounces it
the most perfect bathing beach he ever
saw. d. Rassell inspected Santa Mon
lea in company with the Duke OF Suther
land and his party. and throughout his
whole book the only words OF unstinted
praise he employs as to anything seen
by him in the United States are confined
to the beach at Santa Monica and to the
Yosemite. Santa Monica could get
along very we'll without the praise OF
this distinguished foreigner, but it is
Just as we'll 10 have auch an unbought
tribute. Possibly the presence OF the
large number OF English men who are
now there may be largely attributed to
the doctors cordial feeling for the place.
The English colony In the City by the
Sea is already quite considerable and it
will doubtless be largely increased.
While our noted watering place
can scarcely bs said as yet to
have achieved much in the way
OF pretentious architecture or elabor-
ately ornamented grounds, it has
nevertheless made a fair beginning.
During tho coming summer this start
will be greatly improved upon. The
completion of the coast road will make
Santa Monica the greatest seaside resort
on the Pacific coast and one Of the
greatest in tine world. Fashion and busi-
ness will both combine to put the stamp
of pre-eminence upon the place, 80 Ca
pable OF being made resplendent.
One thing has undoubtedly largely
contributed to hold Santa Monica back,
and that is the fact that the large rancho
Sa1 Vicente y Santa Monica has hith-
erto remained undivided. We learn
that this will be the case no longer.
The Messrs. John P. Jones and R. S.
Baker have reached an understanding
as 60 their respective interests, and
large tracts of the property aligning upon
and adjacent to Santa Monica, and in
elusive of the city itself, will be placed
upon the market on terms most advan-
tageous to the purchaser. In addition,
the old bath house-which has been
frequented by our people for nearly
twenty years--is already in process of
demolition, and will soon be q tradition
of the past. 1t will be replaced by a
structure which will have no rival on
this coast or on the Atlantic, for that
matter. This will be great addition
to the attractions of the place.
How well We remember when Santa
Monica started The opening auction
sale OF lots was attended by a large con-
course from Los Angeles, the bidding
was spirited and the sales large. The
silver-tongued orator OF Nevada, the
Hon. Tom Fitch, conducted the business
affairs of the infant city, and certainly
its claims lost nothing in his presenta-
ton. There was an atmosphere OF the
bonanza days in the whole transac-
tion-the sale took place in July, 1876
and money was then as plenty as huckle-
berries on an eastern mountain side
in June. Senator John 2. Jones had
started out to build railroad to Inde
pendence. in Inyo county, to reach his
Panamint mines, and to develop the inter
mediate country, which was known to
be rich in minerals both base and
precious, His enterprise was called the
Los Angeles and Independence railway
He built the road between this city and
he eea, which s now known as the
Santa Monica branch OF the Southern
Pacific r.:lway. 1t was bold under
taking at the time, for even the compile
fion of the Southern Pacific to Los Ange-
es was only celebrated year later, that
co say, in 1875. 1t was charac eristic
of this inGomitsble man that he not
My built thls road as lar as Los An /.
seles out OF his own pocket, but he had
partially tunneled through the Csjon