The herald., 1894-01-01
1t Was a Year of Most Excellent
Progress.
A Seaside Resort for Which Nature
Has Done Her Best.
Port Los Angeles and Its MsgnIfcen t
Wharf-A Passing Glance at the
Features CT the Busy Lit
tie city.
"Look at her here, look at her there,
Criticise her everywhere;
She in most Derfart and pnm nlata -

chaAhfou AhAuos Wttu as Meuy ultotbl-
fed meanings as there are shades of
character in mankind.
To one it vividly calls forth memories
Of social gayety, to another the pleas
urss Of outdoor sports, to the third beau
tiful, r-bedecked homes on shady
streets. with cultivated people abiding
there.
Some have the music of the waves in
mind with the luxuries of the surf or hot
baths. To parents, good schools, with
an excellent free library and reading
room, appeal with force. The church
goer will remember the voice of ia
vored prelate within one OF her churches,
the artist his longings to reproduce
sunset, and the lover OF the picturesque
her beautiful cations. She has q special
charm for each and attractions for all.
1t is in this cosmopolitan eharac.
teristic which peryades both her natural
and artificial features wherein lies her
greatest strength, and upon which in
the future will be built one of the gay
est resorts, busiest of cities, and a per-
feet sanitarium ''for the healing of the
nations"
A YEARS PROGRESS.
As we bid goodbye to 1913 Santa
Monica and her many friends can take
great pride in reviewing the years
progress, every branch and department
OF civilized life feeling it alike.
The year has been particularly busy
one to Santa Monica's 2500 inhabitants,
in wharf building, increasing transpor-
tation facilities, building new brick
blocks and residences, adding TO the
old, increasing her educational advan
tages, grading more streets, laying ce-
ment sidewalks, making her excellent
library free, and in thousand and one
ways adding to her attractiveness as
place Of residence or business; a retreat
for pleasure seekers and paradise for in
valids.
There has been expended during the
year in Improvements over 81 10000, OF
which 100000 was expended by the
Southern Pacific ON wharf. etc. 100000
on new buildings and residences, $780,
600 at the Soldiers home, $50 900 in i'm.
proving buildings constructed prior to
January l, 1894: street work, $25, 900;
electric lignr plant, $4,000; improving
system OF water company, $4,000;
additions to business enterprise, $15,-
900 ;cafion development, $4,000.
1t ia q record in which any place
should take just pride, and worthy of
emulation.
Besides being an ocean terminus of
two transcontinental lines, Santa Mon
lea has attractions of q varied and nu-
merous character. including fine busi-
ness blocks and handsome residences,
first.class hotels and superior educa-
tional advantages, including high school
and free library; churches OF six
different denominations and 10 secret
organizations, pure water and q
model water system, sound bank and
good business houses. There is a fine
beach, gentle surf and good bathing fa-
cilities. Ocean Front park is to be inn
proved in the near future, IA miles of
cement sidewalk and nine miles OF
graded streets are to be made. Low tax
alton prevails and good city govern
ment. There are picturesque cailons
and different drive for every day in the
month. Good fishing, hunting and all
kinds of out door sports, including
yachting, polo and tennis. There is a
fine system of electric lights. 1t has a
most genial climate and fertile coil.
What more can one want2
A PEEP THROUGH AN OPEN DOOR.
As 1894 opens the door, giving us ad-
misrion to the new year, one finds much
work OF highly progressive character
already cut out and shortly to be started
by the willing hands of her citizens.
those in position to know stating that
1894 will eclipse all the past in progress
and development.
There will be the. rejuvenation of the
old Los Angeles and Pacific road; the
building of an electric line; the opening
of the San Vicente rancho for settlement
at least the part owned by Senator
Jones the building of the new bathing
establishment of the North Beach Bath
House company several brick blocks, a
new school house for the South Side and
q number of new and handsome resi-
dences. There will be O continuance OF
street improvements. The Southern
Pacific will continue expending money
in needed improvements OF o right
character, and land and water improve
ments of greater magnitude than were
ever before contemplated at the city by
the sea.
THE BIG WHARF.
The building of the mammoth wharf
at Santa Monica, and the eopening OF new
port there called Port Los Angeles are
events worthy of special mention by the
HERALD, the first journal to give the
glad news OF its approaching construc-
tion some two years ago. We take as
much pleasure in chronicling its COM
pletion, ETC., in our review number and
rejoice with the entire population of
Santa Monica and Southern California
in its completion and in the commerce
it will bring to her shores.
Mr.. Thomas Thomson, president OF
the Thomson Bridge company, arrived
at Santa Monica on July Is, 1892. and,
after building pile-driyer, etc, drove
the first pile in the mammoth structure
ON July 26, 1892, from which time they
kept hammering away until the summer
OF 1893, when the immense pile OF wood,
iron and rock was accepted, and the
finest, longest, strongest and best
equipped wharf on the Pacific coast was
completed and ready for commerce.
The whole structure is 1870 feet long,
of which the approach part, as it is
called, is 1920 feet long and ~ feet wide,
and was completed on December "a,
1898. There are eight piles in each
bent, In groups of three, two being
driven croesways for braces thus break
ing completely ths breakers swelis and
power. The bentH are 16 feet apart, and
the niles. which are OF Oregon pine are