The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-29

to the grant, as shown by the documents
on file. a commission was appointed and
held a session in Los Angeles, February
5, 1856 The commission rendered a de-
cision that part of the claim of the mayor
and common council was valid and that
part was invalid. The part declared
valid had reference to four square leagues
OF land. The part declared invalid COW
cred mostly lands further 10 the west and
south.
'Thers is a sort of hiatus in the docu-
ments here, fron which infer that there
was good deal of litigation. The next
document shows that notice OF the plat
and survey was advertised in the Los
Angeles Express, July i6. 1873, ana At
gust 8, 1873. 1t was also advertised in the
San Francisco Chronicle, July II, 1873,
and August Z, 1873.
THE final document granting the land
to the mayor and common council of the
city of Los Angeles contains this clause ::
1t is granted With the stipulation that in
virtue of the fifteenth section of said act,
that neither the confirmation of this said
claim nor this patent shall affect the in
terest of third persons.
1.-The map which is on file with these
papers shows that the lands in question
contained II, 172 37-100 acres. From
pencil endorsement on the side OF the
map [ infer that certificate of the plat was
furnished to one H. Beard, July %,
1907
In this letter from the department of
the interior we have the answer to the
question, Why did the home authorities
lay ont the CITY with its present bound
aries, instead of gong further and includ-
ing the pueblo lands? The answer plain
ly is, that the home authorities did not
themselves SO limit the territorial extent
of the city. They petitioned the govern
ment at Washington for much larger
territory for. in fact. that which would
have included the whole of the pueblo
lands. Had their petition been granted
in full, the present south and west boun-
daries would be almost exactly coinci-
dent with the boundaries now sought to
be established IN the project OF annexa-
ton. Where Vernon is there were pu-
eblo lands; where Rosedale is, and out to
Western avenue, there were pueblo lands
interspersed with government lands.
Those who have read Bancrofts History
OF the Pacific Coast will not need to be
informei that, in the early years of Los
Angeles, and down to a time since the &C.
QUESTION of California, the people resid-
ing on those pueblo lands-about one
quarter of the entire popuaton-we
counted as portion of the population of
Los Angeles III every census, for what
evei purpose taken. When. in 1855, as in
1880, it was ascertained and reported that
Los Angeles contained so many inhabit-
was meant that that number of people
resided in the pueblo and on the pueblo
lands that is to say, within and up to
the boundary lines now marked out in
the present scheme of annexation. BY
voting the scheme up, the electors will
simply vote to recover, or restore terri
tory once practically part of the city,
but lost for a time through faulty repre-
sensations made at Washington. This
same argument would also appear to be
good. 80 far as tbs question of annexation
is of interest to the people residing Just
beyond the eastern bouhdaryof the city.
Had the petition OF the home author-
ties been granted in full, it is not doubted
but that the city would number many
M ore people than actually it now does,
nor that it would be far richer in fine res,
idence buildings and attractive family
seats. Few people not farmers ever settle
down from choice near large city; they
all prefer to be right IN the city. Least
of ali do people like to locate Just beyond
touching distance OF the outskirts of a
large town; for half mile or so over the
border there is generally an undesirable
district that is slow to improve, however
respectable and worthy the people may
be that reside there.
1t is precisely SO i'll all cities. Chicago
{ Los Angeles, the enterprising as Will as
the bea utiful, will not hesitate to take
examples from Chicago has never ad-
vanced except through anneXations.
There must be abundant room in a city
for those looking towards it; not only
room now, but pros pective also. There
was no overflow of population on the
north of Chicago (the human tide was
BOD l,ctn 10 g