The herald., 1898-03-13

80
none had he ever felt more happy than the
present, when he had the opportunity of
attending the celebration in person and
congratulating the people of Nordhon and
the Ojai valley upon the entrance OF the
much needed railroad. The valley had not
been open before and its progress in many
ways had been retarded, but the result
with the incoming of the railroad could not
be doubtful. This beautiful valley, pock-
eted in the mountains, would soon be
paradise. There have been various stages
In the development of California, he said.
First, that of the gold mining, then the
time when the stock jobber manipulated
things and later when the boom reached
Southern California. But within the last
few years the development of the country
has been effected by the Drawn and muscle
of the people. He congratulated the peo-
pie and paid glowing tribute to the en-
ergy of Captain Cross in bringing them
within closer touch to the outside world.
w. c.. Patterson followed in the same
vein. He said that If he was able he would
like to spend thirteen months of the year
with the people of Ojai. They were to be
congratulated upon getting connection
with the outside world. but the outside
world was to be more congratulated upon
getting connected with them.
There were cries of Brooks following
the conclusion of Mr.. Patterson's remarks.
But the noble j. Marion was nowhere to be
found. Ventura county. and the Ojai val
ley in particular, are his old stamping
ground. and he and Bill Williams are fay-
orites there. A searching party was dis
patched in quest of Mr.. Brooks. and after
dusty chase discovered him leaning
against a tree wrestling with "twofer,"
winch had been presented to him by
former client who had hoped to retaliate for
an old score. Mr.. Brooks could not lie
pursuaded to address the crowd unit! he
had consumed his cigar, so during his alb
sence Ex-Governor Lionel Sheldon of Pas
adena spoke. He said that he and Captain
Cross had attended the same college and
that their profession had told them that a
man to succeed must remember the quota
tlOn what was a mountain to a man."
ms advice Captain Cross had followed.
captain Cross was like Napoleon, the
speaker said. He had mounted the obsta-
cles and built the road into Nordhoff ma
ture in its creation and Chas. Nordhoff in
his literature have made your valley i'm
mortal
When Governor Sheldon had finished
speaking the missing Brooks was escorted
in triumph to the platform by Assistant
District Attorney Williams, who intro
duced Mr.. Brooks as perfect stranger
who had said that he had been expelled
from the Campbcllite church because of
his association with williams.
Mr.. Brooks said that 1t had been twenty
seven years ago since he had first enjoyed
hunting cotton-tail rabbits over Ojai val
ley He had seen many of those present
grow up and he knew their fathers and
mothers before them, and If he had ever
done anything wrong in his life 1t had been
due to Bill Williams, and with this sally
at the expense of the assistant district at
torney Mr.. Brooks retired amid cheers
and laughter.
Mayor NJ. p Snyder was received with
enthusiasm and made a short talk, in
which he felictated Captain Cross and the
people of the Ojai valley and expressed the
hope that the good work of developing and
opening the Ojai valley would go on.
w. Blackstock of Ventura was called for
and he made his appearance with the
cheers of his friends ringing in his ears.
While the people of Ojai were greatly in
terested in the railroad the people of Ven
tura were also interested because the road
was necessary to the latter to enable them
to go to Nordhoff to get thawed out when
they had been frozen out in their homes
He referred to the visit of himself and
several others some time ago for the pur-
pose of asking the people of the valley to
subscribe to a narrow gauge railroad, but
a man. who did not fail, had come to him
and asked that they go in and help build
a broad gauge road. Unfortunately the
Ventura people had not then been suffi-
ciently broad gauge enough for 1t, but
agreed to stand aside and allow that man
to try. In the face of opposition he had
succeeded. The people of the Ojai valley
ought to be grateful to Captain Cross, as
than he ever would, andsthey could well
build a statue to their benefactor He pro-
posed three cheers for Captain Cross
which were given with the greatest en-
thusiasm, and then District Attorney ].
A. Donnell spoke. He said he had heard
of the Ojai valley ten years ago, but never
before that day visited it. He had, how
ever, seen many beautiful valleys in Cali
fornia, but could say with truth that he
had never before viewed such little
gem as the Ojai. The people ought to feel
grateful to Captain Cross. through whose
energy prosperity was in store for them.
Frank Sabchi followed With a neat
little speech in which he, as a native son,
welcomed the improvements made in CAL
ifornia, whether in this section or else
where. He was proud to call Captain
Cross his friend.
w. ]. Variel made a short address. in
which he said the prosperity of the nation
was due largely to the railroads. Captain
Cross made a brief speech. thanking the
people for their reception and expressing
confidence in that section.
Inc return TO the-cfty was made without
incident and ali the participants were
unanimous in declaring the day one of
unalloyed pleasure, and drafted the fol-
lowing vote of thanks to their host:
We, citizens of Los Angeles, extend to
Captain John Cross vote of thanks for
the courtesy and hospitality extended to us
in arranging for the pleasant excursion
from Los Angeles to Ojai valley on the oc-
casion of the opening of the Ventura and
Ojai Valley railroad. We all thoroughly
enjoyed the liberal hospitality and offer
him our best wishes for the success of his
enterprise. (Signed) F. w. Braun, Max
Meyberg, S. T. M. Little, H. w. Patton.
j. A. Donnell, j. Marion Brooks, R. B.
Kidd. M. p. Snyder, John III. Drain, f. S.
Sabichi, John A. Pirtle, VIM. j. Variel w.
T. Williams. l.. A. Sheldon, Geo. H. Stew
art, W. G. Patterson w. II. Hallett, Geo
II. Bonebrake. Chas. Forman, Muriel Ir-
win. Warren Gillelen, w. l.. Graves. N. P.
Conroy, ]. w. Mckinley, c. T. johnson,
Farley M. Johnson.
Among the others in the party We're: Mrs.
w. l.. Graves, Mrs. Halett, Mrs Mollie
Skinner, Master Phillip Byrnes Cross and
Mrs. Captain Cross.
The officers of the new line are: Captain
John Cross. president and general man.
ger; A. P. Cross. vice-president and super
intendent; j. e. Loomis, secretary; Geo.
Lake, general passenger and ticket agent;
Il. Lownes. chief engineer; board of di-
rectors, John Cross. A. p. Cross, ]. E.
Loomis, N. p. Conroy, S. r. Thorpe of Los
Angeles, G. w. Crisman, J. s. Collins of
Ventura. The new road will run two trans
daily. connecting with the Southern Pacific