The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-29
THREE MEN OWN
A COMMONWEALTH
Administer Laws on Island and
Collect Rents and License
for Merchants.

Los Angeles, Cal, Nov. 29.--TWenty
miles from the California coast lies a
private commonwealth which a compar7
atively few years ago was bought for
100000, but is today valued at $40 ,OOO.-
It is the island Of Santa Catalina,
whereon is found municipality con-
tanning population Of 200 merchants
and their families, government post
office, presided over by a regularly APP
pointed official, a Justice Of the peace,
two churches, Catholic and Protestant,
all owned and controlled by three broth
ers, whose business is to attract people
| to this sun-kissed isle for purposes Of
| recreation and health.
that exists on Santa Catalina puzzle
to the judicial mind OF to the expert in
the study Of government, whether state,
municipal or rural. Such absolute pri-
vate ownership is probably unknown in
the United States. .rst /; ...
Santa Catalina is ,twenty-one miles
long and eight miles wide. It has
two towns, Avalon and Cabrillo. being
on the island where the tourists and
summer visitors in multiplied numbers
congregate.
This domain is part of a Spanish
grant dedicated at one time to the. use
| tuQ COullOIJ Ol DUu Ou0 C1IIl6
governor of California. He sold this
island to the Lick estate, and then it
came into the possession Of the father
Of the present owners, Phineas Banning
Of Wilmington. =, ,>.-... j. =. -
Paid 100000, Ask $7o,ooo,ooo.
This locally famous father paid $780,.
900 for this island that springs SO bold.
ly from the depths of the peaceful Pa
| cific The price now asked for the
island is SD, 100000. This latter RI figure Sre
somewhat indicates the enormous value
the three native-born Californian
brothers. Before the aged Banning came
into possession certain individuals ha6
bought lots in Avalon from the Lick
estate. For one Of these lots, that cost
an old settler 5000, there was bid $50, 00(
last year, and the offer was refused
the grave, but he has two sons who are
these boys he prefers to leave his prop
, erty. Enough lots were sold to estab
, lish the right Of public domain; street.
; were established, and now the entir'
poses a part of the great world Of south
ern California. ,'..~' t->:r -
; It is to the expenditure. management
and advertisement Of the Bannings tina
the island owes it's popularity. Excep
the brass band supplied nature fur
,nishes all the charms to the weary trav
eler or inquisitive tourist. Thousand
Of the inhabitants. of southern Califor
MIA and Arizona in the summer time fe
to this magic isle, where the eterna
zephyrs Of the Pacific continually chas
around the island. In the winter tim
ever on the go thru California visits thi
remote spot and takes a brief menta
photograph Of the precipitous hills
laround which the blue waters of tn
Pacific, suraess, ebb and flow.
Five steamers are engaged continual
Ily hauling freight and passengers t.
the island; each traveller pays So TO
this trip of forty miles; two of tn
steamers can accommodate. fifteen hun
dred persons eachi ethe Hest~are5 merel.
tbig tugbeats. 9zz@,s..;.=5sz, sfs1 t:;:::;5.,@
Where the Big Revenue Comes From.
A conservative estimate Of the mum
Thor of no SeanOoru -, ,Ioor Sc EOO