The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-12-22
SECRETARY WOOD TALKS
ON BOOM ENGINEERING

The following address was made by
II. p. Wood, secretary of the Promo
ton Committee. at the meeting of the
Honolulu Engineering Association. 1t
is entitled Engineering a Boom"
Members of the Honolulu Engineering
Association.
Gentlemen: The Chairman of your
Association called upon me the other
day and in his nice persuasive way in
duced me to prepare a short paper to
be read before this meeting
The subject assigned was Engineer
ing Boom"
The idea seems to have become quite
prevalent that any one who may
have lived in Southern California
though only for a short period OF time
must be more or less conversant with
the mysterious force that has SO quick
ly and effectually created a magnifi-
cent productive territory in the midst
or semi-arid conditions.
The development of our great coun-
try was in the beginning slow and in
a measure uncertain, yet step by step
the pioneers of progress pushed their
way toward the setting sun. Once
loosened from its mornings along the
Atlantic the movement was irresist-
ible and as the ball of progress in
creased In size and momentum the
wilderness melted away; hamlets, VIII
lagos, cities grew, the plains became
dotted with happy, prosperous homes.
The great wealth OF our heritage at
tracted an ever increasing throng from
the less hospitable shores across the
Atlantic. At last with a mighty effort
the great barrier to the Western
march Of civiliza ton, the rugged peaks
of the Rocky Mountains were crossed
by tracks of iron, monuments to the
skill, energy and daring OF American
Engineers. The Atlantic Slope, the
Middle West had been conquered, the
domination of the Pacific was at hand.
Parties of hardy Adventures drawn
by the lure of gold had already dared
long sea voyages and toilsome. danger
Gus journeys across plain, desert and
mountain and were there to welcome
and guide the ever increasing throng
by whose efforts the wealth of the
mines soon became dimmed by the
golden fields of grain and countless
orchards OF luscious fruit.
The real pioneers of Pacific Coast
development. however, were the early
Franciscan Friars. Among the leaders
of this noble band OF men, no name is
more prominent than that of Padre
Junipero Sierra, man OF noble mis-
slonary spirit who journeyed from
Mexico bringing cattle. seeds of grain,
vegetables, fruits and flowers, his train
was also burdened with tools and i'm
m IA
foundation laid for the pastoral, Agri-
cultural and horticultural wealth of
California.
The last words of this grand old man
who died Aug. 2S. 1884, were Pray
we. therefore, the Lord of the Harvest,
that he send laborers into his Vine
yard" How fully his prayer has been
answered is evidenced by the popula-
ton. products and wealth OF the en-
tire Pacific Slope.
But II Is OF the boom days you wish
TO hear. my knowledge OF which will
be best summed up In a brief his
tory Of one City and one Man.
In the year 1867 the old side wheeled
steamer Orizaba, that piled between
San Francisco and Panama, landed a
couple OF passengers near the center
Of the waterfront OF the present city
OF San Diego, The old town OF the
same name lay some four miles 10 this
north one OF the passengers was Mr..
A. w. Horton, Father Horton, as he IL
now aneetl0nately called, man "
temperament and indomit-
able energy Ito had heard OF the
beautiful bay ana charming climate Of
san Diego from a wandering lecturer
ana waA ~ impressed with lts poaal-
billiies that no az once proceeded %
close out his business w san Fran
olnno laklBE tbs lrnt steamer Tor the
k0uih, AfisT being carried ashore
through the mud, M Horton, walked