Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1905-10-08
Written for The Herald by Rev. Padre c
Juan CabaIleria !

Written for The Herald by Rev. Padre
Juan Caballera
THE original FL Canine Real which,
it is expected, is now to be re-
stored, ran from San Gabriel to
its northern neighboring mission and
came via Los Angeles, then through
Cahuenga pass to San Fernando.
The Plaza of those days was the CEN
ter of Los Angeles. From the Plaza
the Canine Real started to Cahuenga.
Since the Canine Real was abandoned
buildings have been erected which will
have to be removed to reopen it again.
TIE opening of Sunset boulevard to
the Plaza will re-establish with very
little difference the way of the Canine
Real, and there is no objection that
said boulevard be considered a part of
it, as near as possible, to Cahuenga.
To open Sunset boulevard twelve
feet of the priests home of the Old
Mission of the Plaza will be sacrificed,
which will be of great benefit for the
old mission rector, as it will give more
light and ventilation and enable the
house to be remodeled.
FL Canine Real, in proper English
THE Royal Pathway means moth
ing else than an official road from one
place to another. The Romans were
the first builders of distant trails and
ways and roads so as to connect the
Immortal city with every one of the
provinces of the empire. Inasmuch as
possible all the roads that were built
were connected to a direct one, and
that is why it became a saying in those
early DAYS that all roads led to Rome.
One of the ancient roads was one traV-
ersed by Hannibal who crossed all
over Spain and southern France, pass
ing over the Apennines to the Eternal
city. Spain gave to Rome learned
philosophers and powerful emperors,
who built near Seville magnificent pal
aces whose ruins are an admiration of
archaeology. And it is said that the
Roman emperors periodically crossed
over d magnificent pathway to go from
their Eternal city to their glorious
palaces in southern Spain.
After the fall of the Roman empire
the roads were much neglected on ac-
count of the political conditions of Eu-
rope, except, perhaps, in Spain, where
necessity made them useful during the
Moorish wars. With the invention of
the Carreta the routes had to be of easy
grade and smooth, and from early days
the Spanish government kept with ex-
cellent care the ways fitted for the
carreta-WhiCh were called carreteras
Inasmuch as civilization had adj
vanced and the increase or the bust
ness world and transportation aug
mented, the keeping up of the carre-
teras in good state of preservation was
considered duty of the state. Special
laws We're then given for the punish
ment of any one who would interfere
with travellers and the good preserVa-
ton of roads, and the kings of Spain i'm
order to make more safe some carre-
teras set them apart as caminOs realCs,
o. royal roads. which We're kept with
special care and under the surveillance
of particular guards.
At the beginning of the seventeenth
century the Caminos Reales of Spain
We're beyond doubt the most magnif-
cent ways that then existed in Europe
Planted with trees, beautfied with
Nentas, or inns, and enriched with ma
tional monuments, it was always
pleasure to travel over them.
After the discovery OF the New
World Spain gave to America the best
OF her civilization. She founded cities
wherever there was a prospect of sue
cess. She built in her colonies col
leges, schools and academies, which
monuments are today the glory of her
memories. She built roads and cami-
nos reales to develop commerce and
facilitate transportation and to con-
meet one province with another
fALlCl Allt discovery VI tduIOl0ld an
important duty was entrusted to one
of the first expeditions that came for
the exploration of the country, which
was the finding of direct road from
San Diego TO Monterey. The immortal
Father Crispi, whose happy memory is
always kept in Veneration by Califor-
mans, was most successful in finding a
path that afterwards became the Cali
fornia Canine Real. In company with
q few. soldiers and muleteers this
learned padre engulfed himself in a
land entirely unknown. His observa-
tons and his daily nOtations are a
source of admiration today. Strong in
character, manly in his endeavor, saint
in his faith, learned in his observa-
tons, Father Crispi we'll deserves the
love and veneration which the Cali
fornians have for his memory.
In those days there were no roads,
no paths, no caminos reales. After
San Diego mission was built the mis-
sion of Monterey was founded, and as
connection between the extremes OF
the state was necessary orders were
given to open and keep up a road to
facilitate traffic and transportation.
From north to south missions were
erected and when they were all COM
plete We're linked together by a road
called Canine Real and it only took
one day in the earreta to travel from
one mission to the other
1T was 3 great pity that the task ell
trusted to the padres of California