Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-18
OLD DIRECTORY
IS CURIOUS BOOK
SHOWS PAST HISTORY OF
EARLY SETTLERS
Issued Thirty Years Ago, When Los
Angeles Had Only Seven Thou
sand Inhabitants and Was
Pueblo

One of the most remarkable comparl-
sons that could possibly be made to
show the stupendous growth of Los
Angeles during the past twenty-five or
thirty years is the directory issued here
in 1878, containing the names of all the
residents of the city and its suburbs at
that time within its pages.
AT that date Los Angeles boasted of
about 1000 inhabitants, and this direc-
tory was the first real city directory
issued. 1t was printed by the Mirror
Printing, Ruling and Binding house,
the type being of coarse and crude
character as is generally used in print
ing primers for the use of little chill
dren, and the advertisements printed
within its leaves are all set forth in
wood type of the most ancient date.
The book is priceless. 1t is probably
the only one of it's kind left in the city.
and the owner, Sam Kutz, clerk of de-
partment of the superior court, would
not part with it for money.
Compares Two Directories
Kutz had the book on display last
week alongside the recent directory is
cued by the city. The first dozen leaves
Of the new directory would more than
cover every name in this first little
directory, and beside the great red
book the little brown one appears like
a patent medicine advertisement.
If come of the eminently stylish
young persons of the present could only
look back through the pages Of this
little book and see what their ancestors
were doing not more than thirty years
ago they might not be quite so boast
full of their lineage, for some very we'll
known names appear in the book with
rather humble titles, such as dray
driver, wine and liquor dealer, pipe
layer and similar occupations.
Many names of streets have been
changed since that period. Jefferson
street at that time was in the neigh
borhood of Also. while long Spanish
names were on the street signs.
Were Easy-Going Days
Los Angeles in those days did not
know whether it was a village or a
pueblo, and what was more 1t didn't
care. In the afternoon everyone took
their regular siesta, and things were
so quiet that the mosquitoes whirling
about the sleeping cholos on Main
street could be heard picking their teeth
after partaking of chilli favored diet.
Those were the days before the plug
hats. None had ever been seen in Los
Ange les. One man in town had dress
suit, and he was arrested on suspicion
the first time he appeared in it because
the town marshal had seen the villain
of one-night stand show wear a SINH
lar costume some nights before.
There were three Chinese laundries
here at that time, and they all closed
because of lack of business. In the
directory the inhabitants of the beauti-
full and glorious land Of flowers and
Ghina 10 h,y
epithets used by the natives. For in
stance, in the case of one particular
individual unknown to the census
taken, "Jackass" Jennings went down
on the book as Jackass Jennings, and
every one was satisfied. There were
about thirty men in town who could
boast of middle initial to their names.
Most of them were simply known as
Bill or Pete or Sam or Jim, and every
one knew who they were.
Some of the Features
There were three ministers in Los
Angeles at that time and close to $50
wine merchants, and yet the town man
aged to exc out a meager existence.
Sam Kutz, the owner of the little
book, is noted in it as Sam Kutz, car
penter, residence Boyle Heights. That
was as close as the directory managed
to set.
The Daily Herald was then, as now,
the greatest newspaper of the city, and
Joe Lynch was editor.
b. F. Coulter, now Rev. B. r. Coulter,
owner of the Coulter Dry Goods COM
pany, was then one of the proprietors
of the firm of Harper & Coulter, hard
ware.
s. Nordlinger was tinkering jewelry
for the Indian squaws at No. Com
mercial street, and Judge b. NJ Widney
Was then young attorney.
The town had one capitalist, as shown
by the directory. His name was V.
Hoover. He had two suits of store
clothes and stayed at the Pico house.
Clip Allen was listed as being in the
cattle business. The book records the
following entry: &c. II. Barrese. head
cheese and bologna, residence 27 Center
street."
Judge Bicknell at that time was a
partner to Senator Stephen White, and
they had offices in the Temple block.
Whltewash for Every One
In those days they did not have to be
bothered about clearing up the city
council or the gas company, for they
had. according to the directory, &c.
Brewe, the whitewasher."
The first man in the book was Rev.
Mr.. AberCrombie, Episcopal minister.
residing on Washington, west of Figue-
roa street.
James Aiken, another entry, is men
toned as farmer, his ranch being To-
Gated on Washington street, between
San Pedro and Alameda.
The Western Union Telegraph COM
pany was then at First and Spring, and
II. r. Haines, since one OF the most
famous men In his line In the country.
was the local manager.
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HoIIENBEcK I,oDGH M, a,o