Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-10
REvISITS CITY
AFTER ABSENCE
OF MANY YEARS
COL. ]. 7. DOUGINE LIVED IN
LOS ANGELES IN 1866
PREDICTION MADE OF GROWTH
COMES TRUE
Former Resident Amasses Big Fortune
and Is on Trip of inspection
of Mining Prop
critics


"Col." James T. Dougine arrived In
Los Angeles yesterday and is staying
at the Angelus.
Mr.. Dougine is known as the man
who carried a torch for Fremont,
walked a rail fence for Lincoln and
wore a tanners apron for Grant
1t is the first visit of the mllllonalfe
miner and milling man to Los Angeles
since 1866 Unlike others, who were In
Los Angeles when it was struggling
hamlet. Mr.. Dougine is not surprised
at the wonderful growth OF the CITY.
In the COS Mr.. Dougine predicted Los
Angeles was bound to become the me
tropolis of the western coast. Although
Mr. Dougine makes his home IN New
York and Chicago, his greatest interests
are centered in the mining lands OF
the west He is especially interested
in mining and irrigation, and was the
leader of the first California party to
visit and explore the resources OF
Alaska.
For nearly twenty-five years he has
been the president of the National AS
sociation of Inventors. 10 many ne
is known as the American dirt dig
GER" owing to his active interest In
finding and developing mines.
comes 10 l0SP6CL TIOPSi hiSS
Despite the fact that col" Dougine
has plenty of worldly goods and has
been more than fortunate in his search
of that which glitters, he is still active,
and it is to look over his property mold
ings in California and Arizona that he
has journeyed to the coast.
"CoI" Dougine is more than ~ years
old and during his lifetime has visited
every city of Importance in the United
States.
When a. mere boy he came to Cali
fornia, believing it was the land Oh
promise. He was then interested IN
milling projects, and personally direct
ed the building of the Puente flour
mill. He became interested in the
raising of hops and advocated that IN
dustry as one which would beprotitable
for Southern California. HIS interest
and active participation in agricultural
projects and his broad ideas looking TO
the future we're not to the liking or
the early inhabitants of Los Angeles.
He became interested in politics, and
through life has been a staunch Re
publican, although liberal in his views.
1t was during an early political cam
paign in Los Angeles that the Demo-
cratic organ, which he opposed, de-
nounced him as the plug hat yam
kee'' who was trying to instil Purl-
tanica1 ideas in the minds of western
ers. for since he was II years old he has
worn a silk hat.
Prosperity Is His
Despite the obstacles in his way,
Colonel Dougine prospered, and 1t Is a
source of satisfaction to him now, in
the twilight of life, to revisit the scene
of his early conquests and realize that
the predictions he made have come
true.
The milling man was shrewd and
recognized that in California there
were great opportunities He was one
of the few that profited by his fore
sightedness and, although suffering
many financial reverses, eventually be-
came prosperous.
In speaking of his life in Los An
geles in the early COS, Colonel Dougine,
'the pathfinder" as he is often called
said:
! when I first came to Los Angeles
the population numbered about 1000,
and of these there were not more than
400 white persons. The natives did not
take kindly to my ideas OF developing
this great country
"A howl of protest arose when l en-
gineered a scheme which resulted IN
building the railroad from Wilmington
TO Los Angeles.
81 told them at that time that in
years to come Los Angeles would be
center where the masts of the Eu-
ropean ships and the flags of Asiatic
ships would be seen at the same time.
The milling business was then I'M
known, but | erected the Puente mill
and several others in and about Los
Angeles. What is now the site of great
business and banking establishments
was then prairie land, and between
Second and Fourth streets on Main
int fa1 in
the real estate business and recOllect
engineering a deal by which 1900 acres
of land in what is now known as the
Boyle Heights district was sold for 81
an acre. Four thousand acres of land
in what now comprises part of the
town of Compton was sold in 1870 for
80 cents an acre.
Was Criticised Severely
II well remember, as though it was
yesterday, the great excitement when
I dared to write an article cOndemning
gambling and intemperance. The ma
tives thought I ought to be rode out of
town on a rail, and in no uncertain
terms expressed their disgust at what
they termed my Yankee notions
knew that Los Ange-s would prosper,
and am not surprised at its marvellous
growth 1t was always Gods country,
and all that was needed was mans
work to develop it."
Col. Dougine will remain on the
coast for about two months, and is
looking forward with pleasure to meet
ing old acquaintanceS, although he
realizes many of them have prospected
for the last time and are now exploring
the Great Unknown.
Col. Dougine was a personal friend
of the late Lucky Baldwin, and hired
teams from Lucky" when the great
turfman first started in the livery bust
ness In San Francisco.
l. W. Hellman, "Billy" Workman and
others now prominent in Los Angeles
were ehums of Col. Dougine in the
pioneer days.
That the Owens river project will be
of great benefit to Los Angeles is the
opinion of Col. Dougine, and he smiled
when asked in regard to the compile
ton of the Panama canal. when that
is finished the prohecy I made forty
years ago about the ships of various
nations congregating in a Los Angeles
harbor will be fulfilled"
When the proposition to divide Cali
fornia into two separate states was
talked of CoH Dougine was a bitter and
successful fighter against the measure.
He has attended many Republican ma
tional conventions and was a leader of
the Mckinley movement up to the time
Of the adoption of the st. Louis plat
form, when he walked out of the con-
vention, together with other boiling Re-
publicans.
The colonel is an interesting talker
and has a wonderful memory concern
Ing the early history of Los Angeles.
for as he stated, although New York
Is my real home, California products
made possible the maintenance Of such
! home"