Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
Some Random "reminiscences
By MAJOR BEN C. TRUMAN

My first visit to Los Angeles was in
February, 1862, as 1 had been appoint
ed special agent of the postotllce de-
partment for the Pacific coast and had
been specially instructed to proceed
at once to Los Angeles and examine
into the condition of postal affairs IN
Southern California and to improve ana
increase the service wherever neceS-
sary. AT that time there were no rail-
roads in Southern California, few post
offices and only semi-weekly service
between Los Angeles and San Diego
tr-weekly service between Los Angeles
and San Bernardino, the same pe-
tween Los Angeles and San Francisco
and the same between Los Angeles anu
Wilmington. In year or Two from
the above date 1 had established
daily mail between Los Angeles and
san Francisco. Los Angeles and San
Diego, Los Angeles and santa Fe'
via San Bernardino and Ehrenberg,
and between Los Angeles and VIII
mington. l had also established post
offices at Spadra, Compton, Puente'
Elizabeth Lake, Ravenna, R1Versloe'
New San Diego (now San Diego, Los
Flores, and at some other points; ana
I had also ordered a steamer mail be-
tween San francisco and wilmington
during the months of November, De-
cember, January, February and March
twice each month.
had intended only remaining in
California q year, but was so charmed
with the Golden State and SO pe-
witched beyond description with South
ern California-and particularly with
it's climate and prodgality of soil. ITS
vineyards and orange groves. Its noble
and hospitable men and lovely women
that l determined to make Los An
geles or some other city in Southern
California my home so soon as my
term of Office should eXpire-some time
in 1869. ,->
the bulk of the population outside OF
Sonoratown lived on Main street and
Spring street between First and
Fourth; on Fort street now Broad
way) between First and Third; on
Also street between Los Angeles
street and the river, and on vineyards
and orange groves on Alameda, san
Pedro, Los Angeles and Main streets.
The stores were nearly all on Main
street between the Plaza and First
street, on Commercial street between
Main and Los Angeles streets, and
there were few shops and factories
on Also and Los Angeles streets.
There were two NOTES.-The Bella Un-
ion, on Main street a few doors north
OF NOInIneTCldl SIIGSlS, anu iiiO lAeb
fayette, nearly opposite. There were
two restaurants-one owned by man
called Louis, and another near the
Bella Union. There were six saloons,
outside, of Sonoratown, in nearly all
of which gambling was permitted.
There was no newspaper at the time,
Mr.. Henry Hamilton, former pub
Usher of the Star. having taken his
outfit to San Bernardino, where no
was publishing a weekly called the
Guardian. There was only one church,
the ST. Athanasius (EpiscopaD, out
side of the Catholic, which had two
places of worship besides the old
church on the Plaza. There was one
public school house, which was sit
uated where the Bryson block now
stands. There were no police force
nor other public conveyances, no
trucks nor express wagons. There was
a well-ordered postoffice, with Captain
George j. Clarke as postmaster, and
a Wells-Fargo office, with BILLY"
Pridham in charge. There was no
southern district federal court, and
but one county court, one district
court (Which embraced Los Angeles,
San Bernardino and San Diego coun-
tieO, and two justices of the peace.
There were five medical practitioners
and about four times that many law