anaheim-gazette 1951-05-07

WELCOME TO ANAHEIM—In the picture above, Earnest Moeller of the Anaheim Chamber merce extends a welcoming hand to Charles E. Ferguson, executive vice-president of the D Furniture Corp. The Daystrom company, the world's largest producer of chrome-steel furnishing a new $500,000 plant in southeast Anaheim. Daystrom is one of the 27 important units which since V-J day have chosen to invest in the future of Anaheim. Orange County Just Didn't 'Happen,' It Came Into Being After Long Battle; Folks Didn't Like Los Angeles Politics Orange County Just Didn’t ‘Happen,’ It Came Into Being After Long Battle; Folks Didn’t Like Los Angeles Politics (The following story is taken from the issue of Oct. 26, 1939, and is published herewith as it was dictated by the late editor of the Anaheim Gazette several years before his passing away.) By HENRY KUCHEL In the year 1871, 14 years after the founding of the colony the Pioneers decided their welfare and peace of mind would be vastly improved by cutting away from Los Angeles and establishing a new county. The task was one beset with insuperable obstacles and while the old-timers were most earnest in this desire for a new county, many had misgivings as to the ultimate result, but figured the campaign would give them a foundation for future operations. Not only was this feeling paramount in this immediate vicinity, but as far as the Old San Gabriel river, 10 miles this side of Los Angeles, there existed an active desire for separation. This first effort at dividing Los Angeles county which stretched from the ocean to the Colorado river and from Kern county on the north to San Diego on the south came to naught, of course, but the seeds of division sown in the minds of the people bore fruit at last, and in 1889 Orange county was formed. County Is Strong Even at that early date the parent county was all powerful in the south, and as it had fought the two attempts at division made before, so it redoubled its effort at this time when it saw the cherished dream of the Pioneers about to become a reality. There ensued a very bitter contest in the legislature, and a count of noses indicated the parent county had a shade the best of the voting strength with a number of members non-committal. At this time backers of the commission measure appealed to Francisco delegation to their assistance. The northern county was the most powerful in the for years had operated with the southern county every matter. Los Angeles claimed that errors would vote against vision bill, but even at time San Francisco looked at the growing importance Angeles, and after much discussion and importuning duly to support the bill passed and signed by the legislature. There were rumors prevalent at the time that the interest taken in the northerners was because ever you call a commodities market, but be that as one knew that anything than straight forward legislation. When the effort at commission was first brought forth Pioneers showed that Los had collected more than in taxes, very little of been expended on roads bridges in this county. Indeed, there were no here and roads were into the summer and all builable quagmires during this time. Old and New San AL DeWITT'S TIRE SERVICE — Serving the motoring public for over 18 years with quality products. TRUCK TIRE REPAIRS OUR SPECIALTY NEW... RECAPP 301 NO. LOS ANGELES ST. PHONE ANAHEIM rivers and the Santa Ana ran in boisterous floods during wet seasons, overflowing their banks, doing great destruction to property and causing losses to stock and poultry, as well as taking an occasional human life. Travel Torment On the other hand, roads for many miles about the city were graded and graveled and placed in excellent condition. Bridges were thrown over the Los Angeles river and travel was a delight while in this section it was a torment. Moreover, much criticism existed at the cost of county buildings and the methods of what was called the Los Angeles political ring. City people were told by the old timers there was nothing for them to look forward to in the parent county, and that division would come just as sure as the sun would rise again. Many good men in town assumed a friendly attitude, but the bulk stood steadfast by what had been done. There was no relief in sight, and accordingly a bill creating the county of Anaheim was introduced in the legislature but it did not get anywhere, albeit. It created discussion in many parts of the state and assurances came that assistance would be forthcoming should another attempt at county division be made. In the succeeding legislature, therefore, another bill creating the county of Santa Ana was introduced, but met with defeat. Construct Bridge In 1888, when the city learned a third attempt at county division was being considered, the board of supervisors came here and viewed settlement in the Westminster country. Santa Ana took the lead in the division fight. The Pioneers in this section, who had tried twice for division before, looked with favor upon the movement. It was agreed to place the northern boundary line at New river, which was the boundary line in the two previous bills. An earnest campaign for division ensued, and a bill was prepared and introduced into the legislature providing for the creation of Orange county. However, at the last moment, the northern boundary line was placed at Coyote creek, which stirred up a storm of protest here as well as in the San Gabriel district. Old timers saw in the move a gesture to make Santa Ana the county seat. San Gabriel folk protested against being excluded from the proposed new county. Men proceeded to Sacramento demanding that the boundary line be changed, but these pleas fell upon deaf ears. The bill was introduced with the northern boundary line at the creek, which excluded a rich and thickly settled country beyond it to the north. A count of legislative votes showed that Los Angeles had the whip hand and would probably defeat the measure. Then it was that an appeal was made to the San Francisco delegation which came over to support the bill and it was passed and signed by the governor. It provided that the new county should be contingent upon a two-thirds vote of the people. There began an active campaign time backers of the county division measure appealed to the San Francisco delegation to come to their assistance. The northern county was by far the most powerful in the state and for years had operated politically with the southern county upon every matter. Los Angeles claimed the northerners would vote against the division bill, but even at this early time San Francisco looked askance at the growing importance of Los Angeles, and after much discussion and importuning decided finally to support the bill and it was passed and signed by the governor. There were rumors, indeed, prevalent at the time that much of the interest taken in the bill by northerners was because of whatever you call a commodity in the market, but be that as it may no one knew that anything was other than straight forward legitimate legislation. When the effort at county division was first brought forward the Pioneers showed that Los Angeles had collected more than $2,000,000 in taxes, very little of which had been expended on roads and bridges in this county. Indeed, there were no bridges here and roads were intolerable in the summer and all but impassable quagmires during the winter time. Old and New San Gabriel and assurances came that assistance would be forthcoming should another attempt at county division be made. In the succeeding legislature, therefore, another bill creating the county of Santa Ana was introduced, but met with defeat. Construct Bridge In 1888, when the city learned a third attempt at county division was being considered, the board of supervisors came here and viewed the river at Olive crossing with a view to constructing a bridge. As things fell out the board found a steady stream of traffic plodding its way across the sandy river bed. There were loads of hay, grain, livestock, hogs and poultry and men in vehicles coming here to ship their wares and to find a market for their produce. The board found the road to be a right smart traveled thoroughfare and decided to construct a bridge. At the time there were wisecrackers who declared that all this travel had been premeditated, but that's another story. The bridge was built and this was the first considerable sum of money expended here by the old county. Roads continued to remain all but impassable and the two San Gabriel rivers and Coyote creek were treacherous and dangerous. At this time Santa Ana had grown to be a town of some considerable population. It was the largest town in the county. Orange and Tustin were likewise advancing and there was a considerable S r 18 years with WE SELL LEE TIRES NEW...USED... RECAPPED TIRES ES ST. PHONE 3400 EIM We offer our congregation ZETTE, which was Newspaper, and is sary as a Daily New a definite service to example of Free Ar DAYSTROM 311 Sout WE SALUTE Anaheim's Great Progress BACKS, CAMPBELL and KAULBARS MORTUARY WE SALUTE Anaheim's Great Progress BACKS, CAMPBELL and KAULBARS MORTUARY 251 North Lemon Phose Anaheim 3209 WE SALUTE the ANAHEIM GAZETTE on its FIRST ANNIVERSARY as a DAILY NEWSPAPER offer our congratulations to the ANAHEIM GATTE, which was established in 1870 as a Weekly newspaper, and is now observing its First Anniveray as a Daily Newspaper. The Gazette has rendered definite service to the community and is a splendid ample of Free American Journalism. DAYSTROM FURNITURE CORPORATION 311 South Highland, Fullerton