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its possibilities, they lacked the constructive capacity require for its building. Hence,
their effort goes into history as an unsuccessful effort to take advantage of a genuine
opportunity.
Andrew B. Gray, who served as surveyor with the boundary commission, and
who was afterward a major-general in the Confederate Army, is entitled to the distinction
of having first selected the present site of San Diego. In June, 1849, the officials of the
survey camped near the spot where the army barracks are now located, on what is now
H Street. It occurred to Gray at that time that this was the true location for such a city as
would inevitably develop in connection with this great natural seaport. He discussed the
matter freely and found several San Diegans who indorsed his conception, but the enterprise
required capital.
Page 317
In February, 1850, William Heath Davis came to town and Gray promptly. laid his
scheme before him. Davis thought well of it and agreed to co-operate. On March 16, an
agreement was made by which Gray, Davis, José Antonio Aguirre, Miguel de Pedrorena,
and William C. Ferrell entered into a partnership for the purpose of developing
a new townsite. Before the papers were signed, however, a vessel arrived at La Playa
with materials for the new government building, in charge of quartermaster and commissary
for the Southern Department, Lieutenant Thomas D. Johns. Gray and his associates
saw that the location of the government buildings at La Playa would make it very
difficult to attract population to their townsite. Hence, they lost no time in waiting upon
Lieutenant Johns and urging the advantages of the new location upon him. They argued
so convincingly that Johns reshipped the materials which had been landed at La Playa
and brought the vessel across the bay, anchoring off the new townsite. Johns evidently
joined the syndicate, for he received one of the eighteen shares. The others were distributed
four each to Gray, Davis, Aguirre and Pedrorena, and one to Ferrell, the attorney.
Under the agreement, Davis undertook to build a wharf and warehouse, retaining
the ownership of the land and improvements. The scheme seems to have been very
well "put up," combining capital, influence, and the necessary expert knowledge in engineering.
On March 18, 1850, the associates were granted the land for which they applied
to the city, the deed being signed by Alcalde Thomas W. Sutherland. The tract contained
160 acres, was bounded on the east by what is now Front and on the north by what is
now D Streets and cost $2,304--a nice little townsite which is now worth considerably
more than it was 56 years ago. It was long supposed that it included the adjacent tide
lands, lying on the bay shore between the lines of high and low water, but this construction
proved to be incorrect. The terms of the grant called for "a new port," and stipulated
that a wharf and warehouse should be built within 18 months.
New San Diego certainly started with bright prospects: The country was prosperous,
had recently become a part of the United States, and was receiving constant recruits
in the way of American settlers. The gold boom in the north was at full tide and
people were rushing to California from all parts of the world. It would seem the new
town should have depopulated Old Town and La Playa, attracted a reasonable share of
the newcomers, and quickly established itself on a sure foundation.
Toward the end of the summer, the brig Cybell arrived at San Francisco from
Portland, Maine, loaded with lumber and