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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
Page 318 carried also eight or ten houses already framed and a quantity of bricks. Davis bought this cargo and sent the ship at once to San Diego, where all but 80,000 feet of the lumber was used. The wharf and warehouse were begun in September, 1850, and finished in August of the following year. The wharf extended from the foot of Atlantic Street for some distance, then turned and extended at a right angle to the stream. Its total length was 600 feet, and with the warehouse it cost about $60,000. The barracks were built in 1851, on a block given for the purpose, and two companies of troops from the mission moved in. The first house was built by Mr. Davis--one of the framed houses sent on the Cybell. It was on State Street, between G and H. About 1855, this house was purchased by Captain Knowles and removed to its present location on 11th Street, between K and L. Davis also put up a number of other buildings, among them one at the corner of State and F Streets known for years as the "San Diego Hotel." Gray also put up a house, which is still standing, on State Street between H and I and was known as the "Hermitage." Some army officers also bought lots and built houses, among them Captain Nathaniel Lyon. A short time before the Civil War, a number of these houses were removed to Old Town, being either moved bodily, or taken down and re-erected. The coming of the Herald in May, 1851, was an important event. At that time, the following were in business at new San Diego, as shown by the advertisements in the Herald: George F. Cooper, general merchandise, corner 4th and California Streets. The office of the Herald was upstairs over this store. Ames and Pendleton, lumber and merchandise, California Street. Slack & Morse, general merchandise. The Boston House, Slack & Morse. J. Judson Ames was the notary public. On July 31, 1851, the Herald states that Davis's new wharf would be completed in about a week. This wharf was used by the government for several years, and was for a time a profitable investment. The government buildings were designed as a military storehouse and depot, and formed the government depot of supplies for several posts. The supplies were sent out by ship, unloaded at Davis's wharf, and sent out by wagon trains to Tejon, Yuma, Mojave, San Luis Rey, Chino, Santa Ysabel, and other places. One of the difficulties with which the new town had to contend from the start was the absence of fresh water. The officers sent a water-train to the San Diego River, near Old Town, every day. Major McKinstry contracted with a Mr. Goens, Page 319 who had sunk a well at La Playa, to do the same at the new town. He sunk about 300 feet on the government's land, and then, for some unknown reason, suddenly abandoned the job and quit the country. However, it was not long until a good supply of fresh water was struck near the location of the present courthouse, Front and B Streets, and soon after at State and F, where Mr. Morse had sunk a well, and by Captain Sherman on his new addition. The future of the new Town now seemed assured.
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History of San Diego 1542-1908, An
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the story of it was handed down fro
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convenient, and well sheltered," an
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Page 36 ably the prophecy of a grea
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priests who were to go, some by sea
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they approached San Diego they met
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Page 47 water in the river, and it
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The San Antonio had sailed for San
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hilltop on that fateful morning and
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1774, to make a new start and to la
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ans who had gone to the Presidio re
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sionary zeal knew no bounds. Better
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tions, the Franciscan enthusiasts w
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eholder, but serves to show the sim
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Page 72 looked with longing eyes up
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ciated with the pioneers of pioneer
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1800. Their successors were José P
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income outside their pay. The chief
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Page 86 [Presidio Hill Today] Page
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were left as a guard to see that th
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was at San Diego, three years earli
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Argüello arrived he found that the
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agriculture successfully.. By 1790
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firm. The Sachem did not call at Sa
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1834, Roxana. 1835, Pilgrim. 1836,
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passed to the American Government.
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The story of the American whaling t
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Ex-Mission of San Diego Santiago Ar
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Late in 1826, the governor ordered
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where the transfer of office was ma
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In 1831, the first revolution, whic
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civil rule. They constituted the fi
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ored to raise a force to renew the
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Before turning to the brighter days
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he published in 1832 told some rema
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provided, greatly to the delight of
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pending American invasion, there we
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The different classes of society we
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for on these occasions no invitatio
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Even a funeral was made the occasio
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sic, and towards the end of the eve
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and a feast held, after which games
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had to be stalked on foot, or in bo
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food was passed around in plates or
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Page 161 PART II. CHAPTER VI. PROMI
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He died on his Tia Juana ranch in 1
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"Among our passengers was a young m
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lar, but overindulgent and careless
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MARRON, Sylvester. Son of Juan Mar
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of his small stature. Wilkes ridicu
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pressed them because she did not ca
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Dana has also left his opinion on r
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El Cajon, where he seized Chief Jaj
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to stop, the narrow defiles affordi
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Page 187 shall, a renegade sailor f
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The line of march was by way of the
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mand: "Ready ! Aim! Fire!" and Anto
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next morning, she saw the body hang
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"Potrero"--Including Rincon, Gapich
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served in the archives of the gover
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mission, where a few rangers were t
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pedition he was about to send out m
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Page 212 fell back. A ranger now da
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crepancy is only in the number of w
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Of the adventures of these men on t
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the baggage was burned, as it was t
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Choosing the latter course, Kearny
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The Mormons, then as now objects of
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24. William Power. 25. Peter Gribbi
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SECOND PRECINCT-POLL LIST. Pursuant
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The first term of the district cour
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seized. He wanted to know what he s
Page 145 and 146: new settlement sprouting on the sit
Page 147 and 148: "There was then no doctor at Old To
Page 149 and 150: flats near his residence, having a
Page 151 and 152: wood and to look out for vessels th
Page 153 and 154: The coastwise trade opened briskly
Page 155 and 156: E. Mason, and was the occasion of g
Page 157 and 158: chants and mechanics, who intended
Page 159 and 160: "Your jurors in the within case of
Page 161 and 162: It will now be in order to give som
Page 163 and 164: On April 5, 1851, he married Ysidor
Page 165 and 166: Past Master's jewel, which the latt
Page 167 and 168: where he lived for twenty years. In
Page 169 and 170: postmaster in 1853-4, trustee again
Page 171 and 172: any pecuniary liability without the
Page 173 and 174: old and active Freemason and a memb
Page 175 and 176: el between Governor Smith and his c
Page 177 and 178: Town. Mrs. Smith died recently. Est
Page 179 and 180: WITHERBY, Oliver S. Judge Witherby
Page 181 and 182: After the discovery of gold, he joi
Page 183 and 184: Ames cast in his lot with the new t
Page 185 and 186: It is probable that on account of h
Page 187 and 188: men as Garrison and Sumner, who are
Page 189 and 190: "Lo, I am an editor! Hasn't Ames go
Page 191 and 192: "Like unto the great Napoleon after
Page 193 and 194: the editorial column, under the nam
Page 195: How they ought not to let Oregon ge
Page 199: Page 321 [Charles P. Noell] slight
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