Southern California Quarterly (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1884. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... History of the movements for the Division of Iios Angeles County. BY PROFESSOR J. M. GUINN. Read February 4,18S9.] l DEGREESISTORIANS, generally speaking, are not partial to failures. The moveA6 ment be what it may that fails, fills but a small space in history, and the actors in it are usually relegated to oblivion, or if commemorated, it is by the briefest of notices. The movement to divide the county of Los Angeles and create a new county out of the southeastern portion, forms no exception to this rule. It is one of the unwritten chapters of our local history. It began twenty years ago and almost succeeded, yet there exists no written record of it except, perhaps, a few brief paragraphs in the legislative proceedings--session of 1869-70. The most active movers in the scheme are dead and almost forgotten. Success might have given them fame, at least it would have given their names a place in the annals of our county. The success of their scheme would have wrought a great change in the history of our county for the two decades past, but whether for better or worse your historian will not attempt to decide. To the late Major Max Strobel of Anaheim, belongs the credit (or odium) of inaugurating the movement. Whether his fertile brain originated it, I know not. He was its most earnest advocate and a most active worker for its success. Twenty years ago there were numerous reasons for a division that do not exist to-day. A trip to the county seat and return required two days, and from the more distant parts of the area included in the proposed county, four days travel over hot and dusty roads in the summer time --through mud and mire in the winter time. Bridges there were none, and often during the rainy season, the rivers swollen to raging torrents, cut off