1891II The Growth of Palo Alto 



opened, schools were established, and, behold, we 

 had a town. A particularly good one, also, because 

 it at once drew to itself a selected population at- 

 tracted by the intellectual advantages of the Uni- 

 versity and the assurance of a clean environment 

 for children. As to the last, every lot was bought A 

 with the accepted proviso that no alcoholic drinks ^'■°^^*»^^°" 

 should ever be sold on it. That this restriction has 

 not been infringed without reversion to the original 

 owner, Timothy Hopkins, as arranged for in the 

 deeds, I cannot assert. Nevertheless, it stands in 

 law, having been established by a test case, and as a 

 result the community is to a large extent a picked 

 one, with relatively little of evil influence to combat. 



The settlement was first called " Palo Alto Park," 

 but it later took possession of the shorter form 

 which really belonged only to Stanford University 

 property, all of which lies on the other side of the 

 railway. In 1920, Palo Alto had reached a popula- 

 tion of 6000, and is now a favorite place of residence 

 for men who commute daily to their business in San 

 Francisco but prefer to live in the country and in a 

 college town with progressive schools, both public 

 and private. 



Palo Alto is also noted for the success of its munici- 

 pally owned public utilities. In the introduction and 

 management of these, two members of the Stanford 

 faculty, Charles B. Wing and Charles D. Marx, the City 

 former especially, have continuously given invalu- ^'^^^"^ 

 able expert advice and much time, without thought 

 of pay. Wing and Robert E. Swain have also served 

 the town in the capacity of mayor, the latter for 

 two terms. Others have meanwhile contributed 

 their due share in various ways to the common good 



C 381 1 



