DIVISION SIX — BUSINESS. 427 



had ceased operations and left the field entirely to the San Gabriel Valley 

 Company. 



The grading work went on well for a while ; then Mr. Carver failed. 

 Money was not forthcoming to meet payments due for work and material. 

 Work was stopped for several months ; but the projectors stuck to it with 

 good grit, and finally got in shape to go ahead again. 



The first public mention that I find of special effort by Pasadena to aid 

 this important work was in the Valley Union of June 5, 1885, which says : 



" The committee appointed to secure the right-of-way for the railroad 

 has held two meetings and entered upon its work systematically. At the 

 first meeting the work of canvassing for the right-of-way was divided be- 

 tween three committees, who are assigned to the following sections of the 

 route : From Raymond Hill to Colorado street, J. H. Baker, M. W. McGee 

 and W. H. Wiley ; Colorado street to eastern boundary of the Mutual Orange 

 Orchard, C. C, Brown, S. Townsend, J. P. Woodbury ; from Mutual Orange 

 Orchard to Rose's fence, James Craig, J. W. Hall and Abbot Kinney. It 

 was voted to make H. W. Magee and Abbot Kinney trustees to hold the 

 right-of-way when secured until the railroad is completed and in operation. 

 An agreement to this effect has been made between the railroad and trustees. 

 This agreement requires that the right-of-way be secured before June 15." 



The same paper contained this item of railroad news : 



' ' The first locomotive of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Rail- 

 road arrived from Cincinnati Tuesday. She is called a 30-ton engine, with 

 5-foot driving wheels and an extension front, with Eastern style .spark ar- 

 rester. She was brought out dead b}' Mr. Homer, who will put her in shape 

 for active service." 



Pasadena interest was now fully awakened to the importance of this 

 railroad project in its relation to Pasadena's growth and progress, and the 

 Union from week to week took every opportunity to report any new step in 

 its advancement. On July 17 I find this mention : 



"Locomotive No. 2 of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Rail- 

 road was fired up for the first time yesterday and run a short distance. A 

 construction train was also made up. About 3,500 feet of track was laid, 

 up to last night. ' ' 



And again, July 31, this appears : 



"The Arroyo Seco bridge is completed, and track-laying has progressed 

 to this point. A large cargo of ties arrived Wednesday and the track will 

 be laid as fast as the grading can be completed." 



And on August 14 this : 



"The first carload of freight went over the Los Angeles and San Gabriel 

 Valley Railroad Wednesday. It was coal for the Pasadena Water Com- 

 pany." 



Then came the opening day, which was the grandest affair in the his- 

 tory of the settlement up to that time. I quote from the Valley Union again: 



" Wednesday, September 16, 1885, will always bean epoch in the history 

 of Pasadena. The Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad was for- 

 mally opened to public traffic between Los Angeles and Pasadena. It was 



