The Morrills and Reminiscences - C. H. Morrill

After a week in London, we went to Stratford, the home of Shakespeare. We visited the Shakespeare Memorial on the shores of the Avon, also a cottage said to be the home of Ann Hathaway, and were told by our guide that we could swing on the same gate that Shakespeare and Ann swung on in their courting days. The guide also informed us that we could charter the same row boats that Shakespeare and Ann went sailing in under the weeping willows along the banks of the Avon. Stratford is a beautiful, picturesque spot, specially fitted to be associated with the memory' of Shakespeare. At the curio stores we were offered many old pieces of furniture and cooking utensils said to have once belonged to Shakespeare and his wife. After this experience I could see how our forefathers who made wooden nutmegs had inherited their desires to make an honest penny from their English cousins. We called at the house on Hendley Street, where, it is said, Shakespeare was born. Our guide also pointed out Fulbracke Park where tradition says Shakespeare stole one of Sir Thomas Lucy's deer; this act coupled with the prosecution of Shakespeare by Lucy is said to have been instrumental in his going to London which resulted in his education and preparation for his future work.
From Stratford, we went to the old, historic city of Chester, the only city in England that retains its walls. These walls were built for the protection of the inhabitants. They are two miles in length and still in a fair state of preservation. We went up the

Wishing Steps and our guide pointed out the location of Caesar's Tower, also the Kings Schools said to have been established about the year 1500 A. D. Chester is supposed to have been occupied by the Romans in the third century, afterwards by the Britons, Saxons, and Danes. The city is filled with points of historic interest, many of its buildings are of ancient type, and many farm buildings near the city still have thatched roofs.
From Chester we went to London and on the following day sailed for America.
Before visiting Europe, we had been told that people were very much annoyed by the general practice of tipping for every service performed. To me, this was one of the pleasures of the trip. The service given by the recipient was so well and faithfully performed and the tip expected so small compared to the charge made in America for like service, that I can see no cause for complaint. There is another thought which came to me in connection with this matter. What must be the condition of the family where the bread winner is forced to give his service for so small a remuneration?

30,000 inhabitants. There was little or no paving and the dust of the streets was almost unbearable. During the rainy season mud made the streets almost impassable.
     While stopping at the hotel I met "Lucky" Baldwin. He was a jovial, good fellow, and a great optimist concerning the future of Los Angeles and of Southern California. One day he invited Governor Nance and me to go with him to his Santa Anita ranch, in the San Gabriel valley, about fifteen miles from Los Angeles. We accepted the invitation and enjoyed his hospitality for several days. He was a great lover of horses, and seemed to take much pleasure in showing us his stable full of racers, about fifty in number. The horses were then being trained for the coming summer campaign.
     While we were driving over his ranch, which contained many thousands of acres, he pointed to the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains and said: "What do you gentlemen think those acres are worth?" I replied that as they were simply hills with no water and no possibility of growing crops on them, in my opinion they were valueless. He laughed and replied: "Gentlemen, I'll live to sell every one of these villa sites at one thousand dollars per acre." We thought he was crazy on this subject. I am told that soon after his death his executors sold three thousand acres near Los Angeles for six million dollars.
     During our stay at Santa Anita, Mr. Baldwin. invited Governor Nance and me to call on him in San

Francisco on our homeward trip, saying he would be glad to show us the city. We did so. One day he drove up Knob Hill, where the bonanza kings had erected many fine palaces. Among many others he pointed out Mackay's home, and a big mansion just completed by O'Brien, both bonanza kings.
He told us the following story: "When O'Brien had his house nearly completed he wrote to his agent in New York city to send him at once an 'up-to-date' library. In due time the books arrived. O'Brien was very much pleased with the binding of the volumes of Shakespeare and Milton and at once telegraphed his New York agent as follows: 'Books received, very satisfactory, especially Shakespeare and Milton. Send at once everything these men have published up to this date.'
At Mr. Baldwin's death in 1911, his estate was valued at about $28,000,000. His daughter, Anita Baldwin, has recently erected a beautiful mansion on the Santa Anita ranch. She, like her father, is a great lover of horses; she is also developing an up-to-date stock ranch.

On my return to Los Angeles in 1915 I found many changes had come about. In 1890 crops grown on the San Gabriel valley lands and in fact in all of southern California were mostly wheat and barley, without irrigation. Large areas not cultivated for lack of water were used as sheep and cattle ranches. There

was only a small part of the land irrigated. The method of conveying water for irrigation was of the old Spanish type - in open ditches. By this method a large part of the water was wasted in seepage and evaporation. At the present time all water for irrigation is conveyed in underground pipes. Where water is required for the irrigation of mountain sides or hill lands, it is forced up by pumping plants. In the lower districts where water can be obtained at a depth of fifty feet or less, wells with pumping plants supply a sufficient quantity for the successful growing of fruits and other crops. By adopting these new methods and by the construction of reservoirs in the mountains, it is expected that sufficient water will soon be available for the irrigation of all arable land in Los Angeles and adjoining counties.
Unquestionably the chief attraction of southern California is its climate. The early builders of Los Angeles foresaw that climate alone would not bring people there in great numbers. To make this the recognized playground of the world big things must be done. To do big things, the Californian way, required the expenditure of enormous sums of money. The only way to acquire these vast sums was by voting bonds. Bonds have been issued by the city to the amount of $40,000,000. I was informed that this did not include street improvements or sewer bonds paid by assessments on abutting property. I am presuming that including the public bonded debt for all purposes on all property inside the present city

limits of Los Angeles the total reached $75,000,000 and possibly more than $100,000,000.
Let us assume that this sum constitutes the total outstanding liability of the city. Before condemning this course as absolutely ruinous, we should consider its assets. The bigger the business the greater its liabilities must necessarily be.
It should not be overlooked that the city water works, aqueduct and other public service enterprises are inventoried as assets at the actual cost of construction. It is expected that the income from these will be sufficient to liquidate the entire cost of construction and afterwards be a source of profit to the city. No doubt there are great possibilities in this direction. The result depends, almost wholly, upon the success of municipal management.

     Area: Square miles, 288.21; population, 550,000; assessed valuation, city, $508,247,110.
     The cost of maintaining its government now approximates $2,000,000 a month. This expense is about equally divided between the schools and general purposes.
     Public school buildings, 154, including six high schools; teachers, 2,378; scholars, 87,209. Including the annexed schools, the property valuation of the Los Angeles public school system in buildings, lands and equipment is placed, in round numbers, at $14,000,000

The most notable thing that has ever happened to the city of Los Angeles is the acquirement by the municipality of rights to the flow of the Owens River and tributary streams which drain the eastern surface of the Sierra Nevada range, and the conveyance of this new supply across the Mojave desert, under the Coast range of mountains and into the city, for domestic consumption. From the inlet of the aqueduct to the point where the water enters the city's distribution system, the total distance is 258 miles. This project was inaugurated in 1904. The work was formally dedicated and the giant water course placed in operation November 5, 1913. The total cost of this water system, including $1,500,000 for land and water rights, was $24,500,000. The undertaking was completed within this amount, and within the time for which it was promised. The Los Angeles aqueduct provides a supply of water for domestic purposes for more than 1,000,000 people and for the irrigation of 135,000 acres of land. In addition, by taking advantage of natural conditions the city, from this source, is able to generate hydro-electric energy estimated at 120,000 horse power. For partial development and distribution of this resource, Los Angeles has appropriated $10,000,000. One of the power houses is now nearing completion.
Water power to the extent of 120,000 horse power will be utilized, from which will be generated the city's light and power, and from the sale of which it is ex-

pected to liquidate the bonds and interest of both aqueduct and electrical plants.
     Los Angeles is abundantly supplied with beautiful parks, providing playgrounds for the people and ample opportunity for the city dweller to get back to nature.
     The total area of city parks is 4,097 acres, and the value is estimated at $10,211,860 by City Auditor John S. Myers.
     The Greek theater site in Vermont canyon is said to be the finest in the world. The plans call for a seating capacity of 15,000. The acoustic properties of the canyon are unrivaled. A speaker or singer may be heard perfectly, while enunciating in ordinary tones.
     Southern California has expended probably $50,000,000. to date on good roads. This enormous investment is probably without parallel in any other equal area in the United States and, taking the population of this section into consideration, certainly represents an unparalleled achievement.
     In our various trips it proved expedient to have our car and our own driver, Joseph Bell, who had served us so reliably and well for the past twelve years. Accordingly, he and the car had been sent in advance to Los Angeles. The climate was equable, the roads good, the surroundings diversified and attractive, and the pleasure trips taken proved to be as healthful and instructive as pleasurable. As the winter merged into spring, and the Easter season approached, the beauty was enhanced, and my wife's happiness and exuberance of spirit found enthusiastic expression. Easter Sunday was ideal, and

my wife took great pleasure in the profuse floral decorations and the church services. After recounting the experiences of the day and expressing the gratifying sentiment that no happier winter had ever passed, she retired. In the middle of the night she turned on a light in her room and expired without warning. Thus passed a singularly amiable and tranquil life. The following obituary is from the Stromsburg Headlight, May 10, 1917.

"The funeral of Mrs. C. H. Morrill, who died in Los Angeles, California, on April 8th, was held on Sunday, May 6th, at the homestead¹ just south of Stromsburg, the services being held at the home of her son, Arthur C. Morrill.
"Harriet Currier was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, November 16, 1843, her death occurring at Los Angeles, California, on April 8, 1917, and at her death she was aged 73 years, 4 months, and 23 days. At the age of seventeen years she united with the Methodist Church and when eighteen years of age was united in marriage with Charles Henry Morrill, who at that time was a private soldier in the 11th New Hampshire volunteers. A few days after the marriage ceremony had been performed, Mr. Morrill left his young wife to join his regiment and served to the end of the war. After he had returned from his services to his country, they moved to Iowa where they spent a few years and

¹ The old home where she raised all her children, now the home of her son Arthur Currier Morrill.

in 1873 moved to Nebraska where they settled on the homestead just south of Stromsburg and which has been their real home ever since.
     "To this union seven children were born, the four surviving are Charles Albert, Arthur Currier, Edgar Lampery, and Minnie Harriet. Six grandchildren have been added to the happy family circle in which the grandmother was the guiding star.
     "Mr. and Mrs. Morrill came to Polk County among the early settlers and Mr. Morrill took a government homestead. They, like all other settlers, were not blessed with worldly goods, but they prospered and Mrs. Morrill lived to enjoy for many years the accumulation of their united toil.
      "In 1894 the family moved to Lincoln where they resided most of the time until a year and a half ago when they went to Los Angeles. But Stromsburg was always their real home and a great many of their summers were spent in the handsome log house which was built twenty years ago for a summer home
     "Mrs. Morrill was a woman of a beautiful and noble character and was beloved by all who knew her. She was a kind and considerate wife and a loving mother, and it is in the home where she was so greatly beloved that she will be missed, and yet her many friends will miss her kindly smile and cheerful greeting and her many tokens of friendship and her unselfish kindness for others.
     "At the time of her death she was an active member of the P. E. O. Sisterhood, the Daughters of the American


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