Rail_Road_in_Los_Angeles_Throughout_History

How did the rail and water system affect the development of Los Angeles' Between the years of 1860 and 1923, the public transportation and the water system in the big city of California; Los Angeles had growth extensively and rapidly. In the early 1900’s, the new system of railroad started to growth and just like bridges, it bring the shredded city into one. This essay will discuss the rail, water system and the key companies which involved in this history of it growth, and also how all of this development have an effect on the urbanity and the real estate of this city. Los Angeles city in the end of 1800s and the beginning of 1900s In 1876, the completion of the transcontinental railroad helps the area of Los Angeles become more viable for settlement in America. Since there are land that people can access to with a cheaper prices, the population of Los Angeles grew from 35,000 to about one million people between 1880 and 1920.1 However, different from the East, Los Angeles was not grew rapidly in urbanization, instead the city was experiencing suburbanization. Because of the climate that suitable for all different kind of life for settlements, and the city was expanded to the San Pedro Port area, there are more and more suburbs in the city. But for all those reason, the city is still growth fast because now they have the accessibility to the world markets through the port.2 Due to the natural shredded of the city, in order for the city to workout well and for a more stable economic, a public transportation system was needed and establish. There were many companies who try to created the best railroad, like the James Crank “operated a local horse-drawn and cable car system”, but after a while, the company were supplanted in the 1890s by electric trolley barons of Eli Clark and Moses Sherman. The seam engine trolley system also began to provide public transpiration for the Los Angeles residents. By this, there are more choices of transportation options for Los Angeles people, but they were often problematic because of everything. The schedules were sporadic, the rides were lengthy, and the service was bad and unreliable die to the lack of specialized in technology and the rail. And as the population increasing, the city really need more reliable transportation system and the pioneer that lead the city in to the right direction was the wealthy and famous Henry E. Huntington.3 The Huntington’s contribution Henry Huntington was the vice president of the Southern Pacific (SP). 3 so he already got some experience within the industry before he decided to venture into the railway business in the Los Angeles area. He was lucky and has the upper hand because of his inheritance from this uncle; Collis P. Huntington, therefor, he did not have to spend time on seeking investors and capital for his ideas, instead he could right away focus on his goals for sweeping of the public transportation system in Los Angeles.4 And by 1906, Huntington and his associates controlled 449 miles of track and this increased to 532 by 1908.5 This system that he own was so large that by 1914, the Pacific Electric Rail lines even extended to San Bernardino and Redlands. The cost for travel on the railroad system was five cents, and since the average wage earned was only 1200$, this consider to be a little bit more expensive than now.6 the worker at that time did not have any alternatives. These expanses and power of the rail system shows how important it was to the overall growth of Los Angeles and the effects which it has on the success of the city is great. The Water system in Los Angeles Also in the late 1800s, one of the in reasons beside the rail system, which has a big affect on Los Angeles, is the water system. At this time, the water system was private ownership, and with the common belief that “ownership of the water works was an invitation to political corruption.”7 So because of this, the city leased the water system to private companies. In 1868, a thirty year lease was signed that called for “a system of twelve miles of iron pipes, replacement of the wooden pipes, construction of new reservoirs and ditches, and erection of a plaza fountain,” under the condition that “no more than ten miner’s inches of water was to be taken from the river without prior agreement from the city.” The company that held the lease was the Los Angeles Water Company and the problems that ensued over the next thirty years led to another shift of ownership. Moreover, because the water system was controlled by the Los Angeles Water Company instead of the city, customers’ request or complaints were often ignored because the owners of the company did not feel the obligated to please tax payers and voters. Some of the problems with the Los Angeles Water Company control included “directors reluctant to make important improvements if doing so meant incurring heavy indebtedness,” and “the company was constantly laggard in its responsibilities to install fire hydrants and water supply free of charge to public school, city hospitals, and jails.”