The history of Los Angeles Pacific is routine from a chronological point of view, but simplicity vanishes when one considers its corporate structure. No less than 26 different railroad corporations or entities were at one time or another in control of all or part of the LAP system. To compound the injury, certain merger attempts were of doubtful legality; second attempts were required. What this does to the family tree can best be imagined; however, we attempted the impossible and the result is found below.
A favorite device of Sherman & Clark was to set up a new corporation for each new line. After the line was under way, the new corporation would be merged with their old corporation and a third entity would thus result. They used this device time and time again.
In this chapter appear, in order, the PE official history of LAP, our own general history, and a chronology, 1896-1911.
The following corporate histories are taken more or less verbatim from the official history of the Pacific Electric Railway Company, written in 1914. The history was compiled by the PE Engineering Department and has served as the "bible" whenever the company has been called upon by courts or regulatory bodies to establish historical points of fact.
This version is 95% verbatim. The editor has altered it only in eliminating repetitious passages or in omitting certain financial transactions which would be of questionable value to the average reader.
Each predecessor company was assigned arbitrarily a Unit Number to avoid confusing that company with another when, as often happened, two or more companies chose identical corporate names. A Unit Number was also assigned to a line or lines leased or puchased from outside sources, also to promote clarity.
Dates shown are those when corporate papers were filed with the California Secretary of State or the Secretary of Arizona Territory---and when the subsequent consolidations became effective.
LOS ANGELES OSTRICH FARM RAILWAY COMPANY
The original line of LAP, on Sunset Blvd., came into being away back in 1886 when the 3' gauge Los Angeles Ostrich Farm Railway Co. built its single track line of steam motor railroad from a point in Elysian Park Avenue (Sunset Blvd.) opposite the Sisters' Hospital (now St. Vincent's, then at Beaudry & Sunset) in a general northwesterly and westerly direction along present Sunset Boulevard to Childs Avenue (near Sanborn Junction)and thence northerly, crossing Effie Street and the northern boundary of the city, then up the west side of the Los Angeles River to Kenilworth Station on the Los Feliz Rancho (now Griffith Park), where the ostrich farm then was.
The Ostrich Farm Ry. was incorporated in California on August 5, 1886; among its incorporators was Mr. I.W. Hellman (later to be affiliated with Henry E. Huntington in the famous Huntington-Hellman Syndicate which established the Pacific Electric in 1901). The company's announced purposes were: "to acquire by purchase orotherwise rights of way and lands---and to construct, operate and maintain a narrow gauge steam motor rairoad." The proposed road would transport passengers and freight, the cars of which were to be drawn by locomotives or dummies, from some point in Los Angeles City to the Ostrich Farm, about eight miles. The total capitalization was $60,000, of which $8,000 was paid to Mr. G.J. Griffith, the treasurer.
During the latter part of 1886, Mr. W.L. Wicks of Los Angeles constructed for this company a line of railroad 6.387 miles in length which followed the route set forth in the first paragraph. Wicks performed the work under a contract with the company by the terms of which has was to receive a subsidy from various land owners along the line and also all of the capital stock of the company. After the construction work had commenced (1886), all of the stock was issued to Wicks except a few shares which were issued to the directors. On July 9, 1887, an agreement was entered into by Mr. Wicks and the LOS ANGELES COUNTY RAILROAD COMPANY where-by the latter company agreed to purchase the Ostrich Farm Ry. Co. for the sum of $50,000, payable to Wicks in bonds of the Los Angeles County RR. Co. During August, 1887, this deal was carried out.
Operation of this line commenced during the latter part of 1886 and was contined until on or about August 15, 1887, at which time the line was turned over to the Los Angeles County RR. Co. under the agreement dated July 9, 1887.
On September 6, 1888, the Los Angeles Ostrich Farm Ry. Co., together with the Los Angeles County RR. Co. and the Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co., entered into an agreement to consolidate, and to form a new railroad coporation to be known the THE LOS ANGELES & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. This consolidation was effective on September 11, 1888, on which date the LA&P became the owner of all property formerly owned by this corporation.
THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY RAILROAD COMPANY
See also Los Angeles & Pacific Railway
Incorporated in California June 23, 1887. Among the incorporators was M.L. Wicks. This company was capitalized at $300,000. Its proposed road would be from a point in Los Angeles City to the shore of the ocean on the Bay of Santa Monica, estimated to be 28 miles.
During September and October, 1887, this company changed the gauge of the Ostrich Farm line to 3'-6" by setting over of the rails. During the same period, preliminary work was begun on the construction of a line from the Ostrich Farm line at Childs Ave. (near Sanborn Jct.) to Santa Monica, as well as extending the Ostrich Farm line to Burbank. These lines, as subsequently constructed, were single track, 3'-6" gauge lines of steam railroad.
The Santa Monica line extended from the junction with the Ostrich Farm line through the town of Colegrove and the townsites of Calhuenge (Hollywood), Morocco (Beverly Hills), Sunset (Sawtelle)---passing the National Military Home---to the northern boundary of Santa Monica; thene ina generally southwesterly direction along Railroad Ave. (now Colorado Ave.) to a point near Ocean Ave. This line was practically completed and placed in operation during the latter part of 1888.
On the extension to Burbank, a bridge was constructed across the Los Angeles River near the Ostrich Farm and the road constructed in a general northerly and northwesterly direction to Burbank. It was completed early in 1888 and placed in operation.
The mileage of road owned by this company was:
Main Line (Los Angeles to Santa Monica): 18.599
Burbank Branch: 7.788
Spurs & sidings (no record): ____
Total (single track): 26.387
On September 6, 1888, this corporation and the Los Angeles Ostrich Farm Railway Company (Unit 36) and the Los Angeles & Pacific Railway Company (Unit 38) agreed to consolidate and to form a new railroad corporation under California laws to be known as THE LOS ANGELES & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. This consolidation was effective September 11, 1888, on which date all property owned by this company at that time passed to and became the property of the Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co. (Unit 40), and that corporation took immediate possession.
THE LOS ANGELES & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 38)
The proposed road was as follows:
(1) From a point on the line of the Los Angeles County RR. On the City of Los Angeles by the most practicable and desirable route to the City of Pasadena, about 9 miles.
(2) From a point on said Los Angeles County RR. within Los Angeles City in a southeasterly and easterly direction to a point near the southeastern corner of the city; about 6 miles.
(3) From a point within Los Angeles City by the most practicable and desirable route to the Pacific Ocean at or near Hueneme, in Ventura County; about 60 miles.
This company was thus incorporated for the purpose of building extensions to the lines of the Los Angeles County RR. Co. and eventually to convert all of said lines into standard gauge steam railroads. the preliminary work of obtaining rights of way was performed, but no actual construction work was done by the company and it owned no lines of railroad.
On September 6, 1888, this company agreed to consolidate with the Los Angeles Ostrich Farm Ry. Co. (Unite 36) and the Los Angeles County RR. Co. (Unit 37) and to form a new railroad corporation under the laws of California tobe known as THE LOS ANGELES & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. This consolidation was effective on September 11, 1888, on which date the said Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co. (Unit 40) became the owner ofall property which this corporation owned at that time.
THE LOS ANGELES & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 40)
On September 11, 1888, the constituent companies (Los Angeles Ostrich Farm Ry., Los Angeles County RR., Los Angeles & Pacific Ry.) 26.38 single track miles. This company immediately began standard gauging the Burbank line; new ties were put in, and the gauge changed to 4'81/2". This ine was opened for regualr operation to the Ostrich Farm on september 25, 1888 and to Burbank on May 31, 1889. Narrow gauge steam motors were operated on the Santa Monica line until the rebuilding of the Burbank line was completed. The work of standard-gauging the Santa Monica line began in the summer of 1889 and was practically completed by September 1, 1889. Standard gauge trains ran from Los Angeles to Santa Monica commencing on or about that day.
During September, 1888, this company purchased from the Baldwin Locomotive Works two steam locomotives which were named "Wynetka" and "Cahuenga No. 3" on the installment plan. Two steam motors, ten passenger cars and two flat cars were leased from the firm of Carter Brothers of San Francisco. Owing to financial difficulties, the monthly payments were not made when due, and on November 18, 1889 the two locomotives were turned back to Baldwin in ful satisfaction of the purchase price and use of same by this corporation. On December 2, 1889, Carter Brothers took charge of the rolling stock owned by them. By this time the financial depression which followed the "boom" of 1887-1888 had set in, and this company did not run its railroad after December 1, 1889. During the following spring, its tracks were removed from Elysian Park Ave. & Reservoir St. to a point west of Echo Park Ave.
The final sad ending came about in this manner: Two grading contracts totaling about $23,000 became due and the company was unable to pay them. On September 10, 1889 the company was put into the hands of a receiver, and the final result was that the company was thrown into foreclosure on April 2, 1895. On May 4, 1895, the receiver reported to the Court that the Burbank line was very much deplapidated and had been partially destroyed by storms and depredations "committed by divers and sundry persons"----that considerable quantities of ties and rails had been removed without permission. He asked for authority to remove all remaining material in that line to a safe storage place. The Court on the same date ordered him to remove all rails, ties, fastenings and other materials and take them to the junction with the Santa Monica line. This was done, except that material in the line from the river to Burbank was stored at Burbank, due to the company's bridge across the river having washed out.
On April 29, 1895, all property of this company was sold at auction to Mr. A.I. Smith for $190,000. By deed dated January 29, 1896, Smith sold to the PASADENA & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (for $185,000) the railway and property of this corporation. This transfer covered a constructed railroad from Lake Shore Ave. (Glendale Blvd. today) & Sunset Blvd. at the beginning of a private right of way owned by the company to Santa Monica, 17.245 miles in length, together with all ties, rails and other construction material.
Mr. Smith, in an interview at the time, said: "The road was sold under judgement some time ago and I became the purchaser. I and the bondholders have entered into a contract wiht the Pasadena & Pacific Ry. Co. by which all of our interests will be vested in that company upon their reconstructing the road and putting it in operation. Under our contract, the Pasadena & Pacific agrees to construct the road, to connect it with the settled part of the county and to operate it with electricity. The company has already purchased a large part of its rolling stock and electric plant and is to commence work within three months and to complete it within twelve months from date."
THE ELYSIAN PARK STREET RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 39)
Two ordinances empowered the subdividers to act; the first granted the right to build operate and maintain a single or double track line from Temple & Echo Park Ave. in a northerly direction on Echo Park Ave. to bout 150' north of Montana Ave. This was passed on April 14, 1887. On June 24, 1889, another ordinance granted the right to build, operate and maintain a single or double track line from Echo Park Ave. & Sunset Blvd. in a general southeast direction along Sunset to New High St., then south on New High to Sonora St. and east to Main St.
During the latter part of 1889, construction work was commenced on the line on Echo Park Ave. from Temple St. to about 600' north of Sunset Blvd.
Early in 1890 the steam railroad (Los Angeles & Pacific) on Reservoir St. and Elysian Park Ave. (now Sunset Blvd.) which had ceased operation on December 1, 1889, was taken up and that portion of the line abandoned by its owners. During the spring of 1890 this company constructed a one track line of 3'-6" gauge of light weight rails from Echo Park Ave. & Sunset Blvd. to Main Street, via Sunset, New High, and Sonora St. From Echo Park Ave. & Sunset Blvd. to the Sisters' Hospital it followed the route and used l\the grade of the steam railroad. That portion of the line on Echo Park Ave. from Teemple to Sunset was abandoned during the fall of 1890 and track removed. An extension was then built on Echo Park Ave. to what is now Cerro Gordo St., about one mile. The total length of the road owned by ths company (from Main St. to Cerro Gordo St.) was 3.149 miles, single track, all in Los Angeles City.
The company owned one car and two mules at the start of opeation, but the car was subsequently drawn by only one mule; as a result, but two round trips daily were mde---one in the forenoon, the other in the afternoon. From the beginning it was never expected that this line would pay more than its operating expenses, and in this the owners were not disapointed.
On November 16, 1891, this compnay agreed with the Los Angeles Consolidated Electric Railway Company (later LARY) that LACE was to take over the line and electrify that part form Main St. to Echo Park Ave. and operate same as an electric railway; the balance of the line to Cerro Gordo St. would continue as a mule car line. That company failed to electrify the line and on February 27, 1895, it reconveyed the property to this corporation.
By deed dated November 15, 1895, this company conveyed all its property to the PASADENA & PACIFIC RAILWAY CO., pursuant to a resolution passed by its directors on that date. The consideration named was one dollar and "also that the said grantee and assigns and successors in interest shall cause electric cars to be operated continously every day giving at least 30-minute service each way for a period of 25 years, such trips to be made during the ordinary hours for running streetcars in the city of L.A."
That part of the line from N. Broadway to Echo Park Ave. on Sunset was abandoned and an electric line was built by P&P during the spring of 1896 and afterwards became a part of the L.A.-Santa Monica line. The balance was operated by horse car for several years. On August 28, 1901, the L.A.-Pacific Co. leased the horsecar line to C. C. Champion on a year-to-year basis. The lessee furnished one car and two horses or mules and received a stipulated amount each month in addition to the total cash fares collected. This lease was in effect until the latter part of August 1902. The line was electrified up to Cerro Gordo St. during the next 90 days and placed in operation on November 20, 1902.
CAHUENGA VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 41)
One January 11, 1887, James McLoughlin of Los Angeles acquired a franchise covering the construction, operation and maintenance of a dummy steam railroad from Diamond St. (now Beverly Blvd.) via Texas St. (now Belmont Ave.), Temple and other streets and highways to the southwest corner of the Baptist College, known as the Los Angeles University and located on the high ground near Beverly & Virgil.
On March 9, 1887, McLoughlin agreed with property owners along the line to extend the line from Temple & Hoover in a westerly and northerly direction to the northeast corner of Section 14 (approximately Western & Melrose).
During February and March 1887 McLoughlin constructed a narrow gauge line of single track steam dummy railroad over the route described and placed it in operation as "The Temple & Diamon Sts. Steam Dummy Railroad."
Under the March 9, 1887 agreement, bonus lands to the extend of 22 acres and bonus money amounting to $16,000 in promissory notes executed by property owners along the route were delivered to McLoughlin. During thesummer of 1887 he extended the line to what is now the intersection of Western ave. & santa Monica Blvd. This extension was known as "The West End Steam Dummy Railroad."
By deed dated April 16, 1888, McLoughlin sold this steam dummy railroad from Diamon & Belmont to Western & Santa Monica to THE CAHUENGA VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY for a consideration of $51,300. Included were franchises, rights of way, and rolling stock (one locomotive and one car).
During the latter part of 12888 McLoughlin secured the necessary rights of way and extended the line northerly along the County Road (Western Ave.) to Prospect Ave. (now Hollywood Blvd.) and thence west on Prospect Ave. to what is now Wilcox Ave.
By deed dated February 1, 1889, McLoughlin sold this last described extension to the Cahuenga Valley company for $10,000. It consisted of a single track line of 3'-6" gauge, built of 22-lb. iron rails, running about 3/4 mile north on Western Avenue, then about 1-1/4 miles west on Prospect to Wilcox.
In March 1889, the Second Street Cable RR. Co. made an agreement with the Cahuenga Valley RR. whereby transfers were exchanged at Beverly & Belmont, where both lines then terminated. This previlage extended only to the Los Angeles city limits, then at Temple & Hoover streets.
The steam dummy lin was built on Temple St. along the south side from Belmont Ave. to Park View St. When the Temple Street Cable Railway extended its line from Temple & Belmont out to Temple & Hoover (opened April 30, 1889), it was put in the center of the street, which created an impossible situation. the steam line was ordered off the street by the city council, but the Cahuenga Valley RR. contended ti was a steam railroad line and could not be expelled from the street. However, by deed dated September 16, 1889, this company surrendered its franchise inside the city limits and abondoned its line from Beverly & Belmont to Temple & Hoover. Thereafter the bulk of the company's business was received from the Temple St. Cable line and Temple & Hoover became a rather busy transfer point.
Ub 1891 or 1892 control of this company passed to Mr. E. G. Hurd and Mr. S. A. mattison through ownership of a majority of outstanding stock. During the latter part of 1894 the new owners secured the necessary materials for an extension to Laurel Canyon, and placed the track materials along the proposed route. However, property owners were antagonistic toward a steam railroad and made threats to take concerted action to delayor prevent the passage of a franchise by the County Supervisors. The owners, Hurd & Mattison, decided to build the extension first and take up the matter of a franchise afterward. Construction work was commenced after the adjournment of the Courts on a Saturday afternoon and the extension was ready for operation the following morning. This portion of the road extended westerly along Prospect Ave. from Wilcox Ave. to the present Highland Avenue, south on Highland to Sunset, and west to Laurel Canyon, where a waiting station and pavilion were subsequently constructed.
After the completion of the extension to Laurel Canyon the company owned a narrow gauge single track steam dummy railroad extending from the western city limits of Los Angeles to Laruel Canyon, 6.981 miles.
Early in 1895 Sherman & Clark obtained control of the company through majority stock ownership. By deed dated May 7, 1896, the Cahuenga Valley RR. co. sold all its property to THE PASADENA & PACIFIC RY. CO. (Unit 43) for ten dollars. P&P andits successors operated the road as a steam line for several years and eventually converted the greater portion into an electric line.
SANTA MONICA & SOLDIERSS' HOME RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 42)
From a point near Hill & Main Sts., Santa Monica, in close proximity to the depot of the Southern California (Santa Fe) Railway Company's Inglewood Division, in a northerly direction on Main St. to Fremont Ave.; west on Fremont to Ocean Ave.; north on Ocean to Utah Ave.; east on Utah to Third St.; north on Third to Nevada Ave. (now fabulous Wilshire Blvd.); east on Nevada approximately three miles to the grounds of the Soldiers' Home; thence in said grounds in a northerly and easterly direction to a point near the dining room, where a station was built; together with a branch from a connection with this line on Nevada Ave. in an easterly direction along Seventh St. to the car barn and stables, near Seventh & Arizona Ave.
On June 17, 1895, this company was sold to Sherman & Clark---the property involved consisting of about six miles of track, two bridges, the depot at the Soldiers' Home, four cars, sixteen horses, harness, sheds, and building; also all franchises for electric and steam car lines and all other lines granted to the company. Payment was made in bonds of the Pasadena & Pacific Ry. Co. The parties also agreed that "If by the first day of July 1896 the P&P shall construct and have in operation an electric railway line from Oregon & Ocean Aves. to Front St. (Fremont); thence east on Front St. to Fourth St.; thence sough on Fourth to Hill St.; thence west on Hill to second St.; thence north on Second to front St..... then, and in that case, the (sellers) agree to return to the purchasers five of said (P&P) bonds." This line was constructed, and five bonds were returned to Sherman & Clark.
During the summer of 1896, that portion of the horse car line from Oregon & Ocean Aves. to Hill St. was abandoned and the rails taken up. The balance of the line was operated as a horse car line by the P&P and its successors until the latter part of 1899, when it wa abandoned. The rails were taken up and used in temporary tracks by the LA-P RR. Co. (Unit 49), successor to P&P.
PASADENA & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Arizona) (Unit 43)
The new company announced its proposed road as follows: either single or double track electric railways from Phoenix via the Asylum to Tempel, ten miles; also from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica along or near the line of railway known as the Los Angeles & Pacific Ry., about 25 miles.
On November 15, 1895, this company acquired all of the railroad property of the Elysian Park Street Railway Co. (Unit 39) consisting of a horse car line (single track) from Main St. to Cerro Gordo St. via Sunset Blvd. and Echo Park Ave. (current street names).
On January 29, 1896, this company acquired all property owned by the Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co. (Unit 40), consisting of a single track line of standard gauge steam railroad between Los Angeles and Santa Monica via Colegrove, Cahuenga Morocco, Sunset and the National Military Home.
On May 7, 1896, this company acquired all property of the Cahuenga Valley RR. Co. (Unit 41), consisting of a single track line of narrow gauge steam railroad from Temple & Hoover Sts. via Hollywood to Laurel Canyon.
Through ownership of all of the capital stock of the Santa Monica & Soldiers' Home RR. Co. (Unite 42), all the property owned by that company consisting of a narrow gauge single track horse car line in Santa Monica and in South Santa Monica (now Ocean Park) and extending from Santa Monica to the Soldiers' Home, passed to this company under an agreement with Mr. E.P. Clark, dated June 11, 1895.
Mileage of road purchased:
Name of Company Equi. Single T.
Elysian Park Street Railway Company 3.149
Los Angeles & Pacific Railway Company 17.245
Cahuenga Valley Railroad Company 6.982
Santa Monica & Soldiers' Home RR. Co. 6.000
Total: 33.376
On June 11, 1895, an agreement was entered into with E.P. Clark of Los Angeles covering the reconstruction and electrification of this company's main line between Los Angeles and santa Monica, and the acquisition of other railroad property, from which the following notes were made:
The contractor, E.P. Clark, agree:
(1) To construct and equip and turn over to this company 27 miles of electric railway to be constructed and operated with what was known as the "Trolley Overhead System" commencing in Los Angeles and running thence via Bellevue Avenue, Elysian Park Ave. (both these now Sunset Blvd.), through the Cahuenga Valley on what was known as the Santa Monica Foothill Road, and on the right of way of the old Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co. to Santa Monica by way of Oregon and Utah Avenues.
(2) That long passing tracks would be constructed wherever necessary, and that the construction work would be first-class in every particular.
(3) To construct necessary machinery and other equipment.
(4) To use round poles, which had been properly dressed and painted, and to set same in the ground in asphatum to a depth of six feet.
(5) Overhead construction to consist of No. 0 bare trolley and bare feeder wire of copper, of first-class material; road bed to be of first-class construction and equally as good as that of the Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co.; sixteen redwood ties, 6 X 8 X 8, to be used for every 30-foot rail; track to be heavily bonded with heavy copper bonds, to be increased wherever necessary to provide most efficient service.
(6) Contractor to reconstruct all bridges, and put in new bridges wherever needed.
(7) To furnish ten large double-truck, combination open and closed passenger card, with the seats inside facing the direction in which the car was moving and those outside to be built lengthwise of the car; said cars to be equipped with Westinghouse # 38 motors (40 hp) and controllers.
(8) To have said line in operation to Santa Monica on or before July 1, 1896.
(9) To turn over proper lease and contract covering trhe joint use of the tracks and overhead trolley wires owned by the Los Angeles Ry. Co. from Bellevue & Buena Vista (now Sunset & N. Broadway) to the center of the business section, running as far south on Spring St. as Fourth; thence west to Broadway, south to Fifth, east to Spring, and north to Fourth.
(10) To secure and turn over the horse car line in Santa Monica known as the Santa Monica & Soldiers' Home RR. Co. with all equipment and rolling stock, real estate and improvements.
(11) To secure and turn over all of the capital stock equipment and rolling stock, road bed, franchises, and all other property of the Cahuenga Valley RR. Co., consisting of eight miles of single track and two locomotives.
For its part, the new corporation agreed:
That it deliver to said contractor its entire authorized capital stock and $400,000 worth of gold bonds. The total was 400 bonds of $1,000 each, divided as follows: 53 in payment for property of the old Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co.; 32 for old Cahuenga Valley RR. Co.; 25 for the old Santa Monica & Soldiers' Home RR. Co.; 40 for purchase of copper wire; 69 for purchase of equipment; 40 for pwer houses and their machinery; 141 for rebuilding the line from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, converting same from the standard gauge steam railroad into a 3'-6" gauge electric railway, and placing same in operation.
E.P. Clark commenced the work of rebuilding the steam line during June 1895, very shortly after the execution of the above agreement.
A double track was built between Burbank Jct. (Childs Ave.) and Hoover Street, about a half mile; the balane was single track with several sidings and passing tracks. Over the entire line, however, double track overhead was installed. Rails were 40-lb. stee, and the grade was for a standard gauge railroad, having beenused as such by the Los Angeles & Pacific Ry. Co. approximatelya third of the old ties were replaced by new ones.
In building the electric line, Clark did not follow the old steam rairoad all the way from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, but straightened out the line ina number of spots the principal changes being: (1) Froma poin west of Burbank Jct. the steam road was built in a southwesterly direction to Hoover St.; north on vermont to a private right of way about two blocks north of the present Santa Monica Blvd. (Ed.: Fountain Ave. today); thence in a southwesterly direction over said private way to a point near the town of Sherman (now West Hollywood). The electric line was built from a point west of Childs Avenue, now known as Sanborn Jct., along the present Santa Monica Blvd. in a westerly direction through Colegrove to the station known as Hacienda Park; thence southwest to Sherman (2) From the northeasterly limits of Santa Monica, the line was constructed over private way to Oregon Ave.; thence southwesterly along Oregon Ave. (today Santa Monica Blvd.) toOcean ave. instead of following the route of the steam road along Railroad Ave. (today colorado Ave.) in Santa Monica.
During the early part of 1896, the horse car line along Bellevue Ave. (Sunset Blvd.) in Los Angeles was abondoned and taken up and an electric line was built from Echo Park Ave. to Buena Vista St. (North Broadway) along Bellevue Ave. as a part of the Los Angeles-Santa Monica Line.
On December 19, 1895, a contract was entered into with the Pullman Palace Car Company covering the construction and delivery of the following rolling stock:
8 Combination open & closed passenger cars - 35' long
8 Semi-open motor cars - 32' long
12 Semi-open trail cars - 32' long
6 Closed motor cars - 25' long
This rolling stock was received at Los Angeles during March, April and may, 1896. Air brakes and electric equipment were installed by this company.
During May and June, 1896, this company abondoned the old horse car line to South Santa Monica (Ocean Park) and built a single track narrow gauge electric line from the junction of Oregon & Ocean Aves. in Santa Monica in a southeasterly direction to Front St. (now Pico); thence east on Front St. to 4th St., south on 4th to Hill St., west on Hill to 2nd, north on 2nd to a junction with Main St. and continuing north on Main St. to Front St. Operation over this line, which subsequently was known as the "Southj Loop," began on July 1, 1896.
The first units of the site for Sherman shops and yards, on which was also located the power house and car barns, were purchased by this company during January and February, 1896, and consited of 5.56 acres of land, in two parcels. Abolut 2.5 miles of yard tracks were builts.
From a statement of assets issued by the company on jnauary 1, 1897, a total value of road of $1,033,550.00 was shown. This was broken down as follows:
(1) 38 miles of equivalent single track electric railway with double overhead trolley construction, built and graded for a standard gauge steam road ($505,000.00);
(2) 4.5 miles of horse car lines with horses and cars, in operation from santa Monica to soldiers' Home ($20,000.00);
(3) 8 miles of S\steam railroad with three loomotives and coaches, in operation in the Cahuenga valley ($63,000.00);
(4) New bridges built in Santa Monica ($7,500.00);
(5) Power house site, buildings, machinery ($80,000.00);
(6) 3 Pullman single truck motor cars ($7,500.00);
8 Pullman double truck motor cars ($32,000.00);
12 Pullman combination motor cars ($52,000.00);
14 Pullman coaches ($28,000.00);
22 Dump cars ($3,750.00);
12 Flat cars ($4,800.00);
(7) Franchises, rights of way, terminals ($200,000.00).
(Note: the above 38 miles appears to be in excess of the equivalent single track mileage of electric lines owned by this company. The electric lines owned by the company were approximately 24.5 miles in length, on most of which a double track overhead system had been installed. This does not include spurs and sidings, of which there is no record.)
On May 3, 1895, the Los Angeles Railway Company entered into an agreement with this corporation covering the joint owned by LARY as follows: From Bellevue Ave. & Buena Vista St. in a southeasterly direction to main St., to Spring, to 4th, to Broadway, to5th, to Spring, to 4th, thence back to Bellevue Ave. & Buena Vista; total length, 1.35 miles.
Construction and reconstruction work was practically completed during the month of March, 1896, and regular operation of electric cars between Los Angeles and Santa Monica was inaugurated on April 1, 1896.
Prior to the construction of the "south Loop" during the summer of 1896, that portion of the horse car line in Santa Monica and South santa Monica between Utah Ave. (Broadway) and Ocean Ave. on the north and Hill St. on the south was abandoned. The balane of the horse car line between Santa Monica and Soldiers' Home was operated by this company and its successors for about three years, then abandoned.
Operation of the Cahuenga Valley Railroad Company's line as a narrow gauge steam railroad was continued by this company and its successors until 1900, just prior to the construction of the Hollywood line, when certain portions of same were electrified and the balance abandoned.
On December 30, 1897, this company entered into a written agreement with the Pasadena & Pacific Ry. Co. (California) (Unit 44) to consolidate all of its capital stock, bonds, roads, franchises, rights of way, properties, assets and liabilities of every kind with same owned by that company, and to form a new railroad corporation under California laws to be known as THE LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 45). This consolidation was effective on January 3, 1898.
THE PASADENA & PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 44)
During the latter part 1896 this corporation acquired the franchise for the construction, operation and maintenance for fifty years of a single track or double track line of electric railway as follows: From 8th & Hill Sts., Los Angeles, south on Hill to 16th, west to Figueroa, south to 16th, west on 16th to Georgia Bell St., with rails to be not less than 609 lbs. to the yard.
During January, 1897, the franchise granted to E. P. Clark was acquired covering the construction, operation and maintenance for fifty years (from December 1, `896) of a single or double track electric railway from a point on the westerly boundary of Los Angeles 1250 feet from the south line of Pico St. and extending east along private way to Cambridge & Western; then along Cambridge to and across Gertrude Ave.; then east on provate way to berkeley St. & Bartlett Ave.; then east on Berkeley to Winthrop & Berkeley; then over private way in an easterly direction crossing New Hampshire, Vermont, Highland and Millard Aves. to the intersection of Highland & Pacific Aves.; then along Highland to Magnolia Avenue, then southeast to 16th & Hoover, then along 16th to Bush st. (Burlington Ave.). Also on 4th St. from Hill to Broadway. (Ed.: Above named route traveersed what is today Venice Blvd. from Arlington Ave. to Burlington.)
This corporation immediately commence the construction of a narrow gauge double track line of electric railway over the route above shown to the western boundary of Los Angeles and thence west and northwest to Sherman Jct., passing Pico Heights, Arlington Heights, Nadeau, Laurel Hill and Sunny Slope Park. From Sherman Jct., the line was extended in a westerly direction to Morocco Jct. (Beverly Hills) where it formed a junction with the Los Angeles-Santa Monica Line owned by the Pasadena & Pacific Railway Company of Arizona.
Steel rails, weighing 56 and 60 lbs. to the yard, and new 6xc8x8 redwood ties laid on two-foot centers, were used in this construction. The roadbed was graded out to a double width of 33 feet, and the track was ballasted with decomposed granite. Overhead construction was of the center-pole type except on Los Angeles streets, with iron brackets and pipe arms; the trolley was Figure 8,000 wire; the feeder consisted of one 300,000 C. M. Cable, and one 400,000 C. M. cable and one 600,000 C. M. cable.
Construction work was practically completed during the latter part of June, 1897.
During June and July, 1897, a single track line of second hand 50 and 56 lb. steel rails, with new ties, was built from the present Sherman Jct. to Shermanton, which was subsequently known as the "Sherman cut-Off."
the double track line formed a part of what was known as the "Santa Monica Short Line." It later became the "West 16th St. Line."
Mileage of road constructed by this company:
Santa Monica Short Line: From 4th & Broadway, Los Angeles to Morcocco Jct. (via Hill, 16th, Vineyard, Sherman Jct., excepting Hill between 4th & 8th Sts. and 16th from georgia to Bush (Burlington) which trackage was owned by the Los Angeles Tracion co. but over which P&P of California obtained trackage rights): (Equiv. S.T.)... 18.370
Sherman Cut-Off: Single track, from Sherman Jct.
to Sherman Car House: ... 1.087
Total mileage owned: 19.457
Early in 1897 this corporation entered into an agreement with the Los Angeles Traction Company in which it granted to said LAT the joint right to use and operate over its tracks in Los Angeles as follows:
On 4th St. between Broadway and Hill;
On Hill St.between 8th and 16th Sts.;
On 16th St. between Hill and Georgia Bell Sts. and in turn was granted the right to use and operate jointly with LAT the tracks of that corporation in Los Angeles as follows:
On Hill St. between 4th and 8th Sts.;
On 16th St. between Georgia Bell and Bush St.
Regular operation of electric cars on the Santa Monica short Line over the railway owned by this company to Morocoo Jct. and thence over the railway of the P&P of Arizona was inaugurated on July 1, 1897.
Sherman Cut-Off was placed in operation late in July, 1897, and cars of this company were run into the car barns at Sherman over this Cut-Off.
On December 30, 1897, this company agreed to consolidate with the Pasadena & Pacific (Unit 43) and to form a new railroad corporation uner California laws to be known as THE LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 45). This consolidation was effective on January 3, 1898.
THE LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 45)
The mileage of road acquired by this corporation on January 3, 1898, was as follows:
From P&P of Arizona:
Horse Car Lines........... 5.755 miles
Steam Railroad Lines...... 6.982
Electric Railway Lines.... 24.661 37.398
From P&P of California:
Electric Railway Lines.... 19.457 19.457
56.855
On June 2, 1898, this corporation entered into an agreement with the P&P (Arizona), the P&P (California), The Los Angeles-Pacific Ry. Co. (Arizona, Unit 46), and the Los Angeles-Pacific Ry. Co. (California, Unit 47) to consolidate all property of every kind with the same of others, and to form a new railroad corporation under the laws of California to be known as LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 49).
This consolidation was effective on June 4, 1898, on which date the said LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAIROAD COMPANY became the owner of all property of every kind owned by this corporation at that time.
On June 6, 1902, this company joined in an agreement of consolidation and amalgamation with other companies, for the purpose of correcting possible errors or omissions in former consolidation agreements, and was used as one of the constituent companies of THE LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RR. COMPANY (Unit 52), incorporated June 9, 1902.
This company was not reincorporated during the period June 4, 1898-June 9, 1902, and its corporate existence doubtless ended on June 4, 1898, the date on which the first consolidation was effective.
(Ed.: 1898 was a confused year for Sherman & Clark on July 7, 1897, their original interurban company, The Pasadena & Los Angeles Electric Railway Co. (Unit 10), which was the stem from which P&P and LA-P sprang, defaulted in the payment of interest due that date upon its bonds; after six months had elapsed, during which time the company failed to pay said interest, the Trustee took charge of P&LA's property which was sold at the County Court House on April 27, 1898. Eventually this property was purchased by Henry E. Huntington, who used it as the foundation of his great Pacific Electric Ry. This cutting out of the P&LA from Sherman & Clark's properties evidently cast doubt on the status of their remaining properties---hence history records the numerous consolidations and incorporations by them in 1898 in an effort to achieve legal stability again. One of said incorporations had the remarkable legal life of nineteen days as a going concern!)
LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Arizona, Unit 46)
If the consolidation of January 3, 1898, under which the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway Company of California took over the properties of the P&P of Arizona and the P&P of California, was legal---as it appears to be---this company acquire no property.
No road was constructed, and no property was owned by this company, other than that acquired by the consolidation of it two constituent companies, effective on January 6, 1898, if any was so acquired.
On June 2, 1898, this company entered into an agreement with the P&P (Unit 43), the P&P (California, Unit 44), the LA-P (Unit 45) and the LA-P (Unit 47) to consolidate and to form a new railroad corporation under California laws to be known as LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY. This consolidation was effective on June 4, 1898, on which date the said LA-P RR. Co. (Unit 49) became the owner of any and all property of every kind and description owned by ths company at that time.
LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 47)
The purposes for which this company was incorporated were listed thusly:
(1) To consolidate properties, assets and liabilities of the Pasadena & Pacific Railway Company (California);
(2) To acquire, construct, own, operate and maintain single or double track electric railways in Los Angeles County.
Setting forth more specifically the reasons for consolidating the above two companies: P&P (Cal.) was organized by stockholders of P&P (Ariz.) for the following reasons:
(1) That it was necessary to have an additional entrance into the city of Los Angeles.
(2) That it was necessary, in order to accomdate travel between Los Angeles and Santa Monica to build a double-track line.
(3) That it was impracticable for P&P of Arizona to dispose of a second issue of bonds which would constitute only a second lien upon its property.
That, whereas, the second entrance into Los Angeles had been constructed with a double track line which had been place in operation fro Los Angeles to a point almost midway between Los Angeles and Santa Monica and grading had been done for an additional track between Morocco Jct. and Santa Monica.
That is was deemed best to consolidate the properties, franchises and business of the two companies.
This company was incorporated at $1,000,000, all subscribed by the same subscribers who had backed the LA-P of January 3, 1898.
The work grading for the second track between Morocco Jct. and Santa Monica was continued by this company during the period of its corporate existence, but no road was actually constructed.
On May 24, 1898, only eight days after its incorporation, this comopany entered into an agreement with the P&P (43), the P&P (44), the LA-P (45) and the LA-P (46) to form a new railroad corporation under California laws to be known as LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 49). This consolidation was effective on June 4, 1898.
INGLEWOOD LINE (Unit 48)
The Inglewood Line is a standard gauge, single track line which was constructed during the spring of 1887 by the Los Angeles & Santa Monica Railroad Company, one of the predecessor companies of the AT&SF. It extends from a connection with Santa Fe's Redondo-San Pedro Line in Inglewood in a west and northwest direction to the southwest line of S. 5th St. in Santa Monica, approximately 9 miles. The line was inaugurated during June, 1887, by the California Central Railway Company, the successor by consolidation to the original owner. On November 22, 1889, ownership of the line passed to the Southern Calihe Lap
In the October 30, 1909, issue of the Electric Railway Journal there appe
By order of the Railroad Commission of California, dated April 10, 1901, the Southern California Railway Company was authorized to abandon operation of this Inglewood branch, from Inglewood to Santa Monica. At a special meeting of stockholders of the SCRC, held March 21, 1902, the proper officials were authorized to sell said line to the Los Angeles-Pacific Railroad Company.
By deed dated March 21, 1902, the Southern California Railway Company sold to the Los Angeles-Pacific Railroad Company the Inglewood Line, including all right of way, tracks and other fixtures; also the franchise to maintain and operate said road; also a depot and pavilion grounds owned by said SCRC.
This line was converted into an electric railway during 1902 by the LA-P RR. Co. (Unit 52), the successor the LA-P (Unit 49), and became3 the first standard-gauge electric line to bear the LA-p name.
LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 490
Incorporated in California on June 4, 1898, by Sherman, Clark and associates. Principal office: Los Angeles. The company was originally capitalized at $1,000,000, but on Mark 15, 1901, this was increased to $1,500,000 with General Sherman subscribing for all the increase, payment being made by him by transferring to this corporation additional franchises, rights of way, extensions to existing lines and additional equipment.
The road acquired by this corporation from its constituent companies consisted of a narrow gauge steam railroad from west city limits of Los Angeles via Hollywood to Laurel Canyon; a narrow gauge electric line from Buena Vista & Bellevue via Colegrove, Sherman, Morocco and Barrett (Sawtelle) to Santa Monica, mostly all single track; a narrow gauge electric line from 4th & Broadway via S. Hill and W. 16th Sts. Vineyard and Sherman Jct. to Morocco, all double track; a narrow gauge single track line from Sherman Jct. to Sherman; and various yard tracks and sidings at the Sherman Car House; also these horse car lines: (1) From Echo Park Ave. & Sunset to Echo Park Ave. & Cerro Gordo St., (2) From Santa Monica to Soldiers' Home.
During the latter part of 1899, the Soldiers' Home horse car line and a portion of the steam railroad formerly owned by the Cahuenga Valley Railroad Company running through Hollywood to Laurel Canyon were abandoned and the tracks taken up. Immediately following said abandonments, electric lines were built, as follows:
At the time this company was formed, grading was in progress between Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, and Morocco for the second track. This work was rushed to completion and an additional track of 60 lb. rails laid between these points, except that a second track was not laid over the crossing with the Southern Pacific at Soldiers' Home at this time. This work was completed during the latter part of 1898, after which the double track line between Santa Monica and Morocco became a part of what was known as the Main Line, extending from Los Angeles to Santa Monica via Hill and W. 16th Sts.
At different times during this company's corporate existence, short stretches of the second track on the line via Colegrove and Sherman were built, and during 1900 this second track was completed between Morocco Jct. and Sherman and also between Sherman and Los Angeles about four miles of second track were built.
During the latter part of 1899 and early in 1900 the "North Loop" in Santa Monica was constructed. This was a single track narrow gauge line beginning at Ocean & Utah (Broadway), thence east on Utah to 3rd, north to Montana Avenue, west to Ocean Avenue, and south over private way along Ocean Ave. to Utah Ave. This loop covered a portion of the route followed by the horse car line to Soldiers' Home.
Work was commenced on the construction of the Hollywood Line on December 15, 1899, and the line was completed and placed in operation during April, 1900. This line extended from Melrose on the Colegrove Line in a northwesterly direction to Prospect Ave. (now Hollywood Blvd.) over what was known as the Melrose Cut-Off; then west along Prospect from Vermont Ave. to LaBrea (then Sutherland St.), then on private way southwest, crossing Sunset Blvd., to a junction with the Santa Monica Line at Crescent Jct. (Fairfax Ave.). As originally built, this line was double track for about a quarter of its length; a second track was laid during the latter part of 1900 and early part of 1901 with the exception of the Melrose Cut-Off which remained single track.
During the latter part of 1900 a narrow gauge single track spur, known as the "Oil Spur", was built from the old Cahuenga Valley Line at a point in Temple St. (extended) west of Virgil Ave. in a southerly direction to 4th St.. Also, the Quint Cut-Off to Laurel Canyon from Santa Monica Blvd. along Crescent Heights Ave. was built. Both these short lines were operated in connection with the remainder of the Cahuenga Valley Line as steam roads.
This company also built part of the single track line extending from Fremont Ave. (Pico) in Santa Monica in a souherly direction through Ocean Park and Venice to the Short Line Beach Tract; tis line later became the Lagoon Line.
In January, 1902, grading began on the Venice Short Line, and a double track was laid between Tokio (near Venice) and Fredericks by February 26, 1902. With the exception of the ballasting, this line was practically completed by June 1, 1902. As originally built, this line was single track from Tokio to a connection with the Inglewood Line, which it used to reach Ocean Park.
On March 21, 1902, this company purchased from the Southern California Railway Company (Santa Fe) the single track standard gauge steam railroad line extending from the Redondo Line in Inglewood to S. 5th St. in Santa Monica, about 9 miles. This was known as the Inglewood Line.
Here is a summary of equivalent single track mileage of the railroad owned by this corporation, exclusive of spurs and sidings, of which there is no record:
Road acquired by consolidation 56.855
Less lines abandoned:
Santa Monica-Soldiers' Home horse car line
Steam road, Western Ave. from Santa Monica Blvd. &
west to Hollywood Line 7.628
Road constructed:
Second track on original line: 12.234
North Loop, Santa Monica: 2.128
Hollywood Line, Melrose-Crescent: 9.398
Oil Spur: 0.544
Quint Cut-Off: 0.553
Lagoon Line; 1.940
Venice Short Line: 17.611 44.408
Total: 93.635
On June 6, 1902, this company, together with the P&P (Arizona), P&P (California), LA-P (Arizona), and the LA-p (California) and the LA-P (Unit 47), entered into an agreement to consolidate all their properties of every kind and description, and to form a new railroad corporation under California laws to be known as THE LOS ANGELES- PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 52). This consolidation became effective on June 9, 1902.
REDONDO & HERMOSA BEACH RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 50)
Incorporated in Arizona Territory on February 21, 1901, with principal office located at Phoenix, but another office was maintained in Los Angeles. E.P. Clark was elected president and A.I. Smith, secreatary. Capitalization was $400,000 and the proposed road was a single or double track railroad from Redondon To Port Ballona (near Venice) of an estimated length of ten miles.
On December 2, 1901, a contract was entered into by and between this company and the Redondo Improvement Company and Newark, Venable & Cleghorn, contractors, covering the grading of an extension to Hermosa Avenue from the south line of the Hermosa Beach Company's property near Redondo in a southerly direction to the intersection of Diamond & La Alameda Streets in Redondo, being 70' and 100' wide. This work was completed during February, 1902, and was paid for by this corporation and the Redondo Improvement Company in equal part.
In this manner, right of way for a double track electrice line was obtained between Hermosa and Redondo. Prior to the completion of the work, this company acquired the necessary franchise for its line from Diamond & La Alameda Sts. south along La Alameda to Opal St., southeasterly to Camino Real, thence continuing southeasterly to the city limits in Redondo; it also purchased construction material for about three miles of single track railway, which material was distributed along the line from Redondo to a point nother of Hermosa.
However, before any track was laid this company sold its rights of way, franchises and track materials and therefore owned no constructed road.
By deed dated March 12, 1902, this company sold to the LOS ANGELES, HERMOSA BEACH & REDONDO RAILWAY COMPANY all of its railroad property of every kind.
LOS ANGELES, HERMOSA BEACH & REDONDO RAILWAY COMPANY (51)
Incorporated in California on December 19, 1901 by Clark, Sherman, Smith and others. Sherman was elected presidenct, and Smith became secretary. Its principal office was in Los Angeles. This company had a capitalization of $1,000,000, and it proposed to build a railroad from Los Angeles to Redondo via Hermosa, with the LA-P; also to connect LA-P at "some convenient point between Los Angeles and Santa Monica, all in Los Angeles County, of an estimated length of fifty miles."
On Mark 12, 1902, this corporation purchased from the Redondo & Hermosa Beach Railroad Company all of the railroad property owned by that company, consisting of franchises, rights of way and construction materials for a proposed line between Redondo and Playa del Rey, over a portion of which grading had been done but no tracks built.
With the exception of some grading on the Redondo end of the line, no construction work was done by this company.
During the latter part of July, 1902, a consolidation agreement was entered into with the Redondo & Hermosa Beach Railroad Company, according to the termns of which the two companies consolidated all their properties of every kind and formed a new railroad corporation under California laws known as THE LOS ANGELES, HERMOSA BEACH & REDONDO RAILWAY COMPANY. (Unit 53)
This consolidation was effective on July 28, 1902.
LOS ANGELES-PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 52)
Incorporated in California on June 9, 1902. Incorporators were Clark, Sherman, Pope, Larrabee, Hammond and Smith. Clark was elected president, with Smith secretary and Hammond treasurer. The purpose of this company was to consolidate the stocks, bonds, assets, liabilities, and all other property of every and description of these companies:
Pasadena & Pacific Railway Company of Arizona (Unit 43)
Pasadena & Pacific Railway Co. of California (Unit 44)
Los Angeles-Pacific Ry. Co. (California) (Unit 45)
Los Angeles-Pacific Ry. Co. (Arizona) (Unit 46)
Los Angeles-Pacific Railway Company (Unit 47)
Los Angeles-Pacific Railway Company (Unit 49)
Also to construct, own, operate and maintain railway line within Los Angeles County; to carry passengers, express, mail and freight on and over said lines, for hire.
The new company was capitalized at $2,000,000. It acquired the lines of its constituent companies, of which the following is the approximately mileage:
Horse car line (Elysian Park line)..................1.255
Electric railways..................................87.429
Steam railroads (Cahuenga Valley RR., Inglewood)...13.951
102.635
Very shortly after its incorporation, this company began the work of converting the Inglewood Line into an electric railway. Certain changes were made in the line in Venice, and a complete overhead system was installed along this single track standard gauge line. Electric cars began operating over same during the latter part of 1902 between Inglewood and Santa Monica. (Ed: This appears to be the first electric operation on standard gauge trackage by LA-P)
During September, October and November, 1902, the horse car line on Echo Park Ave. was electrified. It was placed in operation as a single track narrow gauge electric line on November 20, 1902.
The venice Short Line was ballasted during the latter part of 1902, and considerable work was done in improving the other line owned by this company.
With the exception of a portion of the Cahuenga Valley Line, over which narrow gauge steam locomotives were operated, the road owned by this corporation on June, 10, 1903, consisted of single and double track, narrow and standard gauge electric lines of which the following is the approximate mileage, equivalent single track, exclusive of spurs, siding and yards of which there is no record:
Electric Lines: (Colegrove Line, W. 16th St. Line, Hollywood Line, Elysian Park Line, Sherman Cut-Off, Sherman Yards, North and South Loops, Lagoon Line, Venice Short Line, Inglewood Line): 97.684.
Steam Lines: (Cahuenga Valley RR. from Temple St. to Colegrove Line, Oil Spur, Quint Cut-Off; all narrow gauge):
On June 10, 1903, this corporation etnered into an agreement with the Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach & Redondo Railway Company (Unit 53) and the Los Angeles-Santa Monica Railroad Company (Unit 54) to consolidate all their properties and to form a new railroad corporation under California laws tobe known as LOS ANGELES PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY OFCALIFORNIA (Unit 55).
This consolidation was effected on June 16, 1903.
LOS ANGELES, HERMOSA BEACH & REDONDO RAILWAY COMPANY (Unit 53)
Incorporated in California on July 28, 1902. Sherman, Clark, Pope, Hammond and Smith were the incorporators, and the principal office was in Los Angeles. Sherman became the president, Smith secretary, and Hammond treasurer.
This corporation was formed by the amalgamation and consolidation of the properties of the Redondo & Hermosa Beach Railroad Company of Arizona (Unit 50), and the Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach & Redondo Railway Company (Unit 55).
Its announced proposed road was a single o double track steam or electric railway line commencing at 4th & Broadway in Los Angeles, thence in a westerly and southwesterly direction to Ballona Harbor (Playa del Rey); then southwesterly along the coast to Redondo. Also, a branch to Santa Monica to connect with LA-P; also, to connect with LA-P at some convenient point between Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The estimated length of said proposed road: fifty miles.
Incorporated in California on July 28, 1902. Sherman, Clark, Pope, Hammond and Smith were the incporators, and the principal office was in Los Angeles, Sherman became the president, Smith secretary, and Hammond treasurer.
This corporation was formed by the amalgamation and consolidation of the properties of the redondo & Hermosa Beach Railroad Company of Arizona (Unit 50), and the Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach & Redondo Railway Company (Unit 51).
Its announced proposed road was a single or double track steam or electric railway line commencing at 4th & Broadway in Los Angeles, thence in a westerly and southwesterly direction to Ballona Harbor (Playa del Rey); then southwesterly along the coast to Redondo. Also, a branch to Santa Monica to connect with LA-P; also, to connect with LA-P at some convenient point between Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The estimated length of said proposed road: fifty miles.
This company was capitalized at $1,000,000 (10,000 shares at $100 each). Sherman took 4,999 shares; Clark subscribed for 4,998 shares, and Pope, Hammond and Smith bought one share each.
The constituent companies owned various franchises, construction materials and rights of way, but no constructed road at the time their properties were taken over by this corporation.
During September, 1902, work as commenced on a narrow gauge, double track electric line from a junction with the venice Short Line at Ivy Park (now Culer City) and running thence southwesterly to Port Ballona and thence southeasterly along the coast to Redondo. This line was constructed of 50 and 56 lb. relaying rails with new ties, and was completed with the exception of ballasting and placed in operation to Port Ballona during December, 1902.
The line in Redondo, and from Redondo as far north as North Manhattan was built during November and December of 1902 and January, February and March, 1903.
During the period December 1, 1902-May 31, 1903, the double track line was constructed between Playa del Rey and North Manhattan, with the exception of ballasting.
Regular operation f through trains over this and other lines between Los Angeles and Redondo was inaugurated late in the summer of 1903 by the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad Company, the successor to this company.
Total length of the narrow gauge, double track line constructed by this company from Ivy Park to Redondo, exclusive of spurs and sidings, was as follows:
Ivy Park-Redondo (double track 14394) -------------28.788
In Redondo (single track line on Pacific Ave.)----- 0.383
29.171
On June 10, 1903, this company agreed with the Los Angeles-Pacific Railroad Company (Unit 52) and the Los Angeles-Santa Monica Railroad Company (Unit 54) to consolidate all properties, and a new railroad corporation known as the LOS ANGELES PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA was formed.
This consolidation was effective on June 16, 1903, on which date the consolidated corporation, LAP RR. of California (Unit 55) became the owner of all property of every description owned by this company at that time.
LOS ANGELES-SANTA MONICA RAILROAD COMPANY (Unit 54)
Incorporated in California on December 2, 1902, with unknowns as incorporators. Subsequently, Sherman was elected president and A. I. Smith, secretary.
This company's proposed road was from some suitable place in Los Angeles to Santa Monica; also, from the Soldiers' Home in sawtelle by the most practicable route northwest on the coast some forty miles.
This company was capitalized at $2,000,000 but built and owned no road.
On June 10, 1903, this company agreed to consolidated with the Los Angeles-Pacific Railroad Company (Unit 52) and the Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach &Redondo Railway Company (Unit 53) to form a new California corporation: THE LOS ANGELES PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA (Unit 55).
On June 16, 1903, this consolidation became effective.
LOS ANGELES PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY, OF CALIFORNIA (Unit 55)
See also Los Angeles & Pacific Railway
Incorporated in California on August 31, 1888 with main offrice located in Los Angeles. It was capitalized at $1,800,000 and the purposes were to construct, maintain and operate a standard gauge steam railroad; also to erect, maintain and operate a telegraph line in connection with said railroad of the estimated length of 75 miles.
Incorporated in California on September 11, 1888. The lines to be built or acquired were single track or double track, standard gauge steam railroads extending from Los Angeles City to Santa Monica Bay; also from a junction with the line of the Los Angeles County RR. o. easterly to Pasadena; also from a point on same company's line to the easterly corner of Los Angeles City; also from Los Angeles City to Hueneme; together with about 75 miles of telegraph lines. All lines of railroad included in this consolidation were to be changed to standard gauge. $2,160,000 was the amount of capitalization.
Incorporated in California on August 24, 1887 with a capitalization of $50,000. The promoters of this line had extensive land holdings in the northwestern part of Los Angeles City and various subdivisions had been platted and lots in same sold to prospective home builders with the promise of ample streetcar service. Notwithstanding the fact that a great financial depression had settled over Southern California following the real estate boom of 1887-1888, the promoters were obligated to build a street railway to their new additions.
Incorporated in California on March 26, 1888 with a capitalization of $100,000. Its proposed road would run from the terminus of the Second Street Cable Railroad to or near Santa Monica, about 18 miles.
Incorporated on May 8, 1891, with a capitalization of $100,000. Shortly after its incorporation, this company began building a single track narrow gauge horse car line of 20-lb. iron rails over the following route:
Incorporated in Arizona Territory on November 15, 1894 with a capitalization of $1,000,000. E.P. Clark was on of the incorporators and succeeded L.P. Hansen as president. Principal office was Phoenix, with another office located in Los Angeles.
Incorporated in California on November 9, 1896, with Mr. M. H. Sherman, president; Mr. A. I. Smith, secretary and Treasurer; and Messrs E. P. Clark and W. D. Larrabee as prominent movers. Principal offie: 222 W. 4th St., Los Angeles. Its proposed road was from Altadena to and thru Pasadena and Los Angeles to Santa Monica, thence to south santa Monica; estimated length, 35 miles. The company was capitalized at $500,000.
Incorporated in California on January 3, 1898, with Clark, Sherman, Larrabee, Smith and others as incorporators. Clark was elected president, Smith became secretary, and M.E. Hammond the treasurer. Its principal office was in Los Angeles and it was capitalized at $1,000,000. It propsed to build single or double track electric railway lines from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, with branch lines to Hollywood, Laurel Canyon, Soldiers' Home and South Santa Monica. Its estimated length: 100 miles. The total capitalization of this consolidated corporation was divided equally between the two constituent companies (P&P of Arizona, P&P of California).
Incorporated in Arizona Territory on January 6, 1898. duplicate copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway Company (California) was used as the Articles of Incorporation of this company, and the incorporators, purposes, constituent companies, proposed road capitalization and bonded indebtedness were the same as those of the California company.
Incorporated in California on May 16, 1898. The Article of Incorporation of ths coporation were the amended ones of the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway Company (January 3, 1898) with the Board of Directors reduced from 13 to 11 members.
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