INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS

Bradley Retires from the Signal—Retrospection—Murder and Lynching—Land-holders—Regular Election of 1873—Year of Prosperity—Bank of Ventura—Trotting Park—Low Fares—Shipments of Produce—The Fourth of 1874—Hon. Walter Murray—Local Option—Nativity of the Settlers—Chief Tax-payers in 1874—Excessive Rain-fall—Fire Company—Ventura Gas Company—Ventura Planing Mill—Newspaper History—Free Press—Newspaper War—Political Affairs in 1873—People's Party—Election Returns for 1873—L. F. Eastin.

     ON the 14th of June, 1873, Mr. Bradley retired from the management of the Signal, the only newspaper published in the county at that time. During his connection therewith he had used his best energies to build up and develop the resources of a truly rich agricultural region, and now laid down his self-imposed task with all the more willingness that his objects had been so far attained. Since the paper had been established the county had been set off—the main object of its endeavors and in which it was a chief factor. Mr. Bradley's work in editing a useful local paper might be taken as a model and a reproach to many of the journalists of greater opportunities, who mistake their mission, and spoil a good local sheet in trying to achieve a wider notoriety and a more extensive sphere of action. He gave his exertions freely to benefit the home of his adoption, and disregarded ephemeral political discussion for the more profitable and worthy matters of county and township. His paper shows that he knew and appreciated the work that he was called to do, and he economized his powers in order that his grand objects of benefiting the immediate community should not fail. In this he was ably assisted by his wife whose efforts deserve more than a passing mention. Much of the success of the enterprise was due to the energy and industry of Mrs. Bradley, who even learned to set type, and by standing for hours daily at the printer's case, besides doing her housework, aided much in lessening expenses and putting the paper on a paying basis at a time when the population was scanty and advertisements and subscriptions few. The cause of the editor's retirement was ill-health, his being a consumptive tendency, which carried him off within a year, to the general sorrow of his fellow-citizens. In 1875 several of these citizens took the opportunity of celebrating, by suitable exercises, the fourth anniversary of the paper's existence, at which all bore testimony to the worth of the deceased, adding an extremely pleasant feature which deserves remembrance. This was the presentation to Mrs. Bradley of a deed to her home, previously under a mortgage. This act of appreciation is understood to have been the joint idea of quite a number, who contributed for the purpose.

     The paper, on Mr. Bradley's retirement, passed into the hands of W. E. Shepherd and John J. Sheridan, the former becoming editor. 

RETROSPECTION.

[Extract from the Signal of September 27, 1873.)

     "Seven years ago, aside from a few adobe houses on Main Street, in the shadow of the old Mission Church, there were no improvements on the ground where our little city now stands. Then, a man coming here had to understand the language spoken by the natives, hunt up Mr. Escandon, or hold his peso; as no one but he understood the English language in the village. Then, the occasional steamer unloaded her freight from the lighters, as there was no wharf. Then, the land about the town was a vast cattle-range, and the commodities were principally tallow and hides. For years prior to that time the vaquero lassoed and drove his long-horned cattle wherever he willed—up to 1864, when the drought brought thousands of cattle to famishing, breaking many men who had all their means in stock. This disastrous season caused many to look about them for some other means of livelihood than that of keeping great herds of cattle, and some of them began to sow and plant, and agriculture began to assume some importance. Then the prospect for San Buenaventura seemed poor enough, and but few cared whether the sound of the hammer and saw and the ring of the anvil, which now are so common on every hand, were ever heard.

     "Then, except the musical sound of the bells on the old church, there was nothing to disturb the stillness of the air. Now, Main Street has a dozen large buildings, prominent among which are the magnificent stores of Einstein & Bernheim, and Chaffee & McKeeby, which, in size and style, would do credit to any city in the State. Instead of three or four merchants there are a dozen substantial ones engaged in general merchandising. Besides the first named firms there are, F. Martinez & Co., Antonio

Schippapietra, T. Baesa, Emanuel Franz, and others, who have a first-class reputation for fair dealing. Besides these there are law and real estate offices, livery stables, saloons, carriage and blacksmith shops, a furniture store, jeweler, hotels, bakeries, restaurants, meat market, photograph gallery, paint shop, gun shop, lumber yards, and express office. Then, a mud finish was satisfactory; now, the best of lumber and finish is considered indispensable."

MURDER AND LYNCHING.

     The most sensational and striking tragedy that ever occurred in Ventura County took place on the Colonia Ranch on the third of March, 1873, resulting in the murder of George Martin by George Hargan, and the immediate lynching of the latter by the formers neighbors and friends. This is the accepted account as given by a partner of Martin:

     "George Martin, one of our most esteemed and worthy citizens, took his team and gang-plow as usual, and commenced tracing the lines around a certain piece of land that he had leased and occupied for the last three years (our lands are not fenced). After turning around a part of the land, he was met at one corner by a man named Hargan, who had also leased a piece of land partly adjoining ours, so that the two pieces lapped by each other about twenty rods. Hargan claimed that he had measured his land, and that the line should be moved so as to take a strip of Martin's land, about twenty rods long and

four wide. Hargan had been on the place about four or five months, and had never done any work where he met Martin. Hargan's son was present at the time, and testified before the Coroner's jury that Hargan went in front of Martin's team and stopped it, and forbid Martin to run the furrow, and turned the team off; that Martin then said, let me run the line out and you can have the ground,' and started the team. When he had passed Hargan about ten feet, Hargan said, 'I have told you three times, and I will tell you no more,' and fired a heavy load of buckshot, which took effect. Eight shot struck Martin a little to the left of the spinal column under the shoulder, two passing through the heart. He fell forward on the plow between the wheel and horses and never spoke.

     "Elias Woolley also saw the killing, but was too far off to hear any words that passed. After Hargan had walked a little way his son asked him if he had killed Martin dead. He said he thought he had; that was what he intended to do. Hargan then went to his house, hitched up his two-horse team, and he and his son got into the wagon and drove towards the river. After Hargan had gone about three-quarters of a mile he met a man, and told him he had killed Savier's partner and was looking for a justice to give himself up. Some men were in pursuit, and when he found he was pursued he put his team on a run. The race was short. He was soon overtaken and arrested. After he was arrested he made no denial; said he had left his house to kill Martin and had gone three-quarters of a mile and shot  him. The whole neighborhood turned out and consulted  together and kept the prisoner closely confined and guarded until the testimony was heard before the

Coroner's jury. The testimony was so plain and so great, and as there was no officer present to take charge or the prisoner the bystanders took him to the lone tree near the cactus-patch and hung him. The body was taken down after it had hung about three hours. There was but little excitement, but a great deal of determination.

     "Hargan had threatened to shoot two other men this winter; on one occasion he left his plow and went for his gun. When he got back his man had left also."

     This report is inaccurate in one respect: a Justice of the Peace and a Constable were present, and demanded the prisoner in the name of the law, but their request being disregarded they went in search of assistance, but on returning the tragedy was ended.

LAND-HOLDERS.

     The next topic which presents itself to interest the reader is that of the division of the agricultural lands of the county,. By the subjoined tables can be seen the progress of industrial affairs since the year 1868, when, as already observed, the large ranchos began to be subdivided and small tracts came into the possession of industrious men, to whom the county's prosperity was due. The names of all the owners of tracts larger than 500 acres, with the amount possessed by each, are given:

     There were 95 ranchos of 100 to 200 acres; 9 ranchos of 200 to 400 acres; 7 ranchos of 5(10; 2 ranchos of 600; 6 ranchos of 800; 2 ranchos of 900; 7 ranchos of 1,000; 1 ranch of 1,100; 3 ranchos of 2,000; 1 ranch of 2,500; 1 ranch of 4,000; 2 ranchos of 4,500; 2 ranchos of 6,500, and 1 each of 8,000, 9,000, 10,500,  12,500, 13,500, 17,090, 23,000, 24,000, 42,000 and 131,083 acres. Total number of acres assessed, 338,761; value (assessed), $1,554,951.

REGULAR ELECTION IN 1873

     In the autumn of 1873, the regular State and county election took place. The official returns were as follows: -

OFFICIAL ELECTION RETURNS, 1873