 The Romance of the Ranchos Santa Monica 1840 Rancheros quail over pasture land Santa Monica 1896 Harbor fight carried to the United States Senate Santa Monica 1941 Santa Monica resort paradise of the Southland The title insurance and trust company of Los Angeles presents the Romance of the Ranchos Recreating for you the vividly colorful yesterday's in the history of Southern, California Each week our wandering Vecchero Frank Graham reveals another fascinating story from the days of the dawn Land is a wonderful possession in many ways. It is tangible and indestructible Fire can't burn land thieves can't carry it away. It can be used for centuries yet Never be used up. Yes land is a fine thing to own when you really own it The simple way to know that you really own land to have evidence of ownership that is readily accepted by buyers banks or loan companies Is through title insurance? For example a deed to land may be forged, but your policy of title insurance protects you against such deficiency That is why title insurance makes land readily marketable or instantly accepted security for loans That is why in providing title insurance service promptly and at low cost The title insurance and trust company of Los Angeles renders a real and worthwhile service to the community And here to tell us the story is our wandering Vecchero Frank Graham. We're in us. No chess Senoras y señores our story for tonight is concerned with the beautiful section of Southern, California From princely bell air to the blue Pacific at Santa Monica land Which was once the Ranchos San Vicente is Santa Monica and the Boca de Santa Monica a great estate of the old Spanish Dones a land filled with the romance of the ranchos Our story takes us back to the coming of the first white men ever to travel the Southland in 1769 captain Gaspar de Portola and his company of leather jackets marched north from San Diego To explore the possibilities of colonizing the wilderness of outer, California Camping at a spring at the mouth of the Sepulveda Canyon near the present site of Sepulveda and Sunset Boulevard The captain sent scouts to the west to explore the coastline for a passage north toward evening. They returned What did you find tell me captain? I have been forward to the sea it is about two leagues away And what about the buzzage? There is none the clips right straight up from the sea the sharp rocks open No, food hall for our pack train. Ah, that is bad She'll have to find some other way some path through these mountains. It looks like it Perhaps that gap to the north is a pass. Perhaps we should explore that tomorrow Maybe so the mountains of Santa Monica may offer us the way we seek the mountains of Santa Monica See for so we have named this section Santa Monica But why that name you have but to look at this sparkling spring over there the bright drops of water You will see and then the tears of the same Santa Monica weeping for her wayward son Augustine And what could be more fitting for this odd brooding mountain shrouded in me see we have named them well This is the land of Santa Monica Mists of time have joined with the mists of the mountains to obscure the facts Only this legend remains to explain the manner in which the region of Santa Monica received its name Many years were to pass before Santa Monica was to know the white man's civilization They were years in which the Indians who had greeted Port Ola were the only inhabitants of the region then in 1828 News came to the Pueblo de los Angeles to the home of Don Francisco Welcome to our home Come to see you Come in I'm honored by your visit. Yes, and how are you me and me? Oh as well as can be expected for an old soldier. I should be much better when I get my ranch. Oh You're mighty anxious to get that ranch. Oh, why should I not be I own 150 head of cattle? I am an old soldier of the country. I worked the most painful period wandering amidst thematic tribes Suffering untold privations and in constant danger of my life. You see me Amigo I know you ask why I'm anxious to get little place of my own to settle down live comfortably for my remaining years I'm me Amigo. Do not be so angry. I know you deserve the land of the Santa Monica's But I could not resist the opportunity to tease you for you can't afford to be teased a little now Well, what do you mean? I mean that the news you await it has come what I bring it to you today I mean the governor has decided and he has sent me word to give you formal position of Iran show some decent the right to wait Beside the springs where today stands the University High School of Santa Monica Don't Francisco Sepulveda built in adobe house there He brought his wife Ramona and her family and his cattle roam the vast acreage of San Vicente For ten years their life there was a happy one, but a crisis was developing for as often happened in those days The governor had been careless in defining the boundaries of his grants of land and one day in 1839 Don Francisco came home with bad news What is the trouble I do not know exactly what is wrong my little dog, but You know our neighbors to the north See they have left their houses they have abandoned the land and the Canyon of Santa Monica But that is as it should be for that is our land at the just it they have claimed it and now they have moved away Only to give the land to two others See you see the royales and Francisco Marques. They're living there now Races building a house on the high heels overlooking the ocean. They cannot do that. Well, that is what I told them But they claim it is theirs They claim that the governor granted the land to the alvarados that they have taken it over But the governor granted it to you. I have always thought so But this I do know I must have that land for it is the best pasture land near here without it I have no place for my cattle If it means they fight then I shall fight for it to the end And so began the lengthy dispute over the land north of Rancho San Vicente Which was later called the Boca de Santa Monica stretching from Santa Monica Canyon to Topanga Canyon For years don Francisco Sepulveda fought to save the land. He fought to be his he appealed to the authorities The leading citizens of Los Angeles took sides in the dispute Fidgetons were addressed to the governor and messages sent but the years rolled on and still there was no decision My husband my loved one you must stop this fighting. It is no use. It will go on forever And we need you here at home. I cannot give up Ramona Well, there is the blood of the Sepulveda's in my veins. I must fight for the Santa Monica's I'm going to Monterey to see the governor. I will meet him face-to-face and ask for justice No, Francisco. No, do not leave us our little son. He cries for his father as I do I must go Ramona. I must I cannot rest until I have settled this matter I must go Sepulveda journeyed to far off Monterey to lay his case before governor P.O. Pico But still without success Finally after many months of weary argument in the capital and in Los Angeles Don Francisco came home beaten in discourage Back to the little adobe house at San Jacente where he was met by the faithful We have lost We can never own the Boca de Santa Monica They've ruled that it rightfully belongs to Reyes and Marcus Oh, does it matter Francisco? Oh, we have waited so long for your return I've sent messages to the city to Santa Barbara to all the ranchers searching for you, Francisco And our little son won. He lies ill. No, that's the price for you. What? My son dying No, no, no, that cannot be Ramona. Take me to him. Hurry. Take me to my son For days don't Francisco and Ramona kept vigil together the side of their dying son The doctor had long since given up hope, but not Francisco Forgotten was the past your land of the Boca de Santa Monica forgotten the battle with Reyes and Marcus Only one thing mattered the tiny silent form on the bed before him Don't Francisco prayed You have not slept for two whole days How can I sleep Ramona? When he was strong enough to cry out for me. I was not here Now that I have come back to giving up the useless foolish fight. He does not even know I am beside him Ramona he needed me You needed me carried and I Was not here What a fool I was You only get what you do for the right But now I know how wrong I was Ramona What does it matter land or gold or earthly possessions? They mean nothing compared to the warmth of the art that comes with love Happy love of a good woman like you Ramona or the open unselfish love of a little child Madraided the osse if I could be spared my son. I should never want for anything that game This go look the Padre has answered her prayers Little son One one my little son And never again shall I leave you to not for all the world my love No For all my world is here here with my beloved family of God Beginning and ending of all things No all persons who may see this will that I Francisco Sepulveda the native of town of Sinaloa Republic de Mexico his son of Francisco's had he is a pulvera and of Maria Candelaria are red on though residents of the same place Don Francisco Sepulveda lost his fight for the land of the Boca de Santa Monica But he gained in understanding and the fullness of life He died with more possessions than the richest man on earth For he held the warm love and respect of those nearest to him Perhaps that is why his will was such a simple one reflecting of conservenity for life 500 head of neat cattle about 50 at the sheep even in defeat Don Francisco triumph For his name has lived down to this day and the name of Santa Monica Even though he lost it became forever associated with his rancho and with the city which was to grow up there With his death in 1853 past the first great era in its development that the bulk of my estate I leave to my wife Ramona Serrano as my soul in general air Without any person having any reason to trouble or molest her in any manner and leaving her without any obligation from me Other than to deliver to my son Dolores 150 jobs Title insurance is different from almost all other types of insurance and one very important respect on a policy of title insurance The premium is paid only once in other words When you purchase land and obtain an owner's policy of title insurance from the title insurance and trust company of Los Angles The protection afforded by the policy Continues during the entire period of your ownership without the payment of any further premiums Another thing to remember is that in Southern, California the cost of title insurance is customarily borne by the seller When you buy a piece of property you should require as part of the transaction a policy of title insurance Protecting you against effects in the title When you sell property or borrow money on it the purchaser or lender will require title insurance Which you will be expected to pay for So you'll be glad to know that title insurance and trust company's rates are very considerably lower than the average cost of similar protection elsewhere in the United States Already the land ruled over by the families of the Sepulveda's the Reyes and the Marques was becoming a resort Californians from the Pueblo came to the broad Pleasant Beach for a picnic under the sycamores and a swim in the surf Overlooking it all was the broad fertile Mesa of the Rancho San Vicente Santa Monica vast and empty This was what met the eye of Colonel RS Baker the day in 1872 that he visited the land for the first time Immediately he saw the possibilities and looked up the airs of Don Francisco Your Jose Sepulveda senior see I am and you I'm Colonel Baker Robert S Baker Oh, see you're the gentleman who wants to buy the ranch show that's right That is I'm in the market if the price is not too high. Well, it is good land, son. You we cannot give it away Nobody's asking you to do that. Don't Jose. I'm willing to come to the right turn. That is good You want it right away? You bet. I've got a sheep ranch up to home county. That's my business sheep This looks like good country for them You wish to make son Vicente into a sheep ranch and you're sure why not son Vicente is a cattle ranch And you're it is always been since my father for Scott. Oh come now, don't Jose I realize how you cattle men feel about us sheep men But you wouldn't let a little thing like that stand between you and a good place would you? Senor if it were just for myself, I would say to the devil with you and your sheep But since others of my family have an interest to me madre brothers and sisters I will not They are anxious to sell the land so that my father's estate may be divided so good We may as well discuss the price then very well, but we will not take any cheap price We have discussed the matter we feel that the value of the land has reached its peak Therefore, we shall ask a high price. Well, they have about 30,000 acres. How about 55,000 dollars? What was that 55,000 dollars? Say that again, Senor why sure 55,000 dollars that's a fair price, isn't it? Senor do you mean that of course your hand, Senor? There is settle then we wish you'll have the papers done up immediately as soon as the better see before you Yeah, I mean see of course tomorrow, perhaps all right tomorrow then see 55,000 The great Rancho San Vicente Santa Monica came into the hands of Colonel Baker and shortly afterward He united it with part of the land of the Boca de Santa Monica as Don Francisco Sepulveda had unsuccessfully tried to do for so many years From the Reyes and Marques families he added the acreage and soon he was the master of a vast and thriving sheep ranch But the life of the ranchero was not all work Colonel Baker had time for the social life of the nearby city of Los Angeles. It was there What a superb party don't yeah, Katia, I'm enjoying it very much I'm glad Senor Baker. I'm always happy to have you here. You should try to make it more often. You'll really miss me But of course don't yeah, Katia. I Have something I want to ask you Aren't you tired of dancing? Is that what you wanted to ask me? No, of course not can't we go outside on the balcony see of course, and you're coming this way Here we are outside. Yes It's a beautiful night, isn't it? But then most nights in California are nice aren't they? I Don't know what's wrong with me. You said there was something you wanted to ask me see I oh I don't know whether I should or not But I can't decide that you may but you don't know what I'm going to ask. Don't I? Senor don't underestimate a woman's intuition. You know them you have known all along He's in your Baker. I have and here I've been afraid Acting like a schoolboy. You must have thought me a fool, but no senior Baker, of course not But I know why you were afraid. Yes, it's your late husband senior Stearns. I didn't know how you felt He was a fine man He would not have wanted me to be alone of that I am sure well that that really used me a great deal on your cardia Aren't you going to ask me, but you already know Every woman has a right to this moment Robert Will you be my wife I can ask no more than to be your wife Beautiful Arcadia bandini desterns became the wife of Colonel Baker and continued her long reign as the social leader of the growing city Then in 1875 Colonel Baker's domain was touched by a new era Senator John P. Jones of Nevada appeared on the scene and bought a three-quarter interest in Rancho San Vicente Is Santa Monica together the two owners mapped elaborate plan Do you think it can be done of course it can be done everything is all set the plans are laid We're ready to start building. Why not Colonel for this country's only started to grow We can ride the crest of the wave. Yes Yes, we can even make the wave and we can put this town of ours on the map Yes, but what about San Pedro Southern Pacific's already built a railroad down there They're using that as the harbor for Los Angeles. We'll put them out of business in no time We've got just as good a harbor right here and with a little money Why we can make it a better one, but they've got the railroad will build our own railroad I've got the plans all laid out here It is the name and everything the Los Angeles and independence railroad Straight from the mines up in New York County down to Los Angeles then out to here and on to our walk from there Our ships will sail to every country in the world But the Southern Pacific will connect with the east and so will we we'll extend our road on east to make connections Why Colonel? This is a big thing. We've gotten a hold of we've started a new town Santa Monica in a few days We're selling the first lots and in a few years. We'll be running the port of Los Angeles Gentlemen the auction is about to begin Yes, sir You're about to get your first chance to buy a lot in paradise Just look at it against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean great with the Western sky of scarlet and gold And just imagine this beautiful emerald bay filled with white-winged ships Just drawing a breath of that frost this bracing warm yet unlanguid air are Ordered with the breath of flowers The title to this land ladies and gentlemen is guaranteed by the owners and the title to the ocean the sunset and the air By the creator himself Alright, who'll give me a bit who'll make the first the plowery oratory of auctioneer Tom Fitch brought in the first bid of $300 from Harris Newmark others went like hotcakes within nine months the new city of Santa Monica had a population of a thousand people With a hundred and sixty houses But the ambitious plans were never to be realized the railroad was stopped at Los Angeles the Long Wharf built 1,800 feet into the Pacific failed to bring much shipping to the new port and San Pedro and Wilmington forged ahead Forgotten through a time where the dreams of a great harbor as the little town instead Visually forged ahead as a site for homes Then in 1891 Another railroad entered into competition with the Southern Pacific at San Pedro and Carlos P. Huntington of the Southern Pacific Determined on a bold policy I'm going to take the Southern Pacific to Santa Monica if the terminal railroad can bring their tracks right out on to rattlesnake Island We're going to be late that brings them right into the center of the harbor We have to do something and this is what I propose to do. I'm going to make Santa Monica the harbor of Los Angeles Thus began an argument which eventually was carried to the United States Senate where senator Stephen M. White was an outstanding supporter of San Pedro a Step president members of the Senate Before you boat away three million dollars of the taxpayers money on the worthless harbor of Santa Monica and give the true harbor of San Pedro only 390,000 I Want to propose an amendment to this bill that a board of army engineers Chosen for their neutrality and for the confirmed judgment on such matters Shall be appointed to determine the design ability of each of these harbors and I propose that the money We appropriate here shall go to whichever harbor the majority of them decide shall be the best I Am confident that if you shall adopt this fair and unbiased manner of determining The harbor of Los Angeles shall be at San Pedro It is the verdict of this board of engineers by a vote of 4 to 1 That the harbor San Pedro offers more advantages as a free port and that the money appropriated shall be used in its development Santa Monica lost the fight and Carlos P. Huntington took his southern Pacific Railroad back to San Pedro This beautiful city of Santa Monica on the sprawling Mesa with its precipitous cliffs falling away to a golden beach and a foaming surf Was not to become a bustling harbor for the ships of the world Instead it has become one of the world's loveliest cities of homes a world famous pleasure resort a healthful pleasure resort Pleasant place in which to live today It is the home of almost 80,000 people in the residential communities of Santa Monica Brentwood Brentwood Park Sartel Pacific Palisades Westgate and a part of the United States soldiers home and also furnishes the home site for the great Douglas aircraft plant and So is written another chapter in the romance of the round shows A few moments ago in the course of our story you heard a reference to titles in the speech of auctioneer Tom Fitch The title to this land said mr. Fitch is guaranteed by the owners and the title to the ocean the sunset and the air by the creator himself Even in those days purchasers of land required something more than the guarantee of the owners Deals were usually concluded only after some confident person had made a search of all available public records and after the report or abstract Of such search had been passed on by an attorney But even then the purchaser had no insurance to protect him against loss in the event that some document might have been accidentally overlooked Today such insurance is available from the title insurance and trust company of Los Angeles And because of the completeness of its records and the efficiency of its hundreds of expert employees in making title examinations Both the search of the records and the insurance of the accuracy of the search Cost you less than the partial protection did in the early days. Now Frank. What's on the calendar for next week? Our story for next week deals with the first discovery of gold in California Yes, and it did Take place in southern, California on the rancho san francisco near new hall tune in next week and hear all about it Until then this is your wandering vaquero frank graham saying hasta la vista senoras y señores The romance of the ranchos a presentation of the title insurance and trust company of los angles Featuring frank graham as the wandering vaquero is dramatized by john dunkel and produced by ted bliss with special music arranged by urbano bob lamon speaking This is the columbia broadcasting system