In 1858 B. D. Wilson bought the interest of Sanford in this and other property for $16,000 and subsequently sold the rancho. In 1884 John Wolfskill of the prominent family of that name purchased the rancho for $40,000. The purchase by Wolfskill was very timely as the completion of the Santa Fe Railroad two years later sent land prices skyrocketing and in 1887 he entered into an agreement to dispose of the rancho for $438,700, or more than ten times what he had paid for the land in 1884. The Los Angeles and Santa Monica Land and Water Company was organized to take over the land at that figure. This company built a railroad through the property and platted the town of Sunset. But few lots were sold, however, and in 1891 the Los Angeles and Santa Monica Land and Water Company quitclaimed the land back to Wolfskill and the townsite was restored to acreage. Then for many years the rancho was used only for farming, although its neighbor on the east, the Rancho Rodeo de Las Aguas, was subdivided into Beverly Hills, and on the west Santa Monica grew into a thriving city. In 1919 Arthur Letts, Sr., Merchant Prince of Los Angeles, founder of the Broadway Department Store, bought the rancho for an investment. Since that time Westwood, Holmby Hills (named after Holmby, England, Mr. Letts’ birthplace) and Westwood Village have all been platted on parts of the rancho. The moving-picture industry has expanded into the property and several of the largest studios are located there. Now the University of California at Los Angeles is being built on the rancho, and already opened as one of the greatest institutions of learning. B. D. Wilson, John Wolfskill and Arthur Letts all profited by their farsightedness, but none had the vision and none could foresee Rancho San Jose de Buenos Ayres as it is today. _CONCLUSION_ The priceless, romantic history of early California is everywhere being more and more appreciated. It evidences itself in the names of our cities, in our landmarks which are at last being preserved and even in our architecture. If “The Romance of the Ranchos” can add its bit to perpetuating this glorious chapter in California history the writer will feel the time and effort well worthwhile. [Illustration: _Title Insurance Building_ _Spring Street between Fourth and Fifth_] Title Insurance and Trust Company California’s Largest Title Insurance Company Title Insurance and Trust Company is the oldest and largest Title Insurance Company west of Chicago. It is the oldest Trust Company in the Pacific Southwest. It has been serving the people of Los Angeles County for thirty-eight years.