USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today > Part 130
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In 1851 he came again to Philadelphia, and remained there engaged in journalistic work until 1852, when, as already stated, he was called to San Francisco to start the first German newspaper ever published in California. With this begins Mr. Krug's life in California. He continued in charge of the Staats Zeitung until 1854, when he went to Crystal Springs, San Mateo County, and took up a Government claim. Ile was worth too much, however, to waste his time and strength attempting to make his living on a wild farm, and hence in a few months we find him back again in San Francisco occupying a position in a private gold-refining establishment. In 1856 he was appointed clerk of the refining department of the United States Mint, a position which he held until the estab- lishment of the gold and silver refinery on Bran- nan street by Colonel A. Haraszthy, Count Wass and W. Molitor. In January, 1858, Mr. Krng went to Sonoma on general business engage- ments with Colonel Haraszthy and others, pur- chased a tract of land and set out twenty acres of vines within the next few years. In the spring of 1858, however, during his residence at Sonoma, John Patchett of Napa City, while on a visit to Sonoma made Mr. Krug a proposi-
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tion to come to Napa and make up his grapes into wine. He did so, thus making the first wine ever produced in Napa County, and in fact being preceded in the State on any scale only by Charles Kohler in 1855, in San Francisco, and Colonel Haraszthy in 1857. He made up thus, in 1858, 1,200 gallons of wine for Mr. Patchett, crushing his grapes with a small cider press that he brought with him for the purpose. From this small beginning has sprung the enormous annnal product of the present of this favored valley. In 1859 Mr. Krug made wine for Lonis Bruck on the Bale Mill Place, now the property of W. W. Lyman, and the year later on Mr. Yount's farmn, making about 5,000 gallons on shares.
In December, 1860, he was married to Miss Caroline Bale, daughter of the old pioneer Dr. E. T. Bale, and immediately removed to his present place and began its improvement. He made wine there in 1861, but from grapes pro- cured from Knight's Valley and elsewhere in the valley, as he only began to set ont vines in that year, planting about twenty acres of rooted Mission grapes. This was the second vineyard ever set out in the valley for wine purposes, that of Dr. Crane preceding it a short time. From that time on his business increased rapidly from year to year, until for a long time he was at the head of wine producers in the State, and always in the van of improvement and the march of progress. He began, in 1868, the magnificent stone cellar which now graces the estate, adding to it as required until com- pleted in 1884, with a capacity of near 1,000,- 000 gallons of wine, a capacity equaled or ex- celled by few cellars in the county.
But it is has not always been plain and easy sailing for Mr. Krug. A disastrous fire in 1874 caused him enormous loss, from which, however, he rapidly recovered, with the expan- sion of wine industry. The favorable condition of affairs in this industry grew wonderfully. The number of acres of vineyards in Napa Valley increased rapidly, varieties of vines were changed from defective to good ones, quality of
wine steadily improved, capacity of cellar-room and cooperage greatly enlarged, so that Napa County soon was acknowledged as the leading wine county in the State, with 16,000 acres of vineyard, which made the valley appear as a grand flourishing garden, and with 5,000,000 gallons of wine in its cellars as a true witness for the great energy and activity of its viticul- turists. But such grand progress in this indus- try could not be made without immense ex- penses; such great improvements could not be done without-in most cases-the contraction of heavy debts. A great deal of financial trouble followed, and as a consequence Mr. Krug was forced to make an assignment in 1885. From this, however, he is fast recovering himself, and his business tact and tireless energy will soon replace him in the lead of wine-manufacturers as before.
Mr. Krug has always been a public-spirited man,-too much so for his own good,-always ready to put his shoulder to the wheel and help along a good canse. He was a moving spirit in the formation of the Viticultural Commission in 1880, that has done so much good to the wine- producing interests of California. He represented the Napa district upon the board until 1890. He was Treasurer of the Commis- sion during the whole of his connection with it, and one of its most useful and active workers. Considerably to his efforts will be dne the im- provement in price and the general outlook for the wine industries of late. We insert here a little sheet sent ont by him a few years ago, proposing methods of aiding the cause. It must be a matter of gratification to Mr. Krug to see that each item of his suggestions has borne fruit and the good results are appearing. It is as follows:
SUGGESTIONS TO WINE MEN.
" A number of leading wine and grape men of this county, determined to improve the pres- ent low condition of the market for wines in the hands of the producer, find a proper remedy against the existing evils leading to their ruin
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and loss of their homes by sheriffs' sales, in the following plan and proposition to the wine- producers of this State, which plan also serves as an appeal to fair-minded men of means.
" 1st. The producer must be enabled to sell in future no more new wine, having for new wine only one purchaser, the San Francisco wine merchant. Wine-makers as a class have not sufficient means to house two vintages in their small cellars. Therefore men of means should assist and give facilities for storage of wine in the city and in prominent wine districts in the country. Sneh warehonses would pay their proprietors a handsome interest. In a solid warehouse wine will be considered a good security. Large quantities of wine under one roof can be extensively advertised cheaply and successfully, and be put under proper treatment for a small amount of expense. The market will never be overstocked with good, sound old wine.
"2d. The producer must be induced to make and sell no more inferior wine, such as made from Mission and Malvoisie. Nothing ruins the prices and reputation of good California wines more than the sale of inferior wines at low prices. The grape man must sell his in- ferior grapes and the wine man his inferior wines to the distiller. Large co-operative dis- tilleries should be erected, and all must help in agitating the establishment of United States bonded brandy warehouses, not only in New Y'ork, but also in Chicago, St. Louis, Cincin- nati, New Orleans, etc.
" 3d. The producer inst assist in the estab- lishment of ' Condensed Must Plants.'
" 4th. The producer must use his influence at time of election to send only snch men as representatives of our golden wine State to Congress, who are known as honest friends of a proper national pure-wine law, and will with all this power and influence work for passing the much needed law to protect us against shameless adulteration."
Mr. Krug has probably the loveliest place in the valley, the buildings being surrounded by a
park-like grove of native and exotie trees, shrubs and flowers, watered by fountains and adorned by works of art. The view of the monntains and valley on every side is mag- nificent and grand, and the convenience to St. Helena makes it the most charming of suburban homes. In person Mr. Krng is one of the most whole-souled and genial men that it is possible to find. Indeed it is impossible to meet him without liking him. Clear-sighted in his views, energetic, affable and able in all he under- takes, he possesses hosts of friends, his enemies being only those he has helped to thwart in their personal and selfish aims. We predict a brighter and more prosperous future yet for Mr. Krng than any experience of fortune he has known in the past.
HE PALISADE MINES .- A description of Napa County without a full and detailed reference to the Palisade Mines, which are situated in King's Cañon about three miles above Calistoga, would be the omission of one of the most interesting and important undertakings. It is also a most signal instance of what may be accomplished by practical men, who are willing to work along steadily and persistently without running to the newspapers every day to publish their doings. It was indeed a genuine surprise to the writer of this article to see how busy and prosperous a scene the mine and its workings presented, and to find what good work was being done. No attempt will be made to give a scientific description of the mine, as it must be seen to be appreciated; but what is said will be sufficient to give a good understanding.
There are two veins included in the prop- erty, on which their locations have been made. These veins trend in the general direction of north and south. The most westerly of the two-the Easly-is the chief or principal vein, and a well defined fissure vein ten feet be- tween walls, while the east vein seems pitch- ing toward it, giving weight to the opinion
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of Mr. Grigsby, the manager, who is a gen- tleman of extended experience, that the veins will be found to come together at a greater depth, of about 350 feet from the surface, at which point it is probable that very rich ore will be found. In character the veins are true quartz, the country rock being a hard and seein- ingly altered trachyte. The mine is worked by means of a shaft 160 feet in depth, from which are run drifts to and along the veins, stoping being now under way towards the surface. In every particular the underground workings were formed, true and well constructed and timbered, the whole being evidently carried ont by a practical inan. The mill is on the opposite or west side of the hill from the workings, a tunnel 1,500 feet long connecting the two, through which the ore, when assorted, is run by gravity on ears. The mill was found to be an unnsnally complete and convenient one, every advantage being taken of an excellent position to facilitate the working. The ore goes at once to the crusher, and after being mixed with salt makes its way through the driers to the stamps, of which there are ten, and a Tustin pulverizer equal to five more, thus making the mill of fifteen-stamp capacity. The chloridizing fur- nace is fifty-two inches in diameter, is of White's make, and an unusually convenient one, pass- ing the ore along by means of a slight incline. The sight of the ore falling in this furnace as it turns is one long to be remembered, reminding one very much of a cataract of fire. It has a neat new device for catching dust, and also fire and dust chambers. There are four five-foot amalgamating pans and two nine-foot settlers, from which the amalgam goes to the retorts. Great economy is shown in the utilization of the surplus heat in the roasting furnace, it be- ing conveyed to the driers; and in fact in every particular, it is exceedingly doubtful whether there be another such mill in the country. They rnn twelve hours, crushing and treating about a ton an hour. The boiler-room and boiler is entirely separated from the mill, the creek flow- ing between and being crossed by a bridge,
which carries the steam pipes to the engine, etc. Below the workings and mill in the two gulches are the houses, offices, cabins, etc., of the mine. In all there are about fifty men employed about the mine, most of them skilled miners and mill men. The claims were originally located in 1876, but active operations were not begun until 1883, since which time the bullion taken from the mine has paid for all the improve- ments and development work, of which there has been a great deal, as will be readily im- agined when it is remembered that besides hoisting works, mill, houses, etc., etc., there is fully 4,000 feet of tunneling and drifting in the inine, a deal of it dead work. The ore is a quartz containing ruby silver and sulphurets, some specimens being very fine. R. F. Grigsby owns four claims to the southeast of these claims, which show large veins and good prospects, and are only slightly developed.
The men who have prospected and developed this fine property are deserving of somewhat ex- tended notice, also, as being among the most progressive and enterprising men in Napa County. They are Mr. R. F. Grigsby, the mana- ger and largest owner, who has had many years' experience in the management of mines, both in this State and in Mexico, being both thoroughly practical and experienced in every department; Mr. J. J. Johnson, the superintendent under- ground, who owns al nost all the balance of the mine, and is a miner of long experience; and Mr. James Bain, who has charge of the mill, and owns a small interest.
Mr. Grigsby is a native of Missouri, where he was born in 1839, and is of the well-known Grigsby family of Napa County that has done such a large and honorable part in the building up of that county. When eleven years of age he came with his parents to California, and was raised and educated in Napa County, his father being Mr. Terrill Grigsby. In 1860 he began mining in the Washoe district, and from that time has followed mining, assaying, etc., as his business. At one time he was manager of the celebrated Tajo mine in Sinaloa, Mexico, and
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has been superintendent of other mines. He elaims there are other good mines in this vicinity that are only awaiting capital for their development. and that in future this will be a silver-producing as well as the finest agricult- ural connty in the State. Mr. Grigsby has a very comfortable cottage home a short distance below the mill, with piano, books, instruments, where in the company of his excellent wife and family he ean enjoy the sweets of life, while at the same time he is on the spot to direet affairs. He is a man of business and decision of eharac- ter, well liked by all with whom he comes in contact, one who has honorably made his way by force of brain and ready hand, coupled with foresight and attention to details.
Mr. Jobnson is a native of Ohio, where he was born in 1842. He came to California in 1857. and has followed practical mining since 1858, visiting all points of the mining region, from Montana to Mexico. He is a man of good judgment in matters of minerals, and in every way is a good second to Mr. Grigsby. He is one of the original locaters of the Palisade mines, being with Mr. Grigsby one of the dis- coverers. He has aeted as foreman and super- intendent of the mines from the first. Mr. Johnson is married and has three children, his wife being a native of Wales; his eldest boy is twelve years of age. His home is above the mill.
The water supply is taken from the moun- tains at a distance of about two and a half miles, having two lines of piping connecting several springs, which give a good supply of the finest water.
B. BOURN'S STORAGE CELLAR. - In deseribing this immense estab- lishment we cannot do better than copy from a little work entitled " Wines and Vines of California," premising only that at the time the article was written, the cellar was not completed. It is now (1890) in
operation, and is proving of the greatest valne to the grape growers of the Napa Valley, having been a moving eause in the increased priees now being paid. Everything about the place is of the most solid and substantial nature, a pride having been taken, seemingly, by every- one eoneerned, in making everything the best possible. The dimensions of the building are 400 feet in length, eighty feet in breadth, by about eighty feet in height to top of tower. Mr. L. Zierngibl, a gentleman of experience and educated to the business, is the manager, and the eellar-master is Mr. E. A. Wessling, under whose guidanee it is a pleasure to visit the spa- cions storage vaults, and taste the choice vintages.
In another place will be found a description of the two large vineyards belonging to Mr. Bourn, Inglebourn, and Roeklands, two of the finest in the valley.
True American enterprise is exemplified by the firm of Bonrn & Wise, who are slowly but surely revolutionizing the wine industry of Napa Valley. These young gentlemen are fully determined to bring wine-making in their vicin -. . ity to its highest state of perfection, and as aids to the undertaking have wealth, intelligence, patriotism and unbounded energy. One of the greatest afflictions which has befallen the grower has been his inability either to store liis wine for proper aging, or to raise money on it, as none of the banks consider wine collateral. This puts the grower at the merey of the wine merchant, who has not been slow in taking suf- fieient advantage to ruin priees, and who has more to do with the present depression than all of the other causes combined.
To obviate this difficulty, to keep new wine off the market, and to finally realize better prices through direct dealing, are the causes which led to the building of an immense stor- age cellar by the above-mentioned firm, which will be completed in time to receive this year's vintage. The firm undertakes to loan ten eents on the gallon to the grower of such wines as are stored in the cellar, and also agrees to accept for storage, in preferenee to their own wines, all
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those growers' products who have contributed to the subsidy asked when the project was first mooted. The subsidy consisted of a certain number of tons of grapes, which growers pledged themselves to deliver at the winery for the privileges cited above.
Wines will be received on storage at a fixed charge per gallon. Storage includes the use of oak cooperage, racking and care of wine. No charge will be made for gauging, except when special gauging is required for outgoing wines, when fifty cents per 1,000 gallons will be charged. Delivery charges fitty cents per 1,000 gallons. On the receipt of wine a warehouse certificate will be issued to the owner. We will advance money on wines stored with us, or the holder of the certificate can borrow wherever he finds the lowest money market. Our warehouse receipt furnishes its owner with a security at par with a grain warehouse receipt and one as readily negotiated
A circular recently issued by the firm sets forth their terms as follows;
2d. We will mannfacture grapes into wine on shares, giving the owner of the grapes a fixed number of gallons of wine for every ton of grapes delivered, and the wine so delivered to him will be made from the grapes delivered by him to us. Every lot of wine will be kept separate, and on or about December first each owner will have his wine marked and measured to him. It can then cither enter the storage department or be hanled away.
3d. We will receive grapes to be manufac- tured into wine, the price to be paid per ton to the grower to remain in abeyance until the prod- uct is sold. When sold, a fixed percentage of the amount received per gallon shall determine the price to be paid per ton. Pending final settlement advances will be made by us.
4th. We will manufacture grapes into wines at a fixed price per ton. Wine so manufactured will be kept separate and carel for till its second racking. It can then enter the storage depart- ment or will be delivered to its owner.
No Malvoisie, Mission, inferior grapes, or
grapes in bad condition will be received for wine-making.
Such privileges are of inestimable value, since they bring the grower and Eastern buyer into direct dealings, the same as the wool and fruit industries enjoy, and also afford a means of relief from exacting money-lenders. It is the intention to keep samples of all the wines grown in the valley, and a buyer may cut, blend and order any quantity or quality without any further inconvenience than a visit to this mammoth establishment. The personnel of the firm inspires confidence in the ultimate success of the scheme, since Mr. W. B. Bourn, the well- known capitalist, has as a resident partner Mr. E. Everett Wise. Not only will Bourn & Wise store wine for the neighborhood, but they will also make large quantities themselves. Mr. Bourn individually owns two large vineyards near St. Helena, aggregating 610 acres. The very best foreign varieties are planted in these vineyards, and it is the intention of the com- pany to produce only high-type wines, which they will properly age and bottle before putting on the market.
The following is an accurate description of the cellar, which was built by Percy & Hamil- ton, of San Francisco, from the pen of Mr. Percy, who acknowledges many useful sugges- tions from Captain H. W. Mcintyre, of Senator Stanford's vineyard at Vina:
" This magnificent wine-cellar is the largest of its kind in California, if not in the world, and the most complete in all its appointments. It is built on a sloping hillside on the west side of the county road and abont one mile north of the town of St. Ilelena. The earth taken from the cnt made in the hillside is graded in front to form a broad level terrace where a side-track conneets with the N. V. R. R. and a gentle slope to the road. The building is 400 feet long and seventy-eight feet in width, with a front projec- tion of 50x20 feet, in which is the main en- trance, office and sample rooms. A broad flight of granite steps lead to the red tiled floor of the main entrance. From the office entrance a cen-
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tral passage twenty feet wide extends across the buildings with stone walls on both sides, thus separating the building in two distinct wings. In the rear and on a level with the first floor is a driveway fourteen feet wide extending the entire length of the building and open to the grade at both ends. This driveway is covered with concrete beams and arches, forming another roadway at the level of the second floor and with properly graded approaches at both ends. Above the retaining wall at this roadway is a graded road on the hillside nearly level with the third floor, from which grapes are taken directly to the crushers in the attic. From the covered driveway at the level of first floor are openings for thirteen tunnels, which are designed to ex- tend 250 feet into the hillside. These tunnels are to be sixteen feet wide and eleven feet high at the center and are for storing wine.
"The walls of the entire building are built of a light gray volcanic stone found in the im- mediate neighborhood, and put together with Portland cement, while the trimmings are of a red stone of similar formation. The stone-work is finished with rock face, giving a bold and massive appearance to the work. The entire roof is covered with a black slate of fine quality found in California. The interior construction . is of a most substantial character. The first floor is of Portland cement, neatly finished and graded to the various outlets. The second floor is of Portland cement, concrete with strong twisted bars of iron imbedded in the concrete (Ransom's patent method). This entire floor is constructed in twenty four foot spans and supported by iron columns. The third floor is of heavy timber construction, capable of being used for wine storage. An attic formed in the roof gives ample room for crushing grapes and distributing to the tanks below, while a stone tower twenty feet square, extending one story above the roof, gives accommodations to a large water-tank and furnishes a fine point from which to view the Napa Valley.
" The facilities for making and handling wine in this vast establishment are very complete. In
a small basement under the central projection is located a boiler, engine and dynamo for gener- ating electricity, which is conveyed by proper wires to all parts of the building and tunnels furnishing incandescent lights and power for pumping wine at any point required. Water- pipes are run along all gangways and passages with hose cods at frequent intervals. There are four-inch iron pipes with neat brass plngs placed through walls and floors every thirty feet for the purpose of piping wine from one part of the building to another, also from wagons ontside to any portion of the buildings or tunnels, or to discharge directly from the building into the cars in front.
" In approaching the building after ascending a short flight of polished mosaic steps and pass- ing under a massive Romanesque arch one finds himself in a neat and spacious vestibule with walls of colored brick, floor of mosaics and ceil- ing of moulded concrete. On the left a door opens into an office about twenty feet square, with walls and ceilings paneled in antiqne quar- tered oak with desks and furniture to match. A cosy stone fireplace occupies one corner and a massive vault door another, thus making one end of the office octagonal. On the opposite side of the vestibule is a sample room, elegantly fitted up walls and ceilings of paneled mahogany, with open bottle racks around the walls and two beautiful lockers of mahogany and plate glass beveled. The windows in these two rooms are polished plate glass with artistic stained glass transoms, while a fancy parquet floor completes the finish. On the opposite side of the vestibule from the main entrance is a large oak and glass door leading directly into the twenty-foot pas- sage between the two wings.
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