USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 22
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COUNTY VALUATIONS.
1891.
Total value real estate and personal prop- erty .$11,078,253
Total value railroads in the county 700,182
Total $11,778,434
Total number of acres assessed, 258,902.
1892.
Total value real estate aud improvements .. $10,390,878 Total value personal property 1,490,958
Total $11,881,836 To which add value of railroads in the county, as apportioned by the State Board of equalization, to wit: South Pacific Coast Railroad Co .... $374,480 Southern Pacific Railway Co. 252,127 Pájaro Valley Railroad Co ... 3,964
Pullman Palace Car Co. 1,937- 632,508
Total assessed valuation. $12,514,344 Rate, $1.20 in cities and towns; rate, $1.60 outside cities and towns.
183
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
SCHOOLS.
The number of children who attended the public schools of the county in 1891 was 3,733; and the number of census children was 4,994. There were sixty-two school- houses in Santa Cruz county, and ninety-nine teachers; eleven of these were males and eighty-eight females. The average monthly wages paid the male teachers were $99.36; and to female teachers, $57.93. The county raised $22,475 for school purposes. The total expenditures of all the districts for the school year, including buildings, lots, etc., was $79,580.60. Value of lots, houses and furniture, $132,400; libraries, $11,050; ap- paratus, $6,975; total, $150,425. Number of volumes in libraries, 12,256. There were five private schools in the county, with thir- teen teachers and 260 pupils.
The number of school-census children in Santa Cruz county for the year 1892 is 5,250. The number of public schools in the county, is 102. The average number attending the public schools was 2,859.
The Pájaro Roman Catholic Orphan Asy- lum, for boys is under the management of the Franciscan fathers, and has from 250 to 300 children under its charge.
SOCIETIES.
There are in the county four lodges of Odd Fellows, membership 670; two lodges of Master Masons, membership 225; two chapters of Royal Arch Masons; one com- mandary of Knights Templars; two lodges
Knights of Pythias, membership 250; three lodges United Workmen, membership 250; two lodges Knights of Honor, membership 250; four parlors Native Sons G. W .; three posts G. A. R. Also other societies, as Young Men's Institute, Sons of Temperance, Y. M. C. A. and W. C. T. U.
CHURCHES.
The first church built in the county, of course, was the old mission church, erected in the latter part of the last century. In 1856 part of it fell. It was replaced by another structure, and dedicated by Bishop Amat, July 4, 1858. The modern brick church of the same denomination was completed within the last few years, at a cost of about $35,000. The first Methodist church in Santa Cruz was organized in 1850: the first Congregational in 1852; the first Baptist in 1855; and the first Episcopalian Church was organized in 1862.
At the present time there are about twenty Protestant churches in this county, including in addition to those named above, Presbyter- ian, Christian, Adventist, Universalist and German Methodist and Lutheran.
RAILWAYS.
The following official figures show the earnings, mileage and tonnage of the South Pacific Coast Railway (Narrow Gauge), or "Santa Cruz Division" of the Southern Pa- cific Company, for the last twelve years. These figures show, in condensed form, and very effectively, the material and economic
184
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
progress of the section through which said road runs:
SOUTH PACIFIC COAST RAILWAY-NARROW
GAUGE.
YEAR. EARNINGS.
MILEAGE.
TONNAGE.
1880
.. $ 400,307.74
80.86.
119,396
1881 .. ... 569,968.10
77.30. 172,045
1882. ...
663,301.50
77.30 192,112
1883.
711,426.22
80.30 196,633
1884. 743,924.56.
87.60 103,317
1885.
765,484.09
88.48 218,075
1886 ....
847,530.64
104.48.
255.999
1887 .. ...
925,235.02.
104.48 275,336
1888
1,093,805.47.
104.48 358,080
1889
1,078.344.76.
104.48 349,185
1890. 1,105,543.45
104.48 381,325
1891 ... 1,107,772.87
104.48. 373,910
MAIN LINE.
San Francisco to Santa Cruz (incl. ferries) 80.60 miles
BRANCHES.
Alameda Junction to 14th st., Oakland. 180 miles
Newark to Centerville
300 .6
Campbell's to New Almaden 960
Felton to Boulder Creek
730
Junction South Big Trees to Old Felton ... 170
10,400
In August, 1892, steps were taken looking toward the changing of the Pacific avenue line from a horse-car line to an electro-motive- power line, to be consolidated with the Santa Cruz, Garfield park and Capitola Electric Street Railway Company's line. The Pacific avenue road runs from the Pope House to the beach, and is the pioneer street railroad of Santa Cruz. A consolidation of the street railroads of the city under one management would be advantageous to both the owners and the public.
CHAPTER IX.
THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ.
ANTA CRUZ, the county-seat and prin- cipal city of the county, was incorporated as a town in 1866, with a board of trustees. The same year Congress granted or relinquished the misson lands to the town, thus making the title of the lands of the town, or of the city as its successor, perfect." Santa Cruz was incorporated as a city, with mayor and common council, in March, 1876.
According to the Federal census, the pop- ulatiou of the city of Santa Cruz was in 1880, 3,988; and in 1880, 5,596. The present pop- ulation, including East Santa Cruz, which is considered as a part of the city, although not inside the corporate limits, is estimated at 7,500.
The city owns its water, gas and electric- light works, as every city ought. Its water works cost about $300,000, for which bonds were voted in 1888. The water is brought from the mountains twelve miles. The sys- tem includes a reservoir near and above the city, with a capacity of 65,000,000 gallons. This is supplied by a ten-mile line of four- teen inch pipe. The mains consist of one mile of twelve inch pipe, three and one-half miles of six-inch, and fourteen miles of four-inch pipe. The pressure on the street mains is one hundred pounds to the square inch. So the city of Santa Cruz has no paid fire department and needs none. Neither has it any need for fire engines.
185
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
The total loss by fire in 1891 is said not to have exceeded $1,400.
The water rates are: A family of two per- sons pays forty cents per month, and this covers all uses for domestic purposes, includ- ing baths, irrigation, etc. All additional persons over two are charged ten cents each per month.
The plant of the electric-light works has two dynamos, operated by a Corliss engine of 300-horse power, furnishing 1,500 lights.
There are three street railway lines in Santa Cruz, one of which is run by elec- tricity.
The officers of the city of Santa Cruz for 1892 are: William T. Jeter, mayor; F. W. Lucas, J. H. Bailey, F. J. Hoffman, E. G. Greene, councilmen; O. J. Lincoln, city clerk and ex officio superintendent of city water-works; C. E. Williams, treasurer and collector; C. L. Pioda, engineer; Matt. Rawle, chief of police.
Many people of culture, as well of wealthı, have recently come to Santa Cruz and made themselves homes; for in truth the city has many attractions as a place of residence. Its climate is so equable and healthful, and every way so delightful, and the city is so easily accessible, either by water or by land, its facilities for summer sea-bathing are so per- fect, that it is not strange that eclectic people, who have once experienced the many charms of Santa Cruz, are enamored of the place and want to see more of it, or to make it their permanent place of abode. No wonder that
the old friars looked upon it with longing eyes a hundred years ago.
There are two commercial and two savings banks in the city of Santa Cruz, namely :
The Bank of Santa Cruz County, which was organized in August, 1875, has a capital, of $200,000; paid-up capital, $80,000; reserve fund and nndivided profits, $61,208. Officers: President, J. H. Logan; vice-president, P. B. Fagen; cashier, P. G. Menefee; secretary, Clarence E. Fagen. Directors: J. H. Logan, J. D. Phelan, P. B. Fagen, William T. Jeter, Louis Schwartz, B. F. Porter, S. F. Grover.
The Santa Cruz Bank of Savings and Loan, was organized March, 1870, under the same management as the above. Paid-up capital, $50,000; reserve fund and undivided profits, $14,022.14.
City Bank .- Officers: L. K. Baldwin, presi- dent; F. A. Hihn, vice-president; W. D. Haslam, cashier and secretary. Directors: L. K. Baldwin, F. A. Hihn, Jackson Sylvar, Alexander Russell, I. L. Thurber, M. A. Buckley, A. H. Wilbur.
Under the same management the City Savings Bank is conducted.
CONDENSED RECORD OF SANTA CRUZ WEATHER IN 1891.
Compiled from the official daily observa- tions furnished the Signal Service by W. R. Springer.
Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June
Highest barometer 30.37 30.39 30.20 30.23 30.10 30.14
Lowest barometer. 29.86 29.20 29.90 29.75 29.79 29.80
Mean barometer. 30.16 29.97 30.66 30.045 29.99 29.937
Range for month .51 1.19 -30 .48 .31 .34
Greatest daily variation .18 .52 .29 .20 .11 :11
12
186
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
Jan. Feb. Mar. April May Jnne
Leaal daily variation.
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00
Highest temperature
68°
62º
72°
78°
73°
92°
Lowest temperature.
280
30°
34℃
36°
42°
420
Mean monthly temperature
49.25° 47.1° 55.4° 54.4°
58° 62.3°
Monthly variation of temperature
40°
30°
36°
42°
31°
50°
Greatest daily variation,
29º
26°
290
35°
28°
38°
Leaat daily variation.
13°
5°
5º
11° 9
14°
Coldest day of month
41.5°
44.75°
48°
48.5° 55°
Hottest day of mouth.
550
58° 600
61° 62.50
Dampest day
78%
86%
83% 78% 82% 78%
Drieat day ...
3.5%
44%
39%
59% 58% 48%
Mean humidity
62.5%
66.5% 65% 67% 69.1% 64.2%
Number cloudy days
2
10
7
6
1
Partial ciondy daya
11
11
10
6.
19
4
Clear days
18
7
14
14
6
25
Rainfall
77 10.68 1.36 2.57
.61 .10
Highest baromeler.
Lowest barometer
Mean barometer.
29.946 29.98 30,13 30.82 30.15 30.26
Range for month ..
.24
.23
.23
.38
.32 .82
.10
.09
.10
.17
.17
.31
Leaat daily variation
.00
.00
.00
.00
.00.
.02
Highest temperature
92º
100°
92°
89°
80°
69º
Lowest temperature.
48°
46°
39°
88°
31°
25°
Mean monthly temperature.
44ª
64.9° 61.80° 58.9º
54.7º 48°
Monthly variation of temperature 44°
54°
53°
51°
49°
44q
Greatest daily variation ...
379
46°
423
42º
41° 41º
Least daily variation ..
14°
15°
19°
8
9º
10°
Coldest day of month
59>
59°
55°
53°
49°
38°
Hottest day of month
71°
79º
68°
64°
63º
66°
Dampeet day.
88%
76%
79%
83%
84%
77%
Drieat day ..
50%
52%
55%
29%
43%
40%
Mean humidity
68%
60.2%
70.7% 64%
62%
60%
Number cloudy daya
1
1
4
4
12
Partial cloudy daya.
13
12
6
8
15
15
Clear daya,
17
19
23
19
11
4
Rainfall
.00
.00
.70
.45
.58 7.60
CHAPTER X.
OTHER TOWNS-CONCLUSION.
ATSONVILLE, now the second town in importance in the county, was laid out in 1852 by J. H. Watson, the pioneer, after whom it was named, and by D. S. Gregory. The population of Watsonville, in 1880, was about 1,800, and in 1890 it was
reported by the census at 2,149. In 1892 it probably is not less than 2,500, probably more.
It is locatad at the junction of the Pájaro and Corralitos streams, about twenty miles east of the county-seat. It was incorporated in 1868. Its public schools, including a high school, are excellent. The churches, benevo- lent societies, etc., are well represented. Wat- sonville is on the Southern Pacific railway line, Santa Cruz division, and is the terminus of the Pájaro. Valley or Moro Cojo narrow gauge railroad, and is in the midst of a very fertile region. Its railroad facilities, its near- ness to tide-water, and its important and growing manufacturing interests, make it already an active business center, and such it must continue to be in the future. The town supports three newspapers. It is supplied with abundance of excellent water, brought in pipes some eight miles, from Corralitos creek, to two reservoirs two miles from town, which hold 2,500,000 gallons. At the point of division the pipe is 290 feet above the town, at the reservoir, ninety feet. Size of pipe above reservoir is fifteen inches, and below, eiglit inches. The water-works, which were constructed in 1878, and the electric- light works, which supply the town with light, are owned by a private company.
Felton and Boulder creek are thriving towns north of Santa Cruz, on the San Lorenzo river, and stations on the narrow-gauge rail- road. The population of Felton in 1890 was 259, and of Boulder, 489.
Capitola, four miles southeast of Santa Cruz, and Aptos, eight miles, both fronting
Greatest daily variation
July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 30.08 30.10 30.12 30.22 30.37 30.59 29.84 29.87 29.83 29.84 30.05 29.77
57° 70°
187
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
on the bay of Monterey, are delightful and prosperous seaside resorts.
Aptos is located near the month of the creek of the same name. In fact, there are many points in Santa Cruz county which have be- come, in late years, very popular as summer resorts. Annual encampments of the Na- tional Gnard of California are held at the city of Santa Cruz.
A local journal gives the following graphic and suggestive epitome of attractions east and west of Santa Cruz:
ALONG THE SHORE LINE.
SANTA CRUZ WESTWARD-West Cliff Drive -From Santa Cruz Beach to Moore's Beach, two and half miles.
Attractions - Lighthouse at northern headland of Monterey bay; fine museum of curios; Phelan park; coast line of Pacific ocean, with sculptured cliffs and dashing surf Vue de l'eau, terminus on cliff of electric railway; natural bridges and wonder- ful natural aquaria at Moore's beach, with mussel, clam and abalone gathering, and ample space for picnics and camp fires-Gar- field park and Tabernacle; the State resort of Christian or Campbellite Church one, and a half miles.
COAST ROAD-Extension of mission street to county line and from there to Pescadero, a stage coach line of thirty-five miles from Santa Cruz.
Attractions - Coast Road; creameries; dairy ranches; exceptionally fine natural bridge on ocean shore of Wilder's ranch, six
miles; a succession of fine creeks, taking their rise in the Santa Cruz mountains and emptying into the Pacific ocean, teeming with spotted and salmon trout; magnificent groves of laurel with century-old trees, under which are the finest camping grounds in the world, a paradise for the sportsman, the health and pleasure seeker; Pescadero is noted for its unique pebble beach and fine fishing.
SANTA CRUZ EASTWARD-East Cliff Drive -Already finished some two miles along the bay coast and soon to be continued to Capi- tola, five miles.
Attractions-Skirting the San Lorenzo river and the bay shore, with constantly changing panorama of magnificent mountain foot-hill, and marine views; numerous beau- tiful suburbs, East Cliff; Seabright; a collect- ion of picturesque summer cottages, with fine bathing beach; Seabright park; Twin lakes, beautiful resort of State Baptist associatiou situated between Lake Seabright and Lake Schwan and possessing fine beaches; still and surf bathing, station on broad-gauge road, pretty church, numerous cottages, hotel, walks and drives, one mile from Santa Cruz, with access by steam and horse cars; Santa Maria del Mar, fine and extensive grounds of seaside resort of the Catholic Ladies' Aid Society, magnificently laid out in broad streets and fine lots, large hotel nearly fin- ished; thousands of trees and shrubs planted the past year, grand views, fine beach for bathing and driving, wonderful cliff sculpt- ure; Corcoran's lagoon, picturesque sheet of salt water, etc. ; constant succession of beaches,
188
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
rocky points, where surf fishing is good. mussel, clam and abalone gathering, fine ranches, cultivated to the water's edge; Fair- view; mouth of Soquel creek; Capitola, pop- ular bathing resort, with large summer pop- ulation, hotels, cottages and bathing houses, grove, railway station, post office, beautiful surrounding country, wharf for vessels and steamers.
APTOS- Picturesque village; magnificent groves of live-oaks, growing almost to water's edge; wharf, romantic walks, rustic-dance pavilion and admirable picnic grounds, rail- way station, schools, hotels, express, postof- fice, etc.
CAMP GOODALL-Mouth of Pájaro river, which is the boundary between Santa Cruz and Monterey counties; broad beach; race and driving track.
THE FOOTHILL SLOPE.
Between the foot of the Santa Cruz range and the bay of Monterey there lies a belt of rolling foot-hill land, sloping toward the bay in which there are miles of the most product- ive land, through which no less than thirty living streams find their way oceanward, and where the mountain canons spread out into broad valleys teeming with fruits and flowers grains and vegetables of phenomenal size, magnificent quality and immense yields.
In Father Crespí's diary of the Portalá expedition in 1769, mention is made of the redwood trees, which the party saw on the Santa Cruz mountains. He says "these trees are unlike anything seen in Spain;" and be-
cause of their color, they named them "palo colorado."
The value of the inexhaustible forests of these trees in California is literally beyond computation. Although considerable inroads have been made on the redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains, yet they are by no means exhausted. As a source of revenue to the county, they are better than a placer gold mine, because not so easily worked out.
Santa Cruz lighthouse or Point Santa Cruz, 600 feet from the extremity of Bluff Point at the entrance of Santa Cruz harbor, was established in 1869. It is nineteen and three-quarter miles from Point Pinos. This light is a fixed red, of the fifth order, and is visible eight and one-half nautical miles. The light is sixty-nine feet above sea level.
Santa Cruz has excellent railroad facilities, being connected with San Francisco and in- termediate towns by means of the two divisions of the Southern Pacific Company, the broad-gauge and the narrow-gauge lines. The steamers of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company stop regularly at Santa Cruz.
The contrast between the Santa Cruz of to- day, and the Santa Cruz of the mission era is striking. Then, there were comparatively few Europeans or "people of reason," as the Spaniards so aptly expressed it, living at Santa Cruz, or in Alta California, thoughi many bands of Indians, both tame and wild, were to be seen. The mission was the center of activity, with the little villa (village) of Branciforte as a side show. Nature was wild, as it had been for unknown centuries, with
189
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.
only very small areas in the immediate vicin- age of the mission subject to cultivation. Now, civilization, with all the word implies, with its wealth of homes and schools, and churches, and industries with their ware- houses and wharves and manufactories and railways, and endless other institutions, are visible on every side, seeming almost to have changed the very face of Nature, and yet we know that nature was substantially the same, in this goodly region known as Santa
Cruz, then as now. Then, the fertile soil and other natural resources, including the blessed climate (for its climate is one of its natural resources), were what they are now. But it is not necessary to enlarge on this wondrous change. All that is required is to suggest the outlines of the contrasted eras, and the imaginations of the present and future deni- zens of Santa Cruz can readily fill in the details of the picture.
SAN MATEO COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
PHYSICAL FEATURES-TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.
This connty is named after Saint Matthew and occupies nearly the entire peninsula which separates San Francisco bay from the Pacific ocean. San Mateo county is bounded on the north by the city and county of San Francisco, on the east by the San Francisco bay and Santa Clara county, on the south by Santa Cruz county and on the west by the Pacific ocean. It has an area of about 300,- 000 acres. It fronts sixty-five miles on the ocean and thirty-five miles on San Francisco bay
The Sierra Morena, or northern portion of the Santa Cruz mountains, traverses this coun- ty throughont its entire length. The trend of these mountains is parallel to the sea coast, and of an average height of 1,500 feet, reaching at some points to twice that height. Their precipitous sides are in many places broken by deep cañons down which water flows the year round, and from which the city of San Francisco obtains her water supply. The south half of the Sierra Morena is tim- bered with redwood, oak, and manzanita. Upon the sea coast; and along the shore of the San Francisco bay is a strip of level farming
country, the greater portion of which is cov- ered with rich allnvium, the soil of the entire county being exceedingly fertile.
MINERALOGY.
The minerals of this county, as far as inves- tigation has shown, consist of gold, silver, petroleum, coal, quicksilver, lime and build- ing stone. Of these petroleum and building stone are, at present, alone turned to account.
Gold and Silver .- Traces of gold have been discovered in various creeks and gulches, es- pecially near Redwood City, prospects there having been struck, which yielded several colors to the pan. Placer mining has, at in- tervals, been carried on at several points along the sea-shore with varied success. A bed of black sand on the beach, about one mile from Amesport landing, has been worked with only partial success.
Petroleum .- Petroleum occurs at several points in the Tunitas and Purísima cañons, yielding from one to three barrels for each well per day by pumping when first bored but dwindling down to one or one and a half barrels per day, soon after boring. One fea- ture of the wells is that no "shells" are en- countered before striking the oil. These "shells," as the oil men call them, are hard
191
SAN MATEO COUNTY.
silicious strata, usually met with immediately above the strata containing the oil. The bi- tuminous series of rocks crop out along the west side of San Mateo county. This asphal- tum, so common in many parts of the Coast Range, is no doubt produced from the pe- troleum by the corporation of the lighter naphthas, and a partial oxidation of the vis- cons residue under the influence of air and wind.
Limestone is found six miles from San Ma- teo on the ranch of the Spring Valley Water Company, at the headwaters of San Mateo creek, where lime was formerly burned.
Building Stone .- Sandstone is quarried about a mile southwest of Redwood City. This has been used in the construction of the railroad depot at San Carlos and for other local purposes. A light-colored sandstone crops out about two and a half miles north of Halfmoon bay, which has been used in the library building at San Mateo; also for foun- dations at Halfmoon bay. It is a fair quarry of free stone, with a dip a trifle east of south, and at an angle of 50°. A qnarry of meta- morphosed sandstone is now open at Coleman and varies from a yellowish brown to a gray- blue color and appears to be an excellent building material, splitting readily in all di- rections and working smooth.
A rock, much resembling the bluish variety of the Coleman sandstone, is being used by the Spring Valley Water Company of San Francisco, in the dam they are constructing about five miles west of San Mateo. This
company has dammed the San Mateo Creek, in order to form a lake of the cañada.
It may be of interest to state in this con- nection, that by the construction of a dam, the Cañada Raimundo will, in the course of time, be converted into a great storage lake, having a capacity of upward of 30,000,000,- 000 thirty billion gallons of water.
The present water supply of San Francisco is derived chiefly from the Pilarcitos, the San Andres and upper Crystal Springs lakes, the water of which is conveyed in pipes, a dis- tance of twelve miles to that city. It is also the intention of the Spring Valley Water Company to connect the San Francisquito creek, with the before-mentioned large storage lake by means of a tunnel, extending there- from to the town of Searsville, where another dam is to be built, for the purpose of making å second storage reservoir to receive all excess of water during times of heavy rain fall.
The rock used in the first-mentioned dam, now under construction, is a bluish meta- morphosed stone, and is quarried from the immediate vicinity. It contains shales and sandstones, between which small veins of clay and coal have been found, the latter having at times shown a width of two feet, although it has mostly appeared in a thin seam broken and mixed with clay. The dam when finished will be about 170 feet high, 172 feet wide, at its base, tapering to a width of twenty-five feet at the top, and having a water slope of one vertical to four horizontal.
192
SAN MATEO COUNTY.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY HISTORY.
LTHOUGH the ocean coast, of what is now known as San Mateo county, was doubtless seen by the early navigators. Probably the first Europeans to set foot on its soil, were the Portalá party, which in seeking and missing Monterey bay pursued their jour- ney northward and passed np the peninsula to its terminus, in the month of October, 1769; and in the early part of November of the same year some of the soldiers of the party climbed the hills while hunting for deer, and saw for the first time the magnificent inland sea, since known to the world as the bay of San Francisco.
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