USA > California > San Joaquin County > An illustrated history of San Joaquin County, California. Containing a history of San Joaquin County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its future prospects; > Part 17
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J. D. Peters, still a prominent business man
of Stockton, was one of the first to engage in the business. He had previously been conduct- ing a forwarding business, and his first ventures in wheat were in purchasing the limited quanti- ties required to supply the small mills near Sonora, and transporting the same from Stockton to its destination. His first purchases of the surplus product of this region were made to sup- ply the local demand and mills in San Francisco and Sacramento. In 1858 a small steamer was put on the route between Stockton and Sacra- mento, making three trips a week between the two places, and her principal cargo from Stock- ton was wheat. The prices of wheat then ranged from ninety cents to $1.25 per cental, only the choicest variety bringing the latter price. The first wheat stored in Stockton to be held for improved prices, was in 1859. An old adobe building, standing on ground now occu- pied by Simpson & Gray's lumber yard, was used for that purpose, and also a portion of the building on Levee street, known as the Starbuck building. The quantity did not exceed 1,500 tons, and fifty cents a ton per month was paid for storage, and two per cent. per month inter- est was paid npon money borrowed thereon by its owners.
In 1858 Mr. Peters associated himself with J. A. Jackson, and engaged quite extensively in the wheat business, forming a connection with Isaac Friedlander, of San Francisco, who was one of the first to engage in the business of ex- porting wheat from California to Europe. The production of wheat gradually increased in this county, and large quantities each year were brought to this city for a market. There being no conveniences for storage, it was hauled to this city as harvested and threshed, and large quan- tities were piled along the wharves awaiting shipment. Steamers were paid at the rate of $2 per ton to transport it to San Francisco, and schooners and sailing-vessels proportionately. The increase in the production of wheat was so great that it was found impossible to ship it be- fore the commencement of the rainy season, and it was also found to be for the interest of the
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
producers to make arrangements to hold their products for better prices than could be obtained during the harvest season, when so much wheat was necessarily forced upon the market.
The first warehouses built especially for the storage of grain were erected in 1868. Messrs. Peters & Stewart erected a portion of what is known as the Enreka warehouse, and Messrs. Kallisher & Roseman erected the San Joaquin warehouse. The aggregate capacity for storage of the two for the year was about 10,000 tons, and it was all taken, and, in fact, the space was filled before the buildings were fully completed. Conveniences for storage seemed to be demanded by the wheat-producers, and the Eureka ware- house was enlarged by its owners the next year, and the Stockton warehouse, the largest structure of the kind in the city, covering a space of 200 x 300 feet, with a storage capacity of nearly 30,000 tons, was erected in the year 1873 by a joint-stock company, of which John Gawme was president and manager. What is now known as Miller's warehouse, on the south side of Mormon channel, was ereeted by Potter in 1872, and Baggs' warehouse in 1874.
In March, 1873, the Farmers' Co-operative Union was incorporated. This organization was made up of leading farmers and wheat-produc- ers of this county, and its object was to secure to the prodneers better advantages in the trans- action of their business, and better profits upon the capital and labor therein invested. This organization rented the Eureka warehouse from Peters & Stewart the first year, and the business proving to be remunerative, they purchased the same in 1874, and have since become owners of the San Joaquin warehouse, erected by Kall- isher & Roseman, and have also erected a sub- stantial warehouse west of Tule street, with a capacity of 10,000 tons, and is, like the other houses which they now own, mnade accessible by water and rail. This corporation has done inch to enlarge the wheat business of this locality, which, from a comparatively small beginning has grown to be a very important source of profit to the whole city.
The wheat trade of Stockton, which first be- came an important factor in promoting the city's prosperity in 1868, has of course fluctuated as the production has varied by the effects of drouth and unfavorable seasons, yet for every prosperous year for the farmer for a period of twenty years past. the receiving and handling of the crops of the surrounding country has been the most important business of the city. The receipts and shipments of wheat have varied from 100,000 to 200,000 tons, and from the fact that this large amount of grain las, during the season, been here sold and the money there- or put in circulation, an impetus has been given to other branches of business which has been of incalculable advantage to all classes of citizens, and important aid to the grower.
Until recent years the real-estate business of this great and rich county has amounted to nothing more than an occasional trade among neighbors, at prices astoundingly high in the eyes of those who were looking for investments in cheap lands. From 1860 to 1880 the wheat market justified the almost exclusive devotion of California lands to wheat production. Be- fore the wheat market declined the best San Joaquin County grain lands were held at, and were sold at, from $100 to $120 per acre. Throughont the greater portion of the county the farmers have never known a failure of crops. Without irrigation they have harvested from twenty to fitty bushels of wheat to the acre. Grain-raising has been for years almost the only business of the farming class, as it has been the chief source of wealth to the county. All of San Joaquin's wealth was produced by and within itself.
TRANSITION TO DIVERSIFIED CROPS.
Many years ago the horticulturists and nearly all the shrewd business inen of the county be- gan exhorting the old wheat farmers to try fruits and vegetables to some extent, and with grand results. Messrs. Middlekanff, for ex- ample, call attention to the fact that this county is outside the fog belt, and that therefore the
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
land here is the more valuable as fruit land, be- canse fruit grown in a dry climate such as this is sounder and sweeter, and in every way sn- perior for drying, canning and shipping pur- poses, than fruits raised in the fog-belt coun- ties. It is estimated that in the coast counties, orchardists lose from one-third to one-half in flavor, weight and color, by reason of the dele- terious effects of continual fogs upon the fruit. The successful fruit-raiser, generally, is the one who markets his crop early in the season. All the climatic conditions of this county are such as to enconrage the early maturity of all fruits. Messrs. Middlekauff predict that this must eventually become one of the principal fruit- growing sections of the Pacific coast, and they recommend that the people of this conuty not only give their attention to these facts them- selves, but further to encourage the dawning of a new era in the connty's future, by aiding every movement that intends to make its mer- its better known to the outside world, and to divide its large wheat ranches among new settlers, who will improve upon the old methods of onr ranchers. Those who plant first will profit first. It is time, they say, that San Joa- quin shonld realize that it is one of the best fruit-producing sections in the State. When it is apparent that there is more profit in twenty acres of vines and fruits than in a quarter sec- tion in wheat at present prices, it will indeed be strange if the reformation they champion will be long delayed.
THE SPECIALTIES.
The first vines in the connty were planted by Captain Weber in 1850, on the peninsula. The next year Messrs. George and William B. West imported forty different varieties from Boston, and from these vines have been raised many throughout the county. These gentlemen were among the pioneer wine mannfacturers of the comity, and the next were Charles Detten, Henry Myers and David Rothenbush. El Pinal, the property of George West & Co., is the oldest and most celebrated vineyard in this por-
tion of the valley. "E. Lawrence has a small vineyard of two and one-half acres," said the Lodi Sentinel four years ago, "comprising Mission, Black Prince and Muscat varieties. This vineyard has in average years yielded a clear net profit of $100 per acre. That two and one-half acres are worth $2,500. They pay good interest on that amount. Farmers, draw your own moral."
Says a recent writer, a resident of this county: "Many of the people who read this article will ask why there are not more orchards and vine- yards in this county. There are several reasons for this, the most obvious of which are that the majority of the owners of the land are men who have raised wheat on it for twenty or thirty years, and have grown wealthy and are satisfied to "let well enough alone."
Until within a few years there has been but a limited market for fruit here; therefore the farmer planted only trees to furnish what he re- quired for table use. The fast fruit trains now enable us to put our surplus frnit into Eastern markets at very remunerative prices.
The wheat ranches of this county are from 100 to 4,000 acres each, thus making the aver- age size much too great for the owners to even think of planting all their land to fruit or even grapes. This accounts for the fact that you can now buy land in this section where five years ago yon could ride all day and not find a place for sale. The figures below will show the money to be made from fruit and grapes, while a wheat farmer is satisfied when he clears from $10 to $15 an acre. Five-year-old vines will bear, according to the variety, from five to fif- teen tons of grapes to the acre. These grapes have been sold to the wineries for an aver- age of $15 per ton. If every man makes his own wine, as he should, the gain of the mann- facturer, which is simply immense, is also to be added to what an acre will produce.
The latest reports of the horticulturists of this county to the State Board of Agriculture are as profitable to the reader as anything else in this volume, which we here quote:
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
W. B. West, Stockton: "Our farmers had, until about 1885, given their attention to grain growing, which has been quite profitable; but few orchards have been planted, except for home use, and little attention given to fruit or grape growing. Since 1885 a few orchards have been planted, but as some of them are only yonng, they have not made much showing in the mar- ket. There is a great deal of land suitable for orchards and vineyards.
"Table and Wine Grapes .- The only vine- yards of any extent at present in bearing are in the western portion of the county, where the land is strong, and the spring and early summer climate is influenced by the cool winds from the northwest. The Muscat of Alexandria does not set well, but on the more sandy and bottomn lands of the eastern portion they thrive and produce good grapes for raisins.
"Walnut .- The French varieties are the only ones that are of any value. Præparturiens, Chaberte and Mayette are good and productive.
"Table Grapes .- Madeline, Black Hamburg, Sweetwater, Black Ferrara, Emperor.
"Apple .- Not grown successfully.
"Peach .- The early varieties are not profit- able, as they are not as early as those from Vacaville and other localities. Summer and fall varietics are profitable; Crawfords, Salway, Susquehanna, Muir and Orange Cling have been planted largely in the older orchards.
"Pear .- Bartlett.
"Cherry .-- Governor Wood, Elton, Black Tar- tarian, Napoleon Bigarreau ; all bear well.
"Plum .- These have not proved profitable, and none are being planted. Almost any kind, if attended to, will bear crops.
"Prune .- The Robe de Sargent, or the im- proved French prune, has proved a very excellent bearer anda thrifty grower. Iimported this vari- ety, and found it distinct from the French prune of San Jose, both in growth of tree and fruit. The Petite prune of San Jose bears well, is sweet, and profitable, but I think inferior to the above.
"Fig .- The Black California is the only one that has done well.
"Nectarine .- Of, no value as far as I know. Have had every variety common in this State, and find them all unprofitable."
N. H. Locke, Lockeford: " The most profit- able fruits grown in this district are peaches, pears, prunes and figs. The leading varieties of the district are:
"Apple .- Red Astrachan, Early Harvest, Rhode Island Greening, Spitzenberg.
" Peach .- Alexander, Briggs' Red May, Hale's Early, Foster, Early Crawford, Salway, Late Crawford, Blood Cling, Chinese Cling Heath.
"Pear .- Bartlett, Beurre Hardy, Winter Nelis.
"Cherry .- Black Tartarian.
"Plum .- Yellow Egg.
"Prune .- Fellenberg, Hungarian, French, Silver.
" Fig .- Smyrna, California, White Adriatic."
A. Thornton, New Hope: " Spring and win- ter apples are the best varieties here. Peaches do well. Fruit raising in this section is com- paratively new, but we have a large body of as fine fruit land as there is in the State, and equally as good as any of the choice fruit land on the Sacramento river. Our specimens of fruit come up to the standard. The table grapes cannot be surpassed. Small fruits do exceed- ingly well, and are profitable."
S. Cady, Ripon: "The fruits chiefly grown in this district are: grapes, plums, peachies, apricots, figs, nectarines, apples, prunes, straw- berries, raspberries and blackberries. The lead- ing varieties grown here are as follows:
"Apple .-- Red Astrachan, Early Harvest, Red June.
"Peach .- Late Crawford, Early Crawford, White Cling, Yellow Cling, Lemon Cling.
"Pear .- Bartlett, Early June.
"Plum .- Green Gage.
"Fig .- White, Black."
A. A. Cudner, Lockeford: "The fruits chiefly grown in this district are apples, pears, peaches, almonds, prunes, apricots and figs.
"Peach. - Early Crawford, Susquehanna,
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
Alexander, Hale's Early, Chinese Cling, Blood Cling.
"Plum .- Green Gage, Yellow Egg.
"Prune .- Fellenberg, Hungarian, French, Gross.
"Nectarine .- Hardwicke, New White.
"Apple .- Early June, White Winter Pear. main.
"Fig .- Black California, Smyrna.
"Strawberry .- Monarch of the West.
"Cherry .- Black Tartarian.
"The leading varieties grown in this district are:
"Apple .- Red Astrachan, White Winter Pearmain, Rhode Island Greening, Spitzenberg, Baldwin, Yellow Newtown Pippin, Early Har- vest, Red June.
" Peuch .-- Alexander, Briggs' Red May, Hale's Early, Foster, Early Crawford. Susquehanna, Salway, Late Crawford, Mnir, Blood Cling, Chinese Cling, Heath Cling, Orange Cling.
"Table Grape .- Black Ferrara, Black Ham- burg, Black Prince, Flaine Tokay, Muscat of Alexandria, Seedless Sultana, Isabella.
"Plum .- Yellow Egg, Green Gage.
"Prune .- Fellenberg, Hungarian, French, Gross.
"Fig .- Black California, Smyrna."
Thomas Clements, Clements: "Peaches, pears, plums, prunes and apricots are a grand success on the lowlands, and immense profits are made in good seasons. On the upland almonds and apricots do very well. The lead- ing varieties grown in this district are about as follows:
"Apple .-- Yellow Bellflower.
" Peach .- Early Crawford, Late Crawford, HIale's Early, Foster, Day's White Free, Day's Yellow Free, Jones' Seedling, Snsquehanna, Wheatland, Ward's Late Free, Salway, Smock's Cling, Orange Cling, Lemon Cling, Heatlı's Cling, George's Cling, Chinese Cling, Wager Freestone.
"Cherry .- Knight's Early Black, Black Tar- tarian, Governor Wood, Royal Ann.
"Plum .- Cherry, Peach, Columbia, Dnane's
Purple, Coe's Golden Drop, Gross Prune d'Agen.
"Prune .- French, Silver.
"Nectarine .- Boston, Hardwicke, Stanwick, New White."
W. H. Robinson, Stockton: "Our leading fruits are: table and wine grapes, apricots, almonds, blackberries, and in certain localities pears and prunes.
"Apple .- Not grown to any extent except on the Mokelumne river. The local market sup- plied by mountain fruit.
"Peuch .- Late Crawford, Early Crawford, Salway, Susquehanna, Orange Cling. The early varieties do not ripen soon enough to be profit-
- able; middle and late do better.
"Pear .- Bartlett, Winter Nelis.
"Cherry .- Black Tartarian, Governor Wood.
"Plum .- The old varieties not profitable; no market; do not bear as well as formerly.
"Prune .- French; very few German grown here; mostly dug up and replaced with French. Robe de Sargent does well, and is a better grower; La Petite (from San Jose) is a favorite, and the Silver is on trial.
"Fig .- Black California.
"New Fruits .- Endich fig, small, excellent drier. Texas blackberry, said to excel all others; grown on low lands."
Chiccory has been successfully cultivated upon reclaimed land bordering the San Joaquin river for several years, and the largest establish- ment in the United States (and the only one in California), that of Bachman & Brandt, for cur- ing and manufacturing that product, is in the vicinity of Stockton. The plant grows luxn- riantly upon the reclaimed swamp-land, and its production is becoming an important and profit- able industry in that locality.
James Tahnage, near Lodi, is developing a new industry. Ile recently planted between thirty and forty acres of castor beans, which grew finely and did well. Mr. Tahnage esti- mates the yield at from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per acre. There is every reason to believe that experiments in this line will prove a success,
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
and that one will make more clear money from a castor bean crop than from wheat.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
As early as 1855 an agricultural society was formed at Stockton, but had little life until Sep- tember, 1857, when the State fair was held here. The executive officers were William Garrard, President; E. S. Holden, Vice-President; George HI. Sanderson, Recording Secretary; and P. E. Connor, Treasurer. The Pavilion was on Court- house square, and the artesian well was formed into a fountain. During the following month the local society reorganized, but still were weak; and when in 1860 the managers of the State fair voted to continue their annual exhibitions only at Sacramento, local emulation was aroused and the citizens determined to have a fair at Stockton that would excel that of the State so- ciety. Accordingly, in February, 1860, they submitted a charter, which was granted, organ- izing the "San Joaquin Agricultural Society." February 17, 1860, Captain John McMullen was elected president; he resigned, however, within three months. Dr. E. S. Holden was elected president; D. J. Staples, Samuel Mason and W. H. Lyons were elected vice-presidents from San Joaquin, and two vice-presidents were elected from each of the following counties: Contra Costa, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Merced, Mariposa, Fresno and Tulare. The corresponding secretary was E. B. Bateman; recording secretary, P. E. Connor; and treasurer, Andrew Wolf. The supervisors of the county donated $1.000 and the city council $500 toward the first fair, which was held August 28, 1860. In May, of that year, the society purchased sixty acres of land where the track now is, and placed upon it the necessary improvements. Angust 13, same year, Captain Weber deeded sixty acres adjoining the track to the city for the use of the society. In 1861, when the membership was 709, they bought a lot and built a pavilion, at a cost, for track and building, of $17,000. The results, at the close of the year, left the society $12,000 in debt, which they could not meet, and
the mortgage was foreclosed. The county at the sale bought in the track and the society purchased it for $2,600.
The Legislature in 1880 placed ten counties, including San Joaquin, in the Second Agricult- ural District, but by subsequent enactments this district was subdivided, so that by March 6, 1889, the Second District was made to comprise only San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. The act of 1880 also provided that the managers of the agricultural societies should be appointed by the Governor, and this clause remains in force. The present members of the board for this district are B. F. Langford, James A. Shep- herd, R. C. Sargent, Louis Gerlach, L. U. Ship- pee, James E. Moore, Fred. Arnold and Charles E. Needham.
The magnificent pavilion in which the fairs of the society are now held, was built in 1887; the cost up to January 1, 1889, including ad- ditions and improvements, was $44.924.74; and during 1889 other additions were made. Tlie extreme length of the building from east to west is 276 feet, and the wings are eighty feet wide, the structure being in the form of a Greek cross. The location is between Hunter, San Joaquin, Washington and La Fayette streets, near the heart of the city. The fairs are held immediately after the State fair at Sacramento, and $2,500 are expended annually in competi- tive premiums. The receipts at the last fair (1889) were about $28,000.
The race track, located on a 120-acre plat near the sontheastern corner of the city, has been used about thirty years. It is in perfect con- dition, as well as the grand stand and other appurtenances and improvements. They are valued at from $2,000 to $2,500.
BOARD OF TRADE.
The present San Joaquin County Board of Trade was organized in February, 1887, with the following officers: James M. Welsh, Presi- dent; H. C. Smith, first Vice-President; James A. Morrissey, second Vice-President; J. D. Pe- ters, Treasurer; Mark G. Lane, Secretary
ART
S.J.V. A.S.
HORTICULTURAL
MECHANICAL
AGRICULTURAL PAVILION.
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HISTORY OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY.
There are now about 100 members, and the present officers are: P. A. Buell, President; S. D. Woods, first Vice-President; W. W. Prugh, second Vice- President; J. D. Peters, Treasurer; and A. M. Noble, Secretary. Stated meetings, every Saturday evening, at their rooms in the Masonic Temple. This association, affiliating with the State Board of Trade, take into consideration measures for the material im- provement of San Joaquin Connty, including the city of Stockton, with a view of devising means for their practical execution. They advertise the resources of the county, encourage immigration, facilitate agricultural and commercial develop ment, own, buy and sell real estate, encourage subdivisions of land and the propagation of all kinds of trees, and useful vines, etc., devise methods with reference to ditches, canals and reclamation of swamp land, and a new systemn of freight transportation.
FARMERS' CO-OPERATIVE UNION.
During the early period of the farmers' move- ment in the United States, but before any grange was organized in this valley, the "Farın- ers' Co-operative Union of San Joaquin valley" was organized, March 24, 1873, with a sub- scribed capital of $43,000. The stockholders were all farmers, and they performed a feat financially that has probably not a parallel, in a legitimate way, in the whole State. They com- menced by paying $1,300 into the treasury, establishing an office on Levee street, paying Messrs. Peters & Stewart $6,000 rental for the use of the Eureka warehouses for one year, and then doing a business of $612,251 that year and declaring a dividend of $1,600. Thus encour- aged, they purchased the warehouses, for $55,- 000, and from time to time afterward increased their storage capacity, and business increased apace. The Eureka warehouses will now store 50,000 tons, and the present working capital of the company is $300,000.
The first directors were: A. C. Paulsell, C. Swain, J. R. W. Hitchcock, S. Dunham, D. Harrison, J. U. Castle, J. M. Garwood, J. L.
Beecher, and D. L. Campbell. J. L. Beecher is now the President, and W. B. Harrison the Secretary, with office at the corner of Commerce and Levee streets. The company also clean and grade wheat.
THE GRANGERS' UNION.
In order to resist the oppression of combined private capital, break the "rings" and prevent "corners" in the markets, the farmers through- out the United States in 1873 organized what is called the grange movement, or the order of "Patrons of Husbandry." July 15, 1873, the State Grange of California was organized; and three months previons to this the West San Joaquin Grange was established, it being the second in the State, with headquarters at Ellis, Tulare Township. Within a year there were fifteen granges in the county. Some have since been discontinued.
In November, 1873, delegates from the dif- ferent granges in the county met at Stockton to canvass the objects of the order and adopt means to promote the desired results. It was decided to establish a commercial agency at this place, electing William G. Phelps, one of the oldest fariners in the county, to be their pur- chasing agent. He was paid a salary, and a percentage was charged upon the goods suffi- cient to cover all expenses.
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