USA > California > Alameda County > Alameda > Directory of the city of Oakland and its environs, including Alameda, Berkeley and Temescal 1878 > Part 3
USA > California > Alameda County > Berkeley > Directory of the city of Oakland and its environs, including Alameda, Berkeley and Temescal 1878 > Part 3
USA > California > Alameda County > Oakland > Directory of the city of Oakland and its environs, including Alameda, Berkeley and Temescal 1878 > Part 3
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Income-Total receipts, 1877. $22,279.36
Expenses 8,644.86
Net income $13,634.50
The EVENING TRIBUNE is the oldest paper in Oakland.
For the best cabinet photographs, ge to INGERSOLL'S, No. 1069 Broadway.
For Ice Cream Freezers go to J. S. G. GORDON'S, 469 Ninth Street.
GENERAL REVIEW.
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Number of letters mailed, 812,568; number of newspapers and pack- ages mailed, 486,519 ; number of postal cards mailed, 55,987; number of letters delivered from boxes and general delivery, 859,641; number of newspapers delivered, 547,500; number of postal cards delivered, 115,546; number of letters sent to Dead Letter Office, 11,273; amount of money orders received, $111,793.09; amount of money orders paid, $76,113.38.
STOCK YARD STATION .- The Stock Yard Station, on the Berkeley branch of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, is located about one mile from Oakland, and approached by the San Pablo Avenue. At this Station, some three years ago, Mr. H. M. Ames built two slaughter- houses, one for the killing of sheep and the other for cattle. Since then this business has rapidly increased, and there are now seven slaughter- houses, in which are killed daily one hundred cattle and three hundred sheep, besides hogs, lambs, calves, etc., in all, doing a business of about $6,000 per day. Besides these, there are two establishments for the ren- dering of tallow; two good hotels-one just completed by Mr. Ames, to be known as the Golden Gate Hotel-and a substantial wharf, also lately built. The future of this place is looking very bright, and men who should know predict that it will be the great cattle market and abbatoir of the Pacific Coast.
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS .- In 1877 there were erected in Oakland more imposing blocks of brick buildings than in any previous year. The aggre- gate cost of these was $1,000,000. Among the more conspicuous may be mentioned the new City Hall, built on the site of the old structure, which was destroyed by fire August 25th of last year ; also, Kohler & Chase's, A. C. Henry's, Merritt's, and others.
Two new blocks are noticeable at the junction of Market with Seventh streets, showing that business buildings of a permanent character are needed in this quarter. The same remark applies to West Oakland, where C. B. Rutherford is putting up a substantial brick block.
The Independent Presbyterian Church has undergone radical improve- ments at a cost of $15,000, and St. Paul's Church been almost entirely rebuilt at a cost of $8,500. Dietz Opera House has received material alterations.
The contract has been given out for the building of a new edifice for the First Congregational Church, which will cost $55,000.
The number of private dwellings, lodging houses, etc., has kept pace with that of the more pretentious mercantile blocks. Some of the man- sions are very costly, among which are those of Messrs. Requa, Ralston, and David Houghton-the former at Piedmont, valued at $100,000.
Bredhoff & Cordes, proprietors of the Washington Brewery, have nearly completed, at a cost of $40,000, an extensive and substantial building for brewing purposes, situated on the corner of Fifth and Kirk- ham streets. The area of the building is eighty-three by one hundred and twenty-five feet, with a capacity of sixty barrels per day.
The value of buildings erected in East Oakland, including the convent school and new engine house, is $242,000. A convent school has like- wise been built on Grove Street, in the rear of St. Mary's Church.
Accurate statistics obtained from owners, contractors, etc., place the entire cost of dwellings in Oakland, exclusive of Brooklyn mentioned above, at $771,000.
One of the most valuable public improvements constructed during the year was the substantial bridge which spans San Antonio Creek on the line of Eighth Street.
Herman Cordes, real-estate and insurance agent, 903 Washington St.
O. K. FREEMAN & CO., coal and wood dealers, NW cor. Eighth and Franklin sts.
WOODWARD & TAGGART negotiate loans, 460 and 462 Eighth St.
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OAKLAND DIRECTORY.
HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS.
SEA WALL AND CREEK DREDGING .- The improvement of the San Antonio Creek, so that large ships can be brought within a convenient distance of the mainland, has been advocated by those who were fully conscious of the great advantages Oakland has on account of her location on the eastern shore of the bay, being naturally the center of the rail- road system of the Pacific Coast. The forty-second Congress directed an examination of the San Antonio Creek, with a view to its improve- ment. The Board of Pacific Coast Engineers, consisting of Major G. H. Mendell, Col. C. S. Stewart, and Col. Alexander, submitted their report in March, 1874. They made a thorough examination, and reported favorably. They ascertained that the tide rises a little higher and falls a little lower in San Leandro Bay than it does in San Antonio Estuary, the difference in range being four tenths of a foot. The times of high and low water are also earlier in San Leandro Bay, by about one hour. The San Antonio Estuary is supposed to be filling up on account of the smallness of the tidal basins which supply water for the stream in the channel. But with the present tidal area, the channel is twenty-two feet deep at Hibbard's, or the old Alameda Wharf, and that the depth elsewhere ranges from fourteen to eighteen feet, at low water. At the mouth of the Estuary, where the water is distributed over a large area, a bar exists, on which there are about two feet of water. Hence the con- clusion that if this channel were sufficiently contracted its depth would become greater, on account of the power exerted by the ebb tides. In this case the great scouring effect of the ebb tides is specially due to the tidal peculiarities of the bay. The first practical step was to contract the water way over the bay, to be done by two parallel training walls of stone, to extend from the mainland to the deep water of the bay. To afford the necessary room for navigation they are one thousand feet apart. But this basin is not large enough to open and maintain a wide and deep chan- nel between the training walls. Rather than incur this annual cost of dredging that would be necessary, a plan, almost provided by nature, has been adopted. It is proposed to double the amount of water flowing through the creek by connecting it by a canal with San Leandro Bay. A dam across the mouth of the bay will be necessary. The current will then be doubled in velocity, and it is estimated that the depth of water in the channel will be maintained at eighteen or twenty feet at low tide. The order in which the several parts of the work are to be done is as follows : first, the training walls ; second, the canal to connect with San Leandro Bay ; third, the dam at the mouth of the San Leandro Bay ; and fourth, the excavation of the tidal basin at the head of San Antonio Creek. The estimated cost of the whole work is $1,736,985.20.
The great work throughout the years 1876 and 1877 was prosecuted with commendable alacrity, under the direction of the Board of Pacific Coast Engineers. Louis J. Le Conte, son of Professor Joseph Le Conte, of the State University, has had the immediate supervision of all opera- tions.
During the last year fifty men on an average have been employed. Seven schooners have been in active service bringing over rock from the quarries on Telegraph Avenue and Angel Island. Fifty tons are a load for each craft, and four hands are required in loading and dumping the stone. Three loads per week is about the quantity transported. Twenty hands are employed in the quarries. The rock gotten out is regarded as the best and most suitable for the wall.
The last contract for building was let by the U. S. Government at $1.19 per ton, the amount of rock required being forty-seven thousand
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Go to INGERSOLL'S, No. 1069 Broadway, cor. Twelfth, for pictures of all kinds.
15
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BAY SHORE RAILWAY.
tons. During the year the south wall was extended fourteen hundred feet, and the north wall four hundred and fifty feet. In January, 1878, the entire length of each wall was nine thousand four hundred feet. Owing to the long continued inclemency of the season, operations have naturally been embarrassed. At present they are wholly suspended, because the immediate work which was to be done has been accomplish- ed. Dredcing has been carried on systematically and thoroughly. A channel between the two walls, six thousand feet in length, two hundred feet in width, and ten feet in depth to low water has been dug. Vessels drawing ten feet of water can now run up to the city front without the slightest difficulty at low ebb tide.
The next proposition connected with this channel, is to cut another, or rather widening the present one two hundred feet,
The walls thus far laid down are known as foundation walls only. Hereafter they are to be built up to the height of extreme high water. The present elevation is five feet above low water mark. The walls extend now from either side of the mouth of the creek to points in San Francis- co Bay where the water is twelve feet deep.
The smaller pieces of rock are laid on the bottom, and on this founda- tion rest the heavier blocks, some of which weigh several tons. Three dredgers have been at work, in 1877, removing debris from the channel.
The first congressional appropriation made for this work was in 1875, and amounted to $100,000. The second, of $100,000, was made the fol- lowing year, and the third, of $75,000, in 1877. The appropriation bill of the session of 1878 makes provision for an additional sum of $80,000, and as this proposition has the endorsement of the committee it will un- doubtedly be acted upon formally.
There is still left unexpended, over and above the $80,000, the sum of $20,000.
It may be mentioned in conclusion, that twenty-seven thousand five hundred ions of rock were displaced, transported, and deposited in the Jires of the walls in 1877. The total quantity of rock used thus far in the corstruction of t'i's gigantic work has been one hundred and thirty- eight thousand five hundred and sixty tons.
BAY SHORE RAILWAY.
Another cord in the net line of railways, which the Central Pacific Company is laying all over the State, has been stretched from Oakland Point to Martinez, a distance of twenty-six miles. The work com- menced early in the spring of 1877, and was finished in November. A few trains were ran when the heavy rains set in. Shortly thereafter land slides occurre 1, and the road-bed in many places was washed away. The rains continuing incessantly, necessarily occasioned an entire sus- pension of travel over the road, and so material is the damage done, that the road will not be again ready for business before May, 1878. There are very heavy cuttings along the line, besides two tunnels, six and eight miles below Martinez, one four hundred feet in length and one six hundred feet long.
This road skirts the bays of San Francisco and San Pablo, and the Straits of Carquinez, and from the cars a constant succession of pic- turesque views are obtained, combining mountain, valley, and water scenery. This will be the most popular road for picnic and other pleas- ure excursions of any in the State.
This completed section is a link in the air line which is to unite, by iron bands, Sacramento with Oakland, with a fleet ferry boat plying
J. Homer Fritch, wholesale and retail dealer in coal, 413 Eleventh St.
Sole agents for Wellington Coal in Alameda Co., O. K. FREEMAN & CO.
WOODWARD & TAGGART, real-estate agents and auctioneers.
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OAKLAND DIRECTORY.
between Martinez and Benicia. A road to connect the latter place with the Vallejo and Sacramento road is now being built.
The entire route opened the time consumed between San Francisco and Sacramento will be shortened one hour and a half.
NEW CITY HALL.
After the destruction by fire of the old City Hall, a prolonged struggle ensued as to whether Washington Street should be opened through the site of the burned building, or whether a new hall should be erected thereon. Finally, the latter course was determined upon, and a contract given out to Power & Ough for the erection thereof at a cost of $20,800. The new structure is of frame and in an advanced state towards comple- tion. Its architecture has been severely criticized, but as the hall approaches completion its symmetrical proportions become more conspic- uous. It is being surmounted by a lofty cupola. The extreme height from ground to top of spire is 125 feet.
STREET MARKET .- Another marked feature in the city's progress is the establishment of a free country street market, an ordinance to that effect having passed the Council. It will be opened on May 25th. No license is to be required or tax imposed upon farmers and gardeners who offer the products of their industry for sale in said market. In Oakland and immediate environs there is a population of over fifty thousand, who are in a great measure dependent upon San Francisco for articles of food produced for the most part in Alameda County, and for which there is expended annually not less than $1,000,000. The cost of double trans- portation, the absorption of two profits divided between the commission merchants and retailer, the deterioration by time, frequent handling, and exposure, and the loss by decay, are sufficient reasons for inviting a direct trade between the producer and consumer, which this market affords. The market will be located below Seventh Street.
GERMANIA HALL .- The Teutonic population of Oakland is an amusement loving class of citizens, and they have a number of halls dedicated to Mo- mus and saloons to Gambrinus. Last Spring the foundation was laid of a three-story frame structure now known as Germania Hall. It is located on the east side of Webster Street, between Sixth and Seventh. The building is 75x120 feet in dimensions. There is a large central hall, suitable for balls, public meetings, etc., surrounded on three sides by a spacious gallery. This room is 71x85 feet in size. In addition, there is a gymnasium, 69x72 feet ; lodge room, 30x54 feet ; also, a supper hall below, dressing rooms, closets, etc. ..
The present officers of the Germania Hall Association are : J. F. W. Sohst, President; Henry Heyer, Vice-President ; John Martens, Secre- tary; H. Kornahrens, Treasurer.
EIGHTH STREET BRIDGE.
The erection of a bridge, spanning the estuary between Lake Merritt and San Antonio Creek, along the line of Eighth Street is one of the most important of the local improvements of 1877.
The Council was authorized by the Legislature to erect a bridge, to cost not over $30,000. The contract was let to the Pacific Bridge Company, who commenced the work in July, and completed it in September. The bridge is one thousand two hundred and thirty-eight feet long by sixty feet wide, with roadway forty feet wide, and two walks, each ten feet wide. The wood used is Oregon pine. The road- way is built of four-inch plank. It is a very symmetrical and tasty structure.
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LAND TITLES.
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LAND TITLES.
The following is an abstract of the origin of the title to the land on which the City of Oakland is situated :
During the first few years after the settlement of the city, it was the pop- ular belief that the Squatter Title was valid, and most of the property was purchased from those who had originally taken possession. After the amount of litigation that is usually required to establish the legality of a Mexican grant, the Peralta title obtained recognition, and has withstood every attack subsequently made upon it. We append the outlines of an abstract of title to any city lot :
1. Grant from the Mexican Government to Luis Maria Peralta, of the Rancho San Antonio, embracing the lands upon which the City of Oakland is located. Dated October 18, 1822.
2. In 1842, Luis Maria Peralta made a division of the Rancho San Antonio among his four sons, Ignacio, Antonio, Domingo, and Vicente, and put them in possession of their respective portions. Vicente Peralta received that portion on which the City of Oakland is situated.
3. In 1851, Luis Maria Peralta executed an instrument purporting to be a will, wherein he ratified and confirmed the division of the Rancho San Antonio among his four sons, which instrument, the Supreme Court of California says, estops the heirs of Luis Maria Peralta from denying said gift to his sons. [See 17 Cal. Reps., Adams v. Lansing.] The invalidity of title derived from the other heirs than the sons of Luis Maria Peralta is also declared by the United States Supreme Court, in a case growing out of the Pretermitted Heir Title, decided in the early part of the year 1872.
4. In 1854, the Board of Land Commissioners confirmed the northern portion of the rancho, embracing the City of Oakland, to Vicente and Domingo Peralta; and the same was afterwards, in 1855, confirmed by the United States District Court, and still later, at the December term in 1856, by the Supreme Court of the United States. (See 17 Howard.)
5. Ignacio, Antonio, and Domingo Peralta, to Vicente Peralta, release and deed all of their interest in and to that portion of the Rancho embracing the City of Oakland. Dated November 28, 1853. Recorded in Liber 8, of Deeds, Recorder's office, Alameda County.
6. Vicente Peralta to John Clar, (1-6); B. De La Barra, (1-12) ; Jos. K. Irving, (}); Jacob A. Cost, (}); John C. Hayes and John Caper- ton, (}). Deed dated March 13th, 1852. Recorded in Contra Costa County, in which Oakland was at that date situated.
7. John Clar to J. K. Irving, deed of his interest, February 7th, 1852. Recorded in Contra Costa County.
8. B. De La Barra, (1-12) deed to J. K. Irving, J. M. Goggin and William Claude Jones ; William Claude Jones to Eugene Casserly ; J. M. Goggin and Eugene Casserly to J. K. Irving, Hayes, Caperton, and heirs of Cost, deceased.
9. J. K. Irving, party of the first; John C. Hayes and John Caper- ton, parties of the second part; Anna R. Poole, Catherine S. Lyons and her husband, Joseph Lyons; Serena S. Young, and her husband, Alex- ander H. Young (heirs of Cost, deceased), "by William Poole, their attorney," execute a partition deed, duly proven, certified to, and recorded in Alameda County.
10. Power of attorney from Anna R. Poole et al., heirs of Cost, to Wm. J. Poole, June 14, 1853.
11. Power of attorney to Montgomery Blair, from same parties (except Serena S. Young, who was deceased, and left minor heirs, for whom Alexander H. Young signed as guardian), February 2, 1854.
Herman Cordes, real-estate and insurance agent 903 Washington St.
Agents for Newport Coos Bay Coal, O. K. FREEMAN & CO., NW cor. Eighth and Franklin sts.
WOODWARD & TAGGART, homes on the installment plan.
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OAKLAND DIRECTORY.
12. Proceedings in Probate Court in the same year, by which inter- est the minor heirs of Serera S. Young became vested in Alex. H. Young.
13. Another partition deed to correct errors in description of lands not blocked off in former deed, reciting and approving the former; the same in all other respects, between the same parties (except in place of Serena S. Young, deceased, was Alexander H. Young, "by M. Blair, their attorney in fact"). Dated May 1, 1854.
14. Deed from Anna R. Poole to John C. Hayes, ratifying and con- firming the former deed of partition, and confirming the acts of Blair and Black as agents, September 1, 1858.
15. Similar deed to Hayes et al., from Jos. Lyons and wife, Novem- ber 10, 1858.
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16. Similar deed to Hayes et al., from Alex. H. Young, March 27, 1860. Subsequent to the chain of conveyances traced, the title is vested in numerous owners, there being no other general claims. All the techni- calities and defects which ingenuity can discover have been brought to notice. The numerous adverse titles had for years hung over property- holders like an incubus, and in the early part of the year 1869 the people began an organized movement to defeat them. The position of affairs was somewhat critical. The city was rapidly growing, and to allow the idea to go abroad that titles were insecure would check the progress of the city and cause incalculable mischief. Sound business policy over- came the desire to make a bitter fight, however, and the holders of the claims were induced to dispose of them at rates that were trivial. The specific claims were the Pretermitted Heirs' Title, the Sisters' Title, the Irving Title, and the Cost Title, and these comprised all general titles asserted by anybody to land within the City of Oakland. These titles were, by their several owners, conveyed to Henry Hillebrand, the City Clerk, who acted as a Trustee, and by him conveyance was made to the several property holders. Nearly all the Jand in the city is now held by a perfect title, the Hillebrand deed removing all the clouds. These titles, except the Cost Title, still cloud property outside of the old charter line. The principal ones, the Sisters and the Pretermitted Heirs'. are virtually defeated, and the property-holders, to save trouble and annoy- ance, have quite generally purchased the other claims.
The Kate Hayes Title covers that portion of Oakland township outside of the Encinal Line, as laid down on our map. The Supreme Court of the State has sustained a decision rendered by E. W. Mckinstry, Judge of the Twelfth District Court, granting a new trial on the motion made by the defendants (the property holders). That decision was fatal to the claim, which, in itself, was but for a triding interess.
WATER AND GAS.
CONTRA COSTA WATER COMPANY .- Oakland contained less than five thousand inhabitants, when, in 1866, the above entitled company was incorporated. The master spirit of the enterprise, A. Chabot, had pre- viously been one of three persons to introduce water into San Francisco. The first work done was the construction of two small reservoirs in the foot-hills beyond Temescal. Eight or ten miles of pipe were laid, and Oakland was first supplied from this source, which has the capacity to sup- ply about fifteen thousand people. The elevation above the city base is four hundred feet. It is intended now that these reservoirs shall supply the high lands back of Brooklyn, Piedmont Park, and the cemeteries. But the great fountain of aqueous supply to the city of Oakland is a lake on San Leandro Creek. eight miles from the city, and one mile east from San Leandro. This lake is two hundred feet above the city base,
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NAPA SODA is recommended by physicians as healthful drinking.
WATER AND GAS.
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covers an area of one hundred and twenty acres, and is fed by numerous perennial springs, and from a water shed of two thousand five hundred square acres. The company own a tract surrounding the lake of four thousand . acres. No animals are allowed to graze on these lands, so that the waters are kept free from all impure and deleterious substances.
The present capacity of Lake Chabot will supply about one hundred and fifty thousand persons, but, when required, an abundance of water can be obtained for the wants of a city of five hundred thousand inhabi- tants. The company already has one hundred miles of pipe laid, from twenty-four inches down to three inches in diameter. The water rates are regulated by a commission appointed according to law.
The company is constantly laying pipe and extending the works in all directions. The average number of men employed in the city, in 1877, was fifty, and about the same number at the San Leandro and Temescal lakes, making an average of one hundred men per day for the year.
OAKLAND GAS LIGHT COMPANY .- This company was incorporated in 1866. Street lamps were first lighted in Oakland, New Year's night, 1867. The present officers are: H. H. Haight, President; J. West Mar- tin, Vice-President ; Joseph G. Eastland, Secretary ; Van Leer Eastland, Superintendent.
The works of the company were first located on the block bounded by First, Washington, and Second streets, on which they have a single left holder of one hundred and twenty-five thousand cubic feet capacity ; also retort house, engine room and storage, etc.
During the past year the company has shown its faith in the future growth of Oakland by making addition to its works (on property acquired for that purpose) situated on block bounded by First, Second, Grove, and Jefferson streets, consisting of a double left holder of five hun- dred thousand cubic feet capacity; also purifying house, one hundred and fifty-four feet long by thirty-six feet wide, and a meter house of proportionate size; also a tower, scribber, and independent water works. All of these are on the most modern and approved plan known, and comprise all the latest improvements in the science of gas making.
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