USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 43
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John Sanford, Claremont, Croix de Guerre; Sergt. John E. Sankey, Oakland, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre; Herbert Scheierenbeck, Ala- meda, Croix de Guerre; Lieut. A. W. Schwerin, Berkeley, American citation ; Lieut. Harry Sessions, Alameda, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre ; H. L. Smith, University of California, Croix de Guerre; Robert L. Smith, Berkeley, Croix de Guerre; Maj. Roy M. Smyth, Alameda, post- humous D. S. C .; Robert Smythe, Berkeley, Croix de Guerre; Pvt. Julius Souza, Oakland, seven American and French citations; Norman Stern, University of California, American citation; Eris M. Sullivan, Berkeley, Canadian Medal; Sergt. William B. Sutherland, Oakland, D. S. C .; Lieut. W. W. Sweet, Oakland, American citation; Henry Swift, Berkeley, Croix de Guerre.
Lieut. Thorne Taylor, University of California, American citation; W. P. Thomas, University of California, Croix de Guerre; Clare M. Torrey, Berkeley, Chevaliers de L'Ordre de la Couronne; Pvt. Joseph Vercruyrvessi, Oakland, D. S. C., Italian War Cross and Croix de Guerre; Sergt. J. L. Viguir, Berkeley, Croix de Guerre; Corp. C. T. Vinther, Berkeley, posthumous Croix de Guerre; Lieut. Keith Vos- burg, University of California, Croix de Guerre, James A. Wallace, sergeant major, Oakland, American citation; Lieut. Earl H. Weed,
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Oakland, D. S. C .; Nelson G. Welburn, Alameda, D. S. C. and Croix de Guerre; Henry M. Weston, Berkeley, American citation; Sergt. George H. White, Oakland, Italian War Cross; Capt. Harry Whitthorne, Oakland, D. S. C .; Frank Wilcox, University of Califor- nia, American citation; and Harry Wiley, University of California, Croix de Guerre.
THE COUNTY'S HONOR ROLL
The honor roll of Alameda County men and women who gave their lives during the war included the names of 325 heroes, four of whom were women. Adj. Gen. J. J. Boree prepared a complete list of those who were killed or died in service and forwarded it in November, 1919, to Judge T. W. Harris, chairman of the Alameda County Council of Defense in time for the observance of armistice day. Upon that occa- sion Albert E. Schwabacher, formerly fuel administrator for Cali- fornia, presented scrolls, finely engraved and signed by Governor Wil- liam D. Stephens and Charles C. Moore, director of the state council of defense, to the next of kin of those who did not return. At the bottom of the scroll was the great seal of the state and the concluding para- graph of Lincoln's Gettysburgh speech, and the inscription above read: "In profound appreciation of the devotion to his country and to its ideals of liberty and independence which caused (here followed the hero's name) to give his life for their preservation in the great war just victoriously concluded, the State of California offers to his family and friends this token of its sympathy and enduring gratitude." One of the four women referred to, Miss Marian Crandell, was killed in France.
THOSE KILLED IN ACTION
The list of those killed in action during the war included Capt. James Austin, Oakland, Sergt. Clarence Bailar, Berkeley; Walter Bax- ter, Livermore; Lieut. Egbert Beach, Piedmont ; Charles Bennett, Oak- lank; Leland E. Bergeson, Berkeley; Guiseppi Bolla, Oakland; John Boyce, Oakland; Joseph R. Caldiera, Hayward; William Campbell, Oakland; Ben E. Carson, Oakland; Sergt. Alfred Carter, Oakland; Colombea Cecchi, Hayward; Richard Cleveland, Alameda; Charley Cohn, Oakland; Jesse H. Cottrell, Sunol Glen; Miss Marian G. Cran- dell, Alameda; William Crane, Niles; Alfred D. Crittendon, Oakland;
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
William H. Crowell, Berkeley; Martin E. Dahl, Berkeley; Harold Davie, Oakland; Howard Dickerson, Alameda; Harold V. Dodd, Ala- meda; Lawrence Donahue, Oakland; Lieut. Edwin M. Flam, Berkeley; Lewis Frye, Oakland; Lieut. Hugh Fulton, Oakland; John Gazenego, Berkeley; Sergt. Isadore Giambruno, Oakland; Hyman J. Goldstein, Oakland; Paul E. Griffin, Oakland; Corp. Ernest Guido, Oakland; Clarence S. Hammell, Oakland; Lieut. William J. Hanley, Oakland; Louis A. Hansen, Alameda; Lieut. Evan Haynes, Berkeley; George Herrier, Oakland; Joseph Hickey, Alameda; Carrole Hiesband, Ala- meda; Leonard Hollywood, Alameda; Sergt. William J. Hooper, Ala- meda; Andrew Houck, Alameda; Charles E. Irwin, Oakland; Howard Jarrett, Oakland; Sergt. Carl Jones, Oakland; Stanley L. Jones, Oak- land.
Jerome Kaphan, Oakland; Patrick J. Keenan, Oakland; Robert E. Kelley, Oakland; Paul M. Kidwell, Berkeley; Thomas J. King, Oak- land; Edward H. Kuhnle, Oakland; Walter Lamp, Oakland; Peter W. Larson, Alameda ; Thomas V. Larson, Berkeley; Reuben Lawlor, Oak- land; Alfred H. Lecuyer, Hayward; Corp. Clifford Lewis, Oakland; Clemmens Lindstrum, Berkeley; William R. Loftis, Alameda; John H. McClurg, Oakland; Lieut. Willis McElroy, Berkeley; William Mc- Iver, Oakland; Rudolph Mansedri, Oakland; Lieut. Leon Martin, Ber- keley; Robert D. Mason, Oakland; Barton W. Masterson, Oakland; William C. Morris, Oakland; Frank A. Morris, Oakland; Emanuel Munson, Berkeley; Alfred Nunes, Centerville; Lieut. Morley Oats, Oakland; Conrad Osterlich, Oakland; Benjamin Owens, Berkeley; Lieut. Herman Partsch, Hayward; Zeno W. Pearce, Oakland; Capt. Myron H. Peck, Berkeley; Corp. W. S. Perry, Berkeley; Corp. Arthur Rettig, Oakland; Lewis Robertson, Berkeley; Sergt. George W. Ross, Oakland; Samuel Russell, Oakland; Joseph Rusting, Oakland; Frank Sanginitto, Oakland; Wilson J. Smith, Oakland; Maj. Roy M. Smythe, Oakland; Lieut. Henry Sommer, Alameda; Floyd Studebaker, Ber- keley; Glen V. Swann, Berkeley; Samuel Tasulio, Oakland; Marion M. Tavares, Oakland; Walter J. Theus, Alameda; Claudius Vinther, Ber- keley; Lieut. Hascall Waterhouse, Oakland; William S. White, Oak- land; Lieut. Edgar Whitlock, Berkeley; and Sergt. William E. Whit- ney, Oakland.
DIED OF WOUNDS
Forty-five of the county's casualties were due to wounds received in battle, the long list including the names of Sergt. George C. Ahern,
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Oakland; Alexander J. Bowman, Hayward; Thomas H. Cardwell, Berkeley; John J. Cary, Oakland; Otto John Carlsen, Oakland; An- thony Centeni, Oakland; Lorin Jasper Church, Oakland; John V. Cos- grave, Oakland; Walter Campbell Curran, Berkeley; Lieut. Campbell Davidson, Berkeley; Ralph E. Dingman, Oakland; Ensign Daniel Don- avan, Oakland; Lieut. Joseph D. Dunn, Berkeley; Carl T. Edwards, Oakland; Abelio Enos, Oakland; Cornelius A. Gilbert Berkeley; Ever- ett A. Grenshaw, Oakland; Bert J. Habishaw, Oakland; Corp. Victor H. Handley, Berkeley; Ralph W. Hill, Oakland; William Irwin, Oak- land; John H. Jordan, Oakland; Capt. David R. Kilduff, Berkeley; Lieut. Everett R. Leisure, Berkeley; Francesco Lucchessi, Oakland; Lieut. Laurence S. Lynch, Alameda; Milton A. McAuley, Berkeley; Fletcher A. MacDonald, Alameda; Tony Margarido, Decoto; James H. Mead, Alameda; Sergt. Otis Kane Norton, Oakland; Corp. Roscoe C. Olds, Oakland; James Palache, Berkeley; John C. Partridge, Oak- land; Fred H. Peterson, Oakland; C. W. Phillips, Oakland; Arthur H. Sears, Oakland; Frank Stone, Oakland; Cornelius Sullivan, Ala- meda; Sergt. Frederick P. Taggart, Berkeley; Sergt. Joseph Tully, Oakland; Martin E. Walsh, Jr., Oakland; George C. Warren, Oak- land; James L. Wilson, Oakland; and George C. Wrenn, Oakland.
DIED OF DISEASE
Disease claimed a few more Alameda County service men than did wounds. This list contained the names of Birt Adams, Oakland; Capt. W. L. Argo, Berkeley; Charles W. Bennett, Berkeley; Miss Ethel Burk, Oakland; Archie H. Campbell, Oakland; John W. Carroll, Oak- land; Miss Drusilla Casterline, Oakland; Lieut. Richard Catton, Ber- keley; Paul J. Cullen, Oakland; Dr. Rushmer Christianson, Berkeley ; Frank J. Field, Oakland; Russell M. Gardnier, Oakland; Corp. Edmund E. George, San Lorenzo; Corp. James J. Gimbel, Berkeley; Capt. Robert Gordon, Berkeley; Albert C. Hadley, Berkeley; Frank R. Han- sen, Oakland; Lionel H. Harris, Oakland; Lieut. Joseph D. Holman, Berkeley; Corp. Daniel K. Hadley. Berkeley; Sergt. Albert J. Jenkin, Oakland; Frank Jordan, Oakland; Francis L. Judd, Oakland; Clark Kells, Oakland; Francis M. Kelly, Oakland; Albert Kuerzel, Oakland; Sergt. Gordon F. Langan, Hayward; Frank H. Lathrop, Berkeley; John McCartney, Berkeley; Lieut. Hunter McClure, Piedmont; Lloyd Proctor McDonald, Oakland; Sergt. Elwynn H. Mannhart, Berkeley; Mario Maschio, Oakland; Julien J. Mathieu, Oakland; Austin Winslow Morris, Alameda; Sergt. Stephen Murphy, Oakland; Corp.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
C. S. Obenauer, Oakland; Frank Pier, Hayward; Arthur G. Rood, Oakland; Wilfred L. Riley, Alameda; Francis R. Scott, Oakland; Corp. Harry Shone, Oakland; Charles L. Sigourney, Oakland; Frank Turino, Piedmont ; John Van Mourik, Oakland; George B. Vargus, Hayward; Corp. Ambrose A. Wass, Berkeley; Sergt. William C. Wal- then, Berkeley; Harold F. Wayne, Berkeley; Horace White, Oakland; and Thomas L. Williams, Berkeley.
ACCIDENTAL AND CAMP DEATHS
Eight officers and enlisted men from the county met death in aero- plane accidents while serving in the air service. These were Lieut. Ralph S. Armstrong, Hayward; Elwin F. Chapman, Berkeley; Paul Herriott, Fruitvale; George D. Jewett, Berkeley; Walter L. Morris, Oakland; Lieut. Herbert J. Simon, Berkeley; Sergt. Emil Vonberg, Oakland; and Lieut. Gladstone J. Wilson, Berkeley.
Camp deaths and deaths from various accidental causes included those of Anton B. Andrade, Hayward; Irvina R. Ashbrook, Oakland; Gail W. Barry, Berkeley; Ray Brunell, Oakland; Lieut. Edwin Busser, Berkeley; Harry Butters, Oakland; Edward A. Chick, Oakland; Lieut. Leon L. Clarke, Oakland; John William Clynes, Oakland; Guy A. Comstock, Oakland; William De Cunha, Oakland; Llewellyn A. Ding- ley, Oakland; William A. Dodge, Berkeley; Frank Doran, Berkeley; Rev. George Eldredge, Berkeley; Sergt. Reginald Ells, Oakland; Sergt. Albert J. Ferguson, Alameda ; Lorin H. Fisher, Alameda ; John Franco, Niles ; William H. Fulcer, Oakland; Benj. F. Gage, Berkeley; Hubert P. Game, Oakland; Frank Golden, Oakland; George Gravalt, Oakland; Corp. Lee R. Griffin, Hayward; Thomas R. Griffin, Oakland; Capt. Alvin L. Dunn, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruiz County; Lorenz M. Han- sen, Oakland; William H. Harvey, Berkeley; George Heininger, Oak- land; Jack Higgens, Berkeley; Loran P. Holms, Oakland; Bruce Howard, Berkeley; Birger W. Johnson, Oakland; John C. Keller, Oak- land; Roy H. Kerns, Berkeley; Ralph S. Kerr, Berkeley; Howard F. Lacey, Oakland; Millard M. La Grange, Berkeley; Earl McClelland, Oakland; Robert D. McArthur, Oakland; Donald McDonald, Oak- land; William H. Mann, Oakland; Kenneth Marr, Berkeley; W. E. Millerburg, Oakland; Reginald H. Nanscawen, Oakland; Michael O'- Connell, Berkeley; David G. O'Neil, Oakland; Clifford T. O'Rear, Berkeley; Karl W. Osterberg, Berkeley; T. B. Packford, Oakland; Royal A. Parkinson, Oakland; Charles Perry, Pleasanton; Hans Precht, Oakland; Kenneth J. Reid, Oakland; Samuel J. Renner, Ber-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
keley; Gordon Robinson, Oakland; Rolla E. Romas, Berkeley; John P. Ross, Centerville; Eldred A. Rush, Berkeley; Sergt. Raymond L. Shearman, Berkeley; Corp. James E. Shiels, Berkeley; Frank N. Silva, Centerville; Ruben L. Silva, Oakland; Charles Simpson, Oakland; Clifford Keith Somers, Berkeley; Lieut. Walter H. Speath, Oakland; Clare S. Stephens, Oakland; Gordon Stowers, Oakland; Donald Stroupe, Alameda; Ralph Tapia, Oakland; Pierce W. Teiling, Oak- land; Rufus E. H. Tim, Oakland; Lawrence Van Horn, Livermore; Robert E. Vose, Oakland; Lieut. Alfred E. Welian, Oakland; John A. Wissing, Oakland; and Ralph C. Young, Oakland.
DEATHS FROM UNKNOWN CAUSES
Thirty-one casualties from the county were officially reported through governmental channels where the cause of death was unknown, and this list included Earl E. Anderson, Oakland; Jessie Edgar Baker, Berkeley; Israel M. Bernard, Oakland; William B. Burbeck, Oakland; Miss Ethel Burke, Oakland; Guy A. Comstock, Oakland; Thomas M. Coyns, Oakland; Miss Marian G. Crandell, Alameda; Inez Anna Crot- tenden, Oakland; Paul J. Cullen, Oakland; Francis X. Dolenty, Oak- land; Frank P. Deming, Oakland; Sergt. Reginald Ellis, Oakland ; Ray- mond G. Eustice, Oakland; Frank J. Field, Oakland; Lorin Herbert Fisher, Alameda; Eugene Franceschitti, Oakland; William Halford, Oakland; Harold P. Higgins, Berkeley; John K. Kempf, Oakland; Ed- ward W. Lewis, Oakland; Thomas R. Macedo, Hayward; Frank H. McCormick, Oakland; Harry A. Miller, Oakland; Tony Monize, Oak- land; James Palache, Alameda; Charles Schlueter, Oakland; Mervin G. Schmidt, Oakland; Dewey Schuster, Oakland; Ralph Shaw, Oak- land; and Marion M. Travers, Oakland.
OUR DEAD
To those who may not take The great ship, homeward bound- To those in Honor's wake Who hold the silent mound- Who by the cross-marked sward.
Stained hills and valleys red- Stay to keep eternal guard- Gentlemen- Our dead!
-Grantland Rice.
CHAPTER XV
METROPOLITAN GROWTH OF 1925
LONG STRIDES MADE TOWARD METROPOLITAN DESTINY-MANY NEW INDUSTRIES COME-SUMMARY OF YEAR'S ACTIVITIES-PRINCIPAL NEWS EVENTS OF THE YEAR-HARBOR ENGINEERS MAKE REPORT- MORE PUBLIC BUILDINGS STARTED AND COMPLETED-FIRST PRES- BYTERIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS 73RD ANNIVERSARY-ROCK- RIDGE CLUBHOUSE DEDICATED-OAKLAND PIONEERS HAS MANY OLD RESIDENTS-MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE ELECTS OFFICERS- PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR SQUARE BUILDING-JULY'S BUILDING PERMITS BREAK RECORD-ALAMEDA BELT LINE CHANGE AUTHORIZED-TAX RATE FIXED-ATHENS ATHLETIC CLUB DEDI- CATED-NEW SCHOOL FOR BERKELEY-HARBOR BONDS CARRY- UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL TEAM FINALLY BEATEN
LONG STRIDES TOWARD METROPOLITAN DESTINY
Oakland made long strides towards the fulfillment of its metro- politan destiny during the year 1925. It was perhaps the most im- portant year in its history to date, although there are many living who participated in the important events of the year who are looking for- ward to a time in the near future when the great record of that year will be shattered and bettered each twelve-month period. The year produced a proud record for municipal progress, for commercial and industrial expansion, and for building operations of all kinds. Skyscrapers and business structures, lodge buildings and churches, apartment houses and flats, factories and commercial buildings, mansions and bungalows, brought Oakland's building permits to a new high total. And what was true of Oakland took place in Berkeley, Alameda and the other fast-growing cities and towns of the county.
Building permits for the year in Oakland reached a total of $39, 180,863. The years 1922, 1923 and 1924 had seen new high levels reached in building operations, but the permits for 1925 exceeded those
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ZAHNS
CARTMERT
BALLARD'S
LE BERT FAITE
ZONA
CLOTHES
LOOKING NORTH ON BROADWAY FROM THE SYNDICATE BUILDING, OAKLAND
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
of the previous year by nearly nine million dollars. Compared with the mark of $15,791,616 of 1921, and with the 1918 figures of $5,382,159, one begins to be impressed with the real metropolitan growth of the city since 1921, the first time that anything near the fifteen million- dollar mark was reached. Statistics are often tiresome, but a summary of the building permits between 1907 and 1925 are of sufficient import to reproduce them :
Year
Total
Year
Total
Year
Total
1907
$8,243,930
1914
$4,717,520
1921
$15,791,616
1908
6,053,086
1915
5,045,285
1922
24,468,233
1909
5,401,017
1916
5,368,290
1923
27,628,175
1910
7,018,679
1917
4,442,520
1924
31,145,921
1911
7,108,198
1918
5,382,159
1925
39,180,863
1912
9,009,735
1919
7,134,572
1913
9,106,196
1920
9,489,886
The permits for 1925 showed a gain of 25.5 per cent over 1924, which placed Oakland as the second ranking city on the Pacific Coast in point of percentage of increase over 1924. San Francisco and Seattle showed building permits which were 13 per cent less for 1925 than for 1924. Oakland's building record for the year included 4,767 new homes and 247 apartment houses and flats. The total investment made in new building throughout the county amounted to $62,220,848.60. And there were some sections of the county from which no records were available. Those from which reports were secured, however, gave the following totals; Berkeley, $10,058,729; Alameda, $4,127,301; Piedmont, $1,919,384; Albany, $1,456,262; Newark, $1,500,000; San Leandro, $1,245,477; Alvarado, $800,000; Hayward, $611,185; Emeryville, $569,563; Centerville, $250,000; Pleasanton, $30,540; county schools, $261,281 ; county buildings, $120,261.
Bank clearings increased in Oakland 25 per cent over the 1924 figures; clearings reached $1,063,291,078, as against $845,144,451 for 1924. The local retail trade showed an increase of eight per cent which was the largest increase shown by any important city in the Twelfth Federal Reserve Banking District. Los Angeles, the nearest rival, had an increase of but 6.6 per cent. Water services increased nine per cent for the year, bringing the total to $113,500. Gas meters increased to 78,678 from 74,039. Electric connections grew from 63, 691 to 68,630. Telephone connections increased 8.56 per cent, which was the largest gain of any large city on the coast. The gain for Los Angeles in this respect was 5 per cent; for San Francisco, 5.21 per
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
cent ; for Seattle, 5.38 per cent; and for Portland, 5.18 per cent. These figures are given to bear out the estimate that Oakland's population during the year increased fully 25,000.
MANY NEW INDUSTRIES COME
The industrial survey made by the Oakland Chamber of Commerce in December, 1924, showed 799 industries in the East Bay region be- tween Albany and Hayward. The survey at the close of December, 1925, showed 892, a net gain of 93 firms. The value of manufactured products during the twelve months grew from $268,111,616 to $296, 047,092. The annual payroll of these industries mounted from $47, 288,388 to $49,394,435. Among the firms which selected the East Bay cities in which to establish plants were the Acme Sand and Gravel Company, the Advance Publishing Company, the Alameda Shade Shop, the Ambassador Laundry Company, the American Brass and Copper Supply Company, the American Broom Company, Edgar W. Ander- son, Argonaut Lubricant Company, Arrowhead Iron Works, Baker Ice Machine Company, Bam, Incorporated; Barnes Sales Corporation, Bay Chemical Company, Bell Laboratories, Berg & Hoyt, Berkeley Sheet Metal Works, Berkeley Shoe Company, Best Brush Company, Bradley-Wise Paint Company, Bufe's German Style Mustard, Builders' Supply & Service Company, California Art Home Ware, California Health Food Service, California Petroleum Company, Cali- fornia Steel Products Company, California Wire Company, Caldow Paint Company, J. A. Calhin, Cannon & Company, Champion Chemical Company, Cheney & Earl, H. R. Cinnamond, Clover Olsen Refrigerator Company, Cox-Wellman, P. David Company, Des Lauriers Manufac- turing Company, Duncan & Thiery, Glen-Ro Products Company, Glid- den Company of California, Gloria Manufacturing Company, Golden State Milk Products Company, R. H. Green, A. L. Greene, Gregg Com- pany, C. A. Hall, Hollander Fixture Company, Home Wall Bed Com- pany, Huddart Company, Independent Ice Company, Industrial Serv- ice Company, E. & R. James, The Jay Company, Johnson & James, Julian Petroleum Corporation, Key Lock Battery Company, King Fold- ing Boat Company, Kirsch Manufacturing Company, Laher Auto Springs Company, The Leather Shoppe, Levell Manufacturing Com- pany, Link-Belt Meese & Gottfried Company, Loop Lumber & Mill Company, Los Angeles Spring Bed Company, Lowell Wood Manu- facturing Company, Philip C. Lowry Company, McKee, Salesbrook
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Company, McMurty & Kitsmiller, Mann Manufacturing Company, Monarch Soap & Chemical Company, Morton Salt Company, Multi- phone Company, Naitonal Metal Company, National Water Heater Company, Niculum Metal Corporation, Oakland Concrete Products Company, Oakland Die & Machine Company, Oxo-Nas Chemical Com- pany, Pacific Cabinet Company, Pacific Electric Clock Company, Paci- fic Enameling Company, Pacific Galvanizing Company, Pacific Paint Company, Parker-Webb & Company, R. J. Patcha, Payne Manufac- turing Company, Potter Radiator Corporation, Printing Plates, Incor- porated, Red Rock Creamery Company, Rock Products Company, Rotary Oil Burner Company, Row-Mobile Manufacturing Company, Rust-Campbell Company, Paul E. Ryan, Sani-Slice Packing Company, Simmons Company, F. W. Smith & Son, Sorel Cement Company, Southern Warehouse Company, Superior Metal Products Company, Sutter Co-operative Growers, Pacific Sanitary Manufacturing Com- pany, Sterling Lumber Company, Thomas Radiator Manufacturing Company, Tidewater Oil Sales Corporation, Towels Water Heater Company, Turuth Manufacturing Company, United Manufacturing Company, Villadsen Brothers, Webster Manufacturing Company, West & Bundy, Western Broom Handle Company, Western Casting Corporation, W. S. Wetenhall, White Brothers, White Lilly Cream Cottage Cheese, White Pine Products Company, Wilbur Manufactur- ing Company, Williamson Candy Company, Willys-Overland Pacific Company, and the Wyckoff Manufacturing Company.
The Oakland harbor continued to grow during the year. The num- ber of vessels arriving during the year reached 7,667. Compared to the number for the year 1914-15, which was 1,495, an idea is secured of the rapid development of the harbor and what its improvement made in recent years means to the entire East Bay region. It has taken a vast amount of money to provide harbor facilities and equipment to accomodate large ocean-going ships, but the county is now well on the way to reap the profits of the course which has been followed.
SUMMARY OF YEAR'S ACTIVITIES
Many things happened in the East Bay cities during 1925-too many to fully record in one chapter of the city's history. But some of the most important can be mentioned; and among the outstanding fea- tures in the growth of the cities of the county we can call to mind the following: Work was started during the year on the estuary tube be-
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tween Oakland and Alameda, a public betterment which is to mean much from this time forward in the growth of the two cities. The last expenditures under the school bond issue of $4,975,000 provided by the special election of October 21, 1919, were made during the year, and new projects started under the $9,600,000 issue of September 30, 1924. The Southern Pacific was permitted to re-route its tracks over Webster Street, opening up Franklin Street as a primary thorough- fare. The Oakland Chamber of Commerce organized a Foreign Trade Committee, and adopted a comprehensive program looking towards increased trade on the Pacific Ocean. The great Mokelumne water pro- ject, designed to take care of the water needs of the East Bay for the next sixty years, was commenced and a large amount of work done upon it. The first units of the great Encinal Terminals in Alameda were opened. The Veterans' Hospital near Livermore was completed, giving the county one of the finest institutions of its kind in America. New units were added to the Highland Hospital. The Latham Square building was commenced. Berkeley secured its first skyscraper-the 12-story Chamber of Commerce Building. The Hotel Coit was built, and work started on the new Leamington Hotel. The new home of the Athens Athletic Club, costing $2,000,000, was dedicated. The new Alameda Sanatorium was opened in Alameda. The harbor bonds of $9,600,000 were voted by the citizens of Oakland, and a comprehensive program adopted for the development of the inner and outer harbors. The East Bay Water Company invested four million dollars in improv- ing its system. Oakland, as an automobile center, gained additional prominence through the coming of the Willys-Overland Pacific Com- pany. Many beautiful and costly new churches, theatres and schools were built or started during the year. The Oakland library circulation grew from 911,814 to 1,031,182. Oakland had a sewer program under way calling for expenditures of $1,200,000. New street improvements were being carried out calling for further expenditures of $2,800,000. The Elks broke ground for their magnificient clubhouse at Twentieth and Broadway. These are some of the outstanding features of the year, and more will be mentioned in the following new summary of the twelve month period.
PRINCIPAL NEWS EVENTS OF YEAR
With the completion of the foregoing summary of the principal achievements of the year, a digest of some of the news events of the
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
year will be mentioned. At the beginning of the year the East Bay Mu- nicipal District moved its office and entire organization to eleven rooms on the sixth floor of the new Ray Building, 1924 Broadway. For the previous year the offices had been maintained in the Deckelman Build- ing, at Seventeenth and Broadway.
The board of regents of the University of California announced early in January that it had purchased the Lizzie K. Hume property on Allston Way and Ellsworth Street, 165 by 132 feet in size, for approx- imately $27,000.
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