USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 56
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
COMMUNITY CHEST RAISES QUOTA
The Oakland Community Chest drive of 1928 "went over the top" for the first time in the six years of its history. The 1928 goal was $583,969; but at the luncheon at 1414 Franklin Street on Saturday, March 17, on the final day of the extended drive, word was given out that the total amount pledged was $584,962. This is the largest amount ever given in any of the six drives, and the number of subscribers also grew by considerable proportions. Robert A. Leet, campaign chairman, and W. W. Garthwaite, president of the chest since its foundation, congratulated the 500 men and women workers who gathered at the final meeting of the campaign. The drive included Piedmont and Emeryville. The Berkeley drive also secured more than its quota for the year, which was the second consecutive time that the university city raised more than the allotment called for.
BERKELEY CHURCH OBSERVES FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
The golden anniversary of the founding of the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley was observed on the evening of March 30th. Two of the original charter members of the church participated in this fif- tieth birthday celebration. These were Mrs. Charles Clark and Mrs. Laura D. Goss. The church anniversary was also made the occasion for a reunion of present and former members of the congregation. Reminiscences of old Berkeley were given in the form of pictures shown on the screen from the collection of Judge William H. Waste. Rev. Lapsley McAfee, pastor of the church, presided. This church had its beginning on March 4, 1878, when Berkeley was just a struggling vil- lage. Organization was perfected March 31, 1878, with Walter E. Snell and George McDonald as elders, and Joseph Le Conte, John Kelsey and Snell as trustees. Preaching services were held at first in the Berkeley Gymnasium, a boy's school then located at Dana Street and Allston Way. During the administration of Reverend Hays in 1879 the first church was built at Allston Way and Ellsworth Street. In 1905 the old property was sold to the Trinity M. E. Church, and the present edifice at Danna Street and Channing Way was started. In August, 1907, the church was completed, after holding services in Stiles hall for a year. The church now has a membership of over one thousand.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
STRINGHAM APPOINTED ON UTILITY BOARD
The vacancy on the Board of Directors of the East Bay Municipal Utility District which had existed through the resignation of Dr. David P. Barrows was filled March 30 by the appointment of Frank D. Stringham, former mayor of Berkeley. This term is for the unex- pired one of Dr. Barrows, and runs until November, 1930. Dr. Bar- rows was first elected in 1924, and again in 1926, the last time without opposition. He resigned in January of this year to go to South America as a good will emissary under the direction of the Carnegie Foundation. Ex-mayor Stringham was selected because of his known ability on city planning and in legal matters, and through his extended interest in civic movements.
NEW LADIES' RELIEF HOME FOR AGED DEDICATED
To take the place of the frame building that stood as a haven for aged women for the previous forty-five years, a group of civic leaders on April 5th dedicated the new Old Ladies' Home at Forty-second Street, near Broadway. The dedicatory ceremonies for the new $98,000 home were simple in nature, but revealed impressively the unselfish work of the Relief Society in helping the unfortunate. Judge Everett Brown was in charge of the program of the day, and opened the ex- ercises with a short address. He depicted the laying of the corner- stone of the old home, across the way, in 1882. The invocation was pronounced by Rev. Arthur L. Mitchell of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Joseph R. Knowland, publisher of the Tribune, gave the dedi- catory address. The cornerstone laying ceremonies of 1928 which followed were identical with those of July, 1882. The box which had lain in the cornerstone of the old building, together with a new box with records of this last event, were placed in the new cornerstone. Miss Matilda E. Brown, president of the society; Mrs. Wickham Havens, chairman of the building committee; and F. A. Miller, the contractor, participated in the laying of the cornerstone. Two members who had attended the 1882 ceremonies were also present-Mrs. Louise de Fremery and Mrs. R. E. Cole. The former was chairman of the building committee of 1882. The funds for this new building were se- cured by voluntary contributions of Eastbay residents, without the necessity for a public drive.
Alameda County, which ranked fifth out of the forty-eight northern
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
counties of California in 1926, also made a splendid record in the same line in 1927, according to figures published during the first part of April. The county's agricultural wealth has brought such renown, that many overlook its mining resources. This county is the only one producing salt on an industrial basis, the 1927 figures showing this product to have been worth $656,505. Brick and clay deposits and manufactured products totaled $818,962 for 1926, and stone was quar- ried to the value of $1,642,618. Miscellaneous mining accounted for another $43,389.
At the close of business for March, figures were published relative to the remarkable growth of the Oakland airport. Landings for the month totaled 4,648, with a total of 3,170 passengers carried. The rev- enue derived from this business amounted to $2,246.78. The figures for the closing months of 1927, and the first three months of 1928 follow:
Month
Landings Passengers
Revenue
November
2,072
756
$ 356.80
December
2,066
790
465.00
January
2,475
1,388
1,133.39
February
2,567
2,031
1,503.00
March
4,648
3,170
2,246.78
At the same time word was given out that plans for a restaurant had been completed, and that about 75 per cent of the work on the founda- tion for Hangar No. 3 was completed. The field then presented a far different appearance than it did less than eight months previous, at the time of the Dole flight, due to the many improvements made.
PORT IMPROVEMENTS
Selection of Oakland as the Bay district shipping point by the world's largest dried fruit packing concern was announced April 3rd by the Port Commission. This packing concern is the Rosenberg Brothers. Chairman Roscoe D. Jones, of the Port Commission, also announced at that time that the city will erect a $400,000 warehouse on a seven-acre tract of land adjacent to and east of the Fourteenth Street wharf, on the western water-front. The commission entered into a lease with the packing company for the proposed warehouse, the com- pany agreeing to ship at least a minimum of 60,000 tons of fruit an- nually. However, as the company shipped 86,000 tons in 1927, it is an-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
ticipated that their annual shipments will soon run well over the one hundred thousand ton mark.
Chairman Jones, about this time, also announced another im- portant event in the port history of Oakland. This was the purchase of fifteen and one-half acres of property fronting on Brooklyn basin easterly of Ninth Avenue at a price of $265,000 from members of the E. C. Sessions family. Expenditures for dock facilities will bring the total investment to a million dollars, Mr. Jones stated. Approximately 703,000 square feet of filled and submerged land are now owned by the city and are available for the initial development of Brooklyn basin. With the acquisition of this last tract of land all obstacles to the de- velopment of the inner harbor were removed.
E. C. Lipman, general manager of the new Capwell store, an- nounced on April 5th that a contract for $500,000 worth of steel for the new Capwell store on Telegraph Avenue had been let to the local mills of the Judson-Pacific Company. This contract was given in com- petition with many bidders, with the plan of buying materials for the new structure from East Bay concerns.
One of the largest condemnation actions in the history of the state was brought to a close early in April, with the filing of a referee's re- port fixing the value of property to be acquired for the widening of Hopkins Street through East Oakland. The amount set totaled ap- proximately $360,000. The settlement of the suit was hastened by sub- mission to a Board of Referees. It was the first suit to be tried in the local courts under the new condemnation law. The city sought 112 parcels of land fronting on Hopkins Street. Values fixed ranged from $40 per front foot to $550, the high figures being for property at the corner of Thirty-fifth Avenue. Sixteen blocks between Peralta and Seminary Avenues are affected. With the widening of Hopkins Street a new traffic artery through East Oakland will be created, making a direct route through from Foothill Boulevard to Grand Avenue.
CHAPTER XXII
RECENT CITY ELECTIONS
OAKLAND ELECTIONS SINCE 1904 - CITY ELECTIONS OF BERKELEY - TEN BOND ISSUES FAIL IN BERKELEY-BERKELEY ADOPTS CITY MANAGER PLAN - PRESENT BERKELEY OFFICIALS AND BOARDS -ALAMEDA CITY . ELECTIONS-ANOTHER CHARTER ADOPTED BY ALAMEDA-PRESENT OFFICIALS OF ALAMEDA-MUNICIPAL ELEC- TIONS OF PIEDMONT-PIEDMONT ADOPTS NEW CHARTER-SAN LEANDRO ELECTIONS OF LAST TWENTY YEARS-THE ALBANY ELEC- TIONS SINCE INCORPORATION-ALBANY ADOPTS A CHARTER-HAY- WARD CITY ELECTIONS-EMERYVILLE ELECTIONS-PLEASANTON ELECTIONS-LIVERMORE CITY ELECTIONS
OAKLAND ELECTIONS SINCE 1904
The City of Oakland functioning under the charter of 1889, which provided for elections every two years, was the scene of many political contests. The following paragraphs disclose the persons chosen as offi- cials by the electorate.
At the general election of May 13, 1905, the total number of votes cast was 11,562. Frank K. Mott, a former president of the City Council, was elected Mayor with a vote of 5,456, defeating among others, the socialist candidate, Jack London, afterward the famous author. At the same election A. H. Breed was elected Auditor, Chas. D. Bates Jr., Treasurer and Tax Collector, John E. McElroy, City At- torney and Frederick C. Turner, City Engineer. Edwin Meese, H. T. Burns, E. T. Thurston, Jr., and G. E. Aitken were elected Councilmen at Large, with F. M. Hathaway, J. B. Wood and C. L. Ingler elected to the Board of Education at Large. At that time the councilmen were elected by wards. Alex McAdam was elected in the 1st Ward, A. H. Elliott in the 2nd Ward, George Fitzgerald in the 3rd, E. C. Hahn in the 4th, B. H. Pendleton in the 5th, W. J. Baccus in the 6th and W. A. Donaldson in the 7th. The following were elected members of the
647
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Board of Education. Frederick C. Clift 1st Ward, A. H. Pratt 2nd Ward, E. E. Crandall 3rd Ward, M. C. Numan 4th Ward, J. D. Isaacs in the 5th Ward, C. D. Rogers in the 6th and W. J. Wilcox in the 7th Ward. The total number of votes cast was 11,562. At the same time, bonds to the amount of $588,500 for the construction of sewers, were voted on and were carried by a vote of 1837 for and 274 against. Also bonds to the amount of $992,000 for the purchase of property for the use of public parks carried. Number votes for the bonds being 2,724 and against the bonds 541.
In the Municipal election of March, 1907, the total number of votes cast was 8,684. In this election Frank K. Mott was re-elected mayor with a vote of 5,005 plurality. George E. Gross was elected auditor, Richard B. Ayer was elected treasurer, J. E. McElroy was elected city attorney and Frederick C. Turner was elected city engineer. The fol- lowing were elected members of the Council at Large. H. T. Burns, Eugene Stachler, Dr. F. F. Jackson and Oliver Ellsworth. Those elected members of the Board of Library Trustees were, John H. Nul- lon, Dr. C. T. Wilson, H. P. Carlton, Benjamin P. Kurtz, James Mor- row. At the same election the following were elected members of the council. 1st Ward Harold Everhart, 2nd Ward A. H. Elliott, 3rd Ward John F. Mullins, 4th Ward E. C. Hahn, 5th Ward B. H. Pen- dleton, 6th Ward W. J. Baccus, 7th Ward Geo. E. Aitken. The fol- lowing were elected members of the Board of Education. 1st Ward Dr. A. S. Kelly, 2nd Ward Calvin Orr, 3rd Ward E. E. Crandall, 4th Ward S. J. Stevenson, 5th Ward F. M. Greenwood, 6th Ward Chas. H. O'Connor, 7th Ward F. B. Cook.
The next general election was held March 8, 1909. Frank K. Mott was elected to the office of mayor with a plurality of 2,296. George E. Gross auditor, Edwin Meese treasurer, John E. McElroy city attorney, and Frederick C. Turner city engineer. The following were elected members of the Council at Large. Oliver Ellsworth, J. R. MacGregor, Eugene Stachler, R. C. Vose, while Dr. J. B. Ward, Dr. M. L. Emmer- son and J. W. Evans were elected members of the Board of Education. The Library Trustees elected were the following. Dr. O. T. Wilson, John H. Brewer, Jas. H. Morrow, Chas. Quayle, Frank Parcells.
Members elected to the City Council were the following. Ist Ward, Harold Everhart; 2nd Ward, A. H. Elliott ; 3rd Ward, A. P. Stiefvater ; 4th Ward, M. R. Bronner; 5th Ward, B. H. Pendleton; 6th Ward, W. J. Baccus; 7th Ward, L. N. Cobbledick. The members elected to the Board of Education were: 1st Ward, Dr. A. S. Kelly, 2nd Ward,
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
C. M. Orr; 3rd Ward, E. E. Crandall; 4th Ward, S. A. Went- worth; 5th Ward, Leo R. Weil; 6th Ward, C. H. O'Connor, 7th Ward, F. B. Cook. The members elected to the Board of Education at Large. A. L. Hannaford, Dr. J. B. Ward, Dr. M. L. Emmerson and J. W. Evans.
On November 15, 1909, a special bond election was held. There were voted on propositions for incurring a bonded indebtedness aggre- gating $3,733,000. The amount of the individual bonds was as follows. $1,150,000 for erection of a new City Hall building, together with real property for same. $2,503,000 for construction of wharves and docks; and $80,000 for erection of building for use of Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph System. All three propositions carried with the votes as follows. Proposition Number 1, for erection of City Hall building, votes in favor, 10,080 and votes against, 826. Proposition number 2, for the construction of wharves and docks, votes in favor, 10,083 and votes against, 751. Proposition number 3, for erection of Fire Alarm building received 9,964 votes in favor, while 853 voted against.
The City of Oakland had long since outgrown the charter under which it operated and for the purpose of nominating candidates for membership on the board of fifteen freeholders, a special election was held June 14, 1910. At this election the respective political parties nomi- nated candidates. The Republican Party nominated R. H. Chamber- lain, William C. Clark, I. H. Clay, Charles H. Daly, George W. Dornin, W. A. Dow, Albert H. Elliott, Raymond B. Felton, John Forrest, Richard M. Hamb, Hugh Hogan, Albert Kayser, George C. Pardee, Harrison S. Robinson, Fred L. Shaw. The Democratic Party nomi- nated J. C. Bullock, Thomas O. Crawford, Dennis S. McCarthy, John J. McDonald, R. H. Chamberlain, William C. Clark, I. H. Clay, Albert H. Elliott, John Forrest, T. M. Gardiner, Robert B. Gaylord, T. B. Homes, H. C. Ingram, R. J. Montgomery, George C. Pardee.
The special election for the purpose of electing a board of fifteen freeholders to prepare a charter for the City of Oakland was held July 6th, 1910. The total number of votes cast was 5,220 and the fifteen following named persons received the highest number of votes and were declared elected to the office of freeholder to prepare and propose a charter for the City of Oakland. R. H. Chamberlain, Wm. C. Clark, I. H. Clay, Charles H. Daly, Geo. W. Dornin, Albert H. Elliott, Ray- mond B. Felton, John Forrest, Richard M. Hamb, Hugh Hogan, Albert Kayser, John J. McDonald, Geo. C. Pardee, Harrison S. Robinson and
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Fred L. Shaw. George W. Dornin was chosen chairman of the free- holders and Harry A. Encell, secretary.
At a special election held December 8, 1910, the following proposi- tion was voted on. Shall the proposed charter of the City of Oakland be ratified? There were 11,915 votes cast and of these 8,925 votes were for the charter and 2,990 against it. The charter is treated fully in an- other chapter.
For some years there had been much agitation for consolidating the cities of Oakland and Berkeley, so on September 15, 1910, the question was submitted to the electorate with the following result. In Berkeley the vote in favor of consolidation was 1,401 and against it 4,010. In Oakland the vote in favor of consolidation was 3,243 and against 2,918. As a majority of the votes were against consolidation the measure was lost.
In the municipal elections held May 9, 1911, Frank K. Mott was again elected mayor. His vote was 11,732. George E. Gross was elected auditor and the following were elected city commissioners. Num- ber 1, Harry S. Anderson, Number 2, Wm. J. Baccus, Number 3, Frederick C. Turner, Number 4, John Forrest. At this election the fol- lowing were elected school directors. Number 1, Dr. A. S. Kelly, Num- ber 2, F. B. Cook, Number 3, Calvin M. Orr, Number 4, Harry L. Boyle, Number 5, Annie Florence Brown, Number 6, M. R. Bronner.
On August 5, 1912, an election was held to remove from office Mayor Frank K. Mott and Commissioner Wm. J. Baccus and F. C. Turner. The vote was as follows. For removal from office of mayor, Frank K. Mott, votes in favor of recall 10,846 and votes against recall 17,139. For removal from office of commissioner, Wm. J. Baccus, votes in favor of removal 10,085. Votes against removal 17,518. For removal from office of commissioner, Frederick C. Turner. Votes in favor of removal 10,984. Votes against removal 16,805.
The next municipal election was held May 6, 1913. At this election Geo. E. Gross was elected city auditor and Harry S. Anderson was elected city commissioner Number 1, and Wm. J. Baccus was elected city commissioner Number 2. The following school directors were also elected. Annie Florence Brown, School Director Number 1, Harriet E. Hawes, Director Number 2 and F. B. Cook, Director Number 3.
Special bond election, July 22, 1913. The following propositions were voted upon. (1) To incur a bonded debt of $873,684.66 for the construction and completion of buildings for grammar and primary schools and construction of additions to existing school buildings.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Votes for the bonds 10,515 and votes against 3,291. The bonds carried. (2) To incur a bonded debt of $495,719.71, for construction and com- pletion of buildings for high schools. Votes for the bonds 10,217 and votes against 3,531. Bonds carried. (3) To incur a bonded debt of $796;000 for construction, completion, equipment and furnishing of City Hall. Votes for the bonds 9,568 and votes against the bond 4,204. Bonds carried. (4) To incur a bonded debt of $431,595.63 for the con- struction and completion of the Municipal Auditorium. Votes for the bonds 9,711 and votes against the bonds 3,996. Carried. (5) To incur a bonded debt of $343,000 for the construction and completion of cer- tain water front improvements. Votes for the bonds 9,834. Votes against the bonds 3,728. The bonds carried.
On June 12, 1914, a special Municipal Bond Election was held to in- cur a bonded indebtedness of $500,000 for the construction, completion equipping and furnishing of the Municipal Auditorium now in course of completion. The votes in favor of the bonds were 15,912 and against the bonds 7,718. Total number of votes cast 23,630. Bonds were carried.
The General Municipal Elections held May 11, 1915. The following were the successful candidates. John L. Davie was elected mayor with a vote of 24,949. His majority was 7,088. I. H. Clay was elected au- ditor, W. H. Edwards was elected commissioner number 1, Dr. F. F. Jackson was elected commissioner number 2, The following were elected school directors. Number 1, Dr. A. S. Kelly, director number 2, Louis Aber and director number 3, Harry L. Boyle. Total votes 43,166.
A special election was held August 1, 1916, to remove from office Commissioner Dr. F. F. Jackson. The votes in favor of recall were 13,282 and against recall were 13,626. The recall was defeated. The total vote was 33,151.
At the General Municipal Elections held May 8, 1917, the fol- lowing officials were elected. Auditor, I. H. Clay; Commissioner Num- ber 1, Fred F. Morse; Commissioner Number 2, Frederick Soderberg and for school directors, J. A. Hill, Number 1; Floyd R. Gray, Number 2 and Marguerite Ogden, Number 3. Total number votes cast was 33, 151.
For the purpose of removing Mayor John L. Davie from office, a special recall election was held December 4, 1917. The number of votes favoring his recall was 9,164 and the number against his recall was 23,081. The recall lost by a majority of 13,917. The total number of votes cast was 32,731.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
On August 27, 1918, the following propositions were voted upon with the following results. (1) Amendment for proscribing the duties of city attorney. Votes in favor of 17,010 and against the amendment 16, 381. The amendment was carried. (2) Amendment providing for the organization of the Fire Department and the management of the Firemens' Relief and Pension Fund. The vote in favor of the amend- ment was 17,565 and against it 17,211. Carried. (3) Amendment providing for appropriations for the Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund. Votes in favor of the Amendment were 17,733 and against it 16,903. Carried. (4) Amendment for compensation, vacations, sick leaves and disability benefits of officers or members of the Police De- partment. Votes in favor of the Amendment were 17,308 and against it 17,215. Carried. (5) Amendment for organization of the East Bay Utility District. Number votes in favor were 13,094. Against 20,850. The proposition was defeated. (6) Alternative proposition for a Public Utility District. The votes in favor were 10,960 and against it 20,977. The proposition was defeated. Total number of votes cast was 34,794.
The office of city auditor became vacant, owing to the death of I. H. Clay and Fred W. LeBallister was appointed temporarily.
The next General Municipal Election was held May 6, 1919. At this election the total number of votes cast was 31,407. Harry G. Williams was elected auditor for unexpired term. W. H. Edwards was elected Commissioner Number 1 and Wm. J. Baccus was elected Commissioner Number 2. The following school directors were elected. Fred S. Camp- bell was elected Director Number 2, J. F. Chandler, Director Number 3 and Dr. Joseph Loran Pease, Director Number 4, for unexpired term and Eugene A. Young, Director Number 5, for unexpired term. At this election an ordinance to create a two platoon system in the Fire Department of the City of Oakland and fixing the daily hours of serv- ice received 20,530 in favor of the ordinance and 7,790 against. The ordinance carried.
A special Municipal Election was held November 2, 1920. At this election the following propositions were voted upon. A bond proposi- tion to incur a bonded indebtedness in the sum of $225,000 for the purpose of acquiring real property for the construction of a War Vet- erans Memorial Building. Votes in favor of the proposition was 27,114 and against it 27,416. The proposition was lost.
The next General Municipal Election was held May 10, 1921. The total number of votes cast was 41,723. Frank Colbourn was elected City Commissioner Number 1; Albert E. Carter, Commissioner Num-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
ber 2. The following were elected School Directors. Harry L. Boyle, Director Number 1; Geo. W. Hatch, Director Number 2; Mrs. Georgia C. Ormsby, Director Number 3.
At a special election held August 29, 1922, the following propositions were voted on. (1) Proposal to amend the charter increasing the sal- aries of the mayor, commissioners and auditor. The vote for the pro- posal was 9,368 and against it 35,881. Amendment rejected. (2) Proposal providing that school directors be appointed by the mayor. For the amendment 6,460 and against it 37,132. Amendment rejected. (3) Proposal for creating a Board of Museum Directors to have con- trol of Public Museums and Art Galleries. Votes for the amendment 18,803 and against it 23,262. Amendment rejected. (4) Proposal pro- viding that the terms of office of all appointive boards shall be con- current with the term of mayor making such appointments. Votes for the amendment 16,087 and against it 25,389. Amendment rejected. (6) Proposal providing that but one years residence be required for honorably discharged ex-service applicants for employment in Fire and Police Departments. Votes for the amendment 29,530 and against it 15,891. Amendment carried. (7) Proposition to incur a bonded in- debtedness of $538,000 for acquisition of certain lands to provide a public park to be known as Oakland Sequoia Mountain Park. Votes for the Amendment 25,486 and against it 16,188. The total number of votes cast was 50,957.
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