History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 100

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 100

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP- CITY OF OAKLAND.

leading book-keeper in a mercantile house. Unlike a mechanic the pay is continuous; sick or well, it goes on, and very properly. In most of the Eastern cities, the cost of living is much higher, while the pay of officers will not average more than one thou- sand dollars per annum. I do not see the necessity for two detectives, always dressed in citizens' clothes. The designation of officers as Sergeants, etc., necessarily takes some from the number of active policemen, but there is not enough crime committed, or possible of detection, to require the services of two men continuously. There might be greater economy in procuring supplies for the Fire Department and a closer system of checks in making repairs. I am of this opinion because of the rather large reported expenditures for this purpose and not specifically accounted for. A few years ago, a Council proceeded systematically to investigate every city office, and as a result of its work, minor changes were made, which saved many thousands of dol- lars in the current expense account. It seems to be a proper time to have another such overhauling. The importance of a low rate of taxation, a light debt, and a repu- tation for careful municipal management, are powerful influences in determining real estate values. If there were recklessness in incurring debt it would deter thousands of people from taking up residences in our city. The growth and prosperity of Oak- land cannot be promoted more effectively than by maintaining a cheap government and conducting its affairs upon a sound basis.

" When the Workingmen of Oakland elected their candidate for Mayor, there were many reckless and unfair statements, to the effect that property would decline in value; that communism would prevail, and woes unutterable overtake our fair and prosperous city. The false statements made as to the objects and aims of the party, may have induced some to believe these sweeping assertions; but their incorrectness has long since been shown. ,The Workingmen have wanted nothing but exact and equal justice in the administration of public affairs. They want to protect their own homes from the needless burdens of taxation, and to make it easier for those who are fighting the battle of life to obtain homes for themselves. Honest men have nothing to fear from the success of this party. Its mission is to protect and save; not to tear down and destroy. It is to prevent legislation that gives privileges to the few at the expense of the many; to prevent public robbery under any and every name. It is also devoted to the prevention of Chinese immigration and the freeing of the country from the presence of a class of people who are paralyzing our industries and driving our laboring classes to the verge of want. Faith in it by the masses is shown in this city by its progress last year. The number of houses erected, and their value, is but a trifle less than during our most prosperous year, yet the season has been one of unprecedented financial stringency. The people have long ago learned that the cries of communism, and many other isms, are false alarms raised to prevent the success of great reforms. The discourteous treatment at first shown to officials selected by this party has almost disappeared. It is recognized as having great and important objects, which will promote the welfare of the whole people, and will remain in power as long as it is faithful to its high and important duties.

"The effect upon national legislation is becoming evident. Public men and public journals no longer favor the presence of Chinese. It is admitted now that the con- siderations of the loftiest statesmanship require restrictions to be placed upon their

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coming. So gratifying a result is due wholly to the uprising of the masses in this State, their success at the ballot-box, their determination to rely no longer upon promises by politicians of the older parties. As a successful candidate of that party, I have done the very best I could to fulfill the duties of my office properly. Others who have held the office have been conspicuous for their learning, their attainments in the professions, their wealth, or high influences. I have had none of the advantages that may come from such sources, and if I have at any time erred, I hope that critics will not be harsh in their censure. I have given my strictest personal attention to all questions upon which I have the right to act, and in some cases I have come in con- flict with the City Council. It is natural that men of different political parties should think differently upon public questions, and, in the interposition of vetoes, I have been governed by my own sense of what was right or politic. I can forget the little acts of unpleasantness that might be recalled, and endeavor to remember only the pleasant things of my official term. I feel that a more thorough acquaintance of the Councilmen with the Workingmen's Mayor has by degrees increased their regard, and dispelled some of the unpleasant anticipations that may have been formed.

"If the city of Oakland comes under the government of men of this party, some of the errors of the past will not be repeated. There will be a substantial promise and an economical administration. Tax-payers will feel that their burdens are as light as possible, and that their money is applied with care, fidelity, and honesty. The name and fame of Oakland will increase in brightness with another political vic- tory. Its reputation for good government, for safety of life and property; its success in the race for municipal renown, will be promoted if its destinies are committed to the Workingmen's Party."

On August 10, 1879, an ordinance relcasing to the United States certain portions of the water front of the city of Oakland was passed.

Perhaps the most noteworthy event of the year was the visit to Oakland of General Grant, the hero of the War of the Rebellion, and twice President of the United States. Every city, town, village, and hamlet that he visited were unani- mously demonstrative in their efforts to do him honor; and the citizens of Oakland were not behindhand in the heartiness of their welcome to him, after a "royal progress" around the world. It was a spontaneous greeting to his native shores, from a people who acknowledged all that he had done towards keeping the integrity and honor of the nation.

At a meeting of the City Council held on the 15th September, the following pre- ambles and resolutions were passed, showing the steps intended to be taken by the authorities on his arrival on this side of San Francisco Bay :-

WHEREAS, Information has reached the City Council that his Excellency Ulysses S. Grant, ex-President of the United States, is on his way from Japan, and will probably arrive in the city of San Francisco within a few days, and that it is his intention to remain in California some time before proceeding to his home; and

WHEREAS, The people of this city, as well as those of the State of California and of the whole country, with- out regard to party or section, profoundly esteem his many distinguished services as soldier, statesman, and private citizen.

Now, THEREFORE, The Mayor and City Council of the city of Oakland do hereby, in behalf of the citizens of said city, and of the municipal government thereof, tender and present to General Grant the freedom of the city of Oakland, and request that he will visit the same at such time as he may name for that purpose; and

WHEREAS, At a public meeting of citizens held in this city, to take preliminary action to tender to General Grant a public reception, a committee was appointed by that body, consisting of nine persons; therefore

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Resolved, That the Mayor and members of this Council will cooperate with said committee of citizens in making necessary arrangements for the purpose above indicated.

Resolved, That upon receiving telegraphic notice of the signaling of the steamship City of Tokio off the "Heads," the Mayor be requested to cause the American Flag to be hoisted on the City Hall, and the Superin- tendent of Fire Alarm be and he is hereby authorized and directed to cause the fire-alarm bell to be sounded for five consecutive minutes, to give notice of the return to his country of America's most distinguished citizen.

The President of the Council then appointed Messrs. Babcock, Hewes, and Cole a committee to cooperate with the committee of citizens, to act as a business com- mittee for the purpose of carrying into effect any arrangements which may be made in relation to the proposed visit.

As we have said, the reception tendered to the famous General by Oakland and her citizens was a perfect ovation. So soon as he touched the soil of Alameda County, he was met by Mayor Andrus and the City Council of Oakland, when his Honor, stepping forward, said :-

GENERAL GRANT: Your merited ovations have encircled the world. They have been as grand and as varied as the nations who have offered them. And, yet, among them all, there has not been a more earnest, sincere, and cordial welcome than that which the city of Oakland now extends to you. This is preeminently a city of homes and of families; of husbands and of wives; of parents and of children; of churches and of schools. There is no earthly tie more sacred and lasting than that of the family. At the family altar the fires of liberty are first enkindled, and there patriotism is born. The love of home, of kindred, and of country, is one. This is the source and the fountain of our welcome to you, the defender of our country, our firesides, and our families. I am author- ized to further present to you this official expression of good-will from our city authorities.

The freedom of the city, with the resolutions quoted above, were then tendered to and accepted by General Grant, who thereupon grasped the hand of the Mayor, and gave expression to the following characteristic speech :-

MR. MAYOR: I thank you.

At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors held December 8, 1879, the District Attor- ney presented a written opinion that the Board had no power to grant the right of way over the Webster-street Bridge, arguing that the Board can only act within its delegated powers; that the bridge is a public highway; and that the Board holds the bridge in trust to maintain, repair, and renew the same in the manner provided origi- nally to be done by the town of Alameda and the city of Oakland. It was a question whether the Supervisors had any right vested in them, specially, to grant such a priv- ilege. It was asserted that, by statute, any steam railroad has the right to run upon, along, and across any navigable stream, watercourse, street, avenue, and highway, without asking for such privilege from the Supervisors, although any person or corpo- ration might not attempt to exercise such a right without making a respectful request to the Supervisors. At the instance of Theodore Meetz, the President of the Ala- meda and Oakland Horse Railroad, Judge Daingerfield, of the Twelfth District Court, in and for the city and county of San Francisco, granted a temporary injunction, commanding the Supervisors of Alameda County to desist from granting any fran- chise to A. E. Davis (President of the South Pacific Coast Railroad Company) or any- body else, to use Webster-street Bridge for railroad purposes.

It will thus be seen that there were a few persons making extraordinary efforts to head off the narrow-gauge railroad from entering the city. It may be remembered that Mr. Meetz enjoyed, and still enjoys, a portion of the bridge for his horse rail-

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road, and it is not unforgotten, perhaps, how his rails were laid over the bridge between a Saturday night and a Monday morning, while it can be readily understood that a question would arise naturally enough in Mr. Meetz' mind as to the probable effect the construction of the narrow-gauge railroad into Oakland would have upon the profits of his line. But that benefit would undoubtedly result was certain, for it was absolutely necessary that means of communication with the northern portion of the city should be opened. To this end the right was ultimately very properly granted, and after considerable opposition, power was given to lay their track along Webster Street, March 6, 1880, after a very stormy discussion.

1880 .- On January 5th, a resolution indorsing the new charter was passed. This document was a tolerably faithful copy of the existing laws, as far as they did not conflict with the new Constitution. The portions which related to street work were radically changed. It abolished the office of City Marshal and substituted a Tax- Collector and a Superintendent of Streets. It required the funds for a year to be divided into four equal parts, while many other changes were made calculated to facili- tate the working of the various departments of the city government. On February 2, 1880, an ordinance repealing certain other ordinances passed by the Trustees of the town of Oakland was passed. There were: Ist. " An Ordinance for the disposal of the Water Front belonging to the Town of Oakland," passed finally, May 18, 1852; 2d. " An Ordinance to approve the Wharf at the foot of Main Street, and to extend the time for constructing the other Wharves," passed December 30, 1852; 3d. “ An Ordi- nance concerning Wharves and the Water Front" passed August 27, 1853.

In his message of February 2, 1880, Mayor Andrus remarks on the city's rail- road policy in the following terms :-

" The last year has been characterized by an unusual activity in railroad enter- prises, and there is a prospect that at no distant day the Southern Road, projected by Boston capitalists, will connect the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. A railway company which already has extensive connections is asking for admission to our city. We should cherish the hope that in due time an independent transcontinental railroad would seek Oakland as its western terminus. The great prosperity that has resulted from the location of the terminus of the Central Pacific in this city, is a proper guide for estimating the benefits that may follow the construction of other railroads. The city must have open gates for all railway companies that are willing and able to extend to us their lines. The interests of the city will be best promoted by the loca- . tion of depots and stations in a central part, and it is a proper time now for the Coun- cil to outline a railroad policy that will serve in future contingencies. The Central Pacific extends through the city from east to west. It is proposed that another road shall pass through the city from north to south. Such seems to be a necessity that results from our geographical situation. Whenever the property-holders who are immediately concerned give their consent to the use of a street, it will doubtless be designated as a thoroughfare for the railway that will connect us with a part of the State which has not heretofore been tributary. It will double our ferry facilities, and thius greatly increase the desirability of Oakland as a place of residence for persons whose business is in San Francisco. It will give to Oakland merchants the trade and

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traffic of an extensive territory not otherwise reached by rail. It is of prime impor- tance to the people of Oakland that some strong corporation should have an apparent and powerful interest in the improvement of the Oakland harbor. A railway company whose road terminates at docks inside of the estuary could not fail to be a powerful ally of the city in securing from the Federal Government the aid that is needed for the improvement of navigation. It. is presumed that the influence of one corporation has checked the progress of this work. It will be fortunate if more corporations of equal strength are just as much interested in having the work carried on. It should be the policy of Oakland to extend a welcome to any railroad corporation that wishes to gain an entrance into the city. It is not enough that we are connected with one system of California roads; we should have connections with others that now exist, or which may hereafter be built. The property rights of every citizen should be most thoroughly guarded, but care should be taken that the plea for property rights is not an argument in a disguised form for the prevention of railway competition. Any applications for franchises should be viewed in a liberal and far-seeing way. It should never be a matter of doubt abroad whether the people of Oakland will permit the extension of another railroad into their city. It should be heralded far and wide that our citizens realize that they occupy the terminal city, as designated by mountain chains, rivers, and arms of the ocean, and are opening wide doors to all who can bring business and prosperity."

He also says of the water-front suits :-

" Early in the history of the city the entire water front was conveyed to private parties for a consideration that seems frivolous, and it has been the prevailing opinion that the transaction was illegal, and probably fraudulent. In the year 1868 there was a compromise by which the title was conveyed to the Water Front Company, as far as it was in the power of the Council to make such a transfer. The city obtained nothing from the compromise, except the small area of overflowed land now occupied by the city wharf. Subsequently Congress authorized various appropriations for the improvement of the Oakland harbor, and considerable sums of money have been expended, so that vessels having a thousand tons of freight can now be brought to our wharves. The last Congressional appropriation was coupled with the condition that it should not be used unless the claimants to the bed of the estuary and the water frontage, on which the training-walls are constructed, should abandon whatever title they may have asserted to that property.' The United States engineer's lines were located so that the harbor would come up to the demands of an extensive com- merce, and be accessible from many points on the mainland without passing over any intervening strip of private property. The Water Front Company has not abandoned its claim to the arm of the Bay which is included within the Government lines, and in consequence there has been no further expenditure of money to carry on the improve- ment. This refusal on the part of the Water Front Company has brought the whole question very prominently before the people of this city. The work that was thus summarily checked was universally regarded as of prime importance to Oakland, and its completion as an event that would bring with it a new era of commercial prosper- ity. The legality of the private claims that had been asserted with such damaging effect was disputed, much legal authority concurring in the opinion that the title to

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

the whole water front still remains in the city. The right to fix and collect dockage and tolls is considered to be one of the attributes of government which cannot be alienated. If the Water Front Company's ownership of the bed of the estuary could be disproved, there would be nothing to prevent the Federal Government from resum- ing work, and many citizens advised the commencing of suits to that end. In the mean time the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and one of its Directors, individually, brought suits against the city to quiet the title to certain property held under convey- ances from the Water Front Company, Carpentier, and other claimants. If a default were permitted in these cases, it would cut off any hope of relief to the city, and your honorable body determined to retain counsel and thoroughly test the rights of the city. I have approved the ordinances which were necessary for the proper commencement of proceedings.

" The great object which I hope to see accomplished is the defeat of all private claims of ownership to property needed for the construction of the harbor. If these claims can be declared void, Oakland will become an open port. No man or corpora- tion can have a monopoly of water-front privileges, with the power to take what toll they may choose from every person or pound of merchandise coming into or going from the city. I cannot believe that it is possible for individuals to become legally possessed of the title to an arm of the bay navigable for large vessels. The recogni- tion of such a right would place the fortunes of the city entirely at the mercy of a few men, which could not fail to be perilous in the extreme. There must be free access to the city for all the shipping that may seek our port, and easy facilities for all ferry companies that may seek for business. The benefits to them and to the people of Oakland will be mutual. It is unfortunate that this city must wait the tedious routine of litigation before it will be in her power to adopt a liberal commercial policy. But nothing will be accomplished until the rights of the public and of the water-front claim- ants are definitely settled by the decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. It is to be regretted that there should ever have been the shadow of a private claim to what is really a part of the Pacific Ocean. It has brought into controversy other matters that would have remained undisturbed, had such a course been possible. The one thing that is desired, and for which the people of Oakland will contend with all their energy, is the prosecution and completion of the public work which has been planned by the engineers according to their original designs. I do not believe that it is for the pub- lic welfare to molest the Central Pacific Railroad Company in the use and enjoyment of the property it needs for its terminal improvements. That is not the aim and object of the present litigation, as I understand it. Oakland secks for no controversy with that company, nor does she desire to do it any injury or harm; but it is only a measure of self-defense to contend for the free navigation of the estuary and for unre- stricted communication between the mainland and the harbor for freight and passen- gers. The only regulations that should ever be enacted, or the only charges that should ever be imposed, should be such as ordained by the city government. Pro- longed litigation should be avoided if possible. If the concessions demanded by the United States Government were allowed by the claimants to the water front, with a fair compliance with what is demanded in the public interest, I do not think that there is a person in Oakland who would desire the continuation of suits that involve the

Resp. yours. H.L. adams.

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title to property used and needed for railroad improvements. The real cause of the present controversy is the claim of private ownership in the estuary, and whenever that may be abandoned I should hope for the termination of litigation."

And of the Chinese Question, that problem so difficult of solution, he says :-

" The almost unanimous vote of the people against Chinese immigration has had a moral effect abroad far greater than the speeches of our representatives in Congress, the platforms of our political parties, or the utterances of the press.

" The idea that only the laboring classes in this State were opposed to the further coming of Asiatics has been dispelled. The humble toilers have long.since ceased to be the only ones who suffered by an unnatural competition between civilization and barbarism. Unfortunately there were many who remained indifferent as long as the presence of Chinese only caused privation and hardship to those who earn their sub- sistence by toil, but when the value of rentals, the rate of interest, the worth of real estate, the profits of professional men, and the earnings of the merchant became affected, everybody united in an appeal for relief. Modern civilization has never before had to contend with such an element, and for that reason there has been but little sympathy for us in this remote part of the Union. The changes in Eastern sentiment are now quite perceptible.

" The masses are becoming aware that the many arguments made thus on high moral and religious grounds, were prompted by grasping and greedy men, who thought that they saw in Chinese immigration the means of still further reducing the wages of labor.

" The intelligence and the religious sentiments of the people of California are as general and as advanced as prevail in any other community in America, and a protest has been uttered that has been heard throughout the nation,

" It is reported that negotiations have for some time been conducted with the Chinese Empire to secure a modification of the Burlingame Treaty, so that it shall become strictly commercial. But it is the evident policy of China to send away its surplus subjects, and in that manner put an end to a famine that has prevailed in that overcrowded country ever since its history has been known to us. The prospect of any relief from that source is very slight. Legislation by Congress can keep on, and in the absence of that, there is considerable that we may do to help ourselves. Our Legislature might follow the example of some of the British Colonies similarly afflicted, and impose heavy licenses on aliens incapable of becoming citizens, as an offset to the charges that must be borne by the public for the support of the Chinese paupers and criminals.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 100

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206