History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 108

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 108

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WEST OAKLAND MUTUAL LOAN ASSOCIATION .- This association was incorpo- rated July 21, 1875, with a capital stock of $600,000. It has a membership of three hundred. Office, Masonic Hall, Corner of Willow and Seventh Streets. This is a mutual banking association, whose object is to assist persons in obtaining homes, saving their earnings, and to aid them in improving and acquiring real and other property. This society is in successful operation, with a paid up capital of over $250,- 000. It has issued a fifth series of stock, and its shares were all taken before the time fixed for closing the books arrived. It is now making loans to its members at six per cent. per annum. Its officers are: N. Giamboni, President; G. W. Drake, Vice- President; William Wyner, Treasurer; and A. Sharboro, Secretary.

COSMOPOLITAN MUTUAL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF EAST OAK- LAND .- This institution was organized on August 6, 1879, having as its objects the raising of funds in shares not exceeding two hundred dollars each, payable in period- ical installments, and to make loans to its members, for the purpose of aiding them in acquiring and improving real estate, taking mortgages or other securities for such loans. The original incorporators were: C. W. Beach, M. S. Hind, G. W. Watson, WV. K. Vanderslice, Joseph Chessman, J. Howard Hayes, Robert R. Yates, H. C. Logan, John H. Sumner. Capital stock six hundred thousand dollars, divided into three thousand shares of two hundred dollars each. The first officers were: G. W. Watson, President; W. K. Vanderslice, Vice-President. The present Directors, are W. K. Vanderslice, M. W. Wood C. M. Nichols, William Hoffschneider, F. H. Kellogg, Samuel Baker, David Hughes, R. R. Yates, J. L. Lyon; President, W. K. Vanderslice; Vice-President, M. W. Wood; Treasurer, E. G. Mathews; Secretary, George Atkinson. Offices, No. 628, Central Avenue, East Oakland, and No. 513 California Street, San Francisco. The concern is in a very flourishing condition under prudent and econom- ical management.

OAKLAND GAS LIGHT COMPANY .- This association was incorporated in 1866, its first street-lamps being lighted January 1, 1867. Originally the works of the company

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

were situated . on the block bounded by First, Second, and Washington Streets, and Broadway. In the year 1877, however, the company erected buildings upon the block of land bounded by First, Second, Grove, and Jefferson Streets, comprising a double lift- holder of five hundred thousand cubic feet capacity, a purifying-house one hundred and fifty-four feet long by thirty-six feet wide, a meter-house of proportionate size, and a tower-scrubber, with independent water works. The mains of the company extend from Alameda to Brooklyn, and from Fruit Vale to the water's edge, while the number of miles of mains laid is sufficient to supply a city of three times the number of inhabitants that Oakland has. The original twenty-five street-lamps started with have increased to eight hundred and twelve; and the coal used in the manufacture of gas is English and Australian. The officers of the company are: J. West Martin, President; W. W. Crane, Jr., Vice-President; Joseph G. Eastland, Secretary.

PIONEER CARRIAGE MANUFACTORY .- With so large a proportion of wealthy people as Oakland has in its population, it is not surprising that carriage building should be an extensive industry in that city. The business has grown with the growth of the city, until now there are nearly thirty establishments, among the largest of which is that of Sohst Brothers, at the northeast corner of Eighth and Franklin Streets. Sohst's building was erected in 1873, and exteriorly is a fine-looking frame construc- tion. It is fifty by seventy-five feet in size, two stories high, of good proportions, and is set off with a tasteful cornice, which arches symmetrically on the Franklin Street front, and gives the building a very fine appearance. The lower story is occupied as a carriage making and repairing shop, and for horseshoeing. There are four forges kept constantly in full blast. The upper story is used for carriage painting and trim- ming. A patent hoisting apparatus is used to transfer vehicles from one floor to another. This is a model establishment, and a credit to the city.

WESTERN CARRIAGE COMPANY .- During the month of March, 1882, George H. Boneboake commenced business in the buggy and carriage line, at the corner of Tenth and Franklin Streets in this city. Mr. Boneboake shipped in car-load lots from the East, and carried on the business alone until about the Ist of June, 1882, at which time he was compelled, by constant demand and increasing trade, to get assistance in the way of a good salesman and manager of the retail business in Oakland. At this time, after long and diligent searching, he at last succeeded in obtaining the services of H. C. Newby, of San José, California, who had been traveling salesman for San Francisco houses for the previous two years. Mr. Newby took charge of the business on the Ist of June, 1882, and moved the entire stock to No. 917 Washington Street, corner Ninth, and conducted the business, in connection with Mr. Boneboake, in a successful manner until about the 25th of July, 1882, when the Western Carriage Company was organized, and incorporated under the laws of the State of California, with the following named gentlemen as stockholders, directors, and officers, with a paid up capital of ten thousand dollars: George H. Boneboake, H. C. Newby, G. F. Wright, Charles F. Pierce, and C. G. Bishop as directors and stockholders. Officers elected by above Board were: G. F. Wright, President; Charles F. Pierce, Secretary; George H. Boneboake, Treasurer; and H. C. Newby, Business Agent.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

OAKLAND CARRIAGE FACTORY .- This industry was begun in January, 1873, by M. W. Allen, on the corner of Franklin and Tenth Streets, where he conducted the business until 1878, when he moved to his present location, on the corner of Webster and Tenth Streets. He does a general carriage and wagon making business, also general repairing in his line. He has a full outfit of machinery for conducting an extensive business, and from ten to twenty men are employed. In 1878 he erected his present building, which is seventy-five feet square and two stories high.

OAKLAND BOILER WORKS .- This industry is located on the corner of Third and Franklin Streets, Oakland. It was begun in April, 1880, by Clark & Woolley, the present proprietors. They are engaged in making boilers, steam fixtures, etc. Eight men are employed.

OAKLAND IRON WORKS .- In' 1871, Mr. Ives Scoville began operations on a small scale, in a building located on Second Street, between Washington and Clay Streets. Here he struggled along as best he could, doing the most of the work him- self; but in a short time he began to find that his field of operations was widening, and more men were requisite to do the work which found its way to his shop. In January, 1882, he associated T. H. Eichbaum in the business with him, and the works were moved to the corner of Second and Jefferson Streets, where a building with one hundred feet frontage on each street and two stories high was erected. A gen- eral jobbing and manufacturing business in their line is conducted, including machin- ery, steam-engines, etc. There is also an extensive foundry connected with the works. Fifty hands are continuously employed.

JUDSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- This vast enterprise, which is located on the northern water front of the city of Oakland, was begun in June, 1882. A com- pany was formed with a capital stock of $1,000,000, of which Egbert Judson was chosen President, A. Chabot, Vice-President, C. B. Morgan, Secretary, and the First National Bank of Oakland, Treasurer. The Directors are as follows: C. Webb How- ard, A. J. Snyder, Volney D. Moody, and George C. Perkins. The General Manager is Charles S. Chamberlain, and he is assisted by John Finn. The works are located at the foot of Park Avenue, and the site comprises nine acres, on which there are erected the following buildings: pattern shop, forty by one hundred feet ; file shop, forty by one hundred feet ; machine shop, eighty by one hundred feet; tack factory, forty by one hundred feet; lumber-shed, twenty-five by sixty feet; forging building, twenty by one hundred and eight feet; bolt-works, fifty by one hundred and eight feet; tumbler-shed, twenty by one hundred feet; foundry, fifty by one hundred feet; coke-shed, twenty by one hundred feet; scrap-iron-shed, twenty-five by fifty feet; rolling-mill, ninety by one hundred and twenty feet; iron warehouse, forty by one hundred and twenty feet; and a wood-working-shop, forty by one hundred feet. This company is engaged in the manufacture of the Victor mowing-machines, and it is intended to have one thousand of them completed by the Ist of May, 1883. Everything connected with these machines is manufactured here. In one department all the wood-work is made, and in the foundry the castings are run. The capacity of this branch of the works will be, when all is in running order,

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

eight completed machines a day, or about two hundred per month. In the same building with their wood-working department, is the machinery for box-making, com- prising a planer, saws, etc. The boxes are used for shipping nails, and small parts of the mowers. In another building the process of file-making may be seen. The steel is shaped first and then tempered, and then placed in a machine and cut. There are now four cutting-machines in running order, but others will soon be put in, so that files of every description can be cut. The capacity of each machine now running, is fifteen dozen per day, but when all the machinery is in, the works will be able to turn out two hundred dozen files a day of twelve hours, or four hundred dozen in twenty- four hours. In the rolling-mill there will be two trains of rolls, one of which is ten and the other sixteen inches wide. These will be driven by an engine of one hun- dred and eighty horse-power, the steam for which is generated in four large boilers. There are four furnaces so constructed that the heat from them passes under the boilers, and generates the steam used for running the engine, thus saving that much fuel, which, by the way, is a great item of expense on the Pacific Coast, where all our coal has to be shipped to us. The capabilities of these mills will be about thirty tons of iron every twelve hours. As it is intended to work both day and night in all depart- ments as soon as all the machinery is complete, the capabilities of these mills will be double the figures named above. At the present time two hundred men are employed, but probably not less than five hundred will be required when the works are com- pleted. In the foundry they are prepared to do all the work necessary for all the work done in the different departments. They are now casting the large heavy frames for the nail machines, all of which are being made at their own works. There is an extensive machine shop connected with the. works where all the iron-work is turned out. In this is a full outfit of drills, lathes, planers, and whatever else is necessary for excellent and expeditious work. In the bolt-works there are the necessary dies and other machinery for that class of work. In the tack-works there are four machines which are fed by hand, and several automatic feeders, one of which has a capacity of thirty-five thousand tacks an hour. A number of horseshoe-nail machines will be put in operation in a short time, also several of other tack and finish-nail machines. The modus operandi of nail-making may not be without interest in this connection. The material from which nails are cut comes to the works in the shape of scrap-iron, which comprises all the odds and ends of creation, seemingly; a large percentage of which, however, is old railroad rails. These rails are cut into proper lengths, and the space between them, or, in other words, the hollows on the sides of them, are filled with smaller bits of scrap-iron. The whole mass is then heated to a proper degree and passed through a train of rolls. The heating and rolling process goes on until the the iron has become one homogeneous mass, and is rolled to the required thickness for the nail desired to be manufactured from it. This leaves it in sheets ranging from six to twelve inches wide and from three to six feet long. These sheets are then "scaled," as it is called, that is, placed in an acid bath, where all particles of oxydized iron, which may have formed on the sheet during the heat- ing and rolling process, are removed. This leaves the sheet with a grayish appear- ance, similar to galvanized iron. From the bath the sheets are passed to a sheering machine, and cut into strips just as wide as it is desired to make the length of the

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

nail. These strips are then ready to be worked up into nails. A strip of iron is placed into a clamp in the end of a rod, and the process of feeding is begun. As nails are always smaller at one end than the other, it necessitates the turning of the strip, as each nail is cut, so that the feeding may be uniform. As the machine operates very fast the feeder has to work rapidly to keep up with its motion. The automatic feeders are so arranged that the feeding is perfect, and no time is lost. The machine, which cuts thirty-five thousand an hour, is fed by four strips at a time. After the nails are cut they are then heated, which process brings out the bluish color seen on all nails. They are then packed ready for shipment. At the present time the only shipping facility accessible to the Judson Manufacturing Company, is the Central Pacific Railroad, but it is intended soon to cut a ship canal from deep water in the bay up to a wharf on the water front of the company's property.

PACIFIC IRON AND NAIL COMPANY .- That the city of Oakland is destined to be the chief manufacturing and industrial center of this coast there can be no doubt. Almost every month of the year witnesses the inception of some enterprise, and though many of them are small at the outset, yet they serve as the central point from which much greater things will be developed in the near future. But occasionally an industry springs into existence almost full fledged, having sufficient capital to back it, and the necessary enterprise in its projectors to push it to a grand success from the very first. In this last category may well be placed the Pacific Iron and Nail Works. George T. Walker, the superintendent of these works, was connected, in a similar capacity, for many years, with an extensive establishment of the same character in Omaha, Nebraska, and during this time became acquainted, in a business way, with the firm of W. J. Houston & Co., of San Francisco. He also made inquiries of friends who resided on the coast in regard to the feasibility of beginning an enterprise of this kind at some suitable location. Having satisfied himself that the project was prac- ticable he came to San Francisco for the purpose of making a personal inspection of the field, and was soon convinced that there. was one here that justified the cstablishment of among the grandest enterprises of the kind west of the Mississippi River. In casting about for a site for the works he soon determined that Oakland was the most eligible of any place on the coast. He then began the task of interest- ing capital in his enterprise, and soon had a company formed with a capital stock of five hundred thousand dollars, with P. A. Wagner as President; - Harker, Vice-

President; W. F. Perry, Secretary, and George T. Walker, Superintendent. The First National Gold Bank of San Francisco is Treasurer. The stockholders are as follows: P. A. Wagner, --- Harker, W. A. Starr, W. J. Houston, W. F. Perry, - Morgan, William Man, - Wilson, T. F. Hays, George Walker, and -- Coogan. The organi- zation of the company was effected in May, 1882. But with the site chosen and the company formed the battle was not ended, nor was the outlook rose-strewn by any means. The place selected for the works was at the foot of Market Street, between the railroad which runs along First Street and the Creek, thus giving them the double shipping facilities of rail and water, placing them in position to dispatch their product to any market in the world. But the people of Oakland know that to get a perfect title to a parcel of land on the water front of this city is no child's play, nor the work

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

of a day. The legal acumen of T. C. Coogan, one of the stockholders and attorney for the company, assisted by G. T. Walker and W. F. Perry, was now brought into requisition, and after transferring and re-transferring titles, claims, and counter-claims almost labyrinthian, the Gordian knot of title was finally straightened out, and eight and a half acres of land secured, with a good prospect of adding two and a half more to it in the near future. This gives them a water frontage of three hundred feet. The question of title being satisfactorily settled, and the purchase duly made, active plans for buildings, wharves, etc., were immediately set on foot, and in the fall of 1882, operations were begun. A wharf, eight hundred feet long, has been constructed, which is forty feet wide at the end next the creek. A double track has been laid upon the wharf, with the necessary switches, for the expe- ditious handling of cars, and a large scale placed in position, so that stock and material can be weighed on the cars. A dredger was put to work and a channel wide enough for all practical purposes, and fifteen feet deep at low tide, was scooped out, the dirt from which was utilized in filling in for the building foundations and other neces- sary railroad tracks about the premises. There are at present three buildings: the rolling-mills, nail works, and machine shop. The rolling-mill is one hundred by one hundred and sixty feet in size; the nail factory, one hundred by one hundred and thirty feet, two stories, with thirteen-foot ceiling, and the machine shop is forty-two by seventy-two feet. In addition to these buildings there is a warehouse twenty- four by sixty feet, and an office fourteen by twenty-six feet. Another building will be constructed in the near future in which to manufacture kegs. Ail the shops are roofed and sided with galvanized iron. It has been no easy task to secure suitable foundations for the buildings, owing to the marshy character of the land where they are located, but Mr. Walker's skill and judgment have proved equal to the emergency, and there is now no better foundation under any building in Oakland. Under all buildings in which heavy machinery was to be placed trenches were excavated to a depth sufficient to reach the solid clay, which were filled with concrete to the surface, and on this a brick foundation for the build- ing was laid. Under the ponderous Corliss engine a concrete foundation, twelve feet deep, twelve feet wide, and thirty-six feet long was made, which rests on a bed of solid clay, and will never give way. For driving the machinery of the rolling-mills a five hundred horse-power engine, of the Corliss pattern, manufactured by Hinckley, 'Spears & Hays, of San Francisco, will be used. The diameter of the fly-wheel of this engine is seventy feet, and the weight of it is sixty tons. In the nail factory seventy machines will be put in operation, ranging in size from the smallest lath nail to a No. 90 spike. The most of these will be automatic self-feeders, and all of them of the latest and most improved patterns. The automatic machinery has been selected by Mr. Walker with special reference to the quality and quantity of the work which they will perform. There are twenty-six grindstones, each weighing about three tons, on the same floor with the nail machines, conveniently arranged for the use of the operators of the machines. The stones are used for grinding the knives of the nail machines. As these implements are ground with the stones dry there is naturally a great amount of steel and sand that would be flying about the room and become very injurious to the workmen, but this is all obviated by an improved exhaust fan,

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

the device of Mr. Walker, which draws the dust under the stones and deposits it where it can do no harm. After the nails are cut they drop into hoppers which are arranged on the lower floor, and are then packed in kegs and made ready for shipment. The capacity of the nail-works is from eight hundred to one thousand kegs a day. The engine which drives the nail-works was constructed by Scoville & Co., of Oakland, and is of three hundred horse-power. As far as it has been possible all machinery in the works has been procured on this coast. The nail machines and rolling-mills had to be exported from the East. There will be six other engines in use to drive the machinery, when it is all in operation. A twenty horse-power engine is used to drive the blast, shears, and elevator. The other engines will range from twelve to fifteen horse-power, and will be used for running shears, etc .. There are two trains of rollers. There are four furnaces for puddling the iron in the rolling-mill, and two for heating it in the nail factory. The supply of material for the manufacture of nails is derived chiefly from scrap-iron and old rails. The amount of such material is practically unlimited. Already ship-loads of it have been received from India, Oregon, and elsewhere throughout the world.

LANZ BROS. SOAP WORKS .- This industry is located on Third Street near Market. The business was started in Alvarado in May, 1875, where it was conducted until April, 1882. The capacity of the works is twenty tons per week. Chemical Olive, Borax, Toilet, Tar, etc., are some of the prominent brands of soap manufactured at these works.

CALIFORNIA HOSIERY COMPANY .- This industry was put in operation in March, 1881, by the California Hosiery Company, which is composed of the follow- ing named gentlemen: Wm. H. Jordon, J. A. Swenarton, J. Williams, Q. A. Chase, J. Kryster, W. Everson, J. B. McChesney, of Oakland, and M. T. Brewer, and J. F. Farnsworth of Sacramento. The first President of the company was Wm. H. Jordon, and J. A. Swenarton occupied the position of manager, and J. Williams, Secretary. At the expiration of a few months Peter Thomson succeeded Mr. Jordon as Presi- dent, which position he has since held. The present manager is J. Lee, and J. Will- iams continues to hold the position of Secretary. During the year 1882 the works produced $219,000 worth of goods, at cost value. The machinery consists of three sets of cards, with the requisite concomitant appliances. The company began opera- tions with a capital stock of $100,000, which has since been increased to $200,000. It is proposed to enlarge the works shortly. Location of works, Corner of First and Jefferson Streets, Oakland.

SAMM'S MILLS .- These mills, which are the most extensive in Oakland, are located on the corner of First and Clay Streets. The building was erected and the business begun in 1874, by Jacob Samm. In June, 1880, T. J. Parsons purchased an interest in the mills, and the firm name is now Samm & Parsons. The building is one hundred by one hundred and twenty-five feet, three stories high. There are ten run of buhrs, and the mill has a capacity of two hundred and fifty barrels per day of twenty-four hours. A force of twenty-five men is constantly employed at the mills in the various departments. The mills are fully supplied with machinery of the best

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OAKLAND TOWNSHIP-CITY OF OAKLAND.

and latest styles, which is driven by an engine of one hundred and twenty-five horse- power, the steam for which is generated in two large boilers. Everything in the line of flour, meal, groats, etc., is manufactured at these mills.

OAKLAND CITY FLOUR MILLS .- These mills are located at the corner of Third and Broadway Streets, Oakland, and were erected in 1864. In November, 1876, in some manner a fire originated in the engine-room, early in the morning, and the entire building was destroyed. The mill was immediately rebuilt by Messrs. Babcock & Gould, the owners at that time. In March, 1880, B. E. Hickok purchased the property, and is the present owner. The mill has eight run of stones, with a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels every twenty-four hours. The machinery in the mill is all of the latest improved patterns, and is driven by an engine of eighty-horse power. The building is seventy-five by seventy-five, and three stories high. Fourteen men are employed. The product of these mills is disposed of in the home market.

WILLIAMSON'S FLOUR MILL .- In 1876 William Williamson, a practical miller of San Francisco, erected a mill in Rio Vista, Solano County, which was at that time one of the most eligible sites in the State for an enterprise of that kind. The busi- ness flourished for a few years, but in 1878 a flood submerged all the adjacent islands, and they have not since been reclaimed, hence a large percentage of the business supply was cut off. Finally, in January, 1883, Mr. Williamson determined to transfer his base of operations to Oakland. He thereupon caused the building, including all the machinery, to be placed upon a barge and towed down the Sacramento River, across Suisun, San Pablo, and San Francisco Bays, and up the estuary at the south side of Oakland to the foot of Washington Street, whence it was moved to the corner of Fourth. It contains two run of stones, and all other necessary machinery, which is driven by steam, machinery for grinding oatmeal, pearl barley, cracked wheat, etc., is being added to the mill.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 108

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