History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 24

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

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CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS .- When originally created, Alameda County, with those of Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Mono, Calaveras, Amador, El Dorado, Sacramento, Placer, Nevada, and Alpine were defined as the Second Con gressional District, but by the Act approved March 30, 1872, Mono was segregated therefrom, and embodied in the Fourth District.

The Legislature, at its recent session (1883), constituted the Counties of Yolo Sacramento, Solano, Contra Costa, Marin, and Alameda into the Third Congressional District.

JUDICIAL DISTRICTS .- The State of California was divided into Judicial Dis- tricts March 29, 1850, and John H. Watson became Judge of the Third District' which comprised the Counties of Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Mon- terey. On the creation of Alameda County, she still continued a portion of that district, and so remained until the establishment of Superior Courts.

COURT OF SESSIONS .- The tenth section of the Act creating the County of Ala- meda reads: "The County Judge and two Associate Justices of the Peace that may be elected from among themselves, shall form a Court of Sessions for the transaction of all county business authorized to be transacted by Boards of Supervisors in other counties of the State." Courts of Session were first established by Act of the Leg- islature, dated April 11, 1850, when by legislative enactment they were abolished

* The original section after the words "down said gulch to its mouth," proceeded as follows: Thence westerly to the easterly line of San Francisco, as established in Section three thousand nine hundred and fifty; thence southeasterly along the line of San Francisco and San Mateo to the place of beginning. Horace A, Higley's survey and map of Alameda County, 1857, are declared to contain a more particular description of the line out of the Bay of San Francisco. County seat; San Leandro.

Gray

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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

and succeeded by Boards of Supervisors, May 3, 1852, thus it is that we find the first-mentioned body specially delegated to perform the duties of the last-named.

The Court of Sessions, in which body, as we have said, was vested the entire general civil business of the county. The duties imposed upon this organization were multifarious. They made such orders respecting the property of the county as they deemed expedient, in conformity with any law of the State, and in them were vested the care and preservation of said property. They examined, settled and allowed all accounts chargeable against the county; directed the raising of such sums for the defraying of all expenses and charges against the county, by means of taxation on property, real and personal, such not to exceed, however, the one-half of the tax levied by the State on such property; to examine and audit the accounts of all officers having the care, management, collection, and disbursement of any money belonging to the county, or appropriated by law or otherwise, for its use or benefit. In them was the power of control and management of public roads, turn- pikes, fences, canals, roads, and bridges within the county, where the land did not pro- hibit such jurisdiction; and make such orders as should be requisite and necessary to carry such control and management into effect; to divide the county into townships, and to create new townships, and change the division of the same as the convenience of the county should require. They established and changed election precincts; controlled and managed the property, real and personal, belonging to the county, and purchased and received donations of property for the use of the county, with the proviso, that they should not have the power to purchase any real or personal property, except such as should be absolutely necessary for the use of the county. To sell and cause to be conveyed, any real estate, goods, or chattels belonging to the county, appropriating the funds of such sale to the use of the same. To cause to be erected and furnished, a Court House, jail, and other buildings, and to see that the same are kept in repair, and otherwise to perform all such other duties as should be necessary to the full discharge of the powers conferred on such Court. Terms were ordered to be held on the second Monday of February, April, June, August, October, and December, with quarterly sessions on the third Monday of February, May, August, and November of each year.

The first meeting of the Court of Sessions of Alameda County was held at Alvarado, June 6, 1853, Hon. Addison M. Crane, County Judge, and Messrs. I. S. Long, and David S. Lacy being Associate Justices of the Peace, when six townships were created; but before enumerating these let us see how what is now Alameda County was originally divided.

On April 17, 1850, Contra Costa was partitioned off into three townships, the two, however, which bear especially upon our subject being Martinez and San Antonio The limits of the former were: "Commencing at the boundary line of Contra Costa County in the Suisun Bay, at the western boundary line of New York Township; thence along the western boundary line of said township to its termination on the county line, two miles below, or south of Livermore's Rancho; thence along the east- ern boundary line and down the middle of Alameda Creek to its mouth; thence along the boundary line of Contra Costa County to a point on the bay opposite the mouth of the creek running down from the Moraga Redwoods; thence up the middle of

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

said creek to where it forks, about three miles below the Redwoods; thence along the summit of said ridge to an elevated point of land known as Cape Horn; thence in a direct line to Pinole Point, at the mouth of the Straits of Carquinez, and to the mid- dle of the straits, to the northern boundary line of the county of Contra Costa; thence through the middle of the Straits of Carquinez along said county line to the place of beginning"; while those of the latter were defined as: "Commencing at the north- western boundary line of Martinez Township, on the northern boundary line of Con- tra Costa County; thence along the western boundary line of Martinez Township to its termination on the eastern boundary line of San Francisco County; thence along the western boundary line of Contra Costa County, at low-water mark, to Golden Rock; thence up the middle of San Pablo Bay to the place of beginning." These townships were, however, found to be too unwieldy. Thereupon, on the petition of certain citizens in the eastern portion of Martinez Township, praying that a portion of it should be set off and recognized as a separate division, the county organized the Township of Alameda as follows: "Commencing at the mouth of the Redwood Creek; thence running up said creek near the Redwoods; thence east to the source of the Arroyo San Ramon; thence down the San Ramon to its junction with the Euguarto; thence in an easterly direction to the eastern boundary line of the county, at the boundary line of New York and Martinez Townships; thence along the eastern boundary of the county and township to the place of beginning." Upon the petition of the citizens of San Antonio Township, the Board of Supervisors, who had undertaken the affairs of the county under the Act of the Legislature passed May 3, 1852, on August 12th, defined the Township of Contra Costa: "That said Township of San Antonio be divided, and ordered that the portion of said township being embraced within the limits of the Town of Oakland be set apart, and designated the Township of Contra Costa; and that the balance of the present Township of San Antonio remain as the Township of San Antonio." Still, the townships would seem to have been too large, for the Board of Supervisors, under date October 18, 1852, created the Township of San Pablo, and declared its boundaries to be: "All that portion of San Antonio Township from the Martinez Township line to the Cerrito of San Pablo, be set off from the said Township of San Antonio, and the same be called the Township of San Pablo." Besides these, the Townships of San Lorenzo and San Antonio were created in the following manner: "That Alamo Township, with the present boundary terminating towards the west, with the highest point on the ridge of the Contra Costa Range, and San Antonio Township with its present boundary from Cerrito down to the San Lorenzo Creek, and two townships be created, the San Antonio Township to extend from Cerrito of San Pablo to San Lorenzo, and desig- nated the Township of San Antonio; and from San Leandro Creek to the boundary line of Santa Clara County be designated San Lorenzo Township." The boundaries of Washington Township, as it was when a portion of Santa Clara County, are described as follows: "Commencing at the old Santa Clara Bridge on the Guadalupe River, and running a northeasterly line to the county line; all north of this line bounded on the west by the Guadalupe River shall constitute this township." Upon the creation of Alameda, in 1853, this territory was segregated from Santa Clara and thus its ancient associations were given to the newly-formed county.

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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY .- We have remarked above that the first duty of the newly-organized Court of Sessions at their sederunt on June 6, 1853, was the partitioning of Alameda County into townships. These were as fol- lows :-

OAKLAND .- Bounded as specified in Chap. CVII., Statutes of 1852. On the northeast by a straight line at right angles with Main Street, running from the Bay of San Francisco on the north to the southerly line of the San Antonio Creek, or estu- ary, crossing Main Street at a point three hundred and sixty rods northeasterly from " Oakland House," on the corner of Main and First Streets, as represented on Portoi's Map of Contra Costa, on file in the office of the Secretary of State, thence down the southerly line of said creek, or slough, to its mouth in the bay; thence to ship chan- nel; thence northerly and easterly by the line of ship channel to a point where the same bisects the said northeastern boundary line.

'CONTRA COSTA .- Bounded on the north by the north line of the county; on the south and southwest by the west line of the county and the northeast line of the town- ship of Oakland, commencing for the southern boundary at the northwest corner of Oakland Township, and thence running southeast along the northwest line of said township to the Indian Gulch; thence up said gulch easterly to the summit of the mountains; thence east to the east boundary of the county; thence northerly along said east line to the northeast corner of said county.

CLINTON .- Bounded on the north by the townships of Oakland and Contra Costa; on the west by the west line of the county; and for the south and east boundaries, commencing at the point where the United States surveyed township line passing east and west between the San Leandro and San Lorenzo Creeks crosses the west line of said county; and thence running east along said township line to the summit of the Coast Range Mountains; and thence north to the east line of the county; and thence along said east line to place of beginning.

EDEN .- Commencing at the southwest corner of Clinton Township, and thence running east along the south line of said township to the summit of the Coast Range of mountains; thence along said Coast Range summit southerly to the Alameda Creek, and thence down said creek to the west line of the county and thence along said west line northerly to place of beginning.

WASHINGTON .- Bounded on the north by the township of Eden; on the east by the summit of the Coast Range of mountains; on the south by the south line of the county; and on the west by the west line of the county.

MURRAY .- Shall embrace all the territory of the county not included in the townships before specified, and is bounded on the north and east and south by the county lines, and on the west by the summit of the Coast Range of mountains.

These divisions remained intact until December 12, 1853, when the county was divided into the following five townships :-

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

OAKLAND .- Bounded on the north by the north line of the county; on the west and southwest by the west line of the county, following the bay to the north branch of San Antonio Creek; thence south and southeasterly up the north branch of said creek to Indian Gulch; thence up said gulch to the summit of the Coast Range of mountains; thence east to the eastern boundary of the county; thence northerly along said east line to the northeast corner of the county.

CLINTON .- Bounded on the north by Oakland Township; on the west by the west line of the county, and on the south and southeast by San Leandro Creek; thence following said creek and gulch to the summit of the Coast Range of mountains; thence north to the east line of the county; thence along said east line to place of beginning.

EDEN .- Bounded on the north by Clinton Township, following the line of said township from the bay to the summit of the Coast Range of mountains; thence along said Coast Range summit southerly to the Alameda Creek; thence down said creek to the west line of the county; thence northerly along said west line to place of begin- ning.

WASHINGTON .- Bounded on the north by Eden Township; on the east by the summit of the Coast Range of mountains; on the south by the south line of the county,. and on the west by the west line of the county.

MURRAY .- Shall embrace all the territory of the county not included in the town- ships before specified, and is bounded on the north, east, and south by the county lines, and on the west by the summit of the Coast Range of mountains.

PRESENT TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES .- This now brings us to the townships which obtain at the present writing. These were made the subject of a redistribution by the Board of Supervisors on January 5, 1878, and are bounded as follows :-

ALAMEDA .- Commencing in the center of Harrison (formerly Washington) Avenue at Fernside Station, on the Alameda Railroad; thence along the center of Washington Avenue to Park Street; thence down the center of San Antonio Creek, and along the deepest water channel to the westerly boundary of Alameda County; thence southeasterly along the boundary of said county to an angle thereof; thence easterly along said county line, and continuing in the same direction to a point in a line with the line dividing sections thirty-one and thirty-two, township two south, range three west; thence north along the section line, and continuing to the northeast corner of lot one, section nineteen, same township and range; thence northerly to the center of Brickyard Slough at the mouth thereof; thence along the center of Brickyard Slough to the place of beginning.

BROOKLYN .- Commencing at the center of the Thorn Road (the same being the road leading from East Oakland to Moraga Valley), where the same crosses the line dividing the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa, on the summit of the mountains being also the easterly corner of Oakland Township; thence southwesterly along the cen- ter of said road to the head of Indian Gulch; thence down said gulch to the north branch of the estuary of San Antonio (the same being now known as Lake Merritt); thence

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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

down said 'branch, following the deepest water channel thereof, to said estuary; thence easterly along the deepest water channel of said estuary and along the slough to the bridge crossing the same on Park Street; thence along the center of Washington Avenue to Fernside Station on the Alameda Railroad; thence along the center of Brickyard Slough to the mouth thereof; thence in a southerly direction to the north- east corner of lot one, section nineteen, township two south, range three west; thence south along the section line to the southwest corner of section twenty-nine, same town- ship and range aforesaid; thence east to the intersection of the road leading northerly to Halverson's Landing on the south line of lot six, section twenty-eight; thence along said road to Halverson's Landing, on the San Leandro Creek; thence up the center of said creek, following the meanderings thereof, to the intersection of the line divid- ing the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa; thence northwesterly along said county line to the place of beginning.

EDEN .- Commencing at a post set at the junction of North Creek and Alameda Creek; thence up North Creek, following the meanderings thereof, to the " Mathewson Ditch "; thence up said ditch to the road leading from Alameda to the Half-way House, on the mountain road; thence north 4514° east, one hundred and eight and six-hundredths chains to a point on C. Gresel's land, at which the line of the "Math- ewson Ditch" produced intersects the old township line between Eden and Washington Townships, from which point the southwest corner of said Gresel's land, and the north- west corner of George Emmerson's land, bears south 1814°, west four and two-hun- dredths chains; thence east along the old township line four hundred and sixty-eight and ninety-seven-hundredths chains to a post on the top of a rock mound on the summit of the range of hills forming the westerly boundary of Murray Township, from which point the quarter-section corner in the center of section twenty-two, town- ship three south, range one west, bears south 81 14°, west seventeen and ninety-three- hundredths chains, and the house of Joseph Davis bears north 78°, west twenty chains, the same being the township corner as established by survey of L. Castro, County Surveyor of Alameda County, and filed in the office of the County Clerk of Alameda County, June 12, 1871; thence north along the summit of the mountains to the inter- section of the line dividing Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, intersecting said county line on the line dividing sections thirty-three and thirty-four, township two south, range one west; thence along said county line in a northwesterly direction to the intersection of San Leandro Creek; thence down said creek, following the mean- derings thereof, to Halverson's Landing; thence southwesterly along the road leading to Bay Farm, to the south line of lot six, section twenty-eight; thence west along the south line of section twenty-eight and the south line of section twenty-nine, township two south, range three west; thence west to the southwest corner of said section twenty- nine, the same being on the line of Alameda Township, and being also the southwest corner of Brooklyn Township; thence south to the southeast corner of Alameda Town- ship; thence west to the Alameda County line intersecting the same at the easterly angle thereof; thence southeasterly along the county line to a point due west of the mouth of Union City Slough; thence east to the mouth of said slough; thence up said slough to a post at the junction of North Creek and Alameda Creek, the same being the place of beginning.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

MURRAY .- The township of Murray shall be bounded as follows: On the north, east, and south by the boundary of Alameda County, and for a westerly boundary, commencing at the intersection of the Arroyo Honda, by the southern boundary of Alameda County; thence down the center of Calaveras Creek to the Alameda Creek; thence down the center of Alameda Creek to the intersection of the line dividing the east half of section twelve, township four south, range one west, from west half of said section; thence north along the quarter section line to the north line of section thirty-six, township three south, range one west; thence west along the north line of sections thirty-six and thirty-five to the summit of the mount- ains; thence in a northwesterly direction, following the summit of the mountains along the easterly boundaries of Washington and Eden Townships, to the northerly bound- ary of Alameda County intersecting the same on the line dividing sections thirty- three and thirty-four, township two south, range one west.

OAKLAND .- The township of Oakland shall be bounded on the north and northeast by the line dividing Alameda and Contra Costa Counties; on the west and southwest by the southwesterly boundary of Alameda County on the Bay of San Francisco; and for a southeasterly and southerly boundary, as follows: Commenc- ing on the summit of the mountains in the center of the Thorn Road (the same being the road leading from East Oakland to Moraga Valley) where the same crosses the line dividing the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa; thence southwesterly along the center of said road to the head of Indian Gulch; thence down said gulch to the north branch of the estuary of San Antonio (the same being now known as Lake Merritt); thence down said north branch of the estuary of San Antonio and along the deepest water channel of said estuary, and continuing in the same direction to the southwesterly boundary of Alameda County.

WASHINGTON .- Commencing at a post set at the junction of North Creek and Alameda Creek; thence up North Creek, following the meanderings thereof, to the "Mathewson Ditch"; thence up said ditch to the road leading from Alvarado to the Half-Way House, on the Mountain Road ; thence north 45 14°, each one hundred and eight and six-one-hundredths chains to a point on C. Gresel's land, at which the line of the "Mathewson Ditch" produced intersects the old township line between Eden and Washington Townships, from which point the southwest corner of said Gresel's land, and the northwest corner of George Emmerson's land, bears south 1814°, west four and two-one-hundredths chains; thence easterly along the old township line four hundred and sixty-eight and ninety-seven-one-hundredths chains to post on the top of a rock mound on the summit of the range of hills forming the westerly boundary of Murray Township, from which point the quarter section corner in the center of section twenty-two, township three south, range one west, bears 81 14°, west seventeen and ninety-three-one-hundredths chains, and the house of Joseph Davis bears north 78°, west twenty chains, the same being the township corner as established by survey of L. Castro, County Surveyor of Alameda County, and filed in the office of the County Clerk of Alameda County, June 12, 1871 ; thence in a southeasterly direction along the summit of the mountains to the north line of section thirty-five, township three south, range one west ; thence east to the northeast corner of the northwest quarter

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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

of section thirty-six; thence south along the quarter section line to the Alameda Creek, intersecting the same on the line dividing the east half from the west half of section twelve, township four south, range one west; thence up the center of said creek to the junction of the Arroyo Laguna; thence up the center of Calaveras Creek to the Arroyo Honda; thence up the Arroyo Honda to the intersection of the south- erly boundary of Alameda County; thence westerly along the southerly boundary of Alameda County to the summit of Monument Peak; thence southwesterly along the county line to the Bay of San Francisco; thence northwesterly, following the south- westerly boundary of the county, to a point due west of the mouth of Union City Slough; thence to the mouth of said slough; thence up said slough to a post at the junction of North Creek and Alameda Creek, the same being the place of beginning-

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS .- Up until the passage of the Act of March 9, 1855, which created a Board of Supervisors for Alameda, the Court of Sessions had full control of the affairs of the county ; it was repealed, however, April 3, 1856, that Act ordering that the county should, in all respects, be subject to the provisions of " An Act to Create a Board of Supervisors in the Counties of this State, and Define their Duties and Powers," approved March 20, 1855, which Act, with subsequent amend- ments, has been the law under which the several Boards have since acted. The first Board of Supervisors for Alameda County consisted of Henry C. Smith, Washington Township; J. W. Dougherty, Murray Township; S. D. Taylor, Eden Township; J. L. Sanford, Clinton Township; James Millington, Alameda Township; J. L. Sanford, Oakland Township; Mr. Dougherty being chosen Chairman.

ELECTION PRECINCTS .- When the vote for the Old Constitution was taken on November 13, 1849, there were but three election precincts within what was then known as Contra Costa County-namely, at the Moraga Redwoods, Martinez, and San Antonio (now Brooklyn, Alameda County). For the election of April 1, 1850, the precinct of New York was added to those already created, while, on October 7th of the same year, the precincts were Martinez, San Antonio, San Ramon (Dublin), and New York. The first record, however, which we can find of a distribution of voting precincts is t r the election called for September 3, 1851, when the following polling places were established: At the Court House in the town of Martinez, and the house of José Maria Amador, for the township of Martinez; the houses of Victor Castro and Vicente Peralta, in and for the township of San Antonio; and the house of William W. Smith in Antioch, and at the Lower Ferry on the San Joaquin River, in and for the township of New York. The polls in Washington Township were at the store of H. C. Smith, an election being there held on May 4, 1850, when Lone Kemble was Inspector. These, with a few additions, continued until the creation of Alameda County, when, August 1, 1853, the following were declared the first election precincts: In Washington Township, at the mission of San José, at the room next easterly of Howard & Chamberlain's store; and at the town of Alvarado, at the room there used for a Court Hou : In Eden Township, at the house of William Hayward, and at the house of T Cowles. In Clinton Township, at the house of James B. Larue, and at the hou- c. C ... . Day, and at the saw-mill of Tupper & Hamilton. In Oak- jand Township, at th "fice of A. Marier. In Contra Costa Township, at the house

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 24

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