USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 31
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Other buildings were erected in the years 1875, 1877, 1879, and 1882. At present there is room for nearly 200 patients.
From the establishment of the hospital in Oakland, August 16, 1864, to Decem- ber 31, 1882, there have been 3,778 admissions, of whom 466 have died and 3,197 have deen discharged, cured, improved, or leaving voluntarily, except a few each year sent away for disobedience.
The following report of the Infirmary for the year ending December 31, 1882, was presented to the Board of Supervisors :-
TO THE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA-Gentlemen: I have the honor to present the following report of the Infirmary for the year ending December 31, 1882.
Respectfully, J. F. BURDICK, Sec'y.
Patients present January 1, 1882. . . 103
Patients admitted. 365
Total present. 468
Patients discharged. 315
Patients died. . . 38
Total deduction 353
Patients present December 31. 115
Average number present during year. II3
Of those admitted 99 have been former inmates of the Infirmary, and 266 were admitted for the first time.
Of those discharged, 225 were cured, 81 were improved, 5 left voluntarily, not improved, and 4 were discharged for disobedience.
219
POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
THE SEX, RACE, AND NATIVITY OF PATIENTS.
Present January Ist-Males 397, females 71; natives of United States, 182; foreigners, 286; white, 457; black, 5; Indians, 6.
Deaths-Males 35, females 3; natives of United States, 15; foreigners, 23; white, 35; black, I; Indians, 2.
Discharged-Males 265, females 50; natives of United States, 121; foreigners, 194; white, 310; black, 3; Indians, 2.
Remaining December 31st-Males 97, females 18; natives of United States, 46; foreigners, 69; white, 112; black, I; Indians, 2.
The following shows the number admitted, readmitted, discharged, died, and the average number of patients present, by months, during the year :-
Total number admitted in January, 27; February, 38; March, 35; April, 38; May, 32; June, 30; July, 31; August, 28; September, 21; October, 29; November, 28; Decem- ber, 28. Total, 365.
Discharged in January, 22; February, 19; March, 38; April, 35; May, 33; June, 35; July, 26; August, 25; September, 26; October, 20; November, 17; December, 19. Total, 315.
Died in January, 4; February, 3; March, 2; April, 1; May, 5; June, 7; July, 5; August, 1 ; September, 3 ; October, 2; November, 2; December, 3. Total, 38.
Average number in January, 105; February, 118; March, 120; April, 123; May, 121; June, 113; July, 101 ; August, 101 ; September, 99; October, 105 ; November, 109; December, 115.
Patients were received from the different townships as follows: From Alameda, 7; Brooklyn, 17; Eden, 35; Murray, 41 ; Oakland, 242; Washington, 21 ; born in hos- pital, 2. Total, 365.
Also from the Supervisors as follows: From Messrs. Brown, II; Clement, 26; Dusterberry, 15; Green, 33; Hanifin, 91 ; Marlin, 44; Myers, 104; McClane, 26; Judge Green, 1; Dr. DuBois, 5 ; admitted by the Superintendent, 7; births, 2. Total, 365.
RELATIVE AGES OF PATIENTS PRESENT DURING THE YEAR.
Under twenty years, 30; from twenty to thirty, 79; thirty to forty, 86; forty to fifty, 98; fifty to sixty, 86; sixty to seventy, 56; seventy to eighty, 19; eighty to ninety, 13; above ninety, I. Total, 468.
RELATIVE AGES OF THOSE WHO DIED DURING THE YEAR.
Under twenty years, I ; from twenty to thirty years, 5; thirty to forty, 3; forty to fifty, 9; fifty to sixty, 8; sixty to seventy, 6; seventy to eighty, 2; eighty to ninety, 3; above ninety, I. Total, 38.
Cause of death: Abscess of brain, I ; cancer of face, 2; heart disease, 5; inflam- mation of lungs, I ; paralysis, 3 ; chronic aleholism, 2 ; consumption, 19; gunshot wound, 1 ; old age, 4. Total, 38.
TABLE OF EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR.
Salaries officers and employés.
S64 56
Fuel .
Medicines . . 461 65
Meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables . 4,728 51
Contract supplies, dry goods, and groceries
5,705 69
Repairs and improvements
2,857 16
All other supplies, incidentals, etc. 486 86
4,780 00
Total expenses. $19,884 43
220
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Average daily expense per patient, for all expenditures, exclusive of repairs and improvements, 41 1/2 cents.
During the year there has accrued from various sales, cash left by deceased patients, and for board of pay patients, $535.25.
There has been expended for fares, and cash paid discharged patients, and for various incidentals, $482.80, leaving a balance of cash on hand, $56.45.
The amount paid for salaries during 1882 is less than that paid in any year since 1873, when there were only thirty-five patients present daily; it being $500 less than that paid in 1874, when there were only thirty-nine patients daily, and nearly $1,600 less than paid in 1877, when the daily attendance was only sixty-five patients.
The following shows the expense incurred during each of the past five years: In 1878, for repairs and improvements, $440.52 for all other expenses, $20,954.15; in 1879, for repairs and improvements, $8,250; for all other expenses, $20,424; in 1880, for repairs and improvements, $945.58; for all other expenses, $17,357.92; in 1881, for repairs and improvements, $1,782.37; for all other expenses, $17,048.18; in 1882, for repairs and improvements, $2,857.16; for all other expenses, $17,027.27. From the above it will be seen that the total expenditures, exclusive of repairs and improve- ments, have decreased each year, being $3,900 less during 1882 than in 1878.
While the total number of days' board for patients during 1878 was 32,120, the total number of days' board for patients during the past year was 40,515, an increase of 8,400 days, or the equivalent of 25 years for one person.
It would appear as if there were a fatality attending the office of County Treas- urer, human nature being, it seems, too weak to be trusted with monetary responsibility. In nearly every county of the State the unfortunate charge of malfeasance in the office has occurred, and still more sad is the fact that it still occasionally happens. Though temptation surround us, so much the more resolute should we be in meeting it: it is a timid heart and a weak mind that cannot work for the honor and glory o the public weal without descending to the debasing and treacherous act of pecula- tion. On August 17, 1859, the Finance Committee reported a deficiency of six thousand five hundred and eleven dollars and ninety-nine cents in the County Treas- ury. The Board of Supervisors at once directed the District Attorney to bring suit against C. C. Breyfogle as Treasurer of the county of Alameda, and his bondsmen. On the next day that officer's resignation was tendered and accepted, and the position offered to Joseph S. Watkins, but this gentleman declining, James Scott was appointed. On the assembling of the new Board of Supervisors, their first duty was to order the pressing of the suit against Breyfogle and his sureties for "eight thous- and dollars and more." The end of the affair was that the county was no loser, as the security was sufficient and the sum missing was made good, all of which was so reported by the Finance Committee on August 13, 1861.
On November 7, 1859, the new Board of Supervisors of Alameda County, con- sisting of J. W. Dougherty, of Murray Township; M. Fallon, Oakland Township; James Shinn, Washington Township; A. A. Anderson, Eden Township; S. M. Davis, Brooklyn Township, met, the first-named gentleman being chosen Chairman. On the 11th of November, they recommended the passage of a law granting the County Treasurer from three to five per cent. on all sums less than fifty thousand dollars disbursed by the treasury.
221
POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
During the session of the Legislature in this year (1859), the bridge question again cropped up although it was thought to have been finally settled two years pre- viously. In this year an attempt was made by the owners to pass an act confirming the original contract as granted by the Court of Sessions, as it was contemplated to construct a new one in its place. The Legislature, however, refused the legislation desired, and the question remained in statu quo.
As a matter of curiosity, we now produce some of the assessments, showing in whose coffers lay the wealth of the county :-
J. J. Vallejo
$190,050
G. W. Patterson. $ 17,320
William Castro.
148,000
Mrs. A. C. Colombet ..
17,000
Estudillo Family. 120,359
Thomas G. Carey. 15,400
Hathaway, Brady & Crabb.
60,800
H. N. Carpenter. 15,000
Soto Family. 60,392
Benjamin Holladay 15,000
J. B. Larue.
56,145
C. J. Stevens. 14,725
Ygnacio Peralta.
54,100
A. Lewelling.
13,700
A. Alviso.
45,900
California Steam Navigation Company.
13,500
S. B. Martin.
43,250
Z. Hughes.
13,450
H. G. Ellsworth
38,975
Richard Threlfall. 12,450
J. W. Dougherty.
31,800
William Glaskin. 12,000
F. Higuerra.
28,950
Coffee & Risdon.
12,000
Livermore Estate.
28,300
H. I. Irving.
11,675
Contra Costa Steam Navigation Company .
28,000
Wm. H. Souther
11,500
Edward Minturn.
27,200
E. S. Eigenbrodt.
11,450
Robert Simpson.
26,750
Mulford & Co.
11,425
E. L. Beard.
26,285
William H. Maddox
II.250
A. M. Peralta. ..
25,550
Clemente Colombet .
25, 100
R. B. Donovan.
10,950
A. B. Fabes.
23,000
Jesse Beard
10,625
Antonio Suñol.
21,400
J. Lewelling.
10,385
W. M. Lubbock
20,000
A. L. Pioche.
10,300
Earl Marshall. .
18,000
Domingo Peralta.
10,000
Cull & Luce.
II,040
1860 .- Early in the year 1859 the Alameda County Agricultural Society was organized and fully placed in working order. On February 7, 1860, we find them applying to the Supervisors for the five hundred dollars appropriation authorized by the Legislature, but this sum the Board pleaded its absolute inability to pay, owing to "the present depressed state of the finances" of the county, although it was per- fectly willing to hear and act upon the petition. The amount of five hundred dollars was, however, paid on the 27th of the same month, and another like sum, appar- ently, on August 3, 1861. On June 15, 1860, two Commissioners were appointed to investigate the matter of county licenses, these gentlemen each to receive twenty dollars per month for their services. The office was abolished'on the 8th of August, however.
The new Board of Supervisors met on December 10, 1860, the members being F. K. Shattuck, Oakland Township; A. W. Swett, Brooklyn Township; John Lew- elling, Eden Township; C. S. Eigenbrodt, Washington Township; Michael Murray, Murray Township; from whom Mr. Lewelling was chosen Chairman, but their operations, though of much profit to the county for the balance of the year, are of not much profit to the historian.
We are not a partisan in politics, but the year 1860 is one the memory of which
222
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
should not die. In it the Republican party, which came into existence in 1856, ousted the Democrats from their position, which they had held for more than three decades. The Republicans became dominant throughout the country, the State, and the county, and the first martyed President, Abraham Lincoln, was called to the highest position in the gift of the people.
1861-The initial record for the year 1861 demonstrates the idea that the Board of Supervisors had not found the bills presented by Justices of the Peace and Con- stables always in order-indeed, that they usually bore on their faces the brand of extravagance. To remedy this they passed an order, on February 4th, introducing a system of "red-tape," whereby the accounts of these officers should all be certified to ere presentation. At this meeting Supervisor Eigenbrodt, of Washington Town- ship, spoke of the desirability of constructing a good, durable road through the county that can be traveled at all seasons of the year, on which the Board resolved to orig- inate and present a plan. On February 5th two hundred and seventy-five dollars were paid, for engraving and printing county bonds on account of the bar at the mouth of San Antonio Creek, to Benjamin F. Butler. Not long after this gentleman became famous, and is, we are informed, the now renowned Ben. Butler, the lawyer- general-Governor of Massachusetts. The county, on the same date, purchased from J. W. Carrick, at a sum of three hundred and seventy-five dollars, a safe for the Treasurer's office, that in which the public funds had been hitherto placed being provided by that official himself at his private expense. In the minutes of Febru- ary 12th we find that the Board had knowledge of a petition having been presented to the Legislature whereby Washington Township should be given back to Santa Clara County, but the Representative in the Legislature was instructed that such a proceeding would be unwise, and the matter finally dropped. May 5th J. O. Miner and Joseph Chadbourne, having petitioned that the span in the Oakland Bridge (Twelfth Street Bridge) be widened, at their own expense, so that they could be able to ship bricks through it, a committee was appointed to investigate and report, the prayer of the petition being finally granted.
In the year 1861 there were no less than three parties in the field, namely, the Republicans, Democrats, and Union Democrats, the first being successful in all parts of the State. For the distinguished office of State Senator, A. M. Crane, Repub- lican, received twelve hundred and seventy-four votes; H. Linden, Democrat, two hundred and eighty-eight; and N. Hamilton, Union Democrat, six hundred and sixteen votes, while there were no less than six candidates in the field for the office of Member of Assembly, the successful competitors being the two Republicans, S. B. Bell and J. M. Moore. The Supervisors elected were: Charles S. Eigenbrodt, Wash- ington Township; William Meek, Eden Township; Michael Murray, Murray Town- ship; H. Robinson, Brooklyn and Alameda Townships; F. K. Shattuck, Oakland Township, the last-named gentleman being chosen Chairman. Having adopted rules of procedure, as well as the committees of their predecessors, they commenced their labors on November 4, 1861.
It can never be forgotten that during this year (1861) the great Civil war burst upon the country carrying with it all its accompanying heart-burnings, havoc, and
223
POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
desolation. Though the scene of actual warfare lay thousands of miles away, our own California was not without its sympathizers. Military companies sprang up on every side determined to maintain the integrity of the Central Government, and Alameda County was not behindhand in practically asserting her loyalty. On August 31, 1861, the Oakland Home Guard was organized and properly officered by gentlemen whose names will be found elsewhere, while, on November 4th, it is of record that they were allowed a monthly apportionment of twenty dollars, which, January 1, 1862, was raised to fifty dollars per mensem, wherewith to provide an armory. Of the further doings of the Oakland Home Guard and other corps we speak in our chapters of Township Histories; but we may here record, while on this subject, that, February 18, 1862, the Board of Supervisors passed the following preamble and resolutions, which were carried nem con :-
" WHEREAS, The news of the success of our arms at Fort Donelson (captured February 16, 1862) and else- where inspires us with feelings of joy and gratitude and lively hopes of a speedy restoration of the Federal Union and the supremacy of the Constitution ; therefore,
" Resolved, That this Board do now adjourn for ten minutes for the purpose of raising the glorious old flag of the Union and saluting it with three cheers and a tiger."
The record then follows with these words: "All of which being done with a will and with the proud emblem of our Country's Liberty floating at the mast-head the Board resumes the tame business of consideration of accounts." The probable author of the foregoing, Supervisor Eigenbrodt, afterwards sealed his patriotism with his life as an officer of the California Hundred.
In this year crime was rife throughout the county, and especially in Murray Township, it frequently occurring that first-class misdemeanants escaped from out of the reach of the law. The Sheriff was at too great a distance to effectively interfere, he therefore appointed James S. Kapp his Deputy for that district-the initial step towards suppressing lawlessness in that out-of-the-way section of Alameda County.
In 1861, the county had to deplore the loss by death of Hon. A. L. Rhodes of San José, the Joint Senator representing Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, a gentleman much respected by all, and of high literary attainments. We may now close the record of 1861 by mentioning that notwithstanding the Republican Ticket having carried all before it at the general election, the Democracy held sway at the Charter election for the officers of the city of Oakland.
1862 .- This year opened with a series of devastating floods throughout the county, remarks on which will be found elsewhere in this work. The first matter of interest to be noticed in this place as performed by the Board of Supervisors was the appointment of a committee to ascertain the probable cost of a perfect and accurate map of the county, which it is presumed was supplied, for later we find a copy of one in the Recorder's office mentioned. On May 5, 1862, we find that the county printing was given to the Gazette at twenty-five dollars per quarter. It would appear that the Grand Jury found, in this year, the Court House, jail, and other county build- ings in a state of disrepair, on which some condemnatory remarks were passed, other- wise, the affairs of the county were in a very flourishing condition, while the manner in which the different offices were conducted, and the integrity of the officials in
224
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
charge were highly commended. The periodicals of the day hand down to posterity the following rather absurd blunder on the part of the then Senator from Alameda. It would appear that the copies of a bill which he introduced in the Legislature con- cerning roads in the county, in its sixth section read: "The Board of Supervisors shall not open or establish any road or highway through the ornamental grounds of any dwelling-house of over three years' growth, etc." The relator goes on to state that Mr. Oulton of San Francisco, rose in amendment, and with much gravity moved to insert after the word "through," this clause: "The number of years which the house has been growing shall be determined by the rings of the chimney," this gentleman evidently drawing his inspiration from a rather recent visit to the Calaveras and Mariposa Big Trees. On April 24th of this year, in defiance of the determined opposition of Senator Crane, the bill providing for the payment of the Gilman debt to Contra Costa by Alameda County was carried by a large vote. The Board of Super- visors at their May term directed the levy of fifteen cents on each one hundred dollars' worth of property, as a war tax, as well as a per capita tax of two dollars on each male inhabitant between the ages of twenty-one and sixty years.
June 14, 1862, a Union County Convention was held at San Leandro when delegates to the State Convention to be held in Sacramento on the 17th were selected as follows: A. M. Church, A. M. Crane, W. W. Crane, Jr., A. J. Kelly, William Kennedy, S. W. Levy, William Meek, J. M. Moore, F. K. Shattuck. The presiding officer at the State Convention was Walter Van Dyke, of Humboldt, but subsequently, for many years, an honored resident of Alameda. For the purpose of nominating candidates for the Assembly, a second Union Convention was held at San Leandro on August 13th, when there were present over fifty delegates, who were about equally divided between Democrats and Republicans. On the occasion resolutions of un- swerving loyalty were passed, and some opposition to the candidature of Milton S. Latham for United States Senator expressed. Henry Robinson of Alameda, Repub- lican, and Thomas Scott of Washington, Democrat, were the choice for the Assembly of the Convention. The election in the month of September proved the wisdom of this selection, as the accompanying votes will explain: For Assembly, Robinson, (Union) nine hundred and fourteen votes; Scott, eight hundred and thirty-four; John- son, (Union Democrat) seven hundred and seventy-seven; Fallon, six hundred and forty. It may be mentioned, and it is generally conceded, that the creation of the Union Democratic party is due to Alfred A. Cohen, an eminent lawyer of San Fran- cisco and a wealthy resident of Alameda.
On November 3, 1862, the new Board of Supervisors consisting of F. K. Shat- tuck, of Oakland Township; William Meek, of Eden Township; S. M. Davis, of Brooklyn and Alameda Townships; H. Overacker, of Washington Township ; and J. West Martin, of Murray Township, took their seats, elected Mr. Shattuck Chairman, and adopted the rules of procedure of the year 1859. In this month an election for District Judge of the Third Judicial District was held, with a majority for Samuel Bell McKee of seventy-six votes, as will be gleaned from the following figures :--
T. A. BROWN. .420
S. B. McKEE.
Monterey.
.349
Santa Clara. .
Santa Cruz.
.199
Contra Costa. . 385 -- 805
Alameda ..
- 333- 881
armChurch
225
POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.
1863 .- The political aspect of the country remained unchanged, for the dreadful civil war was yet raging; in our own county, however, demonstrations were not want- ing to intensify the patriotism of the people, while it is rendered famous in the history of the county as that in which the question of subsidy to railroads was tested in the instance of the Alameda Valley Railroad, and in that of the world as the year in which the first sod was cut for the great Central Pacific Railroad. In this year too the functions of the time-honored Court of Sessions were ended, and their mantle descended upon the shoulders of the Board of Supervisors.
On January 2d, intelligence was received from San Francisco of the death of Judge Lent, of the Alameda County Court, after a long and painful illness. His place was soon filled by Governor Stanford, who appointed Major Noble Hamilton to the office, Asa Walker and George Fleming being chosen Associate Justices by Mr. Hamilton. Owing to another of the county's officials being called upon to cross the dark river, we find recorded under date April 6, 1863, the following resolutions, in memoriam :-
"WHEREAS, Since the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the county of Alameda, Samuel M. Davis, one of the members of this Board, has departed this life, and the other members of the Board being desir- ous of manifesting their respect for his memory; therefore,
" Resolved, That in Samuel M. Davis we have always found, in the discharge of his duties as a member of this Board, uprightness of purpose and a strong solicitude to follow the path of right. In our social intercourse we found him the warm and generous friend, with affable disposition and deportinent; we therefore sincerely deplore his loss.
" Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this Board in token of respect to his memory."
On January 10, 1863, articles of incorporation of the Alameda Valley Railroad were filed in the office of the Secretary of State, the length of the line being twenty- two miles, and its terminus at Niles, the estimated cost of which was seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, shares being put at one hundred dollars each, with ten per cent. paid down. The first Board of Directors were: B. C. Horn, President; Timothy Dame (President of the San José Road), Treasurer; George E. Potter, Sec- retary; and William Hayward, J. A. Mayhew, J. B. Felton, E. M. Derby. The Board of Supervisors being authorized by the Legislature, the direct result of a bill intro- duced by Senator Crane, approved April 21, 1863, to subscribe for Alameda County two hundred and twenty thousand dollars' worth of stock in the enterprise, should the sanction of the people be obtained, a special election was held June 2, 1863, when the proposition was declared lost, as under :-
PRECINCT.
Whole No. Votes.
YES.
No.
Oakland.
419
389
30
Temescal.
50
49
I
Ocean View
52
51
Brooklyn.
258
IO3
155
Half-way House.
65
5
60
San Leandro.
90
12.
78
Haywards.
II7
49
68
San Lorenzo
66
6
60
Mount Eden
45
II
34
Alvarado.
132
16
II6
Mission San José
152
26
126
Centreville. ..
198
24
174
Hart's (Murray).
57
56
I
Dougherty's Station.
62
4
58
Alameda.
49
28
21
1812
829
982
226
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Giving a majority against the proposition of one hundred and fifty-three votes. In this year J. B. Larue, A. W. Swett, and William Hayward obtained a franchise in San Francisco for constructing a wharf for the accommodation of the ferry line of steam- ers plying between Oakland and San Francisco. They grounded their petition on the plea that the line had been in operation since 1858, and that it had become a neces- sity to the public. About this time Senator Porter of Contra Costa had the claim against Alameda County submitted to a committe of the Senate hoping to compel its payment, but they reported against it; suit was thereupon instituted and, August 8th, O. L. Shafter was paid by the Board of Supervisors the sum of five hundred dollars to defend the case. On August 18th we find that the Board of Supervisors deter- mined to lay a side-walk on either side of the road between Alvarado and Centreville and make provision for shading the same with trees; but although the first part of the proposition was carried out, the matter of planting trees was revoked March 7, 1864.
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