History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 38

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 38

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In looking over the whole of this protracted contest, the writer cannot help thinking that the greater part of the acrimony and passion that entered into it might have been avoided, and all that was desired accomplished by the use of conciliation and a clearer forecast. At the start the agitation for removal was consigned to the management of one man, who, however active and zealous, was not the proper person to conduct so delicate a business. Col. Harry Linden was suffering from ill-health, and was not able to use that argument of the manner which pleases, if it does not convince. Had only one of the outside townships been won, the battle was assured for Oakland. A respectable deputation from the city at the proper time would have done it, but, instead of persuasion, there was too much wordy warfare-too much assumption for conciliation. The Supervisors, however improper their conduct might have been, when violently attacked received the sympathy of their constituents and an opposition was constructed, so inflexible as nearly to conquer and endanger the decision of the county. That block twenty-two was not a desirable location no one will now pretend to maintain; but in it was centered the local pride of a spirited community, who believed that they were entitled, by an unwritten compact, to the county seat. Again, the southern section of the county, formerly the ruling portion of it, saw the seat of justice gradually slipping away from it-from Alvarado to San Leandro; from San Leandro to Brooklyn-and it was only natural that they should

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POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

resist its establishment on Broadway as an Oakland aggression and a centralization of power and advantages. But it is very doubtful if the location were open to dis- turbance to-morrow that the slightest effort would be made to effect another change.

Since the close of the contest two splendid structures, on either plaza, have been erected, which, notwithstanding some defects, are both ornaments to the city, and proud emblems of the importance of the county. It is hoped that by their cost, completeness, and convenience, an end is forever put to all further county seat agita- tions. The latter is an ordeal which every county in the land has had to pass through some time or the other. In our chapter on the Early History and Settlement of the County we have seen the trouble crop out here first in 1835, with our Mexican prede- cessors, who desired to see the seat of justice for this district removed from San Francisco to San José, where laws for the Contra Costa were first administered. When Contra Costa County was organized, in 1850, there appears to have been no trouble in effecting the location at Martinez, because Alameda was virtually without population, a location, or a champion; but when the creation of Alameda came there was the first bitter warfare between the northern and southern sides of the county. The south, by reason of its earlier settlement, was then the strongest and won. It had the population and the resources. The removal to San Leandro was an assertion of the growing power of the north; and the removal to Brooklyn was a piece of strat- egy that obtained its advantage from peculiar position and tact. The final transfer to Broadway, Oakland, was simply the evidence of cumulative power and the irresistible force of a rapidly augmenting business center, and a spirit that would brook no resist- ance and yield to no compromise. All the localities that have lost the boon of the county seat at various times, made gallant contests for its maintenance, and there is no just reflection to be indulged in now, only that they had to yield to the inevitable.

: Perhaps the keenest contest ever had in Alameda County was that known as the. "Local Option," a scheme which emanated from the State of Ohio, and was an- other form of a crusade against intemperance. It was the embodiment in one law of a pan to permit townships to determine by a popular vote where the vend- ing of liquor should be licensed within them or not. It called forth the energies of all enemies to strong drink. Men and women, clergymen and laymen, public officers and unofficial persons all took part, and excitement ran at fever heat. On April 22, 1874, two hundred and seventy-six citizens of Washington Township peti- tioned the Board of Supervisors for a special election to vote upon the question of "License or No License," under the provisions of the Act approved March 18, 1874. The prayer was granted, and May 23d fixed as the date for holding such. Mean- while the question assumed a prominent shape in other townships, and in due course of time elections were there held, with what result the following figures will explain :---

Township.

Date of Election.

For License.

Against License.

Alameda.

.July 2, 1874.

201

108

Brooklyn.

.June 6, 1874.

267

350

Eden . .

. July 11, 1874.

305

244

Murray

.June 27, 1874.

384

170

Oakland.

. May 30, 1874.

1,038

1,291

Washington

.May 23, 1874.

184

I67

Total.

2,379

2,330

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Showing a total of forty-nine in favor of "Licenses," this general result, however, not affecting the result in the separate townships, who had the right to exercise its own local option.

On June 29, 1874, W. H. Foye presented an estimate of the cost of applying the "Foye System" to the construction of the walls of the new Court House, placing his figures at five thousand nine hundred and ninety-one dollars and fifteen cents, which, July 6th, was adopted; while, on June 29th, the resignation of Supervisor Wilcox from the Board was accepted. On July 6th bids were opened for the purchase of fifty thousand dollars' worth of county building bonds, for which there were seven bidders. The offer of Charles Sutro, at 102 85-100 was accepted.

On July 13, 1874, the boundaries of Alameda Township were changed to read as follows: Beginning in the center of San Leandro Bay, thence northwesterly to the mouth of Brick Yard Slough; thence westerly up and along the middle of said slough to the center line of Washington Avenue; thence westerly along the center line of Washington Avenue to the westerly line of Park Avenue, at the bridge; thence north- westerly along the middle of Main Slough, emptying into the estuary of San Antonio, to said estuary; thence westerly along the main channel of said estuary to its mouth in San Francisco Bay; thence westerly in said bay, following the deepest water, to the western boundary line of Alameda County; thence southeasterly along said boundary line six and three-fourths miles, more or less, to an angle in the same, and due east one and a quarter miles, more or less, to an angle in the same; thence northerly to the most easterly extremity of Bay Farm; and thence northerly in a straight line to the place of beginning.

On the 3d of August Judge Nye appointed George C. Potter Supervisor for District Number 6, in the place of Captain Wilcox; while, on the same date, the Board of Supervisors was classified as follows: First-Two members to be elected at the next general election, in September, 1874. Second-Two members to be elected at the general election in 1875. Third-Three members to be elected at the general election in 1876. The Supervisors for the First and Sixth Districts were to be elected in 1874; those for the Second and Fifth in 1875; and those for the Third, Fourth, and Seventh Districts in 1876. The election being held on the 7th Septem- ber, the new Board, consisting of James Beazell, District No. 1; H. Overacker, Dis- trict No. 2; J. B. Marlin, District No. 3; Isham Case (Chairman), District No. 4; W. B. Hardy, District No. 5; O. H. Burnham (absent), District No. 6; F. K. Shattuck, District No. 7, took their seats on the 5th of October and commenced their labors.

On November 2, 1874, the boundary line between Murray and Washington. Townships was changed to be as follows: Commencing at a point where the line between Murray and Washington Townships crosses the Alameda Creek, running thence up the Alameda Creek to the junction of the Alameda Creek and the Arroyo Laguna; thence up the Calaveras Creek to the Arroyo Honda; thence up the Arroyo. Honda to a point where it intersects the boundary line between Alameda and Santa. Clara Counties; thence following the said boundary line west to Monument Peak; thence in a southwesterly direction following the line between the two counties to the Bay of San Francisco.

During the year 1874 the elegant Court House, situated on Washington Square,

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POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

on the west side of Broadway, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, was constructed of wood, brick, stone, and iron, at a cost of upwards of two hundred thousand dollars. It is a magnificent building, connected with which is a jail, complete in all its details, and a credit to the county.

1875 .- The first item of official importance that may be mentioned for the year 1875, was the second appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars for the improve- ment of Oakland Harbor. This action of Congress was the signal for a general joy on the part of citizens, it being looked upon as an earnest of their intentions to pro- ceed with the work to its completion. In the month of February, the Newark Land Association was incorporated with the object of building up a manufacturing town on the shores of the bay, in Washington Township. On the 15th of March, permission was granted to the Livermore Spring Water Company to lay down water pipes in the public highways in and about that town; and, on the 29th of the same month, the Sheriff was granted permission to have the prisoners photographed.

Under a new Road Law subdividing the original road districts into Road Revenue Districts and apportioning the Road Fund thereto, some trouble had arisen, for there were outstanding at the time of such subdivision warrants on the original districts for the payment of which no fund was provided. To meet this, May 3, 1875, Supervisor Burnham introduced a resolution, which was adopted, that all road moneys now in.or that may come into the hands of the County Treasurer be apportioned to Oakland, Brooklyn, Eden, Washington, and Murray Townships, as the same were created by Act approved March 24, 1862, et seg., and that the County Treasurer pay all the indebtedness of said districts for which warrants have been drawn, and apportion the overplus to the newly created sub-districts. June 8, 1875, was proclaimed by the Board as the date when the new Court House, etc., should be occupied by the county officers.

On June 1Ith the Republican County Convention was held in Oakland, the assembly being called to order by George M. Pinney, Chairman of the County Central Committee, and Thomas Eager, chosen temporary Chairman, A. W. Bishop, being Secretary. Confidence in the National Administration was declared, and appreciation of the services of Congressman Page was pronounced, while, delegates to the State Convention were appointed. This last was held in Sacramento, not long after, when Dr. Ezra S. Carr, received the nomination for the State Superintendency of Public Instruction, and F. K. Shattuck, for membership of the State Central Com- mittee. " On the 19th of the same month, the Democrats held a Primary Election in Oakland, when two tickets were placed in the field and the largest vote ever polled at a Democratic primary cast. The Democratic County Convention was held on the 26th when the best harmony did not exist, a result which brought about the defeat of the Oakland delegation, who found their path to glory firmly opposed by nearly all of the county delegates, and thus lost control of the Convention. The true bone of contention was for seats in the State Convention, for which the Hon. Phil. A. Roach of San Francisco was being boldly pushed by his Irish admirers, but though defeated, a majority of the delegation selected favored the nomination of that gentleman, at the State Convention, on the first ballot. The election which followed was the first for

272

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

many years in which the Democrats had been successful. The Convention met in Union Hall, San Francisco, on June 29th, but no one from Alameda County received a nomination, Dr. Carr being left out in the cold. In this month too, the Independent County Convention held their session in Oakland and declared their principles to be reform in the administration of public affairs, the correction of local abuses, opposition to monopolies and the reconciliation of the North and South. On June 22d the Convention met at Sacramento when their platform was adopted, and General John Bidwell, of Chico, nominated for Governor, there being no one from Alameda County placed on the ticket issued by them. The meetings of the Conventions for the nom- inations of legislative and county officers, were held as follows: That of the Democrats on July 24th, at the Academy of Music on Fifth Street, Oakland, with James Beazell, at its head as State Senator; the Independents met on the same day in the City Hall, and named Henry Robinson, of Alameda, for State Senator, endorsed M. W. Dixon (Democrat) of Washington Township, for the Assembly, and added the names of Walter Blair, of Oakland, and Joseph Taylor, of Murray. On the 2d of August the Republican Convention held their meeting in the Academy of Music, with one hundred and fifteen delegates. Their ticket had at its head, E. B. Mastick, of Alameda, for State Senator, but this gentleman subsequently declined the nomination, when James W. Shanklin was nominated in his stead, and Messrs. John L. Beard, of Centreville, A. T. Coville, of San Leandro, and J. V. B. Goodrich of Oakland, named for Members of Assembly.

The Board of Supervisors met in the new Court House for the first time for the transaction of public business on Monday, June 14, 1875; the first session of the Third District Court commenced there on the 21st of the same month, while the County Court met there for the first time on the Ioth of July. On that day the Grand Jury made their report, and dealt thus severely with the completion of the new Court House: "In examining the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors, the jury were led to examine the contract for building the Court House, and found material as well as minor discrepancies between it and the building as completed, particularly as to the front steps. The contract calls for steps fifteen inches wide; speaking-tubes and whistles are called for between the Court-rooms and certain offices, while none are found. The jury concluded that the architect has been negligent in duty, and, to say the least, censurable, if not liable therefor; and that it was the duty of the Building Committee and Board of Supervisors, before accepting the building, to see that it was completed according to contract, and this they evidently did not do. The construction of the floors in the Supervisors' and Recorder's rooms is very faulty, and more pillars or other supports are needed under the floors. We con- sider it a great oversight, in a climate like this, in allowing the plastering to be put upon the brick, instead of furring the walls. The rooms are cold and damp, and, in consequence, the walls are nearly all discolored. The whole interior con- struction and arrangement of the building is, in our opinion, excellent; and the upholstering and furnishing, except in the Surveyor's office, tasteful; but, at the same time, unnecessarily expensive, and extravagant for county purposes."

On the 7th of August, a committee of the Board of Supervisors, appointed to investigate the management and condition of the County Infirmary, reported that the

Gruy

Yours truly 9. N. Mark

273

POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

state of the establishment was entirely satisfactory, and there was but one head under which they could make complaint, and that was the habit, scientific though it was, indulged in by the physician, of preparing skeleton figures on the premises. . This spectral practice they strongly condemned.

On September 6, 1875, Juana M. Estudillo presented a claim to the Board of Supervisors as follows :-

For value of iron vault taken from old Court House at San Leandro. $5,000 00

For nine iron cells.

8,000 00

Rent of premises from June 25 to January 25, 1875, at $150 per month. 2,850 00

Rent from January 25 to August 25, 1875, at Sioo per month. 700 00

Damages to premises (Court House).

1,500 00

Total.

$18,050 00

It may be mentioned that the vault referred to in the foregoing account was placed in the Court House to be used for storing the public funds, and figured also in the suit entered by F. Rhoda, the proprietor of the temporary county buildings in East Oakland. After being referred to the District Attorney, the Supervisors rejected the claim of the Señora Estudillo.

On December 6th, Judge Nye appointed Valentine Alviso to the Board of Super- visors in place of James Beazell, who was elected to the Legislature, while, it may be stated that, in this year the taxable property of the county had grown to ten millions of dollars, thus putting it at the head of all the counties of the State, saving the single exception of San Francisco.

1876 .- Besides being remarkable as the centenary of American Independence, the year 1876 is one full of interest to Alameda County. In it the city of Oakland was first partitioned into wards, while it saw the incorporation of the two towns of Haywards and Livermore. The construction of the sea-walls for the protection of Oakland Harbor entered upon its second year most auspiciously, while the dredging of the estuary of San Antonio and the reopening of the creek route was consum- mated. In it a protracted struggle was made by the Contra Costa Railroad Company for the right of way through Market Street, Oakland, to ship channel; it was in this year the Berkeley branch of the railroad from West Oakland was built and put in operation; the Central Pacific Company commenced the building of the Northern Railroad; the Southern Pacific Railroad to Los Angeles, with Oakland as its term- inus was completed, as was also the Alameda section of the South Pacific Coast Railroad. The Brooklyn and High Street Horse Railroad was put into operation, as well as the Piedmont Horse Railroad from Seventh Street, Oakland, to Mountain View Cemetery.

On January 24, 1876, the Road Fund tax paid in by townships amounted to thirty-eight thousand two hundred and eighteen dollars and twenty-eight cents, which was ordered to be distributed among the several township districts. On the 2Ist of February, the City Council of Oakland requested a conference with the Board of Supervisors in the matter of repairing the Twelfth-street Bridge, which resulted in the Alameda Delegation in the Legislature being requested to obtain the passage of a bill authorizing the building of a solid causeway in the place of bridge, the cost

274

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

not to exceed twenty thousand dollars. On March 13th, the Board of Supervisors received a petition from the citizens of Ocean View Road District, asking for an issue of forty-four thousand dollars in township bonds for the purpose of macadam- izing their streets, under section two thousand six hundred and fifty-four of the Polit- ical Code, which was denied on the 29th of May, on the ground that it would inflict too great a burden of taxation on the people. On the 3d April, the County Treas- urer asked and received permission to transfer two hundred and forty-one dollars from Bounty Fund to Oakland Bar Bond Fund which would make said fund one thousand dollars, and thus enable him to pay off No. 19-the last bond of the Oakland Bar matter. On the same day Sheriff Morse presented a bill of two thousand five hun- dred and fifty-five dollars on account of livery furnished by himself for one year, which, on being considered by the Audit and Finance Committee, its rejection was recommended and ordered.

The Republican County Convention assembled in Oakland on April 22, 1876, and appointed delegates to the State Convention at Sacramento for nomina- ting Presidential candidates and electors, while, on the 21st of May, the Democratic party held their Convention for the like purposes, and also elected a County Central Committee. On the 12th of that month a great anti-Chinese mass meeting was held in Oakland, when a memorial to Congress praying for relief from the Mongolian incubus was adopted; and the first campaign meetings of the Republicans and Dem- ocrats were held respectively on June 19th and July 15th, their individual State Con- ventions being held in San Francisco on August 9th and July 26th.

On the 8th of May a statement of funds in the Treasury was made consequent on the death of Joseph Becht, County Treasurer, which occurred in Oakland on the previous day. Mr. Becht was a steadfast member of the Democratic party, and enjoyed a well-earned popularity. Suitable resolutions of respect to his memory were spread upon the minutes of the Board of Supervisors. The deceased gentleman was succeeded in his functions by Deputy County Treasurer, Charles E. Palmer, who had been the Republican candidate in opposition to Mr. Becht, at the general election. On May 29th the Hospital Committee presented a report which blamed the last Grand Jury for making various ill-timed and unwarranted suggestions in regard to the management of the institution, for spreading discontent among the employés, and for suggesting improvements which the Infirmary Fund would not admit of. On the same day the Chairman of the Citizens' Anti-Chinese Meeting pre sented the fol- lowing resolutions adopted in mass meeting :-

WHEREAS, By the great influx of Chinese into this city, and by the dirty and filthy manner in which they keep their premises, they are endangering the health and lives of our citizens; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we, the citizens of Oakland in mass meeting assembled, hereby respectfully request the Hon- orable, the City Council of Oakland to pass an ordinance requiring each person who lodges in any room or house in this city to have as many cubic feet of fresh air in said room as is necessary to sustain life, and always lo keep the said room in a good and healthy condition, and we most respectfully recommend that the number of cubic feet be at least five hundred or upwards in each room where any person sleeps.

It was the spirit and intention of the meeting also that the authorities of the county be invited to co-operate and to that end requested the Board of Supervisors to also pass a similar cubic air ordinance so that it should apply to every city, town,

275

POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

and village in the county. What the Judiciary Committee did with the matter, we do not know, but on June 12th E. J. Kelly, the Chairman of the meeting mentioned above, presented a petition to the Board requesting that they pass an ordinance inflicting as part punishment upon all who are convicted of any offense by the author- ities of Alameda County that they shall have their hair cut off to within an inch of their scalp. This was a move evidently aimed at the Chinaman's "pig-tail," but such an action was subsequently declared by Judge Field as interfering with their religion, and therefore unconstitutional; but how the erudite justice learned this, we know not, for, in China, religions and sects are as common as native vices, and accord- ing to the criminal codes of the country, thieves and such like are by law deprived of their cues-the absence of that appendage marks the criminal and it is on that account that those Chinese who have aped western customs and costumes pretend that they do not desire to return to their native land.

On the 27th November, 1876, permission was granted to the Berkeley Water Works Company to lay their pipes in certain streets; and, on the same date, W. F. Boardman, Assessor of Oakland Township, appeared with a statement of the affairs of his office showing great irregularity therein and asking for such action as would enable him to make a proper assessment for the next year. He set forth therein, that there is: First, a large amount of property unassessed; Second, a very long list to unknown owners; Third, property assessed to persons who never owned it; Fourth, property that is subdivided still assessed to the original owner; Fifth, great discrep- ancy in the relative value of property: Sixth, no index of blocks, plots, or tracts; Seventh, no proper maps of townships for the purpose of checking off the property to see that it is assessed. He suggested the proper remedies for all of these defects. But Supervisor Burnham stated that no action could be taken in the matter for the reason that Mr. Boardman was not eligible to the office when appointed thereto by the Board, and in consequence there was no legal Assessor of the township. Mr. Boardman stated his willingness to resign, but it was contended that he held no office to resign from. In order therefore to settle the matter the Clerk was directed to pro- cure the petitions presented by the various applicants on the 28th August, which, being all read, on motion of Supervisor Pumyea, the Board proceeded to the election of an Assessor, when Mr. Boardman was unanimously chosen, in the place of Edwin Hunt, who had been sentenced to two years' imprisonment in San Quentin.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 38

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