History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 54

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

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

election be held May 6, 1872, at which date the first corporate officers of the town of Alameda were elected, viz .: H. H. Haight, E. B. Mastick, Fritz Boehmer, Jabish Clement, Henry Robinson, Board of Trustees; Dr. W. P. Gibbons, William Holtz (for three years), Cyrus Wilson, Nathan Porter (for two years), Fred. Hess, F. K. Krauth (one year), School Directors; Thomas A. Smith, Treasurer; E. Minor Smith, Assessor. The Board of Trustees met for organization May 13, 1872, when H. H Haight was elected President, and every Tuesday evening declared to be the time when the Board should convene, and stated that Smith's Hall, at the corner of Park Street and Pacific Avenue should be the place of meeting, and in that building and by the above-named gentlemen, was the official machinery of the town set in motion.

Among the first duties undertaken by the Board of Trustees was the fixing of salaries to be given its employés. On May 21, 1872, it was ordered that the emolu- ments of the Town Treasurer should be five hundred dollars per annum, and one per cent. of all moneys collected by him on account of taxes, licenses, and street assess- ments, so long as the sum did not exceed one thousand dollars a year. The salary of the Assessor was fixed at six hundred dollars per year; that of the Clerk at twenty dollars per month, and that of the Street Superintendent at thirty dollars per month, but these rates were changed, however, on November 12th, so far as regarded the Treasurer and the Clerk, the foriner of whom was to receive seventy-five and the latter forty dollars per mensem, but, on October 14, 1873, the Clerk was only allowed thirty-five dollars a month and was called upon to perform the duties of Clerk to the Board of Education besides his other functions. May 21, 1872, W. H. Porter was appointed Town Clerk, and on the same date a petition was received from James Riddell and H. F. Shephardson, praying for the macadamizing of Euclid Street, which was referred to Mr. Mastick, and on June 4th, the work ordered to be performed. On the 28th of this month E. Minor Smith was appointed Superintendent of Streets; there being also passed on the same date an ordinance levying a poll-tax of two dollars on each male inhabitant over twenty-one and under sixty years of age, and ordered to take effect immediately. By the Treasurer's report the state of the town finances on July Ist showed a balance in hand of six hundred and twelve dollars and sixty-six cents.

As early as July 2, 1872, the subject of water for town purposes occupied official attention. On that date Mr. Robinson presented a resolution which was adopted, "That the Committee on Ordinance and Judiciary be authorized and requested to purchase a lot on Central Avenue, near Park Street, or, on Park Street, near Central Avenue, at a price not to exceed eight hundred dollars, and of dimensions not less than fifty by one hundred and fifty feet, and, that immediately after such purchase the Com- mittee be authorized to contract for the boring of an artesian well upon said lot to a depth not exceeding one hundred and eighty-five feet, and to erect a box-tank of ten thousand gallons capacity, and to provide the necessary machinery for raising the water." Diffi- culties, however, were experienced in gaining water at this point, therefore on July 23d the same Committee were authorized to lease a suitable lot on Central Avenue, between Euclid Street and West End Avenue, where a well was to be sunk, or a reservoir for salt water built, and the proper machinery erected so that water might be procured for the purposes of street sprinkling. In the year 1876, however, B. R. Norton, in

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ALAMEDA TOWNSHIP.

boring a well at his place at the corner of Grand Street and Railroad Avenue, found such an abundant supply of water that he at once conceived the idea of laying pipes throughout the town, and supplying the inhabitants from this source. He at once placed himself in communication with the Board of Trustees, and on June 6th entered into a contract to supply the town with water for a period of five years, for one hundred dollars per month, the quantity to be so supplied being, "all the water that two sprinkling-carts holding six hundred gallons each, and each drawn by two horses and working ten hours a day, can distribute during the dry season." A company was formed, of which he was the principal stockholder and manager, which, August 22, 1876, obtained a franchise from the town, and laid pipes on portions of the chief thoroughfares. But the town had made such rapid growth that this company was unable, with its resources, to lay pipes to properly supply the inhabitants, though the quality of the water was first-class, and until the year 1880 the company had sufficient for all who had connection with its mains. In the latter part of 1879, Captain R. R. Thompson commenced to bore wells on the old Farwell place, on High Street, to ascertain if a sufficient supp y could be obtained to justify him in undertaking to con- struct a water-supply for the town. He obtained from four wells an abundance, and on April 6, 1880, obtained a franchise to lay down and maintain for fifty years pipes to supply the town with water. Since then work has been vigorously pushed on this great and costly enterprise, until at the present time a net-work of iron pipes extends throughout the length and breadth of Alameda, and pumping works have been erected capable of raising over a million gallons of water every twenty-four hours. The town has now the best supply of water of any place on the coast.

On July 30, 1872, all ordinances passed by the Board of Trustees were ordered to be printed in the Alameda Encinal which thus became the official organ of the town, and, August 13th, Mr. Robinson was elevated to the position of President of the Board on the retirement of Governor Haight, who was succeeded in the office of Trustee by Charles Wood. On September 24th a map of the streets drawn by Alfred Bannister was adopted, and October 7th, a tax of seventy-four cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property was ordered to be levied. December 17th a communication was received by the Board of Trustees from J. W. McKee, agent for Hays and Caperton, and A. S. Barber, asking that the dedication of the following streets be accepted, and that they be recorded on the official map of the town, viz .: Continuation of Lincoln Avenue through the Hays and Caperton property to Ver- seilles Avenue: Continuation of Santa Clara Avenue through the Hays and Caper- ton tract to Verseilles Avenue: Continuation of Broadway through the Hays and Caperton tract from Central Avenue to Buena Vista Avenue.

1873 .- Early in the year 1873, it had become necessary to devise means whereby the expenditure required for the improving and watering of streets and constructing sidewalks should be defrayed. To this end, on February 28th, it was ordered that the sum of ten thousand dollars should be borrowed from the Union Savings Bank of Oakland, and set apart especially for these purposes, and no other, under the head of " Street Fund." On May 6th we find that W. W. Chipman deeded to the town a strip of land sixty fect wide and four hundred and twelve feet four inches long to

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

complete the line of Santa Clara Avenue, while on the 20th of the same month a com- munication was received from Mary R. Fitch dedicating to the town, "all streets laid out and shown on the map of the 'Fitch and Sharon' tract, as per Stratton's survey, together with the extension of all streets running north and south to Atlantic Avenue," an offering which was duly accepted.

The municipal officers elected this year were, E. B. Mastick, Henry Robinson, Jabish Clement, Eppes Ellery, Alonzo Green, Board of Trustees; M. W. Peck vice Krauth, and F. Boehmer vice Hess, School Directors; Thomas A. Smith, Treasurer; E. Minor Smith, Assessor and Superintendent of Streets; W. H. Porter, Clerk.

On August 5, 1873, there being then in contemplation the extension of High Street, and the building a bridge to Bay Farm Island, Mr. Green, of the Board of Trustees, to whom was referred the affair, reported: "In the matter of bridging the slough in order to make a permanent landing at all times of tides, for the town of Alameda, I find the most practicable point to cross the slough is on Peach Street, where it will require a bridge one hundred and fifty feet long; the distance to build a road will be six hundred feet. I think parties interested will build the road and a wharf without expense to the town of Alameda as soon as a bridge is built." The report was received and the matter of building referred to a committee to prepare plans and specifications, who, August 12th, reported that it would be advisable to have the bridge built at the end of High Street, and submitted plans. Proposals to construct were thereupon called for, and on August 26th, six bids were received varying from that of A. Nelson for six hundred and twenty-five dollars to that of A. M. Bur- rell, three hundred and forty-four dollars. Meanwhile, however, delay occurred, and on February 3, 1874, all bids were ordered rejected and a special committee appointed to report-some being anxious that the bridge should be from Peach rather than from High Street; the first, however, being chosen at a meeting held on the 10th. This brought forth further opposition. A petition numerously signed by citizens was pre- sented to the Trustees urging the building of the bridge at the foot of High Street, while Bray and others offered to defray the expense of construction, in part, should it be placed there. This apparently had no influence, however, for the bid of Charles H. Foster was accepted to build the bridge at Peach Street.

November 4, 1873, O. W. Briggs was appointed to succeed Mr. Porter in the office of Town Clerk, and thus we wind up the official duties of the year.

Of the matters of general interest which occurred in the year 1873, we find that the Episcopal church was dedicated by Bishop Kip on the 21st September, and on the 28th of the following month, Justice of the Peace, Milton Combs, was called upon to cross the dark river. Of this public official the Encinal of November Ist, says: " For more than a year past this community has known of the invalid condition and has taken note of the gradual passing away of Justice Combs, and yet all felt startled when the news spread through the town on Tuesday evening that he was dead. The awful fact could scarcely be realized. Occasionally, during the past few months, he would appear on Park Street for an hour or so, when the weather was warm and pleasant, and at times he and his friends indulged the hope that he would soon be out among his fellow-men to fight the battle of life. It was a mistaken idea. Death had marked him long ago, and, like a skillful angler, was only toying with him until he

Phineas & Marston

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ALAMEDA TOWNSHIP.

had worn him out, and he could be brought into his fold an easy prey. He died from sheer enervation; there was not enough strength in his system to sustain him even after he had been freed from disease. Worn out; and death came to him as a great benefactor. During his long sickness he never lacked sympathizing friends who cheered him with their presence even to the last moments of his life and then forsook him not. Milton Combs at the time of his death had resided in Alameda a trifle over four years. He came here with his family-a wife and two children-from Brooklyn, Nevada County, where, for some years, he had served as a public officer and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He had amassed considerable wealth, in company with a rela- tive, Justice McGowan, but, unfortunately, could not retain it. The town, like most mining towns, fell into decay, and gradually, day by day, their hard-earned hoard decreased, until at length they, with others, were compelled to close up business. Both were honest men. They paid out their last dollar and trusted in Providence for the next. Mr. Combs tried to live in San Francisco, but the bleak winds and close con- finement to business drove him from that side of the bay to this. Here he engaged in the saddlery business without capital and not in robust health. Gradually, disease told upon him and he could not give that attention to his affairs that was necessary to make them successful. After a while he was solicited to accept the position of Justice of the Peace for Alameda Township. He consented, and has held the office for two years. Latterly he has tried cases while lying upon his bed of sickness. The people found in him an excellent officer and were determined to keep him as long as his life lasted. He was just in the prime of life, only forty-two years of age."

The " Fell Reaper" gathered into his fold on this year another gentleman, who, perhaps more than any other, is identified with the history of Alameda Township. W. W. Chipman, who died November 16, 1873, was a remarkably active man; always immersed in land matters, as well for himself as his clients. He literally died in harness. Years ago, when the Encinal de San Antonio was a wilderness, Chipman and Aughinbaugh-then both men of means and indomitable energy-bought the greater portion of the town and started gigantic improvements-roads, wharves, dykes, and bridges-which, had they been completed, would have made Alameda famous years before. Too sanguine of ultimate and speedy success, and consequent fortune, these pioneers worked up all their own means and then commenced to borrow on their landed interests. This was in the days when money commanded four and five per cent. a month. Ere they could realize their fondly cherished wishes, disaster came in the shape of foreclosures and they soon found themselves reduced from landed millionaires to possessors of a' few paltry acres. The late Charles Minturn became the purchaser of his large tracts about this time, which he held almost intact until the day of his death. Now they are passing, or have passed, into other people's posses- sion, by foreclosures of mortgages made by him in the early days of their purchase, and upon which he had been paying heavy rates of interest for many long years- always hoping, even against hope, for a rise in value which would clear them of their incumbrances. Had he lived a year longer in sound health, his hope might have been brought into full fruition. Both these men-Minturn and Chipman-had wonderful confidence in the brilliant future of Alameda, where both hoped to retire upon a foot- ing independent of the world and its vicissitudes. Alas for human foresight and

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

human calculation-the riches of both men are to-day embraced in a few feet of land in the charnel-house of the Quiet City!

1874 .- On January 6, 1874, certain amendments to the Town Charter were directed by the Board of Trustees to be sent to the Alameda delegation of the Legis- lature with the request that they be passed, while on the 3Ist these amendments were discussed in mass-meeting assembled.

In the year 1871, a highway was opened from the peninsula to the main-land by way of Webster Street. On March 17, 1874, a resolution was introduced and adopted requesting the Board of Supervisors to take such action as would be necessary to secure the enactment of a law giving said Board full control of the bridge and road- way, the President of the Board of Trustees being requested to secure the co-operation of the Council of the city of Oakland to that end. To this the latter body would appear to have objected, for we find the Alameda Trustees passed, May 11, 1875, the following :-

Resolved, That the copy of a resolution purporting to have been passed by the Common Council of the city of Oakland, and certified by H. Hillebrand, City Clerk, May 10, 1875, be returned by the Clerk of this Board to the said Common Council, and that this Board regards the threat embodied in, and the style of, the resolution as uncalled for and unbecoming the city of Oakland.

Accordingly the original resolution was duly returned to the civic dignitaries of Oakland, the intention of which was the repair of the bridge and the willingness of Alameda to defray one-half of the expense. The bridge was subsequently repaired as intended in the first instance. Again, in 1877, the Webster-street Bridge was declared in an unsafe condition by the Oakland Common Council, and the co-opera- tion of the Board of Trustees oi the town of Alameda requested. On August 28th the latter body appointed a committee to inspect, who reported that an outlay of one thousand five hundred dollars would be necessary, upon which the following motion was carried :-

Resolved, That the Clerk be and he is hereby instructed to inform the City Council of the city of Oakland that this Board appreciates the necessity of repairing the Webster-street Bridge, but that there is no money in the town treasury which can be applied to that purpose; and that the Charter of the town prohibits this Board from contracting any debt against the town except there be money in the treasury to pay the same.

It may be mentioned that up to the year 1871 the only wagon outlet from Ala- meda was by way of Park Street to Brooklyn (East Oakland), or by High Street to the county road. During that year an Act was passed by the Legislature authorizing the issuing of bonds to obtain money to construct a bridge over San Antonio Creek, and a roadway across the marsh to connect with Webster Street. This road opened up a route that has done much for the town. There is now an enormous travel over it, and it is the shortest and most direct thoroughfare from Alameda to Oakland.

On April 10, 1874, the President of the Board of Trustees having called Mr. Ellery to the chair, announced the death of Jabish Clement, Esq., late one of the Board, and paid an appreciative and impressive tribute to his memory, finishing his address by offering the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, and speak for the high character of the man :-

Resolved, That we have received intelligence of the sudden and premature death of Jabish Clement, a worthy member of this Board, with feelings of profound regret for ourselves and of heartfelt sorrow for the stricken family of the deceased.

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Resolved, That the deceased, in all the relations of life, sustained a reputation, blameless and irreproachable, and that in his death this Board has lost one of its most able, industrious, and influential members; the town, one of its most useful and public-spirited citizens; the Bar an honorable, worthy, and most promising member; and his family a considerate and devoted husband and father.

Resolved, That we extend to the family of the deceased our warmest sympathy in this dark hour of their bereavement, and counsel them to take consolation in the reflection that a blameless life must have secured a bliss - ful future.

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of this Board and that the Clerk transmit a copy of them to the family of the deceased.

In regard to the officials of the town themselves, we find that Mr. Mastick resigned his seat at the Board of Trustees on February 24, 1874, and was succeeded by Nathaniel Page, while at the election of May 5th the following result was attained : Henry Robinson, E. B. Mastick, Alonzo Green, Eppes Ellery, William H. Wenck, Board of Trustees; H. H. Haight, Cyrus Wilson, School Directors; Thomas A. Smith, Treasurer; E. Minor Smith, Assessor and Superintendent of Streets; and, June 1 1th, John Ellsworth to be Clerk vice Briggs, who, in turn, was succeeded by Lyttleton Price in that office on September 29th.

On October 5th the tax levy was fixed for the year 1874-1875 as under :

General Fund. Street Sprinkling Fund. School Bond Interest Fund School Fund. .25

.25 cents on the $100 .05 .05

Total 60 cents on the $100.

In 1874 the Board of Trustees built a great many sidewalks in the town. To some it appeared to be an unnecessary outlay, but the wisdom of the act became apparent, as the town settled up rapidly, and the sidewalks that in some cases had been constructed in front of vacant property very soon were trod by newly acquired inhabitants. Of the streets, Central and Pacific Avenues were the only thoroughfares for many years that were improved. They, however, were pleasant drives, and the bulk of the travel passed over them; but in 1874 streets were to be found in every quarter bearing names to suit the tastes of the original owners of the property, but which the Trustees periodically changed to those considered more appropriate; thus, on May 5th of this year, we find them ordering the fishy cognomens of Dolphin, Pike, Salmon, with front streets to be altered to Minturn, Union, Lafayette, and Schiller Streets.

1875 .- It was resolved on March 9, 1875, by the Town Trustees:

"That habitual intemperance on the part of any employe of this Board shall be deemed sufficient cause for dismissal. Drinking of intoxicating liquors, 'treating' or being 'treated' at any bar or saloon by any policeman, regular or special, while on duty, shall be deemed sufficient canse for removal from office."

And April 6th, an ordinance ordering all public houses to be closed between mid- night and 5 A. M. was passed.

The officers elected for the year 1875-76 were: Henry Robinson, E. B. Mastick, William H. Wenck, Eppes Ellery, Alonzo Green, Board of Trustees; J. W. Clark, C. G. Mead, School Directors; Thomas A. Smith, Treasurer; E. Minor Smith, Assessor and Superintendent of Streets; Lyttleton Price, Clerk.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

On September 7, 1875, a franchise was granted to Littledale and Goldthwaite to erect a wharf at the foot of Peach Street, for a term of fifteen years, the Board of Trustees reserving the right to regulate tolls and charges; while, on the 4th October, the name of Euclid Street was changed to Webster Street, that which it now bears.

The taxes fixed to be levied for the year 1875-76 were announced October 4th, and are as follows :-

General Fund.

. 14 cents on the $100

Street Sprinkling Fund. School Bond Interest Fund.

.IO

.05

School Fund .. 25 66

Total 55 cents on the $100.

It may be interesting to note that on the 20th March of this year the first car of the Alameda, Oakland, and Piedmont Railroad was received in the town and placed on the track; and, that in the month of June the Alameda Harmonic Society was inaugurated, and the following named officers elected, who were empowered to make arrangements for the selection and purchase of suitable grounds on which to erect a Music Hall, viz., Adolph Mayrisch, President; Dr. Eichler, Vice-President; C. Volberg, Secretary; Fritz Boehmer, Treasurer; Mr. Kustel, Jr., Librarian; Messrs. W. H. Wenck, Conrad Liese, and William Holtz, Building Committee.

We close the chronicles of the year 1875 with the statement that the magnificent High School building was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on the 30th Octo- ber

1876 .- On May 22, 1876, James L. Bissell and his associates received the author- ization of the Board of Trustees to lay gas-pipes throughout the town of Alameda; while in the matter of streets, an ordinance regulating the manner of laying sidewalks, and of what they should be composed, was passed. August Ist, it was unanimously resolved,

"That all streets in Alameda running easterly and westerly shall be a uniform width of not less than seventy- five feet, and those streets intersecting shall be a uniform width of not less than sixty feet. That every street opened hereafter shall be made to accord with the above-mentioned proportions, and that the streets already opened be altered, where necessary, to suit said measurements, as rapidly as considerations of equity and justice will allow."

All of which was proceeded with without delay. On December 26th, E. H. Miller presented to the Board a deed dedicating to the town of Alameda, for public use as streets, highways, and avenues, all those parcels of land in said town designated as thoroughfares on a map of Oak Park, Encinal of Alameda, Alameda County, Califor- nia, 1876, as recorded in the County Recorder's office in Book Number One of maps.

Up to the year 1876, it would appear that the town had been without any regu- lar fire organization. On September 26th, however, the enrollment of a Fire Com- pany was reported to the Board of Trustees, and its willingness to take charge of any apparatus which the town might intrust to it. The tender was duly accepted, and on January 6, 1877, the purchase of a lot on Webster Street whereon to build an engine- house was authorized, while, on April 11th, hydrants were reported ready for use (the first in the town) at the corners of Bay Street and Central Avenue, Bay Street and

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ALAMEDA TOWNSHIP.

Pacific Avenue, Grand Street and Central Avenue, and Grand Street and Pacific Avenue. On December 9, 1879, the purchase of a bell, one thousand pounds weight, was ordered, but it was not until October 19, 1880, that the Fire Department of Ala- meda was created. At this time the town was divided into two Fire Districts: the portion lying east of the center line of Grand Street being constituted District Number One, and that part of the town lying west of said line, District Number Two. On November 16th, Citizen Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1; Thompson Hose Com- pany, No. 1; and West End Engine Company, No. 2, were admitted into the Depart- ment; and, on December 7th, arrangements were entered into with Captain R. R. Thompson to furnish all the water for fire purposes and for flushing sewers, and to give the use of his pressure-engine for all fire purposes for two dollars and fifty cents per month for each fire-hydrant, commencing from December 1, 1880, while he was in addition to establish a telephone line from Encinal Station to Webster Street. June 21, 1881, Whidden Hose Company, No. 2 (late West End Engine Company, No. 1); Central Hose Company, No. 3, and Pacific Hose Company, No. 4, were admitted into the Department.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 54

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