USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 57
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
lington were appointed Trustees. School commenced August 1, 1870, with W. H. Mason as Principal, and Miss Robinson as Assistant. Mr. Mason failing to obtain a certificate from the County Board of Examination, was dismissed, and W. H. Granger substituted as Principal, October 1, 1870. School opened for a new term January 3, 1871, with same teachers, and closed March Ist. April 29th, Henry Robinson, Cyrus Wilson, and F. K. Krauth were elected for three, two, and one year respectively. Mr. C. Howe was appointed as Principal, and Miss Belle Glennon, assistant; term com- menced May 15th. F. K. Krauth was appointed Census Marshal. September 23d, Mr. Howe resigned his position as Principal. J. W. Bones was awarded contract to build an additional class-room at a cost of nine hundred and seventy-five dollars. October 8th, W. W. Stone was elected Principal. November 18th, a special election was held to decide as to levying a tax of sixteen hundred dollars. Result-sixty-four votes for, and twelve against the tax. December 18th, Miss Matilda Lynch appointed to teach intermediate class just organized. With this action the Board closed its term, in accordance with the Act to incorporate the Town of Alameda.
ENCINAL SCHOOL DISTRICT .-- Was segregated from Alameda District in 1860, and comprised that portion of Alameda Township lying west of Willow Street. Dr. Henry Gibbons, at that time County Superintendent of Schools, appointed C. L. Fitch, Louis Fassking, and J. D. Brower as Trustees, and they organized a school in an old "squatter's" cabin, twelve by twenty feet, on the Power's Tract (Railroad Avenue, near St. Mary Street) with Miss A. E. Powers as teacher, and nineteen scholars in attendance. Under Miss Power's management the school was carried on until 1865, when William Crowhurst was placed in charge. In 1865 the lot upon which the Encinal School House now stands, one hundred and fifty by three hundred feet, at the corner of Bay Street and Santa Clara Avenue, was by deed of gift conveyed by Mrs. Mary A. Fitch to the town for school purposes, and the main portion of the present building erected at a cost of about two thousand dollars. During the school year of 1866-67, Misses Susan W. Porter, Clara B. Porter, and S. Barker taught the class, and in 1867-68 Miss Flora Smith had charge. In 1869 an addition was made to the build- ing at a cost of some sixteen hundred dollars, and at this time the total valuation of school property in the district was six thousand dollars. The school was then graded and Miss Clara B. Porter appointed Principal, with Miss S. A. Penwell as assistant. During the year 1870-71 no report was filed with the County Superintendent, but in 1871-72 we find A. J. Farley, Principal, and Miss Emma Frick, assistant. In May, 1872, the control of this district was vested in the Board of Education as provided for in the Charter of the town. The records of this district were lost in the fire that destroyed Mr. Fassking's house in 1874, and the foregoing general information is gleaned from annual reports of the Trustees to the County Superintendent.
UNDER THE INCORPORATION .- By authority of the Act of Incorporation of the Town of Alameda, the Board of School Directors elected under its provisions, met and organized May 20, 1872. The names of the Directors and terms of office were as follows: Dr. William P. Gibbons and William Holtz, elected to serve three years, Nathan Porter and Cyrus Wilson, two years, and Fred. Hess and F. K. Krauth one
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year. Dr. Gibbons was elected President, and F. K. Krauth President pro tem. June 19th, W. H. Porter, Census Marshal, reported the number of children between the ages of five and fifteen years as 347-176 boys and 171 girls. June 26th, W. W. Stone, reappointed Principal of Alameda School, with Misses Tillie Lynch and. Belle Glennon as assistants. Miss Fannie E. Bennett appointed Principal of Encinal School, and Miss Emma Frick assistant. The Board estimated that six thousand five hundred dollars would be required for school purposes for the ensuing year. Febru- ary 6, 1873, Board reported amount required to be raised for school purposes for ensuing school year as eight thousand five hundred and fifty dollars. February 15th, W. W. Stone, Principal of Alameda School, resigned, and Mr. E. Rosseau was appointed to fill the vacancy. May 21st, M. W. Peck and F. Boehmer elected to serve as Directors for three years, took their seats, Messrs. Hess and Krauth retiring. Dr. W. P. Gibbons re-elected President, and Cyrus Wilson elected President pro tem. Director Nathan Porter resigned, and Geo. O. Smith, Jr., elected to fill vacancy. June 6th, Mr. J. Browne elected Principal of Alameda School. Miss Tillie L. Lynch first assistant and Mrs. H. R. Clinton second assistant. June 1Ith, Mrs. Fannie E. Ben- nett and Emma Frick retained as Principal and assistant of Encinal School. Report of W. H. Porter, Census Marshal, shows 405 children between the ages of five and fifteen years. July 30th, Mrs. H. R. Clinton, second assistant teacher of Alameda School, resigned. Miss Belle Glennon elected Principal of the primary department of Alameda School, with Miss Dita Hopkins as assistant. September 27th, Miss Glennon resigned, and J. Browne, Principal of. Alameda School, leaves town and the school without notice to the Board. Miss Carrie Havens appointed substitute teacher in the Principal's department, and Mrs. Regina Maney in the primary department of said school, during the pleasure of the Board. January 14, 1874, Miss Dita Hopkins, of the Alameda School, was reported ill, and Miss Sarah D. Barry appointed as sub- stitute. April 13th, teachers of Encinal School dismissed. May 6th, H. H. Haight and Cyrus Wilson took their places as members of the Board, Mr. Haight in place of Mr. Smith, term expired, and Mr. Wilson re-elected. Dr. Gibbons and Mr. Wilson re-elected President and President pro tem. June 3d, Miss Carrie Havens appointed Principal of Alameda School, and Miss Dora Barrett placed in charge of intermedi- ate department, and Miss Frances Barrett of primary department. Miss Emma
Frick elected teacher of primary and intermediate department of Encinal School. June 17th, a room was engaged in Boehmer's building, corner Park Street and Santa Clara Avenue, for High School purposes, and Mr. C. T. Johns elected Principal. Mr. E. L. Knowlton elected Principal of Encinal School. July 3d, Miss Emma Frick resigned her position in the Encinal School. F. K. Krauth, Census Marshal, reported 502 children between five and fifteen years of age. July 15th, Miss Cordelia Kirk- land elected to fill vacancy occasioned by resignation of Miss Frick. August 26th, plans and specifications for a High School building advertised for. September 2d, Miss M. E. Wheeler was appointed to fill vacancy in Encinal School, and Mrs. Martha Rayle in Alameda School. October 23d, High School lot on Santa Clara Avenue, purchased at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. October 28th, lot pur- chased on Second Avenue, for Primary School purposes, one thousand two hundred dollars. January 20, 1875, Miss Annie Murphy appointed assistant teacher in
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Encinal School, vice Miss Wheeler resigned. February 17, 1875, contract to erect High and Primary (West End) School buildings awarded to C. H. Foster. May 17, 1875, L. G. Mead and J. W. Clark presented certificates of election as members of the Board, vice Messrs. Gibbons and Holtz. H. H. Haight was elected President, and Cyrus Wilson re-elected President pro tem. June 2d, West End Primary School build- ing finished and accepted. June 2d, the following named teachers were elected to posi- tions in the department: C. T. Johns, Principal of High School; E. L. Knowlton, Principal Encinal School; Miss Cordelia Kirkland, Principal of West End School; Miss E. Powell, assistant in Encinal School. July 7th, C. L. Metzgar appointed Principal of Alameda School, with Mrs. Martha Rayle as first assistant, and Miss Frances C. Barrett second assistant; also, Miss Carrie Havens as assistant teacher of High School. October 13th, a new Primary School (the Park Street School) was organized, and Miss Sarah D. Barry elected teacher of the same. March 29, 1876, Mr. Theodore Bradley was elected Superintendent of Public Schools, at a salary of forty dollars per month. May 10th, Messrs. Adolph Mayrisch and B. F. Baker pre- sented certificates of election and assumed the offices, Messrs. Boehmer and Peck retiring. Governor Haight and Cyrus Wilson were re-elected as President and President pro tem of the Board. Miss Kirkland resigned the position of teacher of West End Pri- mary School, and Miss Frances C. Barrett was appointed in her stead. Mr. Theodore Bradley was elected as "visiting teacher" at a salary of sixty dollars a month. Miss Mary E. Wheeler was elected second assistant teacher in the Alameda School, and Miss E. Powell as assistant in Encinal School. Junie 2Ist, position of High School Principal declared vacant, and Mr. A. F. Craven elected to fill the vacancy. Miss Wheeler pro- moted to the position of first assistant of Alameda School, and Miss Lizzie Cheney appointed as second assistant. December 30th, John Ellsworth, Census Marshal, reports 783 children between the ages of five and fifteen years. January 13, 1877, Mrs. M. F. L'Hote was elected to succeed Mrs. Powell as assistant in Encinal School, and Miss Lulu Kervan placed in charge of West End Primary School. May 31st, J. D. Sweet presented his credentials, and took the place of H. H. Haight, term expired. Cyrus Wilson was elected President of the Board, and J. W. Clark Presi- dent pro tem. Robert Kirk, Census Marshal, reported 980 children entitled to school privileges. July 21st, Theodore Sohlke was elected teacher of German in the High School. Miss Taney appointed teacher in the German Department of the High School. December 29th, Miss Sarah D. Barry resigned the position of teacher of the Park Street Primary School, and Miss Minnie G. Millington was appointed to fill the vacancy.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ALAMEDA .- This church was organized by Rev. James McGowan in his own house, the small congregation worshiping in a tent. In 1854 the Rev. William Taylor bought a lot situated at the corner of Mound and Jackson Streets of to-day, donated it to the society, and on it was erected a house of worship which was duly dedicated on the 24th May of that year. The first pastor by appointment of the Conference was the Rev. David Deal, who was succeeded by his brother, William Grave Deal, who gave place to Professor Edward Bannister, who served both as principal of the school and pastor of the church. As the years went
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ALAMEDA TOWNSHIP.
on the church was kept open, but it was getting pecuniarily involved, but in 1857 one of its members, Captain J. N. Webster, liquidated the debt to the amount of three thousand one hundred dollars, but this not putting it on a firm financial basis, its entire extinguishment was undertaken and carried out by Mr. and Mrs. John Gunn. With the coming of the railroad to the town a center of interest was created in the direction of Park Street; it was therefore thought expedient to remove the church to a more central location, which was duly effected during the pastorate of Rev. William Hulbert. As population increased the accommodation in the building became too confined for the size of the congregation; therefore under the regime of the Rev. Mr. Tower the erection of the present commodious church edifice was commenced, he having received subscriptions sufficient to cover costs. Financial pressure and many removals shrank the available donations to a small figure, in consequence of which a debt of two thousand dollars was left to encumber and paralyze the society. Rev. H. B. Heacock, who succeeded Mr. Tower, followed up the subscriptions with his accustomed energy, but they could not be collected. Under the pastorate of Rev. T. S. Dunn, the church had considerable prosperity but the debt remained unreduced. During the last Conference year it was liquidated in a quiet way by the generous contributions of friends within and without, and the society now needs only a parson- age to make it one of the most desirable charges, in all respects, in the State. Among the early members and staunch friends of the church we find the names of James McGowan and wife, John Gunn and wife, A. S. Barber and wife, Father and Mother Moses, Captain J. N. Webster-who served the church as chorister for twenty-one consecutive years, Mrs. David Deal, and Mrs. Bannister. A number of Presbyterians, among whom were the venerable Thomas Hopkins, Judge Hastings and wife, and others, having no services of their own, were for a number of years among the most liberal supporters of the church. The lot on which the edifice stands is situated at the corner of Park Street and Central Avenue, and was acquired mainly through the energy and address of Mrs. William Taylor and Mrs. John Gunn. For three years past the society has rented a parsonage contiguous to the church property.
The following has been the order in which the different pastors have served: James McGowan, local preacher, who organized the church; David Deal; William Grove Deal; Professor (afterwards doctor) Edward Bannister; A. Higby; William Gaffney; W. S. Urmy; Charles Northrup; John Daniel (deceased); Charles Rich; William Hulbert; - Tower; H. B. Heacock; T. S. Dunn; and M. C. Briggs, the present incumbent.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALAMEDA .- This church was organized with twelve members on November 5, 1865, the society being incorporated, however, on the 25th September of the previous year, but services were held in the old Alameda school house as early as June 1864. The first regularly installed pastor was the Rev. Frank L. Nash, who, having previously supplied the church for a year, was inducted, April, 1867, and so continued until June 3, 1868. During his pastorate the church building was completed at a cost of eight thousand dollars, and dedicated March 8, 1868. The Revs. Graham, Webb, and Ijams supplied the pulpit for various periods lasting about three years, and in October, 1874, Rev. Rodney L. Tabor, the present
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
incumbent, came from the Eastern States to serve the church. The society has made extensive improvements in its church building, and built a commodious parsonage, while upon the property there is not a dollar of debt. The church membership actual and on the ground numbers ninety-one; there being an average attendance of one hundred and seventy at morning service and sixty in the evening. Connected with the church there is a flourishing Sabbath-school of one hundred and fifty members; three societies and a Ladies Aid Society, all in an excellent growing condition.
GARDEN CITY LODGE, NO. 1745, K. OF H .- This lodge was organized August 29, 1879, with the following charter members: W. H. Loomis, R. Wheeler, Thomas Collie, A. J. Bancroft, Texas Angel, H. A. Thompson, Jo. Lancaster, A. Anderson, I. B. Merritt, C. F. Carlson, L. Ford, H. A. Nahl, H. Koever, D. B. Taylor, A. Innis, James Cook. The first officers were: W. H. Loomis, Past Dictator; R. Wheeler, Dictator; Thomas Collie, Vice-Dictator; A. J. Bancroft, Assistant Dictator; Texas Angel, Reporter; H. A. Thompson, Finance Reporter; Jo. Lancaster, Treasurer; D. F. Coey, Chaplain; I. B. Merritt, Guide; A. Anderson, Guardian; C. F. Carlson, Sen- tinel; W. H. Loomis, Medical Examiner. The membership now is fifty-two, while the officers for the current term are: Jo. Lancaster, Past Dictator; Isaac Moore, Dictator; L. Wellendorf, Vice-Dictator; D. B. Taylor, Assistant Dictator; Henry Mohns, Finance Reporter; Hermann Ernst, Reporter; E. B. Renshaw, Treasurer; John Yablonsky, Guide; William Simpson, Chaplain; O. F. Westphal, Guardian; Ole Jensen, Sentinel The lodge meets on the last Thursday of each month in Odd Fellows' Hall, Alameda. and is in a flourishing condition.
WEST END LOLGE, NO. 175, A. O. U. W .- This lodge was organized June 21, 1880, the following being the charter members: David Altvater, Charles Bochse, W. P. Byler, H. C. Ballheimer, J. C. Bruhns, A. T. Baker, J. B. Finley, L. S. Godfrey, P. F. Gochnauer, Ad. Hecker, Nels. Holm, Jacob Lenz, Louis Probst, Will. Ramm, Geo. O. Smith, Jr., John Quast, John Schomborg, Theo. Steinmetz, L. J. F. Schutenhaus. . E. L. Knowlton, H. Traube, C. C. Volberg. The charter officers were: Sam. Orr, P. M. W .; Will. Holtz, M. W .; John Conrad, Foreman; Hermann Bremer, Jr., O .; H. Mc- Goun, Recd .; Henry Gripp, Rec .; W. H. Moller, Guide; Geo. Relfe, I. W .; Fred. Benn, O. W. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and is composed of forty-five members, the officers for the current year being, M. H. Hackett, P. M. W .; H. McGoun, M. W .; P. Z. Nauman, Foreman; Jacob Lenz, O .; H. C. Ballhermer, Recd .; Will. Holtz, Fin .; C. C. Volberg, Rec .; A. R. Denke, Guide; W. P. Byler, I. W .; John Schomborg, O. W. Meets every Monday evening at Holtz' Hall, West End, Alameda.
ALAMEDA COUNCIL, NO. 192, A. L. OF H .- This lodge was organized March 24, 1881, the following being the charter members :- E. T. Barnes, A. Victors, E. J. Dodge, H. Kosminsky, I. Manheim, J. E. Baker, A. Cheminant, C. J. Moyes, C. F. Lewis, G. P. Reynolds, J. Wightman, J. Yablonsky, Annie Yablonsky, R. Gibbons, J. B. Vos- burgh, G. C. Vandal, H. Michaels, Alfred Bannister, Henry Deas, L. Beck, D. A. Cords, Mrs. S. A. Downes, F. C. Jordan, S. R. Chappel, W. Simson. The first officers to serve were, J. E. Baker, Commander; E. J. Dodge, Vice-Commander; H. Kosminsky,
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ALAMEDA TOWNSHIP.
Orator; E. T. Barnes, Past Commander; D. A. Cords, Secretary; A. Victors, Collector; I. Manheim, Treasurer; J. B. Vosburgh, Chaplain; C. J. Moyes, Guide; J. Yablonsky, Warden; A. Cheminant, Sentry; J. Whitman, G. C. Vandal, R. Gibbons, Trustees. There are at present thirty-one members on the roll, and the under-mentioned officers: H. Kosminsky, Commander; Mrs. A. Cheminant. Vice-Commander; A. S. Cheminant, Orator; R. Gibbons, Secretary; I. Manheim, Treasurer; A. Victors, Collector; E. T. Barnes, Chaplain; C. F. Reynolds, Guide; H. Deas, Warden; Mrs. Yablonsky, Sentry; D. A. Cords, J. E. Ager, Mrs. Vosburgh, Trustees. Meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month in Odd Fellows' Hall, northwest corner of Park Street and Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda.
WHIDDEN HOSE COMPANY, NO. 2, ALAMEDA FIRE DEPARTMENT .- This com- pany was organized June 16, 1881, with the following charter members : G. W. Wheeler, F. Holtz, J. Conrad, C. Boehse, J. Ball, F. Benn, H. Bemer, O. A. Bemer, A. Denke, J. Edwards, L. Encinas, P. L. Gochnauer, T. Guillett, A. Hecker, W. Holtz, H. Kustel, G. Kreith, W. H. Moller, M. W. Mathiesen, L. Probst, O. Rogers, C. Sturm, H. Schoe- nau, W. Schulte, W. G. Stahl, its first officers being, G. W. Wheeler, Foreman; W. G. Stahl, First Assistant; F. Holtz, Second Assistant; J. Conrad, Secretary; C. Boehse, Treasurer; W. Holtz, H. Kustel, W. H. Moller, Trustees. There are on the roll twenty-five active and twelve honorary members, with the following office-bearers : G. W. Wheeler, Foreman; O. Rogers, First Assistant; L. Schoenau, Second Assistant; J. Conrad, Secretary; C. Boehse, Treasurer. The company meets on the first Thurs- day of each month, at their quarters on Webster Street, between Pacific and Railroad Avenues, Alameda.
ALAMEDA OIL WORKS .- This enterprise was established in the year 1868, by Samuel Orr, and by him continued ever since. He at first started in the manufacture of castor, cocoanut, and linseed oil, but for the last seven years has confined himself to the production of the cocoanut-oil, of which he produces about three hundred tons per annum. The premises are situated in that part of the town of Alameda known as Woodstock, not far from Alameda Point. The establishment is supplied with a twenty horse-power engine and the necessary hydraulic presses.
PACIFIC COAST OIL COMPANY .- This company was established in 1880, and erected their large refinery at Woodstock, near Alameda Point, where petroleum oils are refined, the crude oil being imported from other counties of the coast, as good an article being manufactured as is to be found in the Eastern States. The officers are, C. N. Felton, President; D. G. Scofield, Auditor; L. D. Fisk, Secretary. Office at 402 Montgomery Street, San Francisco.
ALAMEDA PLANING MILL .- This establishment, situated on Encinal Avenue, between Oak and Walnut Streets, was started April 1, 1882, and occupies one hun- dred by two hundred and forty feet of ground. It is provided with molding-rack, engine and boiler house, a fifty horse-power engine, steam-pump, etc., and gives employ- ment to fifteen workmen. The business done averages about twenty-five thousand dollars per annum. John A. Boin is the proprietor.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ENCINAL LUMBER YARD .- Renton, Holmes & Co., proprietors, N. B. Renshaw, manager, is situated at the corner of Oak Street and Encinal Avenue, and occupies an area embraced in three hundred feet frontage and one hundred and fifty feet depth, with capacity of storing three million feet of lumber, most of which is imported from Puget Sound, and Mendocino and Humboldt Counties. The enterprise was started in 1878, by the present proprietors, on their present location.
SCHUTZEN PARK .- These excursion grounds, situated in Alameda, were opened to the public early in the year 1868, and are the property of the Schutzen Loan and Building Society. They comprise between seven and eight acres of land, and con- tain all the necessary apparatus to make it a place of resort and picnic grounds. There are a dancing-pavilion, swings, shooting-ranges, etc., all being leased by Capt. George Cantus, a gentleman well known all over the State of California.
NEWPORT SWIMMING BATHS .- These, the pioneer baths of Alameda, were started in the year 1877, by Mr. Salara, but in February, 1878, he sold out to J. P. Wonderlich, who at once commenced elaborate improvements, which have been continued up to the present time, no less than twenty-eight thousand dollars having been spent upon them. The grounds are two hundred by six hundred feet. There are two hundred dressing-rooms, twelve hundred bathing-suits, a conservatory with glass sides, with a seating capacity for three hundred persons, and other and many luxuries for this health-giving exercise.
TERRACE BATHS .- This establishment is owned by R. Haley and C. A. Edson, and was commenced in 1878, since when it has been considerably added to. The dam or tank is three hundred by three hundred and fifty feet in dimensions; there are two hundred and forty dressing-rooms, and several rooms for hot salt-water baths, while there are on hand no fewer than four thousand bathing-suits. No less than twelve hundred private suits are kept here for the accommodation of regular customers, while the entire premises are lighted by twenty-two gas-lamps, each having an eighty-candle power. The manager is R. Haley.
LONG BRANCH SWIMMING BATHS .- This is the largest of the famous Alameda swimming-baths, with comfortable rooms and elegantly appointed grounds.
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BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.
BROOKLYN TOWNSHIP.
G EOGRAPHY .- Brooklyn Township is bounded on the north by Oakland Town- ship and Contra Costa County, on the east and south by Eden Township, on the west by Alameda Township.
TOPOGRAPHY .- The area of this township is computed to be in the vicinity of twenty-four thousand three hundred and forty-four acres, and extends from Indian Gulch to San Leandro Creek, a distance of about seven miles, and from the bay of San Leandro to the summits of the Contra Costa Range, some eight miles in width. It possesses considerable commercial advantages from the fact that the future Oakland Harbor and the head of the estuary of San Antonio form a part of its western border, the bay of San Leandro also penetrating into the marsh-lands on that side, while the beautiful Lake Merritt divides it from the township of Oakland. In the first years of American occupation the belt of giant redwoods known by the name of San Antonio after the creek up which came the "hewers of wood," was in its pristine vigor; to-day we only see the trunks of these monarchs of the forest, with sapling shoots springing therefrom, giving promise, were they left to attain maturity, of future value. The only piece of native forest-land is to be found on its eastern border. From the waters of the San Antonio back to the hills we have rolling lands of extreme beauty and fertility, which rise in graceful regularity until culminating in the Contra Costa Range, where high up are seen the outlines of deep ravines and well-secluded cañons.
VALLEYS .-- There are no valleys of any magnitude in Brooklyn Township, but several small ones are to be found nestling between the higher foot-hills. Among these Fruit Vale takes the chief place on account of its beauty, salubrity, and fertility.
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