USA > California > Merced County > History of Merced County, California with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 18
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The Banner, of April 14, 1866, says : We notice that Messrs. Nick Breen and Charlio Saw havo completed their joh of setting out the steps and huilding a porch in front of the Court House. It helps the looks of the huilding won- derfully. Would it not he a good movo for the Board of Supervisors at their next meeting to have the whole building repainted and repaired, hoth inside and ont. It certainly needs it very much. Gentlemen of the Board, consider this matter at your next meeting, and we think you will con- clude to havo it done. The Court House is fast going to ruin; the ceiling inside is breaking loose, and the plastering is falling off ; in fact, it requires repairs all over.
REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY-SEAT.
Scarcely had the railroad reached the town of Merced, when the subject of the removal of tho county-seat from Snelling was agitated, though no activo steps were taken in that direction until Octoher of 1872. The subject had been thoroughly canvassed, however, and it was helieved hy the citizens of Merced that at that timo a majority of the peo- plo of the connty favored a removal of the seat of Justice, accordingly a petition was prepared for circulation, asking the Board of Supervisors to order a special election to de- termine the question. Under tho law such a potition was required to contain the names of at least one-third of the registered voters of the county voting at the last preceding rogular election. In a short time the signatures wero se- cured, and the petition was presented at the regular session of the Board in November. Thero heing no alternative, the Board ordered 'a special oloction to submit the question to the voters on Decomber 12th of the same yoar. Then work commenced in earnest.
OPPOSITION TO REMOVAL.
Tho Banner, located at Snelling, naturally championed the claims of that town, while Merced had an activo parti- zau in tho Tribune of that placo. It was a critical period for the young town of Merced. Should it fail to secure a majority of all the votes cast, the county-seat must romain at Snelling, and, under the law, no furthor attempt could be made within two years to doprivo' that placo of the honor.
But if the question was an important one with the Merced- ites, it was a serious one with the Snelling people.
Its young rival, hy virtne of its railroad connection, had already deprived Snelling of a large share of its business, and now to deprive it of the county-seat threatened to alto- gother destroy its importance, and this was not to be thought of withont a struggle, and tho struggle was a heroic, though fruitless one.
As has heen noted, according to the provisions of the Act under which the election was called, to effect the removal it was necessary that a majority of all the votes cast should be in favor of some certain place. It was not necessary that Snelling should have a majority, and this fact inspired its citizens with hope.
To defeat tho pretentious of Merced as a railroad town, the station of Livingstone, consisting of two or three honses, and sitnated some ten miles northward on the line of the S. P. R. R., was placed in the field as a candidate. This manœuvre was credited to the Snelling people, and was a shrowd move, as it not only had a tendency to draw off a large number of votes that otherwise wonld naturally he cast for Merced, hut hy increasing the number of candidates rendered it more difficult for Merced to secure the coveted majority.
RESULT OF THE VOTE.
The campaign was a short hut active and heated one. All the arts usually employed in such a canvass were resorted to, and the result was a surprise to the Mercedites them- selves. The election was held on December 12th, and on the 21st of that month the Board of Supervisors canvassed the vote, and announced the result as follows:
Total number of votes cast. 983
236
Number of votes cast for Livingstone 66 66 Snelling
181
66
Merced . 566-983
From this it will he seeu that Merced had a clear and handsome majority.
MEROED DECLARED THE COUNTY-SEAT.
On the announcement of the result, the Supervisors made au order declaring the town of Morced the connty-seat of Morced county, and invited sealed proposals for removing the hooks of record, court-room furniture, etc., to Merced, and hut little opposition was made to the execution of the ordor.
An injunction was issued hy one of the Courts, hut on reviow the injunction was dismissed, and on the 30th of Decemhor, 1872, tho county officors arrived at Merced, and the removal was an accomplishod fact.
FIRST ROOMS USED BY OFFICIALS.
The county officers occupied at first, in Merced, the rooms over Olcise & Garibaldi's brick building, coruer of
RES. OF W. H. HARTLEY, MERCED, CAL.
.
-
RANCH 2 MILES SOUTH OF MERCED
S9
ERECTION AND DEDICATION OF COURT HOUSE.
Front aud L streets, and afterward, until the new Court House was completed, the lower story of Washington Hall was used.
COURT HOUSE BONDS ISSUED.
In tho session of the Legislature of 1873-4, a bill was passed authorizing the county to issue bonds to an amount not exceeding seveuty-fivo thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting a County Court House, in the town of Merced.
The Supervisors advertised, in 1874, for bids fer the sale of 110 Court House bonds, of the denomination ef $500 each. Messrs. Woods & Freeborn bid for the first lot at $101 373, and their bid was accepted.
ERECTING COURT HOUSE.
The Supervisors having advertised to receive proposals for constructing a Court House and Jail at Merced, opened the bids ou April 2d, 1874, and found them as follows:
J. C. Weir & Co
57,692 00
D. Jordan
58,540 00
Jas. H. Sullivan
Ellsworth & Washburu 57,437 34
A. W . Burrell & Co .. 55,970 00
65,000 00 Childs & Co ...
The contract was awarded to A. W. Burrell & Co.
A. A. Bennett was appointed Commissioner to superiu- tend the construction of the Court House, at a salary of five per cent. upou the total cost of the building.
Tho Court Honse is a grand structure, aud ono of the most substantial public buildings in tbe State. The main building is 60x95 feet, with two stories and a basement, tbo whele surmounted by a large dome. The style is Roman Coriutbian.
LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE.
The cornor stone was laid July 7, 1874, by the Most Wortby Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of California, the ceromonies being witnessed by a large coucourse of people. A procession fermed and marcbed to the Court House Park, iu the following erder: Grand Marshal A. J. Meany, Merced Brass Band, Irish American Benevolent Society, I. O. of O. F. and Free and Accepted Masons. The exercises were opened by music by the band, followed by singing by a choir, composed of Mrs. Dr. Washington, Mrs. Law, Mrs, Conley, Miss Hicks, Miss Tackett aud Messrs. Burrell, Hewell and Geis. After the usnal Masonic ceremonios, P. D. Wiggiuton addressed the assembly. He was followed by a concise and able review of the history of the county by Hon. J. W. Robertson, After music by the choir and band, followed by a prayer by the chaplain, tbo procession was again formed and marched to Masonic Hall. The wbole affair passed off pleasantly, uet an incident occurring to mar the pleasures of the occa- siou. The day's coremouies wound up with a grand ball at tbo El Capitan Hotel, which was well attended. Visitors
were present from Stockton, Modosto and other points. Iu tho casket deposited in tho coruer-stone was placed the fol- lowiug articles:
First-Copies of tho law creating Merced county.
Second-Copies of the law providing for the orection of a Court House for Merced county.
Third-Copies of the Great Register of Mercod county for the years 1871 and 1872.
Fourth-Court Houso bonds.
Fifth-Statement of the total taxable property, and tax levied by Merced county each year since its ergauization.
Sixth-Copies of the Mercod Tribune, San Joaquin Val- ley Argus, San Francisco Bulletin, Examiner, Call, Post aud Chronicle, and Mariposa Gazette.
Seveutb-A complete set of United States coius.
Eighth-A pint of wheat aud barley.
Niuth-Statistical report of school matters.
DEDICATION OF COURT HOUSE,
May 8, 1875, tho Court House was dedicated by appro- priate ceremonics. The meeting was called to order by J. K. Meaus, Chairman of the Board. Tho Supervisors had appointed a committee of promiueut citizons from all parts of the county to examine the building and report the result at the day of dedicatiou. Samuel C. Bates, Secretary of the Committee, read a report iu which they say they "bave thoroughly examined the building, in com- pany with the architect, and are proud to say that the building is complete in all its details, and reflects much credit en the architect, A. A. Beunett, and the contractor, A. W. Bnrrell, and we, as taxpayers of Merced county, congratulato ourselves and tho people generally, that wo have received full value for the money expended, &c."
P. Y. WELCH,
P. CARROLL, SAMUEL C. BATES,
J. F. GOODALE,
P. BENNETT, A. B. ANDERSON,
J. B. SEARS,
DAVID CHEDESTER,
H. J. OSTRANDER, T. W. STUART,
W. J. HARDWICK,
R. REYNOLDS, N. B. STONEROAD,
HOWARD PIERCE,
WM. H. NEILL.
A. STEVENSON,
JAMES CUNNINGHAM, Secretary.
Chairman,
WHEN BONDS ARE DUE,
Section 6, of an Act approved December 22, 1873, en- titled " An Act to provide for the building of and fnruishing a Court House, Offices aud Jail in Merced county, and for improving the Court House grounds, " reads as follows: "In and for the year eighteen hundred and eighty-four, aud each year thereafter until the whole of said bouds are paid, the Board of Supervisors shall levy aud cause te be collected a tax sufficient to pay 10 per cent. of the wbole issue of the bends, and the tax thus levied sball be set apart as a special fund to be known as the Court House Bond and Redemption Fund."
C. H. HUFFMAN, FRANK LARKIN,
$57,888 00
90
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
CAPABILITIES OF MERCED COUNTY.
Character of Soil, Productions, Harvesting Scenes, Cotton Culture, Etc.
SIZE AND LOCATION OF MERCED COUNTY.
The following shows the grants of land in the county, as well as its total area:
Name of Grant.
Name of Confirmee.
No. of acres.
Orestimba
22,175.34
San Luis Gonzaga.
J. P. Pacheco
24,321.43
Sanjon de Santa Rita ..
F. Sobranes.
48,000.00
104,663.16
Area of private grants,
1,155,336 84
Area of publio land ..
1,250,000.00
Total number of acres
Merced county is situated near the center of the State, and comprises a portion of what is knowu throughout the world as the great San Joaquin valley. It is bounded on the north by Stauislaus county, on the east hy Mariposa and Fresno, on the south by Fresuo, and ou the west hy Santa Clara and San Benito.
Its eastern boundaries extend into the foot-hills of the snow-capped Sierras, and its western to the summit of the Coast Range, near Mount Hamilton.
The northern houndary corresponds very nearly with the thirty-eighth degree of uorth latitude, and its southern with the thirty-seventh degree of the same latitude, Longitude one hundred aud twonty-one west from Greenwich runs through the center of the county.
The boundaries have often heen in dispute, and even now are not definitely settled along the line of Stanislaus county.
In the Spring of 1872, Mark Howell, Esq., as County Surveyor, was engaged in running the county boundary line between Merced, Mariposa, Stanislaus, and Tuolumno couu- ties. In May he was ordered to retrace the line between Merced and Mariposa counties, and to make a map of the Survey. He was also authorized to execute a general map of the county, "on the scale of one mile to he inch," which Wan , ompleted the following year, in a creditahle manner.
On July 7, 1873, A. T. Herman, County Surveyor of Santa Clara county, and George H Persin, Deputy Surveyor of Merced, met for he purpose of establishing the boundary line between the two conuties, and satisfa torily completed their work. The water divide of the Mt. Diablo range marks the boundary line of the two counties, which connect for a distance of nineteen miles.
Theboundary line between Morced and Fresno counties, which for several years had heen in dispute, was settled in May, 1873, by the Board of Supervisors of Fresuo county. The county of Fresuo paid oue-half the expeuso incurred
in making tho survey, and Merced the other half. The fol- lowing certificate, filed by Mark Howell, Esq., explains the facts in relation to the settlement of the matter :
." This is to certify that the Board of Supervisors of Fresno county, Cal., have this day made an order accepting the proposition made hy the Board of Supervisors of Merced county, adopting the surveys made hy the Surveyor of Merced county, approved February 5, 1869, and August 8, 1866, hy tho Board of Supervisors of Merced county, on condition that Merced county furnish copies of the maps of said surveys and field notes; and that said order recites that the Board of Suporvisors of Fresuo conuty will order a war- rant drawu in favor of Merced county, ou November next, for $881 22, half of said surveys. Attest my hand and the seal of said Board, 7th of May, 1873. H. DIXON, Clerk."
CHARACTER OF THE SOIL.
The land along all the rivers and streams has heen formed hy the washings of the streams, and is called "river bottom land;" that hetween the "trough " and the foot-hills is called "plain laud;" and from thence to the mountains proper, "foot-hill lands."
We meot with the rolling laud, or " hog wallow," as it has heen called, in all parts of the county. Upon this land a few years ago wild hunch grass grew in abundance, and it was classed too poor for cultivation, but now this same land is considered very fiue wheat land, and has been settled into magnificent farms, and Merced soon will he, if not already, the banner county of the State in wheat productiou.
The valley of the Sau Joaquin differs from an Illinois prairio iu that it has two magnificent mountain ranges for its boundaries-the Sierra Nevadas on the east and the Coast Range ou the west. Being so situated, it is not exposed to severe storms or cold weather, hut has a uniform and de- sirable climate, which, with its rich soil, makes a rich agri- cultural county. Tho subject of Climate is referred to extensively on page 198.
THE ALKALI LANDS.
Alkali spots oceny in some parts of the county. This name is applied, in California, almost indiscriminately, to all soils coutaining an uunsnal amount of soluble mineral soil, whose presence is frequently made apparent by the " effloressence," or blooming ont ou the surface of a white powder or crust, soluble in water. This "alkali " becomes most apparent in dry weather following upon rains or irri- gation. Later in the seasou it usually becomes less per- ceptible, from iutermixture with dust, as well as from the failure of the soil-water to riso uear onough to the surface. The first rain, dissolving the salty substances, carries themu partly into the water courses, hnt chiefly hack into the soil, whence they ariso again at the reoccurrence of dry weather.
Sebastian Nunez
10,166.39
Panoche de San Juan y los Carrisalitos Ursa & Ronco
91
FIRST COURT HOUSE AND COURTS.
CAUSE OF ALKALI SOIL,
Professor Hilgard, in his report to the Board of Regents of the State University, says :
" The immediato soureo of tho 'alkali' is usnally to be found in tho soil-water, which, rising from below and ovap- orating at the surface, deposits thero whatever of dissolved matter it may contain. Sneh water, when reached by dig- ging, is by no means always perceptibly salty or alkaline ; and the same is mostly true of the soil an inch or two be- neath the surface. For, since the soil, acting like a wiek, draws np the soil-water and allows it to evaporate at the sur- face, it is there, of course, that all the dissolved matters acenmnlate, until the solution becomes so strong as to in- jure or kill all useful vegetation. The injury will nsnally be found to. he most severo just at, or near, the crown of the root, where the stem emerges from the soil. Within cer- tain limits, a greater rainfall will bring np a larger amount of alkali; or, if instead of rain, surface irrigation is made to supply an additional amount of water, the same effect will be prodneed; always provided, that the rain-fall or irri- gation does not go so far as to actually wash a portion of the salts definitely heyoud the reach of surface evaporation, into lower strata, from which springs or seepage will carry them into the country drainage."
An analysis of alkaline soils made hy Professor Hilgard, showed as follows: Sulphate of magnesium (epsom salts), 93.2; chloride of pottassium, 0.2; ebloride of sodinm (eom- mon salt), 5.9. Total. 99.3. This alkali was thus shown to consist almost entirely of epsom salts, which explains its in- jnrious action npon vegetation even in small quantities.
These alkali spots are now fast disappearing. Mieh of the land containing them has of late years been plowed np and sown to grain.
RESULTS OF THE CLIMATE.
The following description is given ns by a patron, and aptly describes the situation of soil and climate. It is dated in March: The seene is not overdrawn, and thore are thousands of acres of unoccupied Government lands in the State which ean he obtained and easily brought to the state of perfection that characterizes the pretty home which the correspondent graphically describes :
" A few miles from the bay window where we write, the snow-covored heads of the Sierra Nevada mountains stand ont clear and sharp against the eastern sky. Here in the foot-hills, fucbias, geraninms aud roses, are bright with half- opon bnds and blossoms. In the closet are crisp, hard quinces of last year's crop; along the borders the quiuee trees are thiekly covered with blossoms. The purest erystal waters come leaping from the hearts of the hills, and all the meadows laugh with the gayest-colored flowers. Humming- birds aud swallows, calla-lillies and verbenas, orange trees,
lime trees, lemon trees, are all mixed up in sweet confusion. Yondor are olive trees in perpetual green, and a little fur- tber, English walnuts and grape vines, with leaf-hnds fast swelling. The apple treos do not beliove summer time has eome, and patiently bide thoir timo and seasou, but peaches and aprieots and nectarines are tossing to the breeze sweet- est perfumes. Fig trees generously give three crops a year, and in these early Mareh days have pushed ont all along their naked arms hundreds of figs as large as an infant's thumb. Pomegranates, almonds and Newtowu pippins grow in the same border as peaceably as if they had been life- long friends. Oleanders and sweet cassia trees are from ten to twenty feet high, ont of doors all winter. Down the gar- den walk I see blackberries, raspberries, currants and goose- herries. There, also, are half-growu strawberries. In the vegetable gardens the beet, carrot and cabbage, do not seem to know when summer leaves off, and so they keep on grow- ing all the year, until surprised ont of all propriety by be- ing rudely pulled and thrust into market.
PLEASANT HOME SCENE,
Down the bill slope thero is one aere of alfalfa and red clover six inches high which gives three erops, and furnishes an average of eight tons a year of sweet and tender hay. Around these houlder rocks are grape vines that every year rejoice in ten-ponnd clusters of perfect frnit. A little fur- ther along, against the fence, is a seven-your old vine, three feet bigh, with three or fonr short arms from its head, that annnally bears one hundred pounds of grapes. There is a pateh of raisin grapes, three years old; the old wood, three inches in diameter, headed three feet from the ground, with triangular frames around them to support the fruit. After the children and chickens and wasps had picked at thom last year, they yielded teu pounds each of perfectly luscions dried raisius. The quality and quantity of pears, plums and cherries, is to us so marvelous we dare not riks onr reputation for truthfulness by repeating the items as they were told to us.
Around the east poreh is a solitary rosebush, trained in festoons, reaching over seventy feet- at that point cut back, because it was eneroaching upon the rights of its neighbor, who was ambitions to sharo the honor of crowning this sweetest of mountain bomes with buds and blossoms."
We wish to add that this description is a picture of the thousands of bomes that it is possible, with a little perse- verance aud wisely directed industry, to build np in this sunny elime. The owners of this paradise are working peo- ple. The wife is equally at homo in tho kitehen, nursery or chicken yard, at the piano or in the parlor. The husband is the son of a Puritan sire, and a pioneer Californian, who, in addition to his daily work, has used the early morning hours to transform this rocky hillside into a fruitful flower- erowned paradise.
92
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
Rodeos, or Cattle Gatherings.
As early as the first settlement of California, cattle were introduced from Spain and Mexico. But little attontion was paid to milk or butter; cattie of every description and age ran wild together. They soon multiplied, and in great herds grazed npon the hills and roamed over the valleys. They were used only for their hides and tallow, as there was no market for the meat. For many years this was the chief article of export and commodity of trade. Whole herds were slaughtered upon the fields, the hides and tallow car- ried away, and the carcass left where the animal was slain.
These cattle resembled wild heasts of the forests more than cows; they were generally of a yellowish-brown or drab color, with large, dark circles around the eyes and nostrils; long, slim legs, and as lank as a honnd and as swift as a deer.
There was on all the cattle ranches a time set apart at cer- tain seasons, generally in the spring of the year, for the purpose of collecting the cattle in order to overlook and connt them, and to hrand the young ones with the mark of the ranch, and perform certain other operations, as well as to accustom them to take the fold and prevent them from running wild.
This was called a rodeo after the old Spanish custom, and was a holiday to all tho inhabitants of the ranch and its vi- cinity. Numbers came from great distances to assist and collect their cattle. A person was appointod to settle dis- pates called "Judge of the Plains."
METHOD OF CAPTURE.
On an occasion of this kind the cattle were driveu into a large ring fold at a wide opening on one sido. This was afterward all closed np, except a small door left for the cattle to he forced ont at. Those to be operated upon were made to escape at this door singly; and when a bull found himself in the open field he nsually made off with the ntmost speed, pursued by a gang of horsemen swinging their lassos in the air, and while in full chase, and when they got within point blank, those foremost throw their lassos, some ronnd the borns, others round the neck, some would entrap a hind leg, others a fore one. They then stop short their well-trained horses and the bull falls as if shot, tumbling heels over head.
In a moment he is seenred by tying the lassos round his legs, and by some of the vaqnoros lying down on his head. In this state the wildest bnll lies perfectly motionless and snffers whatever operation has to be performed almost with- ont making an effort at resistance.
Says L. C. Branch: "I have seen rodeos at my father's place on the Tnolumne river, thongh when quite small, yet I remomber tho circumstancos well. People would come
from all over the ueigbboring country; some even from the Merced river, the San Joaquin, and Tnolnmne."
Iu the npper San Joaquin valley and on the sonthern coast, the herds run almost wild, and they are never touched, as a rule, except when they are hranded or slaughtered. The law of California provides that the ownership of horses and cows shall be proved by the brand; and every spring and fall, in the southern cattle ranches, the herds are driven up, the calves and colts are lassoed, thrown down and branded on the hip with the iron of the owner. When the mark is well burned in, the victim is let loose, with no pleasant impression of human kindness, The herdsman or vaquero is not expected to recognize every one of a thousand head of cattle nnder his charge; but he knows the brand, and by that proves property. When the animal is sold it is lassoed again aud branded on the shoulder, and this mark is called the venta or sale. It is lassoed once more to be slanghtered, that is if killed on the ranch; if driveu off to towu, it may be shot in a corral.
SPRING RODEOS.
Ahout May 1st, the spring rodeos begin. When a rodeo is to be held on any given range, notice is sent out in advance to the meu in charge of neighboring ranges, aud wben the rodeo takes place each of the neighboring ranges will be rep- resented by one or more vaqueros, who assist in the work. Roaming about at will, the cattle of different owners become mingled in the course of a season, aud at the rodeo they are sorted ont and separated. The calves stay with their re- spective mothers, and thins any confusion of ownership re- garding them is prevonted. The calves belonging to the range are brauded while the rodeo is in progress. The cattle and calves belonging to other ranges are then driven off by the agents of their respective owners. One rodeo succeeds another, each on a different range, until all the cattle have been sorted ont and claimed and all the calves branded. In the fall, rodeos are again in order. Each owner has his own private hrand and ear-mark. Besides the brand and ear- mark, a dewlap, mado by an upward or a downward cut transversely through the loose skin of the neck, is commonly added.
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