USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913 > Part 3
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
heavy black clayish soil known as adobe. There are also gravelly ridges running nearly north and south through the center of the county and also east of the Cosumnes river, which comes down from Amador county and entering the eastern part of Sacramento county, flows into the Mokelumne river on the southern boundary. Around Folsom, on the eastern edge and three miles from the Eldorado boundary, the soil becomes of a deep red color and is a gold-bearing gravel which turned out many millions in the early days, and is still mined with great profit. All these varieties of land grow fine grapes and other fruits, which are mostly shipped to the east, bringing good prices. Along the rivers, corn, hops and vegetables are grown in large quantities, the hop erop being an important industry in the county. Large quantities of vegetables are shipped to Utah, Idaho and Montana, and some even as far east as Chicago and New York. The American river, coming down from Eldorado county, runs through Folsom and empties into the Sacramento just above Sacra- mento City.
The greater part of the surface of the county is level, or nearly so. As it approaches the Cosumnes it becomes more hilly, falling again to Deer creek, which runs along the west side of the Cosumnes river bottom, and becoming rolling land on the other side of the Cosumnes, until it reaches the lower foothills. On the Cosumnes are hop yards, orchards, corn and alfalfa fields. Dry creek on the south forms part of the southern boundary and empties into the Mokelumne, which also forms a part of the southern boundary. Thus the county is abundantly watered in its various localities by four rivers and their tributary streams. The American, Cosumnes and Mokelumne are all torrential streams rising in the high Sierras and with a large area of land contributing to their watershed. Down the canyons, there- fore, through which they flow, rushes annually an immense volume of water on its way to the ocean. In the early days this often over- flowed the alluvial lands along the Sacramento river, carrying death and destruction along its course. Several of these floods were disas- trons to Sacramento City in its early history. Judging from the tales of the pioneers, the flood in the winter of 1862 must have covered not only the river bottoms, but also a large portion of what is familiarly known as "the plains," for the writer has heard old settlers tell of transporting their provisions and other merchandise from Sacramento during that winter on flatboats or barges almost to the town of Elk Grove. An idea of the immense volume of water that found its way to the sea on that occasion may be gained from the fact that it not only covered the great tule basin of Yolo county, but also a large portion of the plains east and south of the city to a width of many miles. Since that time the settlers have learned the lesson that safety can be found only in high and wide levees, properly constructed to withstand the wind and water.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
But man, while always striving against the elements and the forces of nature, often succeeds in the herculean task of subduing them and turning the master into the servant. These same torrential streams, which, unbridled, sweep man and his works from their path like feathers, are being harnessed and confined to do his bidding and foster his prosperity. The great dam at Folsom, built by the state, furnishes power to the state's prison as well as electricity for light- ing the grounds. It has also for many years supplied Sacramento city and county with light and power. In the near future the water of those streams will be used again and again to turn mills and machinery for factories, and the electrical power generated by the rivers will be, even more than in the past, transmitted to long distances-a factor in building up the prosperity of many a com- munity.
The day will come, moreover, when immense reservoirs will be constructed, either by the government or the state, for the impound- ing of the flood water from the rain and melting snow and its dis- tribution during the long, dry summer over the thirsty land, doubling and trebling the crops and bringing greater prosperity to the valley. Then too will the rivers, instead of bringing down destructive torrents npon the valley, remain within their banks and the Sacramento, with its channel deepened, will once more see the ships of distant nations bringing their commerce to our door.
Many centuries ago a vast sea occupied the place now known as the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. The action of sun, rain and air slowly disintegrated the surrounding mountains and erosion . set in, the detritus forming soil which was washed down into the inland sea, eventually filling up the great basin. It is no wonder then. that, like the valley of the Nile, which was formed in the same way, the valley of the Sacramento became one of the richest and most fer- tile in the world. For nearly half a century it was one of the great wheat-producing sections of the United States. As the soil became exhausted for wheat-raising under the one-crop system, the farmer began to find it necessary to change the crop. He found that it would not only raise all varieties of fruit and berries, but that on a much smaller acreage he could raise a far more profitable crop, as well as a more certain one. So in a few years Sacramento developed into a great fruit shipping center and today the Florin district is one of the largest, if not the largest of the strawberry-growing centers in the state. Sacramento also leads in the production of the Tokay grape, the color and quality of which always secures for it in the eastern market the highest price.
Nor must the tule lands along the Sacramento river in the south- western part of the county be overlooked. Alluvial lands of the richest quality, for some distance back from the river they have been re- claimed and thousands of acres planted with orchards of deciduons
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fruits or sown with alfalfa and used as dairy farms. Of late years they are being reclaimed faster and asparagus and celery have been found to be very successful and profitable crops, the former being canned in immense quantities and sent east to supply the markets of the world.
In fact everything that can be produced in a semi-tropical country can be grown in the Sacramento valley, and even some fruits and other products that really belong to tropical elimes. Rice is being grown with great success and of the finest quality in Butte county, as well as to a limited extent in Sacramento county, a large portion of the soil of which is admirably fitted for its culture. Hemp and ramie bid fair to become profitable textile products and much of the land is suitable for flax. Hops are also an important product, being grown of the finest quality along the Sacramento and the Cosumnes rivers.
A large portion of the area of Sacramento, which is now in pri- vate ownership through subdivision, was in the early days comprised in the old Spanish grants. The boundaries and other matters were the cause of much costly and vexations litigation. The grants were as follows:
The Rancho Rio de los Americanos, or Leidesdorff grant, lying along the American river and country around Folsom.
The Sutter Grant, or New Helvetia.
The Sheldon Grant, embracing the estates of Jared Sheldon and William Daylor, on the Cosumnes river, originally known as the Rancho Omochumnes.
The Hartnell Grant, also on the Cosumnes river.
The Rancho San Jon de los Moquelumnes, generally known as the Chabolla Grant, on the lower Cosumnes around Hicksville and running to the Mokelumne river.
The Arroyo Seco Grant, in Alabama township, on Dry creek.
The Rancho San Juan, on the north side of the American river and embracing the Carmichael colony, Fair Oaks and a part of Orangevale.
The Rancho del Paso, formerly known as the Norris Grant and now generally spoken of as the Haggin Grant. This stood for more than fifty years as a barrier to the extension of the city on the north and has only been subdivided within the past three years, the last of the great land holdings in this county.
The Rancho Sacayac, on the north side of the Cosumnes, between the Sheldon grant and the east line of the county.
The Rancho Cazadores, on the northwest side of the Cosumnes, opposite the ('habolla grant.
Sacramento is fourth among the counties of the state in point of property valuation, Los Angeles standing first, according to the re- port of State Controller Nye for the year 1912, San Francisco being second and Alameda third. The report states that the valuation of
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
property in Sacramento county is $86,589,795, an increase of over $5,000,000 above the valuation for 1911. The increase is largely due to the increase of values of property in Sacramento City, and also the subdivision, sale and improvement of many tracts in the county. Thus is evidenced a steady growth of property in the county, which is really just beginning to exhibit the advantages of soil and climate, coupled with comparatively low prices of acreage land and the opportunity for a home market in a large city close by, which it has for many years possessed, but has only recently advertised.
The pioneer who in the early days crossed the dark river to the "undiscovered bourne from which no traveler returns," would look with astonishment on the present city. The city of tents has grown to large dimensions, covering many square miles and containing many stately edifices and blocks of beautiful homes. The cottonwoods and willows of the early days have given place to long lines of stately and umbrageous elms that embower in a grateful shade the residences along the streets, tempering the heat of the summer days and afford ing a restful prospect to the eye. Strangers visiting the city generally remark on the beauty thus enhanced, and a visit to the Capitol dome often induces them to say: "What a beautiful city!" Even old resi- dents who have been absent for the past ten years look in astonish- inent at the rapid changes. For in the past five years especially has the place doffed the garb of a country town and blossomed out as a live, progressive city. The ways of '49 have disappeared. Finely improved streets have rapidly come to the front, nearly one hundred miles of asphalt, oiled macadam and some old graveled streets having taken the place of the mud holes of twenty years ago. A splendid system of electric car service has sprung up, connecting the old city with the suburbs, and is still extending its ramifications. The old one and two-story buildings of early days are fast giving way to edifices of five to eight stories, of the most modern style of architecture. The new courthouse, costing nearly $600,000, is nearing completion, and the splendid new city hall houses the various departments of the city government. The stately Capitol with its magnificent park is the ad- miration of all visitors, and the art gallery and Sutter's Fort are al- ways points of attraction to our visitors. Modern hotels furnish ac- commodation to thousands of tourists and others and the city is often spoken of as the "loveliest city on the coast." Investors from the east and elsewhere are looking over the ground and several large firms are starting extensive business adventures here. The recent an- nexation of the suburbs has greatly widened Sacramento's prospects and the fact becomes more evident each day that she is destined in the near future to become a great city. Her geographical situation, the immensely rich lands that surround her, the great quantities of fruit and other products grown around her and shipped from here all over the country, are all advertising her to the world and bringing
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
people to her from the frozen east to enjoy her climate and other advantages.
To sum up its advantages: Sacramento has the geographical ad- vantage not only of river transportation, but of being the natural center for all transcontinental railroads entering Northern California. Two already pass through the city, two more will certainly do so in the near future and two more now projected will probably do so. It will be the center of many radiating electric roads which will bring city and country into close touch and settle thickly adjacent territory. The logical shipping point of all the fruit and other products of two great valleys is here. The richest and most productive area in the world is naturally tributary to Sacramento. The three great alluvial hasins of the Sacramento river, capable when reclaimed of supporting several millions, are adjacent to or near Sacramento, their natural market or shipping point. The immense amount of power capable of being developed in the Sierra Nevadas renders it certain that many factories will ultimately be centered here, giving employment to thou- sands.
CHAPTER II MINING
The discovery of gold at Coloma on the South Fork of the Ameri- can river was soon heralded to the world and a cosmopolitan assembly soon poured into California by land and sea and in a frenzied race for riches overspread the land, peopling the gulches and ravines that had never before been trodden by the foot of white man. Reasoning logically that the gold on the river bars had some source more or less distant, they explored every gully and canyon above and below Coloma, finding diggings in all of them and many of them very rich. The country around Folsom was especially rich, and a large population soon centered there, making it a lively mining camp, which at one time cast considerably over two thousand votes. The bars and banks on the American river for miles above and below the town were very rich and were worked over by the early miners and later by hydraulic process. In the past few years gold dredging has he- come prevalent in that territory as well as in Butte county. While it is impossible to obtain statistics of the amount of gold obtained by dredging, the owners being secretive, it is known that it runs into the millions. While the amount is so large, it is regrettable that it cannot be obtained except at the sacrifice of much of the best land in the state, which is transformed by the dredgers from rich orchards and vineyards into unsightly heaps of cobblestones, and practically re- moved for many years from the assessment rolls of the county as a revenue producer for the public weal. Much damage, it is claimed,
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
has been done to the American and other rivers by the "slickens" from the dredges filling up the river beds and fouling the water, and there are many who advocate the passage of laws regulating, if not restraining, the operation of dredger mining.
Hydraulic mining succeeded the pick, shovel, rocker and long tom of the early miners and was continned for a number of years. The shoaling of the river beds and the frequent floods and breaking of levees that covered the adjacent lands with sand and debris, aroused the attention of the dwellers in the valley and a bitter controversy was begun between the hydraulic miners and the citizens of the conn- ties affected. An association was formed, denominated the "Anti- Debris Association," composed of citizens of the counties along the Sacramento river. It was pointed out that valuable orchards were being destroyed along and below the entry of the tributaries of the Sacramento which carried down the detritus from the hydraulic mines; that the bed of the Sacramento and its tributaries was being raised by the deposits of the debris and navigation was impeded, if not utterly destroyed in the summer, while the floods, the result of the raising of the river plane, carried destruction to the low lands and the towns along their banks. Marysville was a great sufferer from broken levees and inundations and today the town lies below the level of the bottom of the river on which it is situated, while thonsands of formerly fertile acres of adjacent lands are a waste of gravel and sand many feet deep. The association secured appropria- tions for its support from the supervisors of the counties of which its membership was composed and a long legal battle was begun with the object of compelling the hydraulic miners to cease their opera- tions.
At last its contest was successful and finally an injunction was obtained, prohibiting hydraulic mining unless the debris could be snc- cessfully impounded to the satisfaction of the association.
CHAPTER III CLIMATE
The climate of Sacramento county cannot be surpassed in the state. To the denizen of the east, where frost, snow and ice reign for from four to six months; where the farmer works for six months in the year to provide for his stock during the other six, our climate is a revelation. True he misses the merry jingle of the sleigh bells, the exhilarating sport of gliding over the ice on skates, and the other winter sports; neither is he frozen to death in blizzards, nor does he have to build cyclone cellars to which he may retreat while his house is being picked up and blown into the next county. His winter sports he can easily enjoy, if he desires, by boarding the cars and riding a
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
few hours into the Sierras. But as a general thing, when he has once settled in Sacramento county, he prefers to remain where three-quar- ters of the winter is sunshine and the rest supplies him with rain for the ground to store up and utilize in producing crops. Seldom indeed does the thermometer fall below the freezing point, and many children grow up in Sacramento without having ever seen any snow, except on the far distant Sierras. With a climate rivaling, if not excelling, the far-famed climate of Italy, in a land that, like Italy, produces the or- ange, the lemon, the olive and the vine, why should not the emigrant from the east pronounce it perfect and sit down content to enjoy his life here? Is the picture too highly drawn? Ask the man from Maine, or the states bordering on the great lakes, or the northwest, who, after traveling through cold and storm, crosses the lofty Sierras- sentinels on the east that ward off the snow from the great central valleys of California-drops down in a couple of hours from the sum- mit, to find the peach and almond trees in blossom in the foothills and the earth green with the footprints of the spring, who hears the hum of the bees, and inhales the air, fragrant with blossoms, almost before his eyes have become used to the absence of the glittering crys- tals of the snow and ice of the mountain ranges.
"What is so rare as a day in June, Then, if ever, come perfect days."
Thus wrote Lowell, the sweet singer. But Sacramento does not need to wait till June. She has perfect days, yes, many of them, while the streams of the New England states and the western states are still prisoned in icy fetters, and the people snowbound or delving in the great snow drifts that make the roads impassable.
We hear much of the vaunted climate of southern Italy and Los Angeles. There is no wish to disparage the merits of either. The dwellers of Sacramento county are glad to know that those places are so blessed in climatic conditions. However, we present a few figures in comparison. They are authentic and furnish food for reflection.
Statistics, gathered from United States Government Weather Bureau for past fifteen years :
Southern Italy .- Average winter temperature, 47.3; average spring temperature, 57.3; average summer temperature, 73.7; average autumn temperature, 61.9; average yearly temperature, 60.0; average highest temperature, 85; average lowest temperature, 20; average clear days, 220.
Los Angeles .- Average winter temperature, 52.0; average spring temperature, 60.0; average summer temperature, 70.0; average autumn temperature, 65.0; average yearly temperature, 62.0; average highest temperature 109; average lowest temperature, 28; average clear days, 250.
Sacramento .- Average winter temperature, 48.0; average spring temperature, 60.0; average summer temperature, 75.0; average an-
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tumn temperature, 61.0; average yearly temperature, 61.0; average highest temperature, 100; average lowest temperature, 29; average clear days, 238.
The record of the blossoming of fruit trees for twenty-five years previons to 1894 showed the earliest date to have been January 20, 1888, and the latest March 8, 1871. No later data are at hand, but the seasons have varied very little for cycles of ten years since the settlement of the state and the growing of fruits, so that these figures may be regarded as a fair average of conditions. Cherries ripen and are shipped from here in April and on exceptional seasons a few boxes have been shipped earlier, the usual period of blossoming, how- ever, being about the 15th of February. The long, dry summer ripens all kinds of fruit perfectly, and but rarely do the autumn rains come early enough to damage the fruit crop not already marketed. The farmer leaves his hay or grain in the stack for months if necessary, secure that it will not be damaged by untimely rains. Each season thins brings its own work. As the fall months advance and the winter begins, the rains make their appearance. The summer fallow is mois- tened and the grain is sown and harrowed. The winter plowing is begun as soon as the rain has penetrated the soil to the proper depth and when the seeding is completed the farmer leaves the rainfall to complete the work.
In the matter of rainfall, Sacramento county enjoys the happy medium, the average rainfall being nearly twenty-one inches. Taken in connection with the fertility of the soil, and the conditions sur- rounding the valley and influencing its climate, the fact is that a crop failure in this county has never been recorded, and that it was the boast of the past generation of farmers that irrigation was not nec- essary in order to secure a crop. That boast was made in the days of wheat raising and does not apply so strictly to frnit raising and later methods of farming. Still in most sections of the county the raising of grapes and deciduous fruits and nuts is in many cases made profitable by thorongh cultivation without resorting to irrigation.
While this is true, there are several irrigation systems of ditches from which water can be obtained on reasonable terms, and which is found necessary for the production of citrus fruit and alfalfa.
The absence, or rather scarcity, of humidity in the atmosphere at Sacramento during the summer time is a great factor in making the heat more endurable when the thermometer shows a reading that is high. As is well known, a high degree of atmospheric humidity in- tensifies the suffering when the temperature reaches one hundred de- grees or more. In fact, in the country east of the Rocky Mountains, where showers are more or less freqnent in the summer, there is more suffering when the thermometer rises to ninety degrees, and the air is charged with moisture, than there would be in Sacramento when it marked one hundred degrees or more. In one case fatalities from
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sunstroke are very common, while in the other sunstroke is unknown. The breeze from the ocean which ascends the Sacramento river in the summer afternoons has a cooling effect on the atmosphere and renders the evenings delightful for outdoor amusements. It is a rare thing in Sacramento, in fact not more than two or three nights in the year, that a person cannot sleep comfortably under a sheet or even under a blanket or two. The spring and fall weather are delightful and winter almost seems a misnomer when one enjoys the sunny days when a coat seems almost a burden. No wonder, in such a climate, that the fruit trees haste to break into blossom and fill the air with their fragrance. To the easterner, impelled by the cold of his native state to seek a more balmy climate, Sacramento offers one not to be excelled by any other place, in winter or summer.
Sacramento presents further advantages to the settler. As has been stated, all kinds of fruits of the temperate zone, all semi-tropical fruits, and even some tropical fruits ripen here in perfection. But a peculiar climatic condition prevails in the foothill section of the Sierras of Sacramento and the adjacent counties. It is known as the thermal belt. The southern part of the state has been extensively advertised as the home of the orange and the lemon. While this is true, it is equally true that Sacramento and adjoining counties are also the home of the orange and all other citrus fruits and the ship- ment of such fruits is a constantly increasing factor in their pros- perity. Many hundreds of carloads of oranges, lemons and pomelos or grape fruit are shipped to the east annually. The very decided advantage that Sacramento has over the southern part of the state is that her oranges ripen from a month to six weeks earlier than in the south and her crop is practically disposed of in the eastern market for the Thanksgiving and holiday trade at high prices, before the southern oranges are ripe enough to begin shipment. Such being the case, the freezing of the orange crop is a thing unknown in Sacramento county, nor do the later varieties ever suffer from frost.
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