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 47
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
In 1857 this company sold out, but as most of the stock was bought by the original stockholders, little change was made. In 1867 so much of the land west of the works was washed away by high water that it was feared the structure would be undermined, and large quantities of cobbles were thrown into the river against the walls until the danger was checked. A special train, while coming from Rocklin for the purpose of bringing stone for this purpose, collided while on its return trip with a wood-train near Antelope station, and the en- gineer, Roderick McRae, and Joseph Bryan, collector for the gas company, were severely injured. This accident claims the distinction of having been the first collision on the Central Pacific railroad.
In 1872 articles of incorporation for the Citizens' Gas Light Com- pany of Sacramento were filed, the capital stock being placed at $200, 000. The trustees were: Joseph W. Stow, H. B. Williams, W. H. Montague, C. T. Hopkins, E. B. Mott, Jr., G. W. Mowe, Julius Wetz- ler, G. Cadwalader and J. F. Houghton. The articles of incorporation fixed the duration of the company at twenty-five years, but its life appears to have been less than that number of days.
The Pacific Pneumatic Gas Company was organized early in Oc- tober, 1872, its purpose being to manufacture gas from petroleum. The company purchased a lot of land for $5000 from the Johnston Brandy and Wine company in what is known as Brannan's addition, south of the south line of S street, running back to Front street and having one hundred and twenty feet of river front for wharfage. The property was sold in 1889 to W. D. Knights.
January 8, 1872, the articles of incorporation of the Citizens' Gas Light and Heat Company were filed, the capital stock being $100,000, in shares of fifty dollars each. The trustees elected were: W. E. Brown, J. R. Watson, R. C. Terry, R. C. Clark, A. Gallatin, W. E. Perry, H. C. Kirk, C. H. Cummings and James McClatchy. W. E. Brown was president; Robert C. Clark, vice-president; Albert Galla- tin, treasurer, and J. W. Pew, secretary.
The Sacramento Gas Company and the Citizens' Gas Light and Heat Company consolidated January 1, 1875, under the name of the Capital Gas Company, with capital stock, $2,000,000, in forty thousand shares of fifty dollars each. Works were erected on that portion of Brannan's addition which lies between T and U streets and Front street and the river front, five hundred feet deep and two hundred and fifty feet wide. In 1878 Smith & Co., of the Pioneer mills, bought the Sacramento Gas Company's retort house in Slater's addition and made it a warehouse capable of storing four thousand tons of grain. The railroad company bought the gasometer and the land it stood on, and sold the gasometer for old iron.
In 1856 the average daily output of gas was from 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The selling price was fifteen dollars per thousand, and there were one hundred and thirteen consumers. In 1863 the number of con-
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sumers had increased to six hundred, and the city then contracted for forty-five street lamps at nine dollars a month each, the lamps to be lighted only during the session of the legislature. A new gas holder was constructed in 1869, with a capacity of 60,000 cubic feet. February 1, 1870, the price of gas was reduced to seven dollars a thousand cubic feet, and there were at that time 33,000 feet of gas mains in use. During the same year the price of gas was further re- duced to six dollars per thousand, at which rate it was held for sev- eral years.
In 1871 there were 50,000 feet of gas mains in the streets of Sac- ramento, and in 1873 eighteen miles of mains were laid. In 1875 the consolidated companies had three 60,000 cubic feet gas holders in oper- ation where the present gas works are, and the customers had to rely on these for gas until the new 500,000 cubic feet gas holder was constructed in 1908.
The Capital Gas Company combined with the Thompson-Houston Electric Light Company July 1, 1887, thus disposing of a competitor and combining electric lighting with its gas business.
In 1890 the Sacramento Electric Gas and Railway Company was formed, by the consolidation of the Sacramento Electric Power and Light Company and the Folsom Water Power Company, and in 1902 this company acquired by purchase the Capital Gas Company. In March of 1903 the Sacramento Electric Gas and Railway Company was acquired by the California Gas and Electric Company. During all these changes there had been an advance in the art of gas making and the method of making gas. A plant for the manufacture of water gas from anthracite coal and petroleum was erected and used in conjunc- tion with the coal gas works, and as petroleum became cheaper the water gas superseded the coal gas. In 1903 another advancement in the process of making gas was made by the introduction of crude-oil water gas, using California petroleum exclusively for the manufacture of gas, and the price was reduced to one dollar per thousand.
In January, 1906, the Sacramento Electric Gas and Railway Com- pany became a part of the Pacific Gas and Electric system, and is now under the management of C. W. MeKillip, with Edward S. Jones as superintendent of the gas works. Since the change many improve- ments have been made in the plant. New and larger sets of oil-gas generators have been put in and the big storage tank constructed. The street main system has been extended and a high pressure gas system installed at Oak Park. A ten thousand barrel steel oil-tank for storage of oil has been sent up from San Francisco and placed at the works.
THE TELEPHONE
The Sunset Telephone Company made its first appearance in Sac- ramento in 1879, and the first telephone installed was a hand re-
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ceiver. In 1882 the Sunset Telephone Company installed a plant in the Western Union building on Second street, between I and J, using the old Gilliland switchboard and Edison transmitter. The next year the Blake transmitter and a two-position switchboard were installed. In 1883, also, the first long distance line was installed between Sacramento and San Francisco, the circuit being relayed at Benicia. In 1885 the office was moved to Third and J street's, upstairs, and a four-position switchboard installed, a copper circuit being built to San Francisco, using the Humming long-distance transmitter, which was introduced about this time. From this start the long-distance service in the north- ern part of the state grew up. Between 1885 and 1897 the company added a couple of copper loops, weighing one hundred and seventy-two pounds to the mile, between Sacramento and San Francisco, and on May 4. 1897, the first heavy copper loop weighing four hundred and thirty- five pounds to the mile for each wire, was completed between the two cities.
The first express system was installed in Sacramento during the year 1893, and in 1894 the office was moved to Sixth street, between I and J, where a complete express system was installed. Under this sys- tem the old one was done away with, the subscriber taking the receiver off the hook and calling central. This system was maintained until the office was moved to the present building, constructed for the company, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth, in 1910, where a complete one-pound common battery switchboard was installed. The first underground system in Sacramento was installed in 1894.
The company began business with several hundred subscribers, the rate being six dollars per month for many years and until the rival company was formed.
The Capital Telephone and Telegraph Company entered the field in competition with the Sunset company in 1893, a demand for cheaper telephone service having arisen. The stockholders were mostly citizens of Sacramento. The ordinary rates of the Sunset at that time were $6 a month, but the new company cut the rate down to less than half that amount and forced the Sunset finally to meet its rate. The com- pany commenced business with four hundred subscribers, which was more than the Sunset company had at that time in Sacramento. George M. Mott was the first president, and M. J. Dillman was vice- president and general manager for more than twelve years of its service to the community. During this time the company extended its lines into Placer, Eldorado, Amador and Yolo counties, and ulti- mately reached a list of twelve hundred fifty subscribers. It had central exchanges, in Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Loomis, New- castle, Auburn, Shingle Springs, Placerville, Jackson and Ione. The company was the outgrowth of a general dissatisfaction with the high rates and poor service of the Sunset, and was successful from the start, both financially and in the service rendered, but experience
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showed that the telephone business is a natural monopoly, and that two systems in the same community become a nuisance, causing much annoyance and extra expense. In 1906 the company sold out to the Sunset company, which used the system in connection with its own for several months and then consolidated both systems. Hon. Fred- erick Cox was president for eight years and for the last four years M. J. Dillman was president and manager. The office was located on Fifth street, between I and J.
WATER WORKS
The first plant in Sacramento that could be termed "water works" was the five horsepower piledriver engine of William P. Henry, near the foot of I street. By this water was pumped up from the river by suction into a reservoir, and from the reservoir carts were loaded and the water was peddled out by the gallon. There was an antipathy to monopolies even in those days, long before "trusts" were heard of. "Uncle Billy" Anderson thought he perceived the germ of pros- perity in the industry, and he soon started a rival enterprise at the junction of Second street with "the slough." The two parties carried on a successful business in competition with each other until they formed a combination with A. A. Bennett, and erected more elaborate works just south of Henry's engine, constructing a tank that was much higher and better protected.
The city grew, and more extensive water works became necessary. In consequence, in the fall of 1852, George Gordon and the "Sacra- mento Water Company" each presented to the city plans for the construction of a system of water works, which were submitted to the people in December and both of them were rejected by the popular vote. At the same time, however, the people voted a tax of three- quarters of one per cent for works of some kind, to be thereafter fixed upon. Plans and specifications were advertised for by the city council, and a Mr. Kirk presented plans, which were adopted. The specifications called for a brick building, 50x127 feet on the ground and the top of the wall thirty-six and a half feet above the present grade of J and Front streets. The floor of the second story was to be sixteen feet above the J street grade, and the reservoir was to be 50x128 feet and six and a half feet high, the greatest depth of water to be five feet. The reservoir was to be on the top of the building. The price was to be $120,000. The building was completed and the tank filled April 1, 1854, and the occasion was celebrated by the citi- zens on April 6th. The building still stands and is known as the old waterworks building. Some years ago it passed into the possession of the Southern Pacific Company.
The first bonds of the water loan were issued August 12, 1853, and the total issue of bonds under this loan was $284,495. The first super- intendent of the new works was William P. Henry, who had been the
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first man to introduce anything like a pumping works for water supply into the city. The first parties who purchased water from the new works were Adams & Co., who paid for a fifteen days supply at the rate of $12.22 per month. There were seventy-three customers in April, 1854; 155 in May, 260 in June, and 403 by November.
During the year 1855 two and one-fourth miles of water pipes were laid which, with fifty hydrants and twenty-one stop gates, cost $23,600. The reservoir capacity was 200,000 gallons, and the pump- ing capacity 39,100 gallons per hour. By March 1, 1856, the total length of pipe laid was eight and one-fourth miles, and a few years later a Worthington pump was added to the equipment. The extension of the pipe system decreased the pressure and complaints of scanty supply of water became frequent in the remoter parts of the city. At last, April 6, 1870, a disastrous breakdown occurred to the works, shutting off for some time the water supply. It was evident that something must be done to remedy the condition, and on June 6, Superintendent McCleery brought before the board of trustees plans prepared by A. A. Bennett, an architect, to raise the old building at a cost of $10,000. June 22, 1870, Turton & Knox began to raise the tanks fifteen feet, and a new stand pipe was put in. This par- tially remedied the trouble, but it was only a temporary relief, and it soon became evident that a new system of works, with a largely increased capacity, would satisfy the people's demands.
A number of schemes were considered from 1858 to 1872, but were abandoned successively, among them being the Holly system. Water from the various wells and from the river was analyzed. The analysis of one hundred and twenty ounces of water taken from the Sacramento River during the April freshet of 1870, and evapo- rated to dryness by James Bell of San Francisco, left a residuum of 2.59 grains, composed as follows: Gypsum, 1.27 grains; epsom salts, 0.70; salt, 0.21; silicate of potash, 0.13; silica, 0.25; iron, only a sus- picion ; loss, 0.03 grains. July 20, 1872, a special election was held, as a result of which it was decided to adopt one of the three plans of- fered by the Holly Company, and which would cost $58,000. The west fifty feet of lot 4, between H and I streets, and Front and Second, was purchased by the Capital Savings Bank and the National Gold Bank of D. O. Mills & Co., and the deed presented to the city. On receiving this deed the trustees passed a resolution to accept it, and to reserve from the bonds authorized to be issued $20,000, sub- ject to such further legislation as might be had, for the purpose of paying the banks the money advanced by them, the amount advanced by the Capital Savings Bank being $8,000, and that advanced by the National Gold Bank being $7,000. Work was immediately begun on the new works and pushed to completion as fast as possible, but the machinery was not in shape to undergo its trial or test of capacity until July 17, 1873. When its capacity was thoroughly tested, it
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proved to be fully up to the demand of the specifications, and on the 28th the works were accepted by the trustees. The amount of bonds authorized by the act, approved March 30, 1872, for the pur- pose of erecting the works, was $191,307.50, but the amount issued was only $189,993.15.
The Holly rotary pumps proved to be worthless for the water works, but the gang pumps put in by the company did good service for many years. Early in 1878 a pump, generally known as the Stevens pump, was built in the Central Pacific Company's machine shops, and installed in the west side of the waterworks, where it did good service for years. Becoming superannuated a number of years ago, it is now used only in emergencies, or when repairs are being made to the other pumps. Since then the capacity of the plant has been increased from time to time, and a 12,000,000 gallon pump is in course of construction.
CHAPTER XL THE CROCKER ART GALLERY
Sacramento boasts of one of the finest collections of paintings and works of art to be found in the United States. Originally a pri- vate collection, gathered at great expense in Europe by the owner, it became the property of the city of Sacramento in 1885 by a deed of trust, the second benefaction to the people by its generous donor, Mrs. Margaret E. Crocker, the widow of Judge E. B. Crocker, who had spent about $400,000 in gathering the magnificent collection and had housed it in a fireproof building that is said to have cost nearly $200,000, including after improvements made by Mrs. Crocker.
The building is fireproof, as stated, and was finished in the most approved style of modern architecture and embellishment, situ- ated in the midst of spacious terraced grounds adorned by rare flowers and plants. A massive building one hundred and twenty- two feet long by sixty-two feet wide, it is in harmony with its con- tents and well proportioned for its uses. It has three floors, the basement being originally intended for a recreation room and hall, in which many public receptions and functions have been held in times past. The second story was for offices, museum and library. The third floor is the art gallery, where are gathered many produc- tions of the old masters, of the Flemish, Dutch and Italian schools, as well as many fine paintings by eminent California artists, who were liberally patronized by Judge Crocker when making his se- lections. One of the most striking pictures in the gallery confronts the visitor as he enters. It is a large painting by Hill, of the Yo- semite Valley, considered his masterpiece, and ranking with Bier- stadt's "Heart of the Andes." There are also striking canvases by Nahl, the glowing colors revealing his individuality and portray-
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ing vividly the early days of California. The second and third floors are elaborately frescoed; all the woodwork is heavy, richly carved and French polished, while the glass is all cut and delicately etched in tasteful designs and the floors are all laid in Roman tiling. Mrs. Crocker subsequently laid the floor of the museum in fancy woods, in ornamental designs.
The art gallery consists of a vestibule, a main hall, and the east, west and south halls. In these halls are over seven hundred oil and pastel paintings, among them many works of Vandyke, Guido, Tintoretto, and other celebrated artists. The library, on the sec- ond floor, contains a collection of over three thousand studies from eminent artists, collected by Judge Crocker, together with many of the finest examples of the engraver's and the lithographer's art. One feature of great value in the gallery is the collection of portraits of representative men of California. It had not been the intention of Judge Crocker to seclude this splendid collection, but rather to have made it the means of cultivating the taste in art of his fellow citizens. His widow carried out his idea, and the gallery was therefore opened to the inspection of proper persons at proper hours and under proper restrictions, and it was often thrown open to the public for charitable purposes.
The California Museum Association was the outcome of a meet ing December 5. 1884, of a number of gentlemen desirous of form- ing a scientific association. Its purpose was to foster art, science, mechanics, literature, the development of the state and the enconrage- ment of social intercourse among the members; also for establishing a repository for the collection and exhibition of natural curiosities, scientific objects, antiquities, etc. The association started with about twenty members, holding private meetings at which papers were read, for some weeks. In January it had grown courageous and resolved to erect a building for its own and public uses. Mrs. Crocker was foremost in all good works and charities in the city and was known as "Sacramento's Lady Bountiful" through her contributions to the churches and charitable objects. Learning that the association had resolved to give an art loan exhibit to secure a nucleus for its build- ing, and had called a meeting of ladies to aid in the undertaking, Mrs. Crocker sent word that, if the association desired, the E. B. Crocker Art Gallery was at its disposal for the purpose of holding the exhibition.
Her offer was accepted gladly and in March, 1885, a strange col- lection of the greatest variety of curiosities of the pioneer era, of art, science, antiquity, discovery and of handiwork of various descriptions, contributed by the citizens of Sacramento and San Francisco, was thrown open to the public. Contributions from the latter city were made by the Alaska Fur Company, Irving M. Scott, Alexander Bad- lam and a number of ladies. The exhibition was open for more than 26
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two weeks, and the fame of it went abroad through the land, bringing many visitors to Sacramento to look upon the collection. It was both a social and financial success. During its continuance Mrs. Crocker called the president of the association, David Lubin, and informed him that it was her desire to present the gallery, with its collection of paintings, furniture, etc., to the association. The announcement was made to the public and was received with the most cordial expressions of appreciation and high regard for the generous donor. The associa- tion, however, after deliberation on the magnificent offer, decided that it was wise to accept it only under a condition, self-imposed, that the citizens of Sacramento should raise a fund of $100,000, to be perman- ently invested for the maintenance of the gallery and buildings, being sensible that otherwise the burden would in time become too onerous for a private association. The accumulation of so large a fund was found to be difficult in so small a community, however liberal indi- viduals might be in making contributions.
The association therefore proposed to Mrs. Crocker that if she would transfer the property to the city, making the association a co- tenant with the city, the raising of $100,000 would not be necessary. She kindly acceded to the plan, the proposition was placed before the people and it was found that it met with immediate favor and that the city was willing to accept the trust. Thereupon the association incorporated March 20, 1885, and Mrs. Crocker executed to the city a deed of all the valuable property involved, stipulating that it should always be managed and controlled by a joint board of trustees from the association and the city-the mayor to represent the city and the board of directors representing the association, each corporation having only one vote. The deed of trust provided that the association might for- ever use the property for the purposes of its work as heretofore out- lined.
The citizens were not slow in showing their appreciation of the munificence of the gift and its unselfish character. They held in remembrance also the generous endowment of the Old Ladies' Home and its gift by Mrs. Crocker. This appreciation took the form, in May, 1885, of a grand floral festival, at which three thousand school children made bountiful floral offerings to Mrs. Crocker. The lower floor of the great pavilion of the State Agricultural Society-the largest building in the state-was almost filled with the beautiful floral offerings to Mrs. Crocker. Nor was it Sacramento alone that testi- fied to the high regard in which the benefactress was held. The offer- ings ranged from modest bouquets to spacious churches and towns and great allegorical designs, all constructed entirely of flowers. They came from all parts of the state, from Los Angeles on the south to Shasta on the north. People of all churches and denominations, the rich and the poor, of all clans and creeds, assembled to do honor to her. The lowest estimate of the number of people who thronged the
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spacious building on the night of the festival, and witnessed the ceremony of delivering the keys of the gallery to the trustees and their acceptance of the trust, placed the number assembled at fifteen thousand. It was a spontaneous outpouring of heartfelt gratitude and regard such as has never, before or since, been accorded to a female citizen in the United States.
On the evening of this festival, after the keys of the art gallery had been transferred to the mayor, the citizens of Sacramento pre- sented to Mrs. Crocker a splendid oaken casket, which had been made from some of the timber taken from the old historic Sutter's Fort. It contained two volumes, one of which was bound in velvet and gold and the other in silver and velvet, both being marvels of artistic taste. The first book contained a number of pages giving a history of her benefactions, of the gift of the art gallery, and of the floral festival, displayed in the highest form of the typographical art. In addition to this each page was adorned by hand decoration in water colors. In the second volume was an account of all the steps leading up to the event, together with copies and extracts from expressions by the press, from journals all the way from New York to Sacramento. The gifts were not less unique than beautiful, and Mrs. Crocker voiced her appreciation of them with deep emotion.
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