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, 1923, Part 8

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

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There has been considerable dispute as to the causes which led to the revolution in Cali- fornia, the capture of Sonoma, Ide's proclama- tion, the raising of the Bear Flag and its de- sign. Reliance is placed on the accounts which were published in the "Californian" in August and September. 1846. This was a few months after the occurrence of those events and the articles were written by Robert Semple, the editor, who distinctly stated in them that he wrote them as a matter of history and for the benefit of future historians.

Commodore John D. Sloat arrived at Monte- rey July 7. 1846, with a United States frigate. Monterey was at that time the Mexican capi- tal of California. The commodore took pos- session of the town and hoisted the American flag over the custom house, and from that day dates the possession of California by the United States. Sloat's frigate had been lying at Mazatlan under orders to seize California

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

on the first intimation that war had been de- clared against Mexico. The first American flag was hoisted in the Sacramento Valley where Sacramento City now stands, Colonel Fremont being encamped there with about 170 men. William Scott arrived in the camp on the evening of July 10, with the news of the hoisting of the flag at Monterey by Commo- dore Sloat. He also brought with him an American flag sent by Capt. John B. Mont- gomery, of the United States ship "Ports- mouth." The "Californian." in speaking of the first receipt of the news at Sacramento, says : "It was received with universal shouts by the

men, and our gallant leader, surrounded by a number of officers and soldiers, partook of a cup of good brandy, and sang some national airs. The 'Star Spangled Banner' was re- sponded to with warmth."

With the raising of the American flag the Bear Flag was supplanted, and although there were several engagements between the United States troops and the Mexican forces in the southern part of the territory of California, the Mexicans capitulated early in 1847, and the hostilities ceased. While many events hap- pened during the transition, those above re- corded were all that directly affected this county and the territory surrounding it.

CHAPTER VII

STATE CAPITAL, AND

C ALIFORNIA'S history contains one pe- culiar feature. It never passed through the territorial stage deemed necessary for the other states previous to their admission. The United States took possession of it when war was declared against Mexico, outwitting and outmaneuvering the English, who were preparing to seize it. From that time until its admission as a state it was under the rule of a military governor. June 3, 1849, Gen. B. Riley, the military governor of the state, issued from Monterey a proclamation for the holding of an election on August 1 of that year to elect delegates to a general convention and for the filling of several necessary offices. this election delegates were chosen to the constitu- tional convention, which met at Monterey Sep- tember 3, 1849, and prepared a constitution that was submitted to the people and ratified by them on November 13 of the same year. At the same election an entire state and legisla- tive ticket was elected, as well as two repre- sentatives to congress. The legislative assem- bly of San Francisco and a provisional govern- ment meeting at San Jose had both recom- mended the calling of such a convention in order that some plan of government might be evolved that would put an end to the chaotic condition of affairs existing. General Riley had the wisdom to recognize the desires of the people, as thus expressed, and issued his proc- lamation instead of asserting his authority to govern.

The senators and assemblymen-elect met December 15, 1849, at San Jose, and on Decem- ber 30 the state government of California

CAPITOL BUILDING

was established and Governor Peter H. Bur- nett was inaugurated as the first governor of the State of California. Soon afterwards Wil- liam M. Gwin and John C. Fremont were elected the first United States senators from the state. There had never been a territorial form of government, and California had never been admitted to the Union. Notwithstanding these facts, the people had elected a state gov- ernment and United States senators and repre- sentatives, who immediately started for Wash- ington, to work for the admission of their state to the Union. The unparalleled audacity of California's pioneers broke all precedent of routine as to statehood admission and showed that theirs was the stuff of which mnen born to rule are made. It mattered little to them what legal objection there might be to their action, nor that congress had passed no bill for her ad- mission, and might never pass one. California had declared herself a state, and not only that, but a free state, and had sent her representa- tives to Washington to notify congress to hurry up and admit her. And her audacity won out, too. Such an achievement is worthy of more than one page in any history relating to California, and her sons and daughters should see to it that the brilliant achievement of their sires is not forgotten.

As soon as Governor Burnett was inaugu- rated, General Riley, with rare judgment, is- sued a remarkable proclamation, as follows : "To the People of California :

"A new executive having been elected and installed in office, in accordance with the pro- visions of the constitution of the state, the un-

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

dersigned hereby resigns his powers as gover- nor of California. In thus dissolving his offi- cial connection with the people of this country, he would tender to them his heartfelt thanks for their many kind attentions, and for the uni- form support which they have given to the measures of his administration. The principal object of all his wishes is now accomplished- the people have a government of their own choice, and one which, under the favor of Di- vine Providence, will secure their own pros- perity and happiness, and the permanent wel- fare of the new state.

"Given at San Jose, this 20th day of Decem- ber, A. D. 1849.

"B. Riley, "Brevet Brig. Gen., U. S. A., and Governor of California.

"By the Governor. \V. H. Halleck.

"Brevet Captain and Secretary of State."

Contest for the State Capital

The constitutional convention fixed the seat of state government at San Jose. The first legislature therefore met there on December 15 following. Finding the accommodations there too limited, however, it accepted the proposition of Gen. M. G. Vallejo to remove the capital to his place. They met there Janu- ary 5, 1852, but found themselves in a worse plight than at San Jose, as the general had un- dertaken more than he could accomplish, and was behind with his contract to furnish a building for the session. Sacramento then be- stirred itself, and indorsed the court of ses- sions in its action in offering the use of the courthouse to the legislature. That body ac- cepted the offer January 12, 1852, and lost no time, arriving here the next day on the steamer "Empire." The city put on gala attire and the citizens welcomed the members with a grand ball, at which the tickets were sold for twenty dollars.

During the session the contest for the honor of being the state capital grew hotter and hot- ter between the rival claimants, and all sorts of legal technicalities were put in use to in- fluence the selection of a location. The state records had been at San Jose, the place selected as the seat of government by the constitutional convention, and doubts were entertained by many as to the legality of removing them to Vallejo, there being no safe place there for keeping them, and also as to whether they could be removed to Sacramento, which had not yet been declared the capital.

On April 30, 1852, the legislature passed a bill declaring the seat of government to be at Vallejo, and ordering the governor to remove the state records to that place. General Val- lejo then procured a cancellation of his con- tract, and the legislature, after meeting at Vallejo in January, 1853, soon adjourned to

Benicia, declaring it to be the capital. It met there again January 2, 1854, when Governor Bigler submitted to it a communication from the mayor and council of Sacramento, tender- ing to the state the free use of the courthouse, with its safe, vaults, etc., together with a deed for the block of land between I and J, Ninth and Tenth Streets. On the 9th of February, Senator A. P. Catlin introduced a bill in the senate providing for the fixing of the perma- nent seat of government at Sacramento, and accepting the block of land, which was passed. The legislature then adjourned to this city, where the citizens received the members and state officers with an enthusiastic demonstra- tion.

The legislature met in the new courthouse March 1, 1854. But its troubles were not all settled yet. On the 24th of the month it passed a law compelling the supreme court to hold its sessions here, but that body retaliated by hold- ing the opinion that San Jose was the constitu- tional and legal capital, and refused to come. Subsequently, however, a change of judges of the supreme court effected a decision that Sacramento was the legal capital. In accord- ance with that decision, all sessions of the legislature since 1854, with the exception of that in the year of the great flood, 1862, have been held in Sacramento.

On April 11, 1893, a few days before the ad- journment of the legislature, the "Evening Bee" published an article making some grave charges against the personal character and conduct of some of the legislators, and thank- ing God that the legislature was about to ad- journ. The edition became known as the "Thank God" edition. The members of the legislature took umbrage at the article, and claiming that it was an insult to the whole body, hastily formulated a resolution authoriz- ing the people of the state to vote on the re- mnoval of the capital to San Jose, and rushed it through the same evening, many members re- garding it as a joke on Sacramento. The re- sult created great excitement in the city, and an indignation meeting called at the court- house denounced the "Bee" and assured the legislature that the article did not represent the sentiments of the community. The next day the board of trade ordered a boycott on the "Bee" for injuring the interests of the city. The "Bee" stuck by its guns and offered to prove its charges, but the legislature adjourned without rescinding the resolution. The inci- dent occasioned much bitter feeling, but in the end was beneficial to Sacramento, for the citi- zens, while admitting that the removal of the capital would be a blow to their civic pride, resented the slurring taunt that its retention here was a financial necessity to the city, and inaugurated and carried to completion a num- ber of public improvements that were the

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

initiation of the united work of the community in making Sacramento one of the most beau- tiful cities in the state. While the vote of the people, if the matter had been referred to them, would have been against the removal, the is- sue was not made, for in April, 1894, the su- preme court decided that the resolution of the legislature was unconstitutional.

In 1907 a number of members of the legisla- ture took umbrage at Sacramento, and a con- stitutional amendment was adopted, removing the seat of government from Sacramento to Berkeley, as a punishment to the former city. It was submitted to the people of the state at the election in November, 1908, and was de- feated by so decisive a majority that it is not likely another of similar import will ever be introduced again.

The Capitol Building

In April, 1856, the legislature provided for the issue of bonds amounting to $800,000 for the erection of a Capitol building on the plaza between Ninth and Tenth, I and J Streets, which had been deeded to the state by the city for that purpose. The board of commissioners appointed to superintend the building ap- proved the plans of Reuben Clark for the struc- ture, awarded the contract to Joseph Mongues for $200,000, and broke ground for the build- ing on December 4. On the 15th of the month, however, the commissioners refused to issue the bonds, because the supreme court had decided that the state had no authority to con- tract so large a debt. The contractor brought suit to compel the fulfillment of the contract, but he was beaten, and work was stopped and never resumed on the building. The block was deeded back to the city and has been filled and converted into a beautiful park.

The project for building the Capitol rested until 1860, when the four blocks comprised between L and N, Tenth and Twelfth Streets, containing 11.90 acres, were donated to the state by the city of Sacramento. A number of years later the six blocks lying between L and N, Twelfth and Fifteenth Streets were pur- chased by the state for $100,000, so that the Capitol Park now extends between L and N from Tenth to Fifteenth Street, with a total area of 33.05 acres, including the streets be- tween those boundaries. It is by all odds the finest Capitol Park in the United States, and is the admiration of all visitors to the city. The grounds are planted with trees of more than 400 varieties, it is stated, and rare shrubs and trees from all over the world are to be found there.

The legislature in 1860 appropriated $500,000 for a Capitol building, and the plans of M. F. Butler were adopted, and Michael Fennell of San Francisco secured the contract for furnish- ing the material and constructing the base-

ment for $80,000. The corner-stone was laid with imposing Masonic ceremonies on May 15, 1861. Fennell had abandoned the contract on May 1, and it was afterwards let to G. W. Blake and P. E. Conner, who in turn, having suffered some losses during the great flood, abandoned their contract. The work was then turned over to the commissioners, who worried along for several years because the various leg- islatures could not agree on the amount of ap- propriations that should be made for the work. Finally in 1867 it was decided to finish the first story only with granite, and construct the rest of the building with brick, which was done, and the building was hurried to its com- pletion. The brick is of excellent quality, however, and the work was done in the best manner. The building is modeled largely on the National Capitol at Washington, and is much admired for its stately proportions. The building was completed according to the orig- inal plans as amended, which left the attic and basement unfinished, in 1874. It was oc- cupied first by the governor and the other state officers November 26, 1869. The supreme court met for the first time in the building De- cember 3, 1869, and the legislature took formal possession of it December 6 of that year. The Sacramentans celebrated the occasion by firing a salute and by a general display of flags. The cost of its construction was $2,600,000.

As stated, the basement and attic remained unfinished, but as the state grew, it became painfully apparent to the legislature and the state officers that the building was too small, or rather that the finished portion of it was too small to accommodate the demand for space. Accordingly, in 1906-1908, during the admin- istrations of Governors Pardee and Gillett, the State Capitol Commission, composed of the governor, secretary of state and the state treasurer, expended $372,925, appropriated by the legislature for the purpose, in remodeling the building, raising the roof and finishing the basement and attic, so that at present there are rooms sufficient. The building has been made as near fireproof as possible, the only woodwork remaining being the doors and win- dows, and some floors which are laid over brick and cement. The total cost of the Cap- itol as repaired was $2,972,925, and competent architects state that it could not be built now for less than $5,000,000.

The architecture of the structure is of the florid Roman-Corinthian style. It faces west and is of four stories and basement. Its length is 320 feet and its greatest depth 164 feet, and it covers 52,480 square feet. The rotunda on the first floor, is 168.07 feet in circumference, and the ball on top of the dome is 247 feet higher than the street at the junction of Tenth and M Streets.

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

A description of the Capitol could not be complete without mention of the beautiful group of statuary in the center of the rotunda, facing the entrance. It is the work of the famous American sculptor, Larkin Goldsmith Mead, and was bought by Darius Ogden Mills, one of the earliest bankers of Sacramento, for $30,000 in gold, and donated by him to the state of California. It represents Queen Isa- bella of Spain seated on her throne, while Columbus kneels beside her, holding a globe, with which he explains his theory of sailing westward around the earth to reach India. It represents the moment when, according to the historian Prescott, the queen, convinced by the navgiator's arguments, exclaims, "I will as- sume the undertaking on behalf of the crown of Castile, and will pledge my jewels to defray the expenses of it, if the funds in the treasury shall be found inadequate." The writer once overheard a citizen explaining to a visitor that the group represented Columbus offering the world to the queen, which, after all, was not far from the mark.

The beautification of the park with trees and shrubbery began about 1869, at the time the building was occupied, and has continued ever since. During Governor Booth's term of office a governor's mansion was completed in the northeast corner of the park, but as Governor Booth was living in single blessedness at the time, he never occupied it, and for various rea- sons his successors followed his example, so that several years afterwards it was converted into a state printing office and is still in use for that purpose. The printing for the legisla- tive sessions, the state school text-books, the various official reports and all the other work of the state in that line is done there, but the building will probably be torn down when the new and modern State Printing Office, now under construction, is completed. A pavilion of the State Agricultural Society was erected on the block in the southeast corner of the park, but becoming unsafe, was torn down some years ago and removed to Agricultural Park, beyond the county hospital.

A feature of the Capitol Park is the Grand Army plat, between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets. It is the only plat of the kind in existence, and is cared for partly by the Grand Army posts and the Ladies of the Grand Army. It is thickly planted with trees from various battlefields of the Civil War, all tagged with the names of the localities from which they came, and the exercises on Decoration (Mem- orial) Day are generally held in the shade of the historic trees.

Capitol Extension

The growing need for more office space in which to conduct the constantly expanding state departments caused the people to vote

on November 3, 1914. $3,000,000 in bonds to erect the Capitol Extension on the two blocks of ground immediately west of the main Capitol, for which tract the citizens of Sacra- mento on April 5, 1913, voted bonds amount- ing to $700,000. Having given the state the site for its proposed buildings, the city natu- rally expected that the improvements would be made without unnecessary delay. However, the outbreak of the war in 1914 and the condi- tions which followed, together with the low in- terest rate carried by the state bonds, caused one delay after another, and only recently has the prospect become hopeful for obtaining re- lief from the high rents to which several of the state departments and offices have been subjected for a long period of years.

The legislature in 1919 added $100,000 to the $3,000,000 originally voted, to take care of the additional cost in building. the earlier esti- mates having proved inadequate under con- stantly changing conditions and increasing costs of both labor and material. The 1921 legislature again came to what was then be- lieved to be the satisfactory relief of the situa- tion, and appropriated $300,000 more. This, however, was found to be only about half of what was needed to pay the commission on the bonds. In other words, it was intended to offset the difference between the 41/2 per cent bonds and their then market value.

Through the urgent efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and Gov. William D. Stephens, cooperating with the State Board of Control, the way was opened during the early fall of 1921 for the accomplishment of something definite, and the sale of the bonds became a promising prospect. In the meantime, Weeks & Day, architects selected on the competitive basis, prepared the plans and specifications, and had everything in readiness to proceed un- der the direction of the State Department of Engineering.

One of the two buildings will be used for the State Library, giving much more space, and providing numerous fireproof sections for the valuable collection of books, periodicals, and other records and documents. The State Supreme Court also will have its quarters in one of the buildings, as also the State Motor Vehicle Department. State Department of En- gineering, State Highway Commission, State Fish and Game Commission, Department of Agriculture. State Board of Education, State Bureau of Labor Statistics, Criminal Identifi- cation Bureau, State Board of Health, Adju- tant-General's Department. and a few other offices that now are scattered about the city in other quarters outside of the main Capitol.

Governors From Sacramento

Sacramento has had her full share of the governors of the state chosen from among her

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

citizens. The rival of San Francisco in her earliest days, being the objective point of emi- grants who were seeking wealth from the placers, she attracted immediately the most active and able men, who tarried at the city on the bay only long enough to secure passage to Sacramento. For this reason the capital city was well-known among pioneers and wielded a large influence in politics, as well as in commerce and in affairs connected with the mining industry. The first governor of the new state, Peter H. Burnett, elected in Novem- ber, 1849, had formerly acted as agent for Gen- eral Sutter. John McDougal, who succeeded him, was another early resident of Sacramento. John Bigler, also an early resident of Sacra- mento, was elected governor in 1851 and died

in this city in 1871. In 1855 he was succeeded as governor by J. Neely Johnson of Sacra- mento. Milton S. Latham became governor in 1859, resigning in 1860 to become United States senator. Leland Stanford became gov- ernor in 1862. Newton Booth of this city was chosen governor in 1871, and died in Sacra- mento in 1892. Hiram W. Johnson, born and reared in Sacramento, was elected governor in November, 1910, and reelected in 1914. He was elected United States senator in 1916, and re- signed as governor March 15, 1917, William D. Stephens, then lieutenant-governor, being in- augurated March 15, 1917, as his successor. Friend W. Richardson, at one time state print- er, was elected governor in 1922.

CHAPTER VIII SACRAMENTO CITY

The City Today

T' HE PIONEER settler who in the early days of the "Trail of Death" crossed the plains in quest of the "Trail of Gold," would today look with wonder upon the cap- ital city of California, with its stately build- ings, magnificent parks, and beautiful paved streets, lined with tall elms whose branches overspread the thoroughfares, lawns and playgrounds, affording protection from the sun's rays and turning the entire city into a forest of never-ending comfort and attractive- ness. Since the early mining days, Sacra- mento has discarded her swaddling clothes and has put on the garb of modern times. On every hand evidences of progress and prosper- ity are seen, in her cosmopolitan stores, stately hotels, and imposing public buildings.

The city today has more than 130 miles of asphalt-paved streets, which have taken the place of the cobblestone, crushed-rock, and macadamized streets formerly in use when the capital was in the class with the country towns. Strangers and visitors almost invariably praise this feature of the municipal improvements. The progressive age has also seen practically the last of the one- and two-story landmarks razed to make way for the advent of twentieth- century business blocks, sky-scrapers, and in general a more substantial and modern type of architecture. Buildings of five, seven, eight and ten stories now line J and K Streets from Fourth to Twelfth Streets, and an eighteen-

story bank and office sky-scraper has been de- signed for Seventh and K, which soon is to be erected. This will be among the loftiest struc- tures west of Chicago, and will be a monument to the financial strength of the city as well as a mile-post in its onward march toward a population of 250,000, which Gov. William D. Stephens in a public address stated is sure to be realized, even in the days of the present generation.

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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, 1923, Part 8

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026