USA > California > San Benito County > History of San Benito County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, and mines : with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 32
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Moss Landing has always been well patronized hy the fariners of the valley, many of whom live at a long distance, and in the very heart of the country tributary to the Southern Pacific Railroad. The rate of freight on grain for the season of 1880-81, including wharfage, loading and weighing, is $3.25 per ton, with 50 cents additional per ton when stored, or not to exceed $3.75 for storage Tor the season, weigh- ing, wharfage, loading and freight. When a steamer has a load for delivery at any warehouse in San Francisco, or at Oakland wharf, or alongside of ship, it is so delivered without extra charge, provided there is sufficient depth of water and good dispatch can be had. The grain freight rate by the Southern Pacific Railroad to San Francisco is $3.25; storage for the season here, $1.25; if weighed out, 25 cents additional; total freight and storage, $4.75 per ton, against $3.75 at Moss Landing. The freight by rail to Oakland wharf, exclusive of storage, is $3.50, and to San Jose, also exclusive of storage, $2.50 per ton, the rates to San Francisco, Oakland wharf and San Jose being for car-load lots or balances of lots.
155
SANTA RITA AND SURROUNDING COUNTRY.
It may be interesting to know that the proper shower at Moss Landing was the Arisme In April Isto, in order to prove to doubters that they could tran port grain More M .. & Bral sent & P. Knowles, W B Post, dies I' fin James Gallier and Cats Vierra with a lighter up the river to bring down one hundred tons of grain. They brought it down in safety, but the water bring waist-deep, it was dificult to unload it, the men having to walk through it with the works on their shoulders For some time alter, until the wharf was extended, surf- bwts were employed to load the stralers
It has been said in reference to Muss Landing, that it could. at less than a tithe of the cost of Wilmington harbor, be turned into a dock harbor. It will probably be the termints of a narrow-gauge railroad running up the valley to compete with the Southern Pacific. The scheme of a canni up the Tembla- dera slough from this landing is also within the probabilities in case the building of a railroad is not undertaken, and the extension through Castroville, and the Salinas valley, of the South Pacific Coast Railrond cannot be long delayed. The era of railrond building in this valley has in truth only commenced.
Village of Santa Rita,
DESCIPTHIN OF DR. S. 3. ARCHER'S PRIVATE HOSPITAL, GROUNDS, AND RESIDENCE.
ABOUT three miles northward 'rom Salinas City, in this county, ensconced in the bosom of a little hollow of undulating prairie or plain of unsurpassed fertility ami natural beauty, lies the hamlet of Santa Rita. It is a villa of some two Inindred or so inhabitants, mostly of Spanish descent, who live from year to year in that dreamy, idle, and ideal existence so characteristic of the race. It is a platted town (so the county records show). aud was laid out and dedicated to public use by Don J. M. Soto, the owner of the grand Rancho Santa Rita, in the year 1867. Originally, it was intended to be the chief town of the Salinas valley-lovely in location, and healthful in its atmosphere and surroundings. But the cupidity of man, the avarice of capital, and the consequent march of events-partie- ularly of railroad extension of the line of the Southern Pacific -decreed that Salinas City should be the town of the valley. where "a little empire should hold its sway." And so, while the latter has grown and expanded into a pretty town of some four thousand inhabitants, with fine hotels, paved streets, asphaltum walks, large stores, printing offices, fine residences and cozy cottages, embowered among trees, and shrubs, and flowers-the evidences of opulence, taste and contentment-the hamlet of Santa Rita still stands, as of yore, untarnished in reputation, unimproved by the hand of time, honored still in its little local memories, and now mainly interesting in the history of that which I now purpose to give.
In the year It's just near the summit of a trantiful .will of plant, and a not in the heart of Santa Rita Ir & M Ardar a native of all Virgins 'en tal & hent vet unun. tuning res lince for lan wolf and family Beats the screen trait of the bee ist he was poolof two other small inte which, together with ost jant purchase now constante the reis ner and . hospital grande
The views taken by the artist are as faithful to hte as art can seemingly mak. nature, and repas it to the reader a scene of lovelines, taste and comfort not often with a 1, and particularly in the surroundings of an establishunent delicate in a great measure to public ne.
"The largest of the wealthy, the lonesomener of the kind hearted, Inve often times contributes to the erection of fine edifices in our large cities and towns, or in some senestenel spot, for the humanitarian care of the sick. dertiente and unfor- tomate. They stand and deserve to stand as bright exemplar of true Christian worth, nul thut " charity toward ull," which l'hrist himself always taught.
it is not, however, a common occurrence for a single indi- vidual, honored among those with whom he lives, yet nuher- alled to fame, to voluntarily Instow his time and money in the laying out and cultivation of beutiful grounds, and the Free- tion of good, substantial building+ well ventilated and well furnished-for the comfort- and wants of the indigent und the invalid, who may chance to come to grief in their journey through, or luiterings in, a connunuity.
THE COUNTY HOSPITAL ..
But such is the fact in this instance. The hospital proper, con- sists of thirty roots, twenty-four separate sleeping apartments, one large ward of twelve beds, a dining room table d'hote, a kitchen with every imaginary convenience, and a most excellent cook to superintend it, a nent parlor for the reception and enter. taiment of guests and visitors, and a large, comfortable, yea, cozy rea-ling-room, which is ever furnished with the newspa- pers and leading magazines of the day Verandas rIm around the house, and upon them, at cither story, pots of flowers and sbruby exhale their sweetness on the air. The other buildings, five in number, are well provided, cared for, and appropriated to the treatment of special disays, as neces. sity may require.
The building devoted to female uw consists of ten sleeping apartments, all as well furnished as any good hotel. They are far better than any usually furnished hospital patients, even in a purely private hospital, where heavy charges are inade for the benefits couferrel. A large and comfortably furnished parlor, with a good fire-place, walls alorned with pictures and paintings, also forms a part of its accommodations. It faces upon a broad porch, which overlooks a nice plot of ground laid off in walks and intersticed with trees, shrubs, vines, and
156
THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND MANAGEMENT.
bowers, trollised with flowers in their time, free access to which is the privilege of all. A veranda abo runs in front. facing the street, where those who desire may watch the movements of the outside workl.
Surrounding the hospital grounds anl lining the walks which wander hither and yon through them are trees of lusty growth and pretty verdure-the Australian gum, the Monterey cypres, the palm, the pepper, and the acacia. Mounds of rocks, covered with Mother Earth and green sward; and in their time the butter-cup, the violet, and the daisy, delight the eye of the beholder. A neat structure in the rear of the grounds proper, is furnished with hot and cold water, and one there may enjoy almost the luxury of a llammam bath. Much of the ground in the interval spaces of trees and shrubs is constantly utilized in the growing of vegetables of every kind, such as spinach, cauliflower, sweet-corn, beans, peas, rad- ishes, lettuce, and anything and everything, in fact, that will grow, is grown and dispeused with a prudent, even lavish hand, to the unfortunates of this abode. More than this, the outside lots abound with ducks, the coops with fowl, while the stables have numerous dove-cots lilled with pigeons and doves, so tame that they come at call and feed ont of the hand.
No necessity, no comfort, no delicacy that can be had to suit the ever-changing appetite and whim of the sick or convales- cent, but that is furnished if the wish be suggested. Often- times, in these past years, when the writer of this has been stopping as a guest at the pleasant and hospitable home of the subject of this sketch, he has, at worn and eve, walked through these hospital grounds, conversed with the patients as they reelined in chairs, or on benches, or strolled along the walks therein, and felt how fortunate it was to unfortunate humanity to have such an opportunity to obtain relief, to be harbored as if a friend, and if, alas! King Death should come, then to be interred as a Christian, under the solemn rites and ritual of the Christian church.
Pardon the digression; but while memory lives, the writer will never forget one time when a poor, sick stranger came to the hospital, only to linger a little while, and then to clic. Death came one bright and beautiful Sunday morning. No one in the hospital was able to assist in digging the grave, nor could, just at that time, any one be found to do the work save one-a Charlie Thompson. So on that beautiful morn in spring, Dr. Archer, Thompson and ourself dug the grave, formed the fuueral cortege, and in silence and with a prayer read from the Ritual, consigned " dust to dust." Ah! well was it ordained by God that Suuday should be a day of rest. There is on that day a sense of holy repose, of holy duty. that fills the brain aud swells the heart with pure emotions, and the innate religion of the soul (and is there not such ?) springs up within us, and we feel happy under the influence of its benign and hallowed calnr. So felt we three that hle sed day, and we can but think and say with the poet --
"Sweet day, so pure, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the Earth and Sky."
God bless that unfortunate as he may many another, and all at last. through " weal or woe " seenre a " peaceful rest."
As we have said, although a private hospital. the county authorities have to a great extent forced it into a public char- acter, and so for the past six years it has been a " Welcome Home" to rich and poor ulike, whether recompensed by private or public funds, or not at all. Within that time there have been within its walls, more than one thousand persons as patients, and only nineteen of that great number have gone from its confines
".'To that bourne whenco no traveler returns."
To show that the statements above made are not exagger- ated, I close the account of the Hospital by quoting that por- tion of the Grand Jury Report of Monterey county relating to this institution.
GRAND JURY REPORT ON HOSPITAL.
Following is the report of the Grand Jury for the December (and last) term of the County Court :-
To THE HON. WM. H. WEBB, COUNTY JUDGE- Sir : We, the Grand Jury, impaneled at the December term of said Court, A. D. 1879, hereby present the following report of our proceedings :
We have examined carefully the condition of the County Hospital and are compelled to report most favorably of that institution. The patients are well housed and well fed ; far better than is usual in such establishments. The bedding is clean and ample, and the sanitary condition surrounding the patients could not, in our opinion, be improved. In short, the inmates of the county hospital have every comfort afforded them that could possibly be expected. They express them- selves unanimously and unreservedly as satisfied, stating that they have every reason to be pleased with their condition. They speak in glowing terms of the kindness and attention bestowed upon them by the county physician, Dr. S. M. Archer, none but the best feeling being expressed by the unfortunate iumates of this institution. The Doetor is in carnest about his labors, and devotes the greater portion of his time and energy to securing the happiness and comfort of those cominitted to his care. Having examined all the inmates of the hospital, as to their physical condition, we found tbem, without exception, suffering from disease to such an extent as to disable them from making their own support. There is a separate house, just completed, which is devoted to the exclusive use of female patients. This department has ample grounds, and the bouse is thoroughly adapted to the purpose for which it is used, being supplied with every convenience necessary to the comfort of its inmates. Altogether we pronounce the performance of Dr. Archer to be the work of real charity, entirely suited to its
SPRINGHURST. RES. OF G.F. BUTT. NATIVIDAD. MONTEREY CO CAL
THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND MANAGEMENT.
objects, and characteristic of the killmarta lunes of the man Believing it would be a difficult matter to find in the State elsewhere a similar institution of equal merit, we give to Ir Areber and his hospital our unqualified in logement and hearty approval.
Grand Jury impaneled as follows : H. Friellan Ier. for-man , J. S. Nance, W. St. French, J. M Sunth, Henry Bardin, W 11 Blinn, E L. Logwool, John lames, C. MI Grury .I. . Wil- hoit, J. W Finch, C. Carlton, John Ilunter, A. l' Habe, A. 1. Meek, I. B. Sterling, G. W. Thenerkanf, Milton Withers and Mareny Bundeson.
11. FRIEDLANDER, Foreman.
Another view the artist gives is that of the residence of Dr. S. M. Archer, and what shall be said if it ? The scene is present to the eye of the reader, and yet actual obervation would make it more interesting. The house, n buikdling of small pretensions, as to exterior architecture is uniquely loilt, inelosed with trellised work, and embowered withs vines of flow- ering growth and shaded with a luxuriant foliage of trees.
This, however is only the outward indication of the simplie- ity and comfort within. At this little "snug," the merchant, divine, lawyer, the humblest citizen or stranger, the tiller of the soil, any one (so he nets the gentlemans, ever receives gen- erous hospitality. The house, the stables, whatever is in them or in the extensive gardens nround, whether of horse-flesh, car- riage, fruit, vegetable, or flower, is at the command of the vis- itor-much more, the warm hospitality of himself and family.
Pride and zeal in the cultivation of a garden, luxuriant with trees and flowering shrubs, all planted and set out with a srem- ingly reckless hund, viewed in the light of the studied art of the horticulturist or gardener, astouishes your gaze. At once you are in a little labyrinth of walks, and fountains, and flow. ers, of palm, blooming cypress, flowering pine, acncin, pampas and geranimm, running riot ; and covered with the grape, woodbine, morning glory, and trained honeysuckle, an elegant latticed arbor some fi ty feet in length by twenty feet in width, in which are chairs and benches placed for a quiet tete-a-tote of frienils, or, perchance, the more earnest conversation of lovers. The chikiren, too, come and go, swing, and play their little games as smilingly as iunocence can make pleasure.
A little, cirenlar, turreted, mosque-like arbor, in which is a row of rustic seats, conuccts with the main arbor. In the cen- ter is a pyranidie column of pots of flowers, and the aroma of the sweet-scented geranium, roses and other flowering vines which stand within and completely interlace its lattice-work from the ground to turret-spirc, steals awny one's senses, makes one for- get the world and its troubles, and carries one away into a vista of imaginary joy and pleasure, now actual, hut dream- ingly lasting forever.
To one unacquainted with the place, unaccustomed to meet its kindly host, unconversant with the hospital, its patients, their wants and treatment, this might seem an intensified and
highly of nel petir. We lowes r. as one who has ever felt bored with It Areler's acquaintance and friendship as one who has tren inga with to his a to as a gon roue ite factor he las race, to lis unselfish gent rosity, and the evden . of bis Ingh poirpe , wv it is true
And an amuuget all this Kindly Imming of nature, amongst all this Los rous hospitality of one gurl soul, amongst all the Warty laughing, prattling and playing of innocent childrenal, the riveration of virtuous womanhool, and the acts of noble manhood, the sick and disheartenel. the wealthy sutf rer, as well as the inligent wanderer. finds a home, ani the many tos. timusials and letters received by him bear witness that humanity is not all a fraud, and that the heart annetinnen remains true to the rvoter of its affection
What is written here is done in kindness. Our poor pwn can say laut little. Humanity carl for, full of gratitude, can and will swell the chorus of these words. .
And so, in this quiet villa, among a rural, half-sleeping people, with a park, once ornamented, but now unadorned, upon which the lowing herd with tinkling bells feed and sleep away the day, and the school children play; the store and dwelling of honest Sam Irvine and his kindly family ; the genial hospitality of Don Manuel A, L'astro, and his home ; the hearty welcome of Duu 3. M. Soto, of the Rancho Santa Rita ; the educating inthis- ence of the little public school-house on the hill-top ; the wast- ing ashes of the old church on the opposite hill, which lins tolled its last eurfew; among thee influences and surronnvlings still stands the grand dedication to huinnnity, true benificenec aud Christian charity-the hovital and home of Dr. S. MI. Archer, and long way it stand as a momument of pride to its founder and the people of Monterey county W' S. DODOK.
OLD INMATE OF HOSPITAL.
Jose Lnuriano is an inmate of the County Ilovatal at Santa Rita. lle is at least one hundred and seven years old Ile has full possession of all his faculties, and his memory is good, being able to relate incidents which occurred over a hundred years ago. He was for years a resident of the old Carinelo Mission in this county, where he was educated by the priests. He is quite talkative, and doubtless any one conversant with the Spanish language could obtain a great deal of valuable information. Unfortunately our education is defective in that respect, and we had to interview him through an interpreter. Jose Lauriano is a very devout Catholic, and we believe, a sin- cere Christian. He passes a great portion of his time in prayer and reading his prayer-book. Should one of the patients in the hospital be considered dangerously sick, Jose will go to his bedside and pray most earnestly. He is much liked by all the inmates of the hospital, and it is needless to say he is most kindly treated by the physician-in-charge, Dr. S. M. Archer .- Index.
158
EARLY DAYS OF MONTEREY AND THE MISSION.
Monterey, the Old Capital.
WE have elsewhere mentioned the discovery of Monterey, It was at once selreted as the capital of Alta California, and Portala appointed as its first guvernor. Owing to the small amount of available agricultural land within l'armel SUissien Church. the semi-circle of hills surround- ing Monterey, the mission was soon removedl to the neigh- boring valley of Carmelo. The presidio, or military estab- lishinent, however, still remained at Monterey. This con- sisted of an inclosure about three hundred yards square, eon- taining a chapel, store houses, othres, residences and barracks for the sokliers. It was located where the Catholic church now stands. A rude fort was built on the hill overlooking the bay, and arined with a few small canuon. These coustituted the nucleus of the future town.
Cahnly the years driftel away, scarcely causing a ripple upon the slowly swelling tide of progress, Governor suc- ceeded governor, and each was content to render tribute to the Viceroy of Mexico, while the fruitful land over which he ruled maintained him in luxurious idleness. In 1822, Mexico, becoming tired of Spanish rule, established herself as a sepa- rate empire. Upon receiving intelligence of this important eveut, Governor Pablo Vicente de Sola summoned a council of the principal military officials and church dignitaries at Mon- terey, and formally announced the action of their mother country. The council unanimously decided that henceforth California was subject to Mexico alone. The oaths were chaugel and Sola became the first Mexican governor, or more correctly, " Political Chief of the Territory." The apathetie inhabitants offered no resistance, and the change was effected without a struggle.
Monterey was the capital for many years, and many of the governors under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule made their homes there.
WRECK OF THE NATALIA.
The harhor of Monterey was visited about this time hy numerous vessels, which realized an enormous profit by trad- ing their assorted cargoes for hides.
On the 25th of September, 1834, Hijar, Director of Coloni- zation, arrived at Monterey on the brig Natalia, for the pur- pose of secularizing the missions. The Natalia, which was the same vessel in wluch Napoleon the Great made his memor- able escape from Elba, was tbrown upon the beach by a storm and totally wrecked.
The ship came drifting into Monterey bay in the foggy meshes of an exceedingly inclement night in September, 1834, to escape from the dangers of the storm king outside. The anchor was soon cast. but alas: soon thereafter the cable parted, and a strong flood tide, in connection with a vigorous norther, carried the vessel to destruction. The loss of the brig is justly attributed 10 extreme carelessness and the incompe- teney of the captain. The wreck is securely imbedded in the sand near the wharf, and is slowly rotting away. A hundred years hence probably not a vestige of it will be found remain- ing, The ship Lugodu of Boston was there at the time and rode out the gale without even dragging her anchor.
THE OLD MISSION OF CARMELO.
This mission is next to the oldest in the State, situated about five miles south of Monterey, and was built by Spanish padres over one hundred years ago. The walls are fast crumbling, in fact, one has already fallen, and the whole building presents a lilapidated and ruined appearance. The ouly really destruc- tible thing lelt is the baptismal font, hewn by Indians from solid stone.
The yellow grain is already encroaching on the very entrance of Carmelo Mission, and not three hundred foot from where the fat and jolly friars taught the Scriptures to the docile Iudians, is a thrifty farin and a farmer's family, with a large brood of little ones. They run wild over the ground where repose, uumarked by headstones or cross, the bones of many of the real argonauts of the Pacific coast, the men who landed on the heautiful beach at Monterey and settled in an unknown land before the Americans thought of seccding from the mother country.
A VISIT TO THE RUINS.
As you sit upon one of the fallen roof-beams, and gaze upon the shattered font, the broken-down crosses, the ruined altar, and the general scene of devastation and desolation around, and remember that this is one of the most ancient and important historical monuments of California, the home and the grave of the moral hero of the age, the true pioneer of California pro- gress-Junipero Serra, and the tomh of no less than fifteen Governors of this State, a painful feeling arises.
Carmel Mission is the old Westminister Abbey of the State, the mausoleum of the great and the good, and the nation rewards the services of the past by giving up the dust of the good and brave to the guardianship of gophers and squirrels. Thorns and hriars, nettles and loathsome weeds, adorn their graves. A few short years, and naught will remain of this holy edifice save an undistinguishable mass of dehris. A few more years, and it will he too late-even now it will be some-
159
AFFLUENT DAYS OF THE CARMEL MISSION.
what difficult to re torah Whatever is done should be done quickly, nobly, and generously, for the present rate of the mission is a standing reproch to the church whichown it and a disgrace to the whole State of California
On the 4th of November of each year the Monterey padre holds a religion, festival in honor of San Carlos, the patron saint of Carmelo. The ruins are decorated with flowers and ever. greens, and mirth and festivity are the order of the day
AFFLUENT DAYS OF THE MISSION.
The lands surrounding the l'armel Mission were fertilized by a perennial stream of pure water, and this offered mulvantages, which the fathers were not How to avail themselves of, for the culti vation of many kinds of vegetaldes and finits. It was on the lands of this mis- sion that the first potatoes grown in Cali- fornia were raised, in 1826. The priv- ilege of planting this esenleut was given to the natives without limit, and they so improved their opportunities that the whalers, which made a regular C'est Franc stopping-place of Monterey, supplied themselves with great quantities. The temporal welfare of the estate had reached a great development in the year 1825, when the fathers possessed ninety thousand cattle, fifty thousand sheep, two thousand horses, two thousand calves, three hundred and seventy yoke of oxen, with merchandise to the value of $$0,000, and over $40,000 in silver. In 1835 the property, by a decreo of the Mexican Congress, was converted to secular uses.
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