History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 83

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West
Number of Pages: 538

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We were particularly struck with the change exhibited in the locality, comparing its surroundings under present appearances with those presented when we first knew it. Sixteen years ago, we were landed upon the beach from the boat of the steamer Sea Bird, ourself and another person being the only passengers on the steamer's fort- nightly trip. The purser handed to us the great United States mail which we had no difficulty in concealing in our pocket. Not a pound of freight was landed. Luckily the sea was not very rough, and we there- fore did not get wet, but on landing, at the extremity of a long stretch of sea-beach, not a soul was to be seen, nor any sign of habitation, save a house in the dis- tance, the present Avila house, and one solitary indi- vidual, who came sauntering down towards us, apparently with as much nonchalance as though it were indifferent to him whether the boat swamped or not. We asked him if we could get a night's lodging thereabouts, when he replied that we could by walking a mile or more to the old ranch house. It was our friend William E. Bor- land, the veteran "Chips" of San Luis Obispo, whom not to know argues one's self unknown. Guided by him we reached the present ranch house, then unfinished, and after a walk of about twenty minutes, and wading the creek once, we managed to shelter our heads for the night under a decent roof.

To-day we find, near the spot of our landing, a splendid new wharf, 620 feet long, with a depth of water sufficient to accommodate any of our ordinary coast ves- sels; two schooners at anchor, one at the wharf, the other ready to haul up and discharge cargo. Two warehouses, one forty by fifty feet, the other twenty by fifty in dimen- sions, with the immediate prospect of a third, of still larger proportions, being built. The whole are under the charge of Mr. John Harford, whose endeavors are always directed toward the full accommodation of all the cus- tomers of the People's Wharf. Quantities of lumber piled around in all directions, the piles in constant opera- tion of removal, and as constantly in process of replenish- ment, show that there must be a large number of con- sumers of that commodity near at hand. Withal, a large concourse of persons assembled to celebrate the comple- tion of the new enterprise, manifested that the people of San Luis Obispo appreciate the improvement just finished.

Considering that there is another landing, a mile or more off, unused at the time of our first arrival, now pa- tronized by a tri-monthly steamer, the finest on the coast, and with every facility for landing passengers and freight, we think that the world of San Luis Obispo has moved somewhat since we were a castaway upon her desert shore, and we anticipate in the immediate future a still greater and a more rapid progress.

RATES OF WHARFAGE.

The Board of Supervisors fixed the following rates of charges on merchandise and all matter shipped or landed at the People's Wharf for the year 1870 :-

Grain and vegetables, per ton. $0.60

Lumber, per M 1.00

Shakes, 0.25

Shingles, "

0.121/2

Laths, 66

0.15

Posts, per 100 1.00

Wool, per ton 1.00

Horses, each 1.00

Horned cattle, each 0.25

For each one or two-horse vehicle 1.00

For each four or six-horse vehicle 2.00

On all inward freight, not specified in the schedule, $1.00 per ton; outward freight, seventy-five cents per ton.

Two large warehouses were erected for the storage of merchandise. All outward freight was stored thirty days free of charge; inward freight for fifteen days free of charge.

PETITIONING FOR A BREAKWATER.

A meeting of the citizens of San Luis Obispo was held in January, 1880, to take into consideration the subject of petitioning Congress to make an appropriation for the construction of a breakwater at the harbor. P. A. Forrester presided and G. B. Staniford was Secretary. A committee consisting of C. H. Phillips, W. L. Beebee, Ernest Cerf, H. M. Warden, and P. A. Forrester, was appointed to draft resolutions.

The Committee on Resolutions, through its Chairman, C. H. Phillips, presented the following as its report :--

Your committee, to whom was referred the preparation of suitable resolutions in relation to improvements of the harbor of San Luis Obispo, California, respectfully pre- sent the appended preamble and resolution :-

WHEREAS .- The Port of San Luis Obispo, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, about half way between San

*Named by Vancouver, in 1793, after Luis Arguello, Captain of the pre- sidio of San Francisco at that time.

325

THE COAST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO.

Francisco and San Diego in the State of California, is one of the few ports on said coast possessing sufficient depth of water and capacity to furnish ample anchorage for any probable number of vessels which might require anchor- age and protection at any one time, and could by the construction of a breakwater be made a safe harbor at all seasons of the year; and

WHEREAS, Said port of San Luis Obispo is the natural outlet for the whole of the territory lying between the San Marcos Mountains on the south, the San Antonio Mountains on the north, and the San Joaquin Valley on the east, comprising in extent over 4,000,000 acres, including within these boundaries the most productive and fertile region of the State, and known as the great wheat-growing section, with the several points of which said port will be soon connected by rail, the initial section of the road being completed and in running order to the city of San Luis Obispo, and the continuation of which will soon be effected; and

WHEREAS, The productions of San Luis Obispo and adjoining counties, such as grain, wool, chrome ore, quicksilver, asphaltum, lime, alabaster, etc., are rapidly increasing and require increased facilities for the trans- portation of same to market; and

WHEREAS, The increasing maritime interests of the south Pacific Coast require and demand, for the security of vessels engaged in commerce, as well as of vessels belonging to the revenue and naval service of the United States, some port of refuge between San Francisco and San Diego, accessible at all times, and safe from all storms and winds; and

WHEREAS, By the reports of the officers of the Coast Survey, made to the superintendent of that department, San Luis Obispo port is declared to be the most impor- tant and best natural harbor between the ports of San Francisco and San Diego; accessible at all times, and safe from all storms and winds; and

WHEREAS, By the reports of the officers of the Coast Survey, made to the superintendent of that department, San Luis Obispo port is declared to be "the most important and best natural harbor between the ports of San Francisco and San Diego; and being central in the line of commerce;" and

WHEREAS, No other harbor within 200 miles northerly or southerly offers the same natural advantages, or can be improved at so small an expense to the Government as the port of San Luis Obispo, for the reason that from Whaler's Point to a small rocky island about one-fourth mile from shore the average depth of water does not exceed twelve feet, and the material for construction of breakwater procurable in the immediate locality, thus rendering this section of the work easy and at a compara- tive small cost, and the remaining portion, curving to sea- shore, could be conveniently made, the average depth of water being from eighteen to twenty-four feet; and

WHEREAS, The improvement of said harbor by the construction of a breakwater would give complete pro- tection to our commercial, naval, and revenue fleets at all times and seasons; would facilitate the shipment of our products and merchandise by giving us a safe, speedy and cheap transportation, not only to domestic markets, but would enable us to ship direct by deep water vessels to foreign markets, and save us the immense costs of re-shipments; would open up to industrial occupation vast sections of now useless and unproductive lands; would materially reduce marine insurance now attainable at high rates, and at the pleasure of the underwriters; and would conduce generally to the development and pros- perity of a section of the State never heretofore directly under the patronizing hand of the Government or a recipient of any favor in the nature of internal improve-

ment and whose claim to this notice and aid is second to none other on the Pacific Coast; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of this State at the session of 1875-76, adopted a concurrent resolution, requesting our Senators and Representatives in Congress of the United States, to use their best efforts to secure an appropriation for the construction of said breakwater, and to declare the harbor of San Luis Obispo a port of entry; and

WHEREAS, By the efforts of our Senators and Repre- sentatives in Congress, and the personal exertion of Hon. R. Pacheco of our county, a favorable consideration and report was had and made by the House Committee on Commerce, and in consequence thereof, an appropria- tion for the survey of said harbor was included among the appropriations of the session, but which appropria- tion was subsequently stricken out of the general appro- priation bill, for reason unknown to your committee; and

WHEREAS, The importance of this measure to the peo- ple of this and adjoining counties and to the general coasting trade and travel imperatively demands from us a persistent and earnest appeal to Congress for the con- summation of the great object sought ; therefore, be it

Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress be requested to use all honorable means in their power to obtain from Congress an appropriation for the improvement of San Luis Obispo harbor, and construc- tion of breakwater therein, and that the same be declared a port of entry.

Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions be transmitted to each of our Senators and Representa- tives in Congress, with a request that they take speedy and earnest action in the matter.

C. H. PHILLIPS, Chairman. P. A. FORRESTER, Secretary.

On motion of G. W. Mauk, the report of the commit- tee was received and adopted.

P. A. Forrester presented the following resolutions, which were adopted :---

WHEREAS, Certain resolutions were, on the 17th day of January, 1880, adopted by the citizens of San Luis Obispo County, relating to the improvement of the harbor of San Luis Obispo, and the same being considered a matter of vital importance to the maratime interests of this State, taken thereon by the Legislature of the State ; therefore, be it

Resolved, That our Senator and Representative in the Legislature of the State of California be requested to procure immediately the adoption of a concurrent reso- lution by said Legislature, requesting our Senators and Representatives in Congress, to use their best efforts to obtain an appropriation for the construction of a break- water in the harbor of San Luis Obispo; and that said port be declared a port of entry.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded . to Hon. Warren Chase and Hon. H. Y. Stanley.

Judge W. L. Beebee moved that an executive commit- tee of five be appointed to whom all matters connected with this meeting shall be referred, and that the Chair- man of this meeting be the Chairman of the committee. Carried. The Chair appointed W. L. Beebee, C. H. Phillips, H. M. Warden, and G. B. Staniford.

IN THE ASSEMBLY.

Hon H. Y. Stanley, member of the Assembly from San Luis Obispo in the Legislative session of 1880, introduced the following resolution :---

326

HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

Resolved, By the Assembly, the Senate concurring, that our Senators and Representatives in Congress be and are hereby respectfully and earnestly requested to procure an appropriation from the General Government, to be expended in the construction of a breakwater for the har- bor of San Luis Obispo, and to make said harbor a port of entry.

The Governor of this State is hereby requested to transmit a certified copy of the foregoing resolution to_ each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

SAN LUIS OBISPO A PORT OF DELIVERY.

The resolution was adopted, but while Congress voted many millions for improvement of rivers and harbors, including some very unimportant ones, the breakwater of San Luis Obispo was ignored. The port of San Luis Obispo, which includes Port Harford, Avila, Pismo Wharf, and all points in the bay, is a port of delivery where ships may discharge foreign cargo, and Mr. J. J. Scheiffarley is the custom officer in charge. San Fran- cisco and Vallejo are also such ports, the chief office being in San Francisco.

WRECK OF THE "HARLECH CASTLE."

But few wrecks have occurred along the coast of San Luis Obispo, but quite a number have happened in other parts of the southern California coast. In these wrecks the great necessity of a breakwater to make a harbor of refuge is made apparent.

On Monday, August 30, 1869, the iron bark Harlech Castle was wrecked off Piedras Blancas. The Harlech Castle was an iron vessel, built in Liverpool by Richards, Mills & Co. She sailed from the harbor of San Fran- cisco July 16th, loaded with barley for Iquiqui, Peru. They had pleasant weather up to August Ist, after which she encountered some heavy gales, and had to put back to San Francisco for repairs. At 2:30 P. M., Monday, August 30th, the ship struck on a sunken rock (not laid down on the chart), and immediately filled and careened over to port. The boats were got out with all possible dispatch, and in so doing the gig was smashed by a sea, which injured the mate, cutting him very severely about the head, and washed three men overboard; of these three, one (the master) got into the broken boat, one got back to the wreck, and the third was drowned alongside. He was an able seaman, named John Clauser. Three men then took the mate into the dingy, and went to pick up the master, after which they pulled ashore. In the interval between the boat leaving and returning to the ship, another seaman, named Charles Munroe, who attempted to reach the shore on a plank, was drowned. Towards dusk the remainder of the crew (seven men) were taken off the wreck and landed safely, but without saving any of their effects. On the following morning the master and crew went down to the beach, and about 9 A. M. the vessel disappeared altogether.

Captain Clark and a number of Portuguese whalers rendered essential aid in assisting the crew ashore. The officers were conveyed to San Simeon Bay, where they took the steamer Sierra Nevada, and went to San Fran- cisco. The Captain wrote the following letter to the editor of the San Francisco Times :--

SAN FRANCISCO, September 16, 1869.

.TO THE EDITOR OF THE SAN FRANCISCO TIMES, Before leaving San Francisco, I wish to express in this public manner, on behalf of myself, officers, and crew, our sincere and heartfelt thanks for the unbounded kind- ness and assistance which have been accorded to us by friends and strangers since our shipwreck on this coast.

In thanking those who have thus generously cared for us in our misfortunes, we cannot refrain from specially refer- ring to Mrs. Charles Kent, who resides on the ranch near which our vessel was lost, and to the whalemen at San Simeon, whose hospitality and attention cannot be too highly praised, and which we shall ever gratefully remem- ber. Begging space for this communication in your valuable paper, I am, dear sir, your obedient servant,

E. M. HUGHES, Late Master of Harlech Castle.

Had the much advocated breakwater existed and such a safe harbor as it would create been known, the disaster to the Harlech Castle and loss of life could have been avoided.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

METEOROLOGY.

December in San Luis Obispo-Climate-The Seasons-The Wet Season-Rain-fall at San Luis Obispo-Rain-fall at Paso de Robles-The Dry Season- Temperature during 1874 and 1875-Earthquakes, Tidal Wave-Tornado-Effects of the Climate-W. W. Hays, A. M., M.D.

BY MRS. T. W.

O, land of beauty, and joy, and love ! Where'er the summer leaveth,

In the amber warmth of the light above, A mantle of green she weaveth, Sweet pitiful queen, With vernal sheen She covers the earth, as she goeth away Where the corpse of the poor, dead harvest lay; And in matronly mood, mid blossoms gay, Sees December born in the arms of May.

Come forth ! O hearts that are withered with care ! Come forth ! O soul that grieveth !

And bodies that languish in anguish, where No beauty the eye perceiveth : Behold the scene- Sublime, serene- That stretches abroad this "winter's" day, That word's a misnomer, then you'll say Where the crowning month of the year is not gray, But Deeember thrills in the clasp of May.

There are beauties unsung, in this land of the sun ; There are joys unfelt 'neath the glowing skies;

There are pleasures that verge on the borders of pain, If unshared by dear, loving, and lovable eyes. For this vision supernal, Enchanting and vernal,

That extends a fair picture in floral array, Where the emerald meadows in tenderness lay, For December to die in the arms of May. -Tribune, December 25, 1875.

HE climate of California is peculiar to itself, having none similar in any other State of the Union. While peculiar in general, different localities have peculiarities, and a precise statement of the temperature, rain-fall, intensity of winds, and number of clear or cloudy days of one locality would not be proper for another locality. In most parts of the earth parallels of latitude are expected to indicate changes of temperature, and to these meterologists have added isothermal lines as more

327

METEOROLOGY.

definite indices of the climate of sections of the earth. But neither parallels of latitude nor isothermal lines will point to either the warm or cold sections of California. The physical features of the earth appear to govern in a singular manner. The mountain ranges, their altitude and their trend, the elevation of interior valleys, the wind gaps along the coast and exposure to winds of various directions are the physical features governing. The chief physical features are the great Pacific Ocean, the minor ranges of mountains along the coast, the great valley in the interior, extending from the thirty-fifth to the forty-first parallel, the lofty Sierra Nevada, par- allel to the coast; and the southern ranges, separating the coast from the desert region lying between them and the Colorado River. These give secondary direction to the winds-the primary being unknown and unaccounted for-and these bring changes of temperature and condi- tions of moisture.

THE SEASONS.

The year is divided into two seasons of "wet" and "dry," and in the different sections the temperature is governed by the elevation. The precipitous rise of mountains from the level of the sea to an altitude of from one to three miles in height gives a great range of tem- perature at all seasons of the year, perpetual winter reign- ing on the mountain tops, while the valleys show only the alternations of spring, summer, and autumn. The mys- terious laws of nature governing the meteorology of the Pacific are such that the great wind currents, or rather the great atmospheric envelope of the earth moving from west to east-revolving more rapidly than the solid earth itself- is deflected into a southeast course by the trend of the coast, and which, though filled with moisture, ex- pand in passing over the warmer atmosphere of the land, and bear their moisture to parts beyond our borders. In winter, or in the months of the wet season, the regu- larity is disturbed, and southern winds, particularly those from the warmer regions of the southeast, coming also laden with moisture, meet the colder winds in the north, condensing the vapors and giving abundant rains, or snow at an elevation of 2,500 or 3,000 feet. The mount- ains, and such valleys as are encircled by mountains on the north, receive the greatest rain-fall.

THE WET SEASON.

The wet season commences in November, and con- tinues until April or May. During the severest winters not more than half the days are rainy, and below the snow-line the temperature is mild, and when not raining the weather is peculiarly mild and lovely. This is the season of plowing and planting, giving the farmer the long period of six months to prepare and seed his ground. During this period, when other sections of the Union are covered with snow and the ground is hardened by frost, the hills and valleys of California are clad in verdure, presenting a scene of loveliness that gives a special charm to the country, redeeming it from many detracting features it may possess. The later months of the rainy season are the gorgeous ones of the year.

They are the months of the springing of buds and flowers, expanding in beauty and filling the air with fragrance. Not only the flowers of the garden-beds, but flowers of the field, "flowers by the acre-flowers by the mile." There is no dismal, grey-bearded winter to "linger in the lap of spring." The trees are crowned with the brightest green, the fields bedecked with every hue, and California is then the "land of sun and flowers," and then is the most happy season of the year.

The rain-fall varies regularly with the locality and with different years. The least fall is upon the Colorado Desert, where the average does not exceed three inches per annum, and the greatest is in the mountains of the northern coast. The towering ridge of the Sierra Ne- vada intercepts the cloud-bearing winds of winter, and, however dry the season may be in the valleys and along the coast, always receives vast deposits of snow, which, measured in their equivalent of water, equals from fifty to one hundred inches per annum.

At San Diego, on the southern coast, the annual rain- fall is about ten and one-half inches; at San Francisco it is twenty and one-third; at Sacramento nineteen, and at Nevada City, in the Sierra at an altitude of 2,350 feet, the average fall is fifty-five inches. The rain-fall at San Luis Obispo during the past fourteen years, measured by Dr. Hays, gives an annual average of nineteen and one-half inches. The greatest fall in the period was in the season of 1877-78, when it reached 30.60 inches, and the least was in the preceding season, that of 1876-77, when it was but 8.15 inches.

RAIN-FALL AT SAN LUIS OBISPO.

The following is the table of rain-fall during the past fourteen years, measured by Dr. W. W. Hays :--

Aug Sept. Oct. Nov.

Dec.

Jan.

Feb.

Mch Ap'l May Jun

July

Tot.

1869-70

.84

.66

-78

.71

4.85

.74

2.40

.85

11.83

1870-71

.68

.38

2.90

1.51

4-43

...

2.79

12.97

1871-72

2.40 13.93

5.16

3.45

.71

I-37

27.02

1872-73

6.00

5.00

I.79

4.40

3.23

1.00

20.52

1874-75

4.28

2.05

.48

12.10

.28

.50

. .

19.69

1875-76

6.20

2.20

9.87

5.29

5.30

1.26

30.12

1876-77

1.16

1.42

3.90

7.88

11.91

2.74 2.75

30.60

1878-79

1.50

2.58

1.78

2.15

1.60 1.80

.25

11.66

1879-80

.75

1.40

3.03

1.75

7.23

2.36 8.78

.52

25.82

1880-81

.48

13.35

4.71

1.90

1.40

1.85

73.69

1881-82

.40

1.65

.25

2.00

.85

3.40

6.75

1.73

17.03

1882-83

.69

2.95

.44

I.50

1.00

4.90

1.05

3.70

17.83

This table may be regarded as giving the rain-fall of that portion of the county west of the Santa Lucia Range. East of the mountains the fall is usually less.

RAIN-FALL AT PASO DE ROBLES.

Dr. D. E. Barger gives the measure of rain-fall at Paso de Robles Springs for the season of 1881-82 as follows :- September, .15; October, . 17; November, .23; Decem- ber, .68; January, 1882, .70; February, 1.28; March, 4. 10; April, .35; total for season, 7.66 inches.

The season was an exceptionally dry one for that region. During the season of 1882-83, the fall at Paso de Robles was eight inches.

The comparative value of the aggregate rain-fall in pro-

12.79

1873-74

7.96

4.29

4.83

.42

1.74

8.15

1877-78

328

HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

ducing a crop depends in a great measure upon the dis- tribution during the season. If distributed at intervals of four or five weeks, during the six months of the season a fall of ten inches will produce a fair crop of grain and grass, while a much larger amount in the early part of the season and none in the latter will not be as effectnal. Heavy rains in May are unusual, the fall of 3.70 inches in May, 1883, being unprecedented in the history of the State since the American occupation.

THE DRY SEASON.

The dry season is the summer and autumn of Califor- nia, the season of maturity and harvest. It extends from May to November, a period of six months, in which rain seldom falls. Showers sometimes occur in July, and a few light rains may occur in September and October; at other times no fall of water may be expected. Journeys may be undertaken, and the gathered crops of the field may be exposed without fear of interference or damage by rain. The harvest commences in May, first in the cutting of grass for hay, and continues with the cereals at the convenience of the farmer. The great labor of turning, drying and sheltering grain and hay, required of the farmer in the East, from the frequency of sum- mer rains, is never exacted in California, as the long, dry season gives ample time for the harvest, and prepares the grain in a condition superior to any possible attain- ment in rainy countries.

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History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 83

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West Number of Pages: 538

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West
Number of Pages: 538