USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 91
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San Luis Obispo was a recognized pueblo and entitled to four square leagues of land. But the Land Commis- sioners, organized under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1851, rejected the claim because, as they alleged, sufficient proof was not adduced in behalf of it. If any proof at all was adduced in support of the claim, this was certainly a wrong decision. Article I of the decree of the Mexican Congress of the 17th of August, 1833, is as follows: " All the missions of the Republic must be secularized." This decree was carried into effect in part in California in 1834, in conformity with the decree of Governor Figueroa, and soon after the pueblo of San
STOCK RANCH OF DANIEL HENRY, NEAR ARROYO GRANDE, SAN LUIS OBISPO CO. CAL.
357
TOWNS AND LOCALITIES CONTINUED.
Luis Obispo was fully organized by the election of an ayuntamiento and Alcalde, and town lots and suertes (garden patches) distributed, or reparted.
In consequence of the rejection of the pueblo claim, and as no possession was ever taken, its lands reverted to the public domain, and were surveyed by the United States Government in 1867. The town acquired a title to only six hundred and forty acres, in conformity with the Act of Congress of August, 1867. The remainder of the pueblo lands were acquired by individuals under the United States and State land laws.
TOWN LANDS.
In February, 1871, the town authorities received from the U. S. Land Office a certificate of purchase for the town site of the town of San Luis Obispo, covering the following tracts of the U. S. Land Survey; being parts of Sections 26, 27, 34, and 35 in Township 30 South; range 12 east of Mount Diablo, base and meridian containing 552 acres and 65-100.
This was a great relief to the people of the town, as much uneasiness had been felt in consequence of the uncertainty of title. The United States patent would thenceforward give a basis of title, either to those then in possession, who would receive it from the town authorities, or to those who should afterwards purchase.
4
HON. CHARLES H. JOHNSON.
A biography of Mr. Johnson would form an interesting chapter in the history of San Luis Obispo were all the material at command to produce it. His life has been one of stirring activity, travel, and adventure, and always prominent in public affairs. A native of Maryland, where he passed his early years, and while a youth, upon graduating from college, left his home for travel in differ- ent parts of the world. He first visited the Pacific and China, and in due time returned to his home in Baltimore. Remaining at home but a few months, he again set out for England, the East Indies, and China, in company with an uncle who went as agent for a Baltimore East India House, making the tour of the great cities of the eastern continent and returning again safely to his home. Upon returning from this extended and interesting jour- ney, he met Mr. John Finley, an acquaintance of his family, and jointly with him he loaded the ship Rhone, for a voyage to the west coast of South America, the Sandwich Islands, and California. The war with Mexico was then in progress, and California was expected to be -- come an American State, he having assurance from the authorities at Washington that it was the intention of the Government to retain possession at all hazards.
The Rhone sailed from Baltimore December 22, 1847, and, proceeding to the various ports on the west coast of South America, arrived at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, on the 18th of July, 1848. There the news of the dis- covery of gold was received, and instead of disposing of the invoice of goods shipped for that port, they purchased a large addition to their cargo and on the 31st of July sailed for San Francisco, arriving on the 11th of August following, the Rhone being the first ship to enter the harbor after the publication in California of the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo. The gold discovery and the rush
of business in San Francisco, caused a change in all the plans of the young merchants. The design had been after disposing of the cargo for Mr. Finley to take the ship to Canton and purchase a cargo of tea for the New York market, while Mr. Johnson would purchase land in San Francisco, take an overland trip to Baltimore and return and settle in California and establish a mercantile house. But the times did not permit of carrying out these plans. The cargo of the Rhone brought over $100,- ooo in San Francisco, and the opportunity for establishing a great mercantile house offered itself and required prompt attention.
The house of Finley, Johnson, & Co. was soon estab- lished, and in a short period became the leading house in California, importing heavily from Peru, Chile, Sandwich Islands, and Mexico. The prosperity of the firm was all that could be expected or desired. Great warehouses were built and stored with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods. The great fire of May 4, 1850, swept away $4,000,000 of the property of the merchants of San Francisco, the house of Finley, Johnson, & Co. being among the unfortunate. No insurance could be obtained and the loss was total. It would seem that but few could recover under such a loss, but the pioneers built up and resumed work as if nothing had happened. Ships poured in their cargoes, business prospered, and all seemed in a fair way of regaining the fortunes lost. Formerly the merchants were quite free from debt, and if they lost a few hundred thousand they generally had cargoes of their own on the way, or at least a credit that secured them consignments. But scarcely had they rebuilt their stores and filled them with goods, when, on the 14th of June, 1850, a still more extensive fire swept them away, involving a loss of $5,000,000. Again the work of rebuilding was begun, and business resumed. The buildings erected were more expensive, many being intended for and deemed fire-proof. But on the night of the third of May, 1851, the cry of fire was raised, and during the 4th, the anniversary of the fire first mentioned, eighteen blocks of the business portion of the city went down before the flames, involving a loss of between $10,000,000 and $12,000,000. Finley, Johnson & Co. then had in store over a quarter of a million dollars' worth of merchandise, all of which was destroyed in the fire. The firm and many others found it impossible to recover from the wreck; some were disheartened by the repeated losses, and some struggled again in business. Finley, Johnson & Co. exhausted their private fortunes in settling with and paying their creditors, and retired from business.
Mr. Johnson removed to Monterey, and soon there- after received the appointment of Deputy Collector of Customs of the district, and afterwards Inspector of Customs for the Port of San Luis Obispo, coming to this county in 1852, and settling here permanently in 1856. The position of Inspector he held until 1860, when he resigned to take his seat in the Legislature, he having been elected to the Assembly of 1860-61. During his long residence in San Luis Obispo he has always been known as a public spirited citizen, and a close student of the affairs of the world. He has written and spoken
358
HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
much on the early history of this country, and many extracts of his writings have been given in this book.
TOWN ORGANIZATION.
The town of San Luis Obispo was organized under the laws of the State in May, 1859, with Charles H. Johnson as President of the Board of Trustees, and Thomas H. Bonton, Clerk, and these were succeeded by W. W. Hays, President, and C. W. Dana, Clerk. Ordi- nances were passed to provide for maintaining order, naming streets, keeping them clean and in repair, licens- ing business, and other purposes. There appears to have been but little attention to the incorporation, and it nearly died out, but when the public lands were surveyed in 1867, it became necessary for the town authorities to act, and since then greater attention has been paid to the organization.
On the 23d of March, 1868, the Legislature passed the Act "To Settle the Title to Lands in the Town of San Luis Obispo," and on the 24th of the same month, a general Act was passed, having for its object the execu- tion of the trust vested in the Legislature by. the Act of Congress of 1867, over town lands entered under the last-named Act.
TOWN FINANCES IN 1873.
The following is the Treasurer's report of the town of San Luis Obispo for the half-year ending August 1, 1873 :-
March 1, By balance on hand $239 55
IO, Exhibition licenses 4 75
rr, Town taxes 71 07
28, 110 00
April
9, Town lands
ro oo
23,
10 00
May
12,
66 66
10 00
Total
455 37
CONTRA.
March rr, To warrant No. 18
$ 71 07
April II,
43 300 00
23, 50 15 00
May 19, Commissions II 58
I9, Balance on hand 57 72
$455 37 $455 37
May 19, To balance on hand
$57 72
26,
cash for taxes 18 60
26, exhibition licenses
15 00
June IO,
¥
9 00
I4,
town lands
20 00
18,
fines
9 00
July
5, exhibition licenses
8 00
.€
7,
fines
5 00
"
9, town lands 35 co
CONTRA. $177 32
July 14, By warrant No. 72 34 00
Aug. 31, " balance on hand 143 32
$177 32 $177 32
J. C. ORTEGA, Treasurer.
In 1874, under the provisions of an Act passed by the Legislature of the previous session, town bonds were issued to the amount of $10,000, bearing interest at eight per cent. per annum, and payable in fifteen years, which bonds were sold for ninety per cent. of their par value, and the proceeds applied to the construction of bridges, grading of streets, and other valuable and per- manent improvements within the town.
CITY INCORPORATED.
By an Act of the Legislature, passed March 20, 1876, the city of San Luis Obispo was incorporated, and suc- ceeded to all the rights, interests, possessions, and liabil- ities of the former town. The limits of the city were extended to their present condition, and provisions were made for the election of city officers. Legislative power was vested in a Common Council, consisting of five members, with the Mayor as President thereof.
On the same day an Act was passed, authorizing the issuance of town bonds to the amount of $15,000, bear- ing interest at eight per cent. per annum, and payable within twenty years, the proceeds of which were to be applied to the floating debt of the town, and the erection of buildings for town uses. Of this amount, $8,400 were sold at ninety-three per cent. of their par value, with which the floating debt was extinguished.
At the session of the Legislature of 1877-78, a Bill was passed, authorizing the substitution of city bonds for town bonds of issue of 1876, for the purpose of curing an alleged irregularity in the issuance of the latter bonds.
At the same session an amendment was made to the original Act, providing for the filling of all vacancies in the city elective offices (except that of Mayor), by ap- pointment in the manner prescribed for appointed officers.
It was then considered that ample legislation had been had, and powers conferred upon the city officers to pro- vide for and insure the good management and prosperity of the city. A codified system of ordinances was care- fully prepared and enacted, to provide sufficient revenue for the support of the municipal government, and to guarantee to its citizens protection and good order.
By the Legislature of 1883 an Act was passed which effected the abolishment of city organization, and placed the government in the hands of the county.
CITY OFFICERS.
1876 .- Mayor (removed from the city), S. P. Mc- Dougall; Mayor (appointed by Governor Irwin), M. B. Harrison; Common Council-D. E. Barger, Theobald Bayer, R. R. Harris, L. Rackliffe, E. L. Reed; City Clerk, Julius Krebs; Marshal, A. C. McLeod; Police Judge, J. J. Simmler; Tax-Collector, J. E. Childs; Assessor, Z. A. Pico; Treasurer, A. M. Loomis; Attorney, Ernest Graves; Surveyor, H. C. Ward.
1877 .- Mayor, R. M. Preston; Common Council-T. Bayer, R. R. Harris, J. W. Hampton, G. Huntington, W. A. Henderson; City Clerk, Julius Krebs; Marshal (resigned August, 1877), A. C. McLeod; Marshal (appointed by the
359
TOWNS AND LOCALITIES CONTINUED.
Governor), Frank Grady; Police Judge (resigned October, 1877), J. M. Mannon; Police Judge (appointed by the Governor), N. D. Witt; Tax-Collector, J. E. Childs; Assessor, Z. A. Pico; Treasurer, A. M. Loomis; Attorney,. W. McConaughy; Surveyor, H. C. Ward; Board of Health-R. M. Preston, President; W. W. Hays, M. D., D. E. Barger, M. D., J. Ramson, M. D.
1878 .- Mayor, P. A. Forrester; Common Council- Theobald Bayer, W. T. Barron, P. S. Finney, G. Hunt- ington, Geo. W. Mauk; City Clerk, Julius Krebs; Marshal, J. Bump; Police Judge, N. D. Witt; Tax-Col- lector, J. E. Childs; Assessor, Z. A. Pico; Treasurer, H. Loobliner; Attorney, R. C. Bouldin; Poundkeeper, City Marshal; Board of Health-P. A. Forrester, President; W. W. Hays, M. D., G. B. Nichols, M. D., E. A. Crepin, M. D.
1879 .- Mayor, W. A. Henderson; Council-R. R. Harris, G. B. Nichols, G. W. Walker, D. Harrington, J. P. Knapp; City Clerk, R. Pollard; Police Judge, Wm. McConanghy; Attorney, Wm. Graves; Treasurer, Henry Loobliner; Marshal, G. W. Robbins; Assessor, Estevan Castro; Tax-Collector, A. B. Smallwood; Surveyor, H. C. Ward; Chief Engineer Fire Department, H. Gimbal; First Assistant Fire Department, S. H. Hanson; Second Assistant Fire Department, F. McHenry.
1880 .-- Mayor, W. A. Henderson; Council-F. K. Miller, D. Harrington, P. F. Ready, McD. R. Venable, A. R. Hathway; Police Judge, P. A. Forrester; Marshal, G. W. Robbins; Assessor, O. F. Thornton; Collector, A. B. Smallwood.
1881 .- Mayor, C. W. Dana; Council -- Wm. Graves, D. Harrington, George M. Payne, A. C. McLeod, J. J. Staiger; Police Judge, M. Henderson; Marshal, Thos. Tanner; Assessor, E. P. Rogers; Tax-Collector, S. A. Pollard; City Attorney, W. H. Spencer; Treasurer, L. M. Noah; Chief Engineer Fire Department, D. Thaler; First Assistant Fire Department, Frank McHenry; Second Assistant Fire Department, Frank Pacheco.
1882 .- Mayor, A. C. McLeod; Council-B. S. Brown, A. S. Whitsel, P. S. Finney, I. N. McGuire, A. C. Remick; Clerk, P. A. Forrester; Attorney, W. H. Spencer; Marshal, Thos. Tanner; Collector, E. P. Rogers; Police Judge, C. L. Woods; Board of Health- W. W. Hays, M. D., G. B. Nichols, M. D., T. Norton, M. D., A. S. Whitsel, and C. E. Carpenter; Chief Engineer Fire Department, J. J. Staiger; First Assistant, Chas. Hasse; Second Assistant, Louis Pigot.
1883 .- Mayor, G. B. Nichols; Council-A. J. Mother- sead, E. B. Morris, A. C. Remick, J. J. O'Sullivan; City Clerk, C. W. Dana; Police Judge, G. W. Barnes; Attor- ney, J. N. Turner; Tax-Collector, J. W. Barneberg; Assessor, Z. A. Pico; Marshal, Thos. Tanner; Chief Engineer Fire Department, J. F. Hogan; First Assist- ant, Chas. Hasse; Second Assistant, W. H. Ryan.
The vote and candidates at the city election in Feb- ruary, 1883, were as follows :-
Mayor-Dr. G. B. Nichols, 385.
Councilmen-J. J. O'Sullivan, 378; A. J. Mothersead, 248; A. C. Remick, 276; E. B. Morriss, 322; J. B. Blake, 247; A. S. Whitsel, 391; C. Parker, 84.
Marshal-Thos. Tanner, 261; Frank Grady, 139.
Tax-Collector-J. W. Barneberg, 230; W. R. Pierce, 164.
Assessor-Z. A. Pico, 231; H. Bloom, 169.
Police Judge-G. W. Barnes, 271; A. H. Heacox, 129.
CITY FINANCES.
The reports of officers made in October, 1882, show the condition of the city finances at that time as follows:
Value of City Lots $237,704 00
Value of Improvements 216, 185 00
Value of Personal Property 294,048 00
Amount of Money
620 00
Total. $748,557 00
Deduction for Mortgages 60,857 00
Total value of Taxable Property _ _ $687,700 00
The Council has made the tax levy $1.00 on the $100 valuation, an increase of 25 cents on the $100 over last year. The levy is apportioned to the several funds as follows :-
General Fund. $ .45
Interest Fund
.30
Sinking Fund. .25
Total $1.00
The Council estimates the cost of maintaining the City Government for the year 1882-83 at $10,050, as follows :-
Interests on Bonds $2,000
Salaries of Officers
4,200
Books and Stationery. 150
Repairing streets and bridges 1,500
Redemption of City Bonds. 1,000
Redemption of Town Bonds 500
Water, Lights, Elections, etc 250
Contingent expenses 450
Total $10,050
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS.
From City Taxes $6,000
From Licenses 3,000
From Court fines 500
From Road Money from County 1,200
Total
$10,700
TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.
The following, written by Hon. Walter Murray in Sep- tember, 1870, pictures the footprints of progress in the city of San Luis Obispo :-
When we first came to this town, in October, 1853, its dimensions were very limited. Then the only houses in it were as follows: Those of Rafael Villa, Julian Estrada, Captain Wilson, the church building, the house adjoining, corner of Chorro and Monterey Streets, the houses now occupied by Lazar, Goldtree, Zenobio Pico, that formerly occupied by H. B. Palmer, the Court House, the Briz- zolara House, the Johnson House and the Roco House. This was all, with the exception of the ancient rookeries in Chorro Street, and an old adobe building, moulder- ing to decay, on which was afterwards erected the edifice now owned by Sauer & Brother, and used as a bowling
360
HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.
alley and restaurant. We have not yet attained to metropolitan proportions, but we can claim with truth that the town has been steadily growing since its first inception; that its houses have been always occupied, the demand exceeding the supply, and that its rate of growth was never so rapid as during the past twelve months. Even now, when the short crops and dry season have depressed business and set back all manner of improve- ments, our town is steadily growing, and its population increasing. We have not heretofore noted individual instances, but propose now to mention them in the mass.
Two years ago, in 1868, the first bridge was built across San Luis Creek. On the southern suburb, lying between the stage and beach roads, a settlement of thirty or forty houses has sprung up during the past year. A Methodist Episcopal Church and a fine school house have also been built. The town is increasing in this direction very fast. On the other end, toward Santa Margarita, many improvements have been made, and the whole surface of the town territory in that locality is dotted with houses, and crossed with fences. Here, as at the other end of the town, respect is had for streets and surveys, which cannot be said in regard to the more central region. On the line of road toward the coast the land is also all taken up and fenced, and steps have been taken to acquire title; but the houses in that direction are not very excellent.
It is our purpose now to speak more particularly of recent improvements on the line of street beyond our office. Three houses have been built, one by W. Haley, one by Henry Able, for a saddlery and dwelling, and the third by Mr. Boll, for a residence. Mrs. Wilson's house, opposite our office, has been repaired, refitted, and reno- vated. The church, or old mission building, fronting on Monterey Street, has been put in good repair. Rocos building has been refurnished. Andrew Sauer's houses have been subdivided, and are now occupied for two places of business, instead of one. Zenobio Pico is now erect- ing a two-story business house in front of the Pico dwelling. The old rookery, first erected by Alvarelli & Latapie, has been purchased by Juan Cappe, who is now erecting on its site two large adobe houses, with fine stone and mortar foundations, severally to be of one and two stories, in one of which the enterprising proprietor proposes to show how the saloon business should be con- ducted, and the other having already, ere the foundation is well laid, been leased for a store. This promises to be the finest improvement in town since the erection by A. Blockman & Co. of their magnificent brick store. The Sauer property, once known as the St. Charles Hotel, and since as the Red Store, has also been put in thorough repair. The Pico end of the Casa Grande has been greatly improved, the upper story being laid off into rooms, and the whole building re-roofed. Simon Krolik has fixed up a nice little store, with glass front, on the western end of the post-office building, which, for its dimensions, cannot be surpassed in town. Other improvements of a smaller character have been made and are in progress, and it is evident that the depression in business, sometimes complained of, has not had the effect of lessening the faith of the inhabitants of our town in its prospective progress and permanence. We hail with pleasure all these evidences of advancement, and prophesy that a reasonably favorable season the coming winter will be followed by a material progress next year far outstripping any like period in the history of our interesting town.
PROGRESS IN 1876.
The condition of San Luis Obispo in the Centennial year, 1876, is shown in the following article from the Tribune of December 30, 1876 :-
With this number we bid adieu to the Centennial year, to which many had looked forward with so much hope, with so many expectations of events to be accomplished for their own or the nation's betterment. How these hopes and expectations have been realized in San Luis, we propose briefly to tell. When the new year's sun arose on this fair, bright land of ours on the morning of January 1, 1876, the hills and valleys were clothed in rich, deep verdure, amid which myriad flowers nestled or airily overtopped, giving to the landscape a beauty far above the limner's art to transfer to canvas. The abun- dance of grass, grain, and vegetables presaged at that early day was more than realized when the sere and yellow harvest made its advent. The farmer reaped for his planting twenty, forty, sixty, and a hundred fold; and the sacks of the fruitage were piled in great heaps or ricks, awaiting shipment to market. In the early harvest, prices ruled low, and those who were obliged to sell did not benefit by the advance so much as was hoped, but those whose necessities did not compel the sacrifice have been most amply rewarded for their investments and toil. In all the rural districts may be seen evidences of thrift, in the form of new buildings, more and better fences, more acres cleared up and put under the plow, more and better stock of horses, cattle, and hogs. The sheepmen were the ones whose anticipations were farther removed from realizations than almost any other class. The price of wool and mutton ruled low throughout the year, and to many this proved a very great hardship; however, profiting by the lesson forced upon them, they began a systematic course of weeding among their flocks, and the matanza converted the surplus of old, infirm and barren stock into forms of merchandise more re- munerative than the carrying over the living carcasses; the result is, many flocks have been much improved, and the range, which was becoming rapidly overstocked, was left in a condition to bear the burden of a dry season much better than it otherwise could have done. In the towns along the seaboard marked improvements are to be seen on every hand. Cambria, Cayucos, and the Arroyo Grande show many evidences of prosperity, and San Luis Obispo has made a growth in every respect satisfactory to the people. Among the more noticeable features are the following: L. Lasar's two-story brick at the foot of Monterey Street, with an iron front more finished and complete, when done, than any other block in town; Quintana's store, adjoining the Goldtree Block; a balcony to the Cosmopolitan, spanning its entire front; the com- pletion and dedication to daily use of the Academy of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; a new and elegant school house on Santa Rosa Street; the completion of the S. L. O. and S. M. V. R. R .; the building of a large and com- modious depot in town, and the best wharf on the coast at Port Harford; the building of an immense warehouse by Schwartz, Harford & Co., near the depot, and the erection of many private residences of considerable pre- tensions, and cottages sufficient to accommodate our rapidly growing population. Throughout the country new roads have been opened, bridges built, and turnpikes thrown up and gravelled, thus assuring easy communica- tion between the various parts of the interior and the county seat. The more noticeable of our road improve- ments are the following: The new grade over the cuesta of the Santa Lucia now retains a work of so great magni -. tude that the county refused to undertake it until com- pelled by legislative enactment and judicial decision of the highest court in the State. By this grade travel from Santa Margarita, Paso Robles, and the Salinas coun- try can reach San Luis with an ease and convenience equal to that of any other portion of the interior. The Cambria and Paso Robles road is next in magnitude and importance. This road opens another passage across
RANCHAND RESIDENCE OF PEDRO QUINTANA, SAN LUIS OBISPO CO. CAL.
361
TOWNS AND LOCALITIES CONTINUED.
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