USA > California > Santa Barbara County > History of Santa Barbara county, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 38
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MEETING OF FEBRUARY 5, 1876.
J. T. Richards in the chair. The object of the meeting was to protest against the bill now before the Legislature. Mr. Hollister advocated the bill. Mr. Cook opposed it; thought we could not get out of the matter, if the bill was adopted, for millions. " Don't let us put a blot on this fair land, which would last forever. I know there is only one way to build it, and that is by putting our hands in our pockets, but I don't think that a railroad is an absolute necessity just at present, though I am sure there are men enough in this county with sufficient means, and who would be directly benefited, to build the road without county aid, and I would wil- lingly be one in a hundred men to give $5,000 towards securing its construction, and I think by their giving that amount their lands would be far more benefited without these bonds than with them." Mr. Huse replied to Mr. Cook; thought that the few people present should not act for the 6,000 of the county; not a hundredth part were present. Mr. Strat- ton and Packard also spoke against the bill. Mr. Pack- ard thought best to wait till we could put our hands in our pocket and get the money. Mr. Stratton wanted to know who would pay the interest on the bonds before the road was completed, as the bill pro- vided. Mr. Huse admitted that $500,000 would not build the road; that the balance would have to be provided for. Judge Fernald thought we were not able to afford the luxury of a railroad at present. We might pay the bonds for a year or two, then a financial crash would come; an unfavorable season, which would take away the profit of the road, would precipitate a crash and disaster. Mr. Heith said his name had been pnt upon the committee without his knowledge; did not think the road would be of much benefit to the county.
Mr. Stratton moved that the chair appoint another committee to draft a bill to meet the views of the meeting. Adjourned till Tuesday, to meet in Lo- bero's theater.
A meeting of citizens opposed to the railroad bill took place February 12, 1876, and adjourned for
further consideration. At the adjourned meeting, L. T. Burton, Thomas B. Dibblee, Chas. Fernald, Mortimer Cook, Wm. M. Eddy, R. T. Stevens, W. A. White, W. H. Woodbridge, Henry Tallant, E. H. Price, T. B. Jamison, C. C. Rynerson (the three latter being Supervisors), John P. Stearns, J. F. Maguire (County Judge), E. B. Hall, Francisco de la Guerra, Gaspar Oreña, G. Carrillo, and J. M. Loureyra were made Vice-Presidents, and Clarence Gray, Sec- retary. As much of the bill as referred to the issu- ing of bonds, the payment of interest, and provisions for sinking fund, was read. Mr. Murphy objected to the whole project; thought that $3,000,000 might not cover the indebtedness; would prefer to donate $500,000 to any company that would build and operate a road; thought if it could always be in the hands of men like Colonel Hollister, it would always be safe; were not sure of getting such men. He also addressed the people in the Spanish language. A resolution was adopted, protesting against the bill.
COLONEL HOLLISTER TO THE FRONT.
Colonel Hollister took the stand, much excited with what was going on.
" MR. PRESIDENT: I have been here for several years and have always done my level best for the good of the county and to help everybody. I be- lieve that no community can be settled without a railroad. I have lent money at a lower rate than any one; have helped to build the churches, schools, and public buildings, and have finally done my best to get a railroad bill that would meet the approval of the citizens. As you have decided not to have a railroad, we must go back to our primitive state of locomotion, viz., ox-teams; and in consideration of what I have done, all that I ask is that you yoke up a couple of Spanish bulls and send me back to my farm in the old Spanish style."
Mr. Murphy offered the following resolution, and sustained it by a few remarks :--
" Resolved, That a committee of five citizens be appointed to draft a bill, to submit to the Legislature for adoption, empowering the county of Santa Bar- bara to issue bonds to the amount of $500,000, to be given to any railroad company that will construct and equip a railroad through the country, connect- ing with San Francisco or any transcontinental line; said road to be commenced within two years, and twenty miles thereof to be constructed each and every year until completed, and that on the comple- tion of each twenty-mile section of the railroad $100,000 of the $500,000 be issued and donated to said company."
Mr. Cook spoke in favor of the resolution. The chair appointed as a committee to draft the bill, Messrs. Fernald, Hall, Dibblee, and Stratton. Mr. Fernald declined acting, for reasons known to the chair, but heartily indorsed the bill. Mortimer Cook was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Russell made several efforts to speak, but the meeting declined listening to him. Mr. Taylor caused much merri- ment by trying to collect enough money to pay the expenses of the meeting, and announced the sum of
157
SANTA BARBARA RAILROADS.
fourteen bits towards building a road. It is said that only two of the Vice-Presidents named were present at the meeting.
The move was credited to Richards and others favorable to the Tom Scott project.
RAILROAD BILL.
The text of this bill is too long to quote in full. It provided for a Board of Railroad Commissioners, to be elected by the county at the general elections, the issne of bonds to the amount of $500,000, paya- ble in thirty years, bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually, and also providing for a sinking fund, to be levied after the twelfth year; also the right to mortgage the constructed part to procure money for the com- pletion of the road from Ventura County to San Luis Obispo County; to enter into contracts with the Railroad Commissioners of both of said counties for the proper management of the road-and other nec- essary things. An election was to be held the first Tuesday in May for the people to determine whether they would accept the conditions of the bill.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the following resolutions :-
WHEREAS, At a mass meeting of the citizens of this county, without distinction of party, held at the city of Santa Barbara on the 9th day of February instant, a bill was framed and will be presented to the Legis- lature, to authorize an election to be held on the 1st day of June next, whereby the qualified electors of this county may decide whether or not the county shall aid in the construction of a railroad by issuing bonds for $500,000 to a company or companies which shall be the first to bring a railroad through the county, according to certain conditions set forth in the bill, and which bill has already been forwarded to A. W. Hayne, member of Assembly from this county, by the committee at said meeting, and
WHEREAS, It appears to this Board that the citi- zens of this county, without distinction of party or locality, exhibit the deepest interest in the subject, and a strong desire to have the matter submitted to them at a special election, whereby they may express their opinion as to the matters mentioned in said bill, now be it
Resolved, That the Honorable Senator and member of Assembly from this District, be and hereby is, respectfully requested by this Board to nse every endeavor to effect the passage of said bill by the Legislature and its approval by the Governor.
The City Council also indorsed the bill and urged its passage.
This effort to have a railroad was frustrated by the refusal of the Legislature to pass the bill on gen- eral principles that it was bad policy to build railroads by public subsidies.
A FOURTH EFFORT.
After the refusal of the Legislature to grant the right to vote a subsidy, two or three meetings were
held by the ever-hopeful to consider the means of a branch to the Southern Pacific at Newhall.
Tuesday evening, April 9, 1876, there was a large meeting in Crane's Hall. Mayor Mortimer Cook, acting as Chairman, set forth the objects of the meeting. The first great need of Santa Barbara was a railroad; there is now but one practicable way to get it. The Southern Pacific Company is the con- trolling power among railroads. They will need feeders, and if encouraged and assisted will build one to Santa Barbara. He suggested the appoint- ment of a committee to confer with that or any other company that was likely to join with ns. Upon motion of A. O. Perkins, the Chair appointed Russel Heath, E. Ivison. P. N. Newell, Wm. M. Eddy, and Milo Sawyer. Judge Hall was called to the stand to entertain the audience while the com- mittee retired for consultation. Ho said that he had no specific plan to offer; that first of all it was neces- sary to be united, to compromise, if necessary, upon a course of action, and then work heartily for it. In his opinion, the reason that all plans had failed here- tofore was that the people were divided in sentiment, different parties having pet schemes; that we had frittered away our strength in opposing each other; instead of uniting our means to encourage the build- ing of a road we had prevented any company from building. Now, I am in favor of uniting even with the Central Pacific Company, if need be; better with them than no road. Anything for a railroad.
The committee returned from their conference and recommended the following as names of a committee of business, to devise the most practicable means of obtaining a road: Col. W. W. Hollister, Elwood Cooper, John Edwards, C. E. Huse, E. B. Hall, E. H. Pierce, J. M. Hunter, J. P. Stearns, J. W. Cooper, T. B. Dibblee, S. P. Stow, Gaspar Oreña, Judge Heacock, Charles Pierce, and Mortimer Cook. Mr. Heath said the committee recommended that other names should be added until the list should comprise twenty-five men. C. C. Rynerson, R. L. Chamberlain, J. J. Per- kins, H. K. Winchester, and A. A. Oglesby were added. Mr. Abbott spoke in favor of the project; thought there was a general willingness to take stock in a road. Clarence Gray objected to the composi- tion of the committee as containing no poor working- men. He professed himself strongly in favor of a road, but objected to the means used to obtain it; thought that poor men will not like to be taxed to build the road unless they have a voice in the matter. Mr. Ivison responded that so far no one had proposed to issue bonds or levy a special tax; that the meet- ing was only a kind of preliminary consultation to devise the best means for obtaining a road. Mr. Ivison said, further, that if Mr. Gray would name a poor workingman who would add strength to the committee he would cheerfully resign in his favor. Mr. Gray again attempted to divide the meeting in the name of the poor workingman, but was effect-
21
158
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
ively squelched by Judge Hall, who exposed his designs of arraying the citizens against each other on the property line. He assured Mr., Gray that the workingmen would have sense enough to vote for aid to a road, if it should come to that, knowing that it would benefit them as well as the property owners. It was evident that Mr. Gray was playing to ingratiate himself into the favor of the working- men. Mr. Pettygrove caused considerable merriment by remarking that Mr. Gray had loaded his gun by putting in the ball first; that when it went off it made a great noise but did no execution. Mr. Nor- way, having traveled extensively, reported a good feeling towards a railroad up and down the coast. The meeting adjourned with the expectation of meet- ing again soon. The fire was kept for some time, but no railroads were built through these means. The matter will be referred to again in a future chapter.
CHAPTER XXIV. GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
Erection of County Buildings-The Modoc Road-Hotel Accom- modations-Election Return for 1871-Sisterly Feeling- Election Returns in 1872-Edwards Elected Supervisor- Supervisors in Abundance-Too Much Fence-Swearing a Chinaman-County Finances-Machines Smashed-Streets Used as a Pasture-Wharves-Catholic Cemetery-Charles E. Huse-The Newspaper War.
ALMOST every Grand Jury for years had presented the Court House and jail as unfit for the uses to which they were devoted. The jail especially was so only in name, as any prisoner, with the small assistance of a jack-knife, could get himself out of it at any time that he chose, so far as the walls were concerned. It is said the murderer of Abadie was guarded until the expense amounted to $1,700, and then he escaped. The Boards of Supervisors had put off the subject from time to time until the finances of the county were in a better condition, until it was perceived that delay was no longer economy. In accordance with the request of the Board, the Legislature passed a bill authorizing the Board of Supervisors to issue bonds, not to exceed $50,000, bearing seven per cent. interest per annum, payable in thirty years from date.
PLANS CALLED FOR.
Many plans were received, but the one presented by P. J. Barber was accepted, after which came the construction of the building.
Bids for building a Court House according to the plans of P. J. Barber were received as follows :- S. D. Statts & Co., Court House and Jail. $51,680
John Cox, mason work, $29.000; total. 45,000 Wallace & Flynn, brick work, at $9 per M
Marshall & Leibner, Court House and Jail 44,950 James Druly, carpenter work. 21,900 Beck & Walker, Court House and Jail 49,300 P. O. Sullivan, mason work. 27,044
MAY 10,1872.
The Board, finding the plans imperfect, rejected all bids and modified the plans, and ordered the pro- posals to be published in the San Francisco papers, and also to have duplicate plans left at an available point at San Francisco.
A petition from W. E. Barnard and others for another school district, was left to the new county of Ventura to settle. As this was in advance of the operation of the act, it sounded something like sar- casm.
SEPTEMBER 27, 1872.
The San Buenaventura Wharf Company was au- thorized to charge the same tolls as the other wharves.
The following communication was then ordered :-
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SANTA BARBARA Co., CAL.
SANTA BARBARA, September 11, 1872. )
To CHAS. E. SMITH, EsQ., W. M. SANTA BARBARA LODGE, 192, F. AND A. M., SANTA BARBARA, CAL .- Sir: We have appointed the 5th day of October next as the time for laying the corner-stone of the new Court House and Jail of Santa Barbara, now build- ing, and hereby extend to you an invitation to per- form the ceremonies usual upon such occasions.
Respectfully yours, THOMAS R. BARD, THOMAS W. MOORE, JNO. EDWARDS, Supervisors Santa Barbara Co.
SECOND BIDS FOR CONSTRUCTING THE COURT HOUSE.
Supplementary.
NAMES OF BIDDERS.
Complete.
Mason Work.
Carpenter Work,
Mason Work.
Carpenter Work.
Stevens & Joyner ..
$16,595
$1,922
Edward R. Fogarty Cyrus Marshall
$39,000
29,627
2,950
$1,598
P. Magilley.
39,750
E. D. Staats
39,800
20,500
2,648 2,792
1,554
Geo. J. Nagle
39,600
W. H. St. John
39,925
18,432
Drury, Sullivan & Hall.
42,900
2,535
2,328
Notice was sent to Stevens & Joyner that their bid for the mason work was accepted; also to Edward R. Fogarty that his bid for carpenter work was accepted, and the District Attorney was ordered to draw up contracts for the same.
COURT HOUSE BONDS.
The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, with the Treasurer and Auditor, was authorized to sign the bonds and forward them to the Bank of Califor- nia, to be subject to the orders of Perry, when the valne thereof should be placed to the credit of Santa Barbara.
Bids for Court House and Jail bonds :-
Woods & Freeborn $50,000 at 77} cents
Michael Reese 50,000 at 80
J. Perry, Jr. 50,000 at 80,5 5 '100 The Court House bonds were awarded to John Perry at 80 55 g 07000. John Edwards was appointed to manage the matter.
$16,825
Samuel Lutner
. ..
John Pettinger.
159
GREAT EXPECTATIONS.
THE MODOC ROAD,
Also known as the Barber Road, from the fact that P. J. Barber was its principal advocate, leaves Santa Barbara near its western side, and, skirting the hills of the Hope Ranch, joins the main road going towards Dos Pueblos, near the Goleta. The large landholders generally were averse to having roads divide their land into fragments, and Mr. Hope was no exception to the average. Several times he met surveyors and others and refused them permission to cross the ground. On one ozeasion he applied a club to the head of the surveyor, J. L. Barker, which amusement was thought to be cheap enough at $1,000. The road is now one of the pleasantest drives out of Santa Barbara. It is still called the Modoc Road, from the many rough affairs attending . its construction.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.
Soon after the immigration set in, the number of visitors was so great that the hotels were insufficient to accommodate them. It was not uneommon for eighty or a hundred to land from the steamers. Men would walk the town during the night, unable to find lodging. The people were called upon to open their houses; even the floors were in demand, and temporary beds were spread in every available place.
Extortionate charges were made, for mankind are much the same everywhere. Persons were charged a dollar for a ride of a few blocks, and another dol- lar was charged for the conveyance of their trunk. The citizens generally protested against extortions, and made every effort to treat all with hospitality.
The necessity of larger hotel accommodations at Santa Barbara brought out several plans and much rivalry in different portions of the town. {" The Sea- side Hotel Comp.iny" was formed in 1874. This company proposed to purchase the Burton Mound property, about eighteen acres, and erect a large hotel which should eelipse anything of the kind on the coast. It is a sightly place near the seashore, overlooking both the harbor and the town, and the coast for a long distance towards Los Angeles, and the islands to the south of the town. It is within a few yards of the beach and bathing grounds. It was proposed to erect bath-houses which should be supplied with sea water, heated to a suitable point for invalids. The kelp, also, was to be utilized by using it in steam-baths, the bromides and iodides con- tained in it being considered beneficial in many forms of disease. While this project was being agitated, the citizens in the upper and rival portions of the town also started a project for a hotel. The pro- moters of the up-town hotel were C. E. Huse, Mort- imer Cook, J. L. Barker, John Edwards, D. W. Thompson, W. H. Stanwood, J. W. Hough, and oth- ers. The last projeet resulted in the building of the Arlington. The Sea-side Hotel is still on paper.
ELECTION RETURNS FOR 1871.
CANDIDATES.
| La f anada.
Santa Paula.
Santa ( Jara
I Pleasant Valley.
( arpenteria.
Montecito.
Sa ta Barbara.
La Patera.
Las ( ruces.
Los Alunos.
Santa Maria.
Tutal.
Governor
llenry II. Haight
Newton Booth
3.
33 52 34 83 3 139 44 15 194 4 6 55 26 790 69 3 59 16 19 31 46 265 66 16 13 54 762
Lieutenant Governor E. J. C. Lewis.
Immauldo Pacheco
Member Congress, First District Lawrence Archer.
33
50 35 32 30 39 49 15 195 49 63 55 27 *27 72 63 59 16 19 25 46 26 65 16 10 51 750
Member Assembly-
3. H. Cooper ..
Milton Wasson.
County Clerk- Russel Heath
13
46 36 65 30 40 51 19 154 47 28 28 25 571 72 57 70 16 16 18 42 294 64 56 44 53 360
District Attorney- J. H. Kincaid
5
44 33 90 30 52 51 22 214 60 6- 29 27 732 78 61 39 15 2 24 38 244 54 15,38 51 726
Sheriff-
N. A. Covarrubias.
34 47 38 74 30 34 47 30 246 48 62 54 28 775 70 59 59 16 23 26 29 200 64 21|12 4> 659
Arza Porter. .
Conuty Treasurer
U. Yndart
32
42 34 31 80 39 31 12 196 34 67 59 33 694 78 66 59 16 18 48 49 260 76 16 945 713
Assessor
B. F. Bonnell
17 35
1 13| 8 121 20 27 45 32 309 59 43 91 32 42 37 18 117 29 34 21 32 572 55|51 41 14 16 24 33 217 56 18 : 14 567 1 6
Ramon J. Hill
21
.
32
44 30 79 27 31 33 13 213 55 59 44 18 382
J. C. Hamer.
74 70 61 19 25 42 48 245 59 24 24 61 92
County Surveyor -- A. S. Cooper
5 14 36 48 30 39 42 15 217 50 61 53 25 635 67 108 64 89 16 18 31 45 243 62|21 14 53 30
Coroner-
Dr. C. J. Freeman
35
6" 34 84 30 39 47 20 226 56 66 54 44 302 54 67 55 16 19 27 41 232 58 16 13 34 669
Supervisor, Third Township- Arthur Noyes T. W. Moure
29
49 33 97 293 42 15 184 49 49 24 13 649
37]
64 61 34 16 19 23 37 21 65 15 12:43 348
Refund State Debt, Yes
28
49 33 94 29 3 42 15 199 4 49 23 16 850
No
69 61 34 16 20 23 34 213 . 3 15 13 26 614
Officers elected in 1871 :-
F. A. Thompson, Clerk; J. II. Kincaid, District Attorney; N. A. Covarrubias, Sheriff. J. C. Hamer, Superintendent of Schools; John T. Stow. Surveyor; F. W. Frost, Treasurer; C. E. Alvord, Assessor: C. J. Freeman, Coroner; Thomas W. Moore, Supervisor Third District.
State Senator Pacheco having been elected Lieu- tenant Governor, he resigned, and an election was ordered to fill the vacancy November 25, 1871, with the following result :-
ELECTION RETURNS.
Special election held November 25, 1871, for election of Senator, Second District.
ELECTION PRECINCTS.
S. B. B .Ink
erhoff.
James
Van Nexx.
Totale
La ('anada. . .
2
6
30
San Buenaventura
58
51
100
Santa Paula.
15
20
Santa Clara
19
32
51
Pleasant Valley
14
14
Sespe
12
35
47
Monterito
31
17
4>
Santa Barbara
240
156
396
La Patera
35
41
70
Las Cruces
5
36
Los Alamos
No
retu ris.
Santa Maria
37
4-1
Totals
476
445
92]
San Buenaventura
43 34 68 30 44 41 14 173 44 51 25 23 721 78 05 73 16 14 32 4 289 70 38 43 56 757
8. 0. Houghton
31 33 15 73 30 33 45 16 212 56 79 54 35 722 40 85 80 66 16 20 27 45 243 5 3 13 44 39
F. A. Thompson
59
Jarret Richards
67
F. W. Frost.
38
Charles E. Alvord
Superintendent Public Sch wfs- Dr. O. H. O'Neil
John T. Stow
Dr. C. B. Bałes
3.
5 1914
71
78 4-31 151
For Constitutional Amendment. Against
30
C'arpenteria
Sespe.
I60
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
JUDICIARY ELECTION 1871.
CANDIDATES.
| Sespe.
Santa Paula.
Santa Clara.
Pleasant Valley.
San Buenaventura
į La Canada.
Carpenteria.
Montecito.
| La Patera,
| Santa Maria.
| Los Alamos.
Las Cruces.
Totals.
Supreme Court, Fall Term-
A. L. Rhodes
8 40 41
10 61
33 20 30 262 41
45
9 13 612
Selden S. Wright.
33
14 53 23 51
9 33 16 140
24 13 33 43 490
Supreme Court, Short Term-
8
122
18
20
30 262
142
30
7 12.563
Jackson Temple.
38
16 72
25 33 16 141 21
29
34 44 542
Supt. of Public Instruction-
Henry L. Bolander
6 49 37 11 39
33 33 31
278 53 42
8
11 651
O. P Fitzgerald
40
4 57 23
34
9
30 14 122 11
16 33 44
437
County Judge-
12
7 29
2 66 35 17 21
311
53
17 25 45 640
Joel Miller.
34 47 65 32 43 8 36 25
86 11 41 16 10 454
SISTERLY FEELING.
Santa Barbara being older and larger than San Buenaventura, took it upon herself to read lessons to her sister, which, perhaps, were not always kind or polite. The Signal responded as follows :-
" And now, sister Santa Barbara, please give re- spectful attention to your younger sister Ventura. You have the name of being proud and of carrying your head a few degrees back of the perpendicular. You are famous for glorification and disparagement of your sisters Ventura and Hueneme. Have you not represented your heritage as mild, roseate, and heavenly, while sister Ventura was nobody, and her valleys too windy and dusty for mortals to bear, a sort of purgatory where those who deride the claims of Santa Barbara are firstly sent, and where they quickly experience the due reward of their sin. You are even said not to allow the modest and unpre- tending Signal a place in your public reading-rooms and hotels, lest visitors should hear of us, and come to this place of torment. Be admonished, sister. Your maidenhood has just passed, and you have just reached that uncertain age when a maiden is called an " old maid." Recollect too, that your heri- tage is small, and can ill support the style you affect and the airs you put on. A narrow strip, some thirty miles long and two miles wide, is all the land that pays you tribute, and soon a large portion of this will have its own wharf or landing, its stores and places of business. What of Carpenteria and Gavi- ota landings. Look at your sister Ventura. Her two rivers Ventura and Santa Clara, and her several canals furnishing her with abundance of water for manufacturing and irrigation of the 20,000 acres of land tributary to her on the north side of the Santa Clara. Have you any such rivers wherewith to irri- gate your tape line drawn along the sea? Why, Ventura Valley alone contains nearly as much fine land (and by the way, all of it is as free from dust and wind as Santa Barbara) as is contained in your whole estate. I have not spoken of the rivers of oil flowing out of the mountains, nor have I spoken of the vast extent of arable lands in Las Posas, Simi, Santa Clara, Del Norte, Colonia, etc., etc., containing over 200,000 acres of fine land paying tribute to us. Have you any artesian wells like ours ? Is there any such business or wealth in your future? If so, tell us where it is, or hereafter hold your peace."
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