History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 40

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934

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The beauty and fertility of the famous Santa Clara Valley, with its invigorating climate, give the surroundings of the college a pleas- ing and attractive aspect. The campus com- mands a view of both the Santa Cruz and Mt. Diablo ranges, which lie on ether side of the valley. Twenty-eight miles away is Mt. Ham-

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ilton, on the summit of which, reached by one of the finest and most picturesque drives in the state, stands Lick Observatory.

In the spring of 1910 the college trustees purchased a tract of seven acres on the Ala- ineda, two blocks distant from the old campus. Additional land, adjacent to this property, was later acquired. The president's home is now located on the new campus. Plans have been made to erect additional buildings there as need may require.

There are seven buildings on the college grounds. East Hall is a three-story brick building. The east wing of the third floor is used as a dormitory for men. The remainder of the building contains class rooms, labora- tories and library. South Hall was once used entirely as a dormitory for women. Owing to the growing needs of the conservatory, it is now partially adapted for the use of conserva- tory teachers and students. The Conservatory of Music is a large and well-appointed build- ing erected in 1891. It contains an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,000. the offices of administration, teaching and practice rooms, and also the well-situated and pleas- ingly furnished rooms of the two of the wom- en's literary societies, Emendia and Sopho- lectia. Helen Guth Hall is a beautiful dormi- tory for women. The building is modern, well equipped and furnished, and provides a com- fortable home for the women living on the campus. The gymnasium is constructed in the same style of architecture as the dormitory for women. It is situated in a eucalyptus grove and has a floor of standard size for athletic contests. It has well-appointed rooms and shower baths and is fully equipped for phys- ical training work. It also has an excellent stage for student productions. The Jackson- Goostall Observatory houses the astronomical instruments, the college safety vault and the office of the Pacific Weekly. Seaton Hall is a new building erected in 1915 to replace Cen- tral Hall, which was destroyed by fire. It con- cains the kitchen, an attractive dining room, and a spacious and beautiful social room for the use of all the students. The president's house is a fine structure on the Alameda at Emory Street.

The equipment is up-to-date and extensive. The burning of West Hall in June, 1914, de- stroyed practically the entire library of the college. But the insurance funds, supplemented by additional appropriations and generous gifts from many friends, have furnished the college with a new and up-to-date library. It contains over 9,000 volumes and valuable ac- cessions are being constantly received. It is now housed in the second floor of East Hall.

The entire ground floor of East Hall is oc- cupied by the science departments. The phys- ics laboratory occupies a well-lighted room fitted with necessary tables, and furnished with gas and electricity. There is a good equipment in mechanics, heat, electricity, light, and sound for the general course in ex- perimental physics. The chemical laborato- ries have been rearranged and considerably enlarged. The fume hoods have been re- placed by a commodious outdoor laboratory having long tables furnished with gas and water. There are three laboratories, a balance room, a store room and a dark room. The biological laboratories are provided with the most modern student equipment to be ob- tained and are particularly well located for ready access to fresh and living material in great variety and abundance. The geological laboratories are well equipped. They offer for study a collection of fossils, a complete set of the Ward series of casts, and a good supply of minerals, rocks, topographic maps, and lan- tern slides.

The Observatory is furnished with a six- inch equatorial telescope, a four-inch portable telescope with altitude and asimuth mounting, a transit and zenith telescope, sextants, and other necessary equipment. The six-inch tele- scope was manufactured by Alvan Clark & Sons, and is furnished with all necessary ac- cessories, such as a driving clock, finely di- vided circles, filar micrometer. The transit and zenith telescope, manufactured by Messrs. Fauth & Company, is of the pattern exten- sively used on the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. These instruments afford ample fa- cilities for the study of practical astronomy.

During the summer of 1910, a new pipe or- gan of exceptionally fine concert type, of three manuals, with all the latest improved mechan- ical attachments and combinations, was built for the Conservatory of Music by the W. W. Kimball Company of Chicago. It is the larg- est pipe organ in any Conservatory of Music west of Chicago and one of the largest pipe organs in California. To meet the needs of the increasing pipe organ classes, a two man- ual pipe organ, formerly belonging to the First Methodist Church in San Jose, and given to the college by that church, was entirely re- built, and is installed in the College Park Church adjacent to the campus.

The college stands for moral culture and the growth of character. Its government rests upon the principle that self-control is the cen- tral power in a highly developed life. Rules are few and simple and are designed to protect and assist the students in making the most of their college life. The social life of the col- lege is pleasant and helpful. Friendship is

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fostered between the faculty and the students. In general the students are given such free- dom as will not interfere with their class work or allow them to lose sight of the fact that the primary object of attending college is study.

Students are admitted to the college with- out condition as to religious belief or church membership. But all patrons, whatever their views concerning religious doctrines and social usages, are expected to recognize the spirit and purpose of the college as indicated in its history, and to cooperate in promoting its en- deavors in the field of education. Unless ex- cused for good reasons, students are required to attend assembly exercises, not only because these exercises consider the spiritual needs of the college community, but also because they conserve the unity of student life, and give an opportunity for announcing college events and promoting college interests. Students are ex- pected to attend church at least once each Sunday and to observe the day in a proper manner.

The courses of instruction include ancient languages, philosophy, history, religion, poet- ry, astronomy, biology, zoology, physiology, botany, embryology, neurology, bacteriology, chemistry, assaying, economics, geography, commerce, psychology, pedagogy, engineer- ing and applied mathematics, geometry. Eng- lish, German, French, geology, graphic arts, music, physics, public speaking. Old Testa- ment history, Spanish and lectures.

An adjunct of the college is the College Park Academy, J. William Harris, principal, a preparatory or high school department of the college. It fits for college entrance in the classical, scientific and engineering depart- ments.

The number of students, accredited to the college in 1922 is as follows: College of Lib- eral Arts, 350; Conservatory of Music, 173; School of Art, 41; School of Expression,, 52; Academy, 73; repeated names, 211. Tully Cleon Knoles, A. M., D. D., is the president of the college and under him are forty-five instructors.

In 1921 an offer from Stockton for the re- moval of the College to that city was accepted. It will be some time, however, before the new buildings for the College can be erected.

Other Institutions

Prior to the earthquake of April 18, 1906, St. Joseph's grammar school was maintained in a building at the rear of St. Joseph's Church on the northeast corner of Market and San Fernando Streets. The 'quake did such damage to the building that a removal to an- other place became necessary. A site was pur- chased at the northeast corner of Park Ave- nue and Vine Street, the grounds running to the corner of Locust Street. On the tract two large buildings, one for boys and one for girls, were erected. The school is now conducted by the Brothers of St. Mary and Rev. Father Adam, S. M., is in charge as principal. In ad- dition to the regular high school and gram- mar courses, with their moral and religious influences, there are fine playgrounds, two moving picture outfits, a wireless system of telegraphy and a spacious auditorium. It is the intention to provide in the near future a wireless telephone station. There are fifteen rooms in each school with laboratories, dor- mitories, etc. The pupils of both schools number 700. In the girls' grammar school the eighth grade graduates are entitled to ad- mission to the College of Notre Dame.

The Church of the Holy Family (Catholic) maintains a convent at 136 Vine Street. Here the Italian contingent find everything neces- sary for religious and scholastic work.

In the matter of private schools San Jose is provided with Heald's Business College. the Garden City Business College, several Con- servatories of Music, the International Corre- spondence School, and many small schools of music. dancing, elocution and dramatic ex- pression. There are ninety-one public schools in the county, outside of San Jose. Miss Agnes Howe is the County Superintendent.

CHAPTER XXII.

The Public Utilities of San Jose-The Early Service of the Gas and Electric Companies-The San Jose Water Company and Its Sure and Steady Pro- gress-The Street Railways In and Out of the City-The Post Office.

In 1860 San Jose was large enough to war- rant the introduction of illuminating gas. On October 6 of that year James K. Prior. Thomas Anderson and James Hagan formed the San Jose Gas Company. This corporation had a capital stock of $21,000 and the period of existence was fixed at forty years from the date of the filing of the certificate. Gas was first lighted in the city on January 21. 1861. It was supplied to eighty-four custom- ers. There were seven street lights. The price of gas was ten dollars per 1000 cubic feet. The sales of gas for the first year amounted to 165,000 cubic feet. Railroad com- munication between San Francisco and San Jose was not established until 1864. Before that date coal was brought to Alviso in sailing vessels or in barges and from Alviso landing to San Jose, a distance of nine miles, over roads which were in bad condition at all seas- ons of the year and during wet weather were impassable owing to the overflow of streams which enter the bay at or near Alviso. Dur- ing the periods of overflow the coal used for gas making was carried from Alviso on pack mules. It is recorded that often these mules with their burden of coal would be swept away by the torrent while fording some stream and both mule and coal lost beyond recovery. So there is probably quite a de- posit of coal and mules somewhere in the Alviso flats.

The first gas holder built in San Jose had a capacity of 8000 cubic feet. The mater- ial used in the construction of its tank was redwood planks three inches thick. This gas holder was in continuous use for twenty-eight years. When torn out in 1888 the redwood tank was found to be in as good condition as when it was built. Some of these very red- wood planks were used in the construction of buildings about the gas works.

In 1865 a special committee of the city council made an investigation of the business and profits of the San Jose Gas Company. The report showed that the original investment in 1860 was $21.000; that during the first five years of its existence the total expenditure for betterments, materials and labor was $53,637 .- 93; that the receipts from gas sales during that period amounted to $75,617; that the founders of the Company had divided in divi-

dends $19,979.52, or about the equivalent of the original investment. Amended certificate of the incorporation of the San Jose Gas Com- pany was filed February 25, 1879. The cap- ital stock was increased to $600,000, divided into 6000 shares of $10 each. The company had no liabilities.

On February 25, 1882, the San Jose Brush Electric Light Company was organized. Term, fifty years; capital stock, $100,000. Directors, James A. Clayton, Pedro de Saisset, Thomas Rea. T. S. Whipple, San Jose; Geo. H. Roe. San Francisco.

The articles of incorporation of the San Jose Brush Electric Light Company were amended May 16, 1887. Power was given to purchase, lease and sell lands, tenements and hereditaments.

The incorporation of the Electric Improve- ment Company took place on March 30, 1887. Place of business, San Francisco; capital stock, $5,000,000, divided into 50,000 shares of $100 each. Directors, Frank Butterworth, August J. Bowie, Jr., Louis T. Haggin, San Francisco; W. H. Howard, San Mateo; Fred- eric Sharon, Belmont ; Henry C. Dreger. As an offshoot of the above named company, the Electric Improvement Company of San Jose was incorporated, March 29, 1889, with a cap- ital stock of $100,000, divided into 5000 shares of $20 each. The directors were C. W. Mc- Afie, T. C. Van Ness, A. J. Bowie, San Fran- cisco; and H. J. Edwards and James W. Rea, of San Jose.

The San Jose Light & Power Company was incorporated June 20, 1889. Term, fifty years; capital stock. $1,000,000, divided into 10,000 shares of $100 each. Directors, Chas. Otter, H. H. Kooser, E. W. Clayton, Chas. A. Hagan, H. J. Edwards, C. T. Ryland, Amasa Eaton.

The San Jose Lighting Company was incor- porated June 3, 1895. Term, fifty years; cap- ital stock, $250,000. Directors, Chas. F. Wil- cox, Joseph R. Patton, W. H. Sumner, R. L. Stock and J. J. Sontheimer. On February 1, 1904, the place of business was changed from San Jose to San Francisco.

July 1. 1902, the Electric Improvement Com- pany and the San Jose Light and Power Com- pany were acquired by the United Gas and Electric Company. In merging these two

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companies, a lease of the building on Market Street, formerly occupied by the Evening Herald, was acquired. There was also a con- centration of all the gas interests of the new corporation on San Augustin Street on the former site of the San Jose Light and Power Company. At that time the intention was to build a high-pressure pipe line up the penin- sula as far as San Mateo, but the project was never undertaken.

Many names familiar to the gas mnen of the Pacific slope were connected with the busi- ness of gas lighting in San Jose. The late Chas. W. Quilty, who was the second vice- president of the Pacific Coast Gas Association, was for many years president of the San Jose Light and Power Company; and the late Harry J. Edwards, affectionately spoken of by his friends as "genial Harry Edwards," was intimately connected with the lighting in- terests of San Jose almost from the inception of the business. He was the manager of the Electric Improvement Company and after- wards manager of the United Gas and Im- provement Company, and the district manager of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company until his death in 1909. James K. Prior remained in the gas business in San Jose until March, 1899.

After a few years of business the United Gas and Electric changed its name to that of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In 1909 the company moved into new and more commodious quarters at the southwest cor- ner of Second and San Antonio Streets.

In February, 1917, the Jones improved oil generator, a vast improvement on the old equipment of generators was installed at the gas works. The superintendent of the gas works is Robert E. Hargreaves, who has oc- cupied that position since 1904. John D. Kus- ter, a man of force and an extremely popular citizen, succeeded Harry Edwards as manager of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He was formerly manager of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company's branch at Fresno.

San Jose Water Works

The San Jose Water Company, afterwards the San Jose Water Works, was organized November 26, 1866, by Donald Mackenzie and John Bonner, of San Jose, and R. Chabot, of Oakland, with a capital stock of $100,000. The city of San Jose and the town of Santa Clara granted the company exclusive privit- eges for the term of twenty-five years. To carry out the plan of the owners, tanks were constructed, engines built, and the city of San Jose was supplied with water from artesian wells. At the end of two years the supply thus obtained was found insufficient for the

growing wants of the community, therefore the right to use the water of Los Gatos Creek was obtained. A new company was formed in 1868 with the capital increased to $300,000. The officers were: N. H. A. Mason, president ; D. Mackenzie, vice-president; W. B. Rankin, secretary ; C. X. Hobbs, superintendent, and E. McLaughlin, treasurer.

On the formation of the new company, work to bring the waters of Los Gatos Creek to San Jose was begun. Reservoirs were made and pipes laid throughout the city, thus affording, for those times, a generous supply of water. Since that time other water rights have been acquired.

The equipment consists of the water from Los Gatos Creek and its tributaries, and Campbell Creek, besides a number of reser- voirs, and is placed in divisions. The main surface supply of Los Gatos Creek is used for the San Jose division. The Los Gatos town system derives its main surface supply from Beardsley Creek and Cavanagh Creek. The Saratoga system depends on the high-line system operating on the hill sides between Los Gatos and Saratoga. In case of emer- gency Saratoga can draw on Beckwith Springs for surface supply. The stored water consists of the Lake Ranch reservoir, Howell reser- voirs (2) for San Jose and Los Gatos; for supplementary supply to San Jose there are five pumping stations as follows : main station in the rear of the local office on Santa Clara Street, between the two bridges, with a capa- city of from 6,000,000 to 9,000,000 gallons per day; station No. 2 on Monte Vista Avenue, near the O'Connor Sanitarium, with a capa- city of from 5,000,000 to 7,000,000 gallons per day; station No. 3, at Seventeenth and Santa Clara Streets, with a capacity of from 3,000,000 to 5,000,000 gallons per day ; station No. 4, on Bascom Avenue, with a capacity of from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 gallons per day, and sta- tion No. 5, at Cottage Grove, with a capacity of 1,500,000 gallons per day. The supplement- ary supply of Los Gatos consists of two pump- ing stations, one at the Tisdale residence, ca- pacity 800,000 gallons per day, and the other. called the hill well, with a capacity of 100,000 gallons per day. There is also the Alum Rock station, which has a capacity of 100,000 gal- lons per day.

The company has about 14,000 subscribers. All the surface water is filtered through sand, then treated to a weak solution of chlorine- two parts to a million gallons of water-so as to kill typhoid and other disease germs. No case of typhoid or other contagious di- sease has ever been caused by water supplied by the San Jose Water-Company. The water, therefore, which is used by the consumers,

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is absolutely pure. The company maintains its own laboratory and after tests have been made, samples of the water are sent to the State University as a check upon the San Jose analysis.

The annual report of the president for 1919 shows that the year closed with a surplus of revenue over expenses and dividends of $11,950.60. In addition to this increase there was carried to the reserve known as premium on capital stock, $7,725,000, thus making a total of $19,675.60 increase in these accounts. As on December 31, 1919, the company had no accounts payable on its books, and as all outstanding notes had been paid from sales of stock, the San Jose Water Works was then and now is, out of debt. The present offic- ers are : Joseph R. Ryland, president : Paul S. Williams, vice-president ; H. S. Kittredge, sec- retary, and J. B. Harmon, assistant secretary.

During 1919 the total revenue amounted to $256,460.16; total expense, $134,841.09. Profit for the year from operation, $121,619.07 ; divi- dends for year, $111.276.00; interest, $6,162 .- 75; total. $117.438.75. Increase in surplus from operation, $4,180.32. The assets and liabilities for the year were: assets, $2,243,- 626.61 ; liabilities, $2.243.626.61. Under the head of liabilities is placed the capital stock, $1,009,100.00. The net assets are given as $2,089,810.34, showing that surplus of assets over par value of stock. is $80.710.34.

The Street Railroads

The Legislature of California in March, 1868, granted a franchise to S. A. Bishop, Charles Silent. Daniel Murphy, D. B. Moody and their associates to construct a horse rail- road along the Alameda from San Jose to Santa Clara. Messrs. Moody and Murphy. having declined to avail themselves of the franchise a new directorate was organized. S. A. Bishop was elected president, John H. Moore, treasurer, and Charles Silent, secre- tary. Work was first started August 31, and the cars made their initial trip on November 1. In 1869 the line was extended eastward along Santa Clara Street to the Coyote bridge and afterward across the bridge to McLaugh- lin Avenue. In 1887 the company obtained a franchise from the city and constructed San Jose's first electric road.

The First Street Railroad was built in 1870 by S. A. Bishop, and was the first narrow gauge street railroad track laid in the United States. Its original route was from the San Pedro Street depot, along San Pedro, Julian and First Streets, to Reed Street. Bishop sold his interest to F. C. Bethel, who sold to Geo. F. Baker, and he to Jacob Rich. Under Rich's management the route was changed to

conform to the general system of street rail- roads so as to run from the Market Street de- pot along First Street, Willow Street and Lincoln and Minnesota Avenues in The Wil- lows.

On February 11, 1876, the board of supervis- ors and the mayor and common council of San Jose granted a franchise to C. T. Bird, Chas. B. Hensley, John Auzerais, F. J. Sauffrignon, J. C. Bland, Oliver Cottle, Isaac Bird, F. Brassy. T. W. Spring, James R. Lowe, R. C. Sivan and S. Newhall, to establish a street railroad. The enterprise developed into the Market and Willow Glen Railroad Company and was incorporated February 23, 1876, with J. J. Denny. John Auzerais, Isaac Bird, F. J. Sanffrignon and C. T. Bird as directors. C. T. Bird was president, John Auzerais, treasurer, and F. Brassy, secretary. The route origin- ally authorized was from the intersection of Julian and Market Streets, along Market, San Fernando, San Salvador and Bird Avenue to Willow Street. When the First Street Rail- road extended its line down Willow Street. the road was discontinued from the corner of Delmas southerly. The route was afterwards changed so that it ran from the depot at Mar- ket Street along Market, San Fernando and Delmas Avenues. This action was taken af- ter the road had passed to the control of Jacob Rich.

The mayor and common council of the city of San Jose granted to the Southeast Side Horse Railroad Company on February 26, 1877. a franchise for a narrow gauge road, to Jacob Rich, C. G. Harrison, W. S. McMurtry. J. G. McMillan and S. W. Boring. The offic- ers were: Jacob Rich, president, and S. W. Boring, secretary. The same parties after- wards procured a franchise for a narrow gauge road, taking for its starting point the corner of Second and San Fernando Streets and running thence to Market and Santa Clara Streets ; on Santa Clara street to the Alameda, and thence to the town of Santa Clara. The Southeast Side Company deeded all its fran- chises to the new corporation, named the People's Horse Railroad Company. The road is no longer in operation as originally laid out. After a short service it was taken over by Jacob Rich.

In the '90s all the roads in San Jose and running out of it were controlled by Jacob Rich and J. H. Henry, the latter succeeding S. A. Bishop, who had passed from earth. Bishop was a man without enemies. Every- body liked and respected him. He radiated good humor and was greeted with smiles whenever his short, roly poly figure waddled up Santa Clara Street. Before coming to San Jose he had been manager of the great

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Beale ranch, with headquarters at Fort Tejon. Indians were numerous and hostile during the last few years of his management, and he had many exciting experiences with them. One story of thrilling adventure he was never tired of telling. As the historian remembers it, he said that while he was one day looking for stray cattle, a band of Indians suddenly appeared on the trail in front of him. In at- tempting to escape, his horse was shot and killed. "I had a rifle," he went on, "but after I had dropped a dozen of the redskins my am- munition gave out. I cast aside the rifle and occupied myself in dodging arrows until a section of my ear was nipped off. Then I turned tail and ran like a whitehead. But I didn't start running until I had picked from the ground the section of ear clipped off by an arrow. I had the presence of mind to do that, for if I came out of the rumpus alive 1 knew I could get one of the boys at the fort to sew the piece on again. Well, I hot-footed it for a near by canyon, hoping to find there a cave or some rocky shelter. No such luck, for I soon bumped up against a wall and found myself in a regular cul-de-sac. No thorough- fare beyond, high rocky wall in front and on one side, and on the other side a vertical preci- pice half a mile in depth. I knew I was up against it, so I proceeded to say my prayers. As I prayed the Indians approached cau- tiously, but when they saw how I was fixed they let out a series of yells that actually froze the blood in my veins. Then they made a rush for me, cach Indian with a big carving knife in his hand. I believed I was looking death in the face, so I shut my eyes and wait- ed for the end. Yes, 1 shut my eyes-" Bishop would always stop at this point and shiver. "Well," .an excited listener would ask, "how did you escape? What did the In- dians do?" "They killed me," would come the calm reply and then Bishop would laugh until the tears came.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 40

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1934

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934