USA > California > Siskiyou County > History of Siskiyou County, California > Part 55
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Efforts were ma le to have the town incorporated under an Act of the legislature, passed that year, to take the place of the one overthrown by the supreme court. To this end the following petition was prepared and presented :-
To THE HONORABLE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF SUPER- VISORS FOR SISKIYOU COUNTY :-
The undersigned, your petitioners, respectfully represent that the "Inhabitants of the town of Yreka City," in this county, were sought to be incorporated under the laws existing prior to the passage of an Act entitled " An Act to Provide for the Incor- poration of Towns," approved April 19, 1856, and that at the time of the passage of said Act, exercised the franchise of a municipal corporation, and that the undersigned were a majority of the acting Board of Trustees of said town of Yreka City, under that organization.
Wherefore your petitioners pray that yon will grant an order incorporating said town, according to Section sixteen of said Act, with the metes and bounds, and according to the plat hereto annexed, which is made a part of this petition.
JOHN D. COOK, J. LYTLE CUMMINS, F. G. HEARN, A. V. GILLETT.
Yreka, August 4, 1856.
A numerously signed petition was presented to the board of supervisors, requesting that no action be taken in the matter. The signers of this were of two classes: those who did not want the town incor- porated at all, and those who deemed the present law no better than the old one, and so thought it folly to invoke its aid. The matter was considered on the fourteenth of August, 1856, as the following extract from the proceedings of the board of super- visors will explain :---
And now comes the consideration of the petition of citizens to the President of the Board, to incorporate the town of Yreka. Whereupon, the President after mature deliberation, refused to grant said petition, on the ground that in the opinion of the President the law is not sufficiently clear to him that any mem- ber of the Board has a right to act without a majority of the Board sanction such action; further, that it appears to the Presi- dent from a counter petition, signed by a large majority of the inhabitants, that to incorporate the town would not meet with the approbation or wishes of the majority of said citizens.
This attempt to form a new government having failed, holders of city scrip began to cast about them for a means of collecting their money. The next step was to sue the board of trustees. This would have resulted in saddling the debt upon F. G. Hearn, the only member of the board who had any property that could be reached by execution ; and in order to save himself the costs of suit, he began cashing such orders as could be thus col- lected, trusting to the sense of justice in any future 26
government to re-imburse him for the outlay. One item in particular was that of $370 due John T. Rogers, for lumber drawn to fence the cemetery. Certain sums had been subscribed to aid in paying for this, which were in Dr. Hearn's hands as clerk of the board, and which he returned to the parties, giving notice that he would sell the lumber to partly repay him for his outlay in paying Rogers' claim. He found when he came to sell that three- quarters of the lumber had been stolen, and he sold the balance on credit. The account is still run- ning. A subscription of eighty-eight dollars was taken up to aid him in this matter, but the balance of the claim came from his pocket.
The next move by the friends of a city govern- inent was to apply to the legislature for an Act of incorporation. This was strongly opposed by many, but was successful, the Act passing and being approved April 21, 1857. The provisions of the Act were that the town of Yreka City should have the boundaries previously surveyed; should have five trustees, marshal, treasurer, assessor, and recorder, elected annually; should have the powers and discharge the duties defined in the general Act of April 19, 1856; should not contract debts to exceed $3,000. Section 7, provided that the new government should "assume and provide for the payment of the debts contracted by the late sup- posed incorporation of the Inhabitants of Yreka City."
This last section was bitterly opposed by those who objected to the payment of demands held against the old government, most of which demands were just and meritorious. Among the opponents to the measure was Dr. George C. Furber, and he was requested by his friends to be a candidate for trustee, it being their desire to elect a board that would be very strict in their allowance of old demands. He published a card in the paper declin- ing the honor, but was none the less elected, together with a full board of one opinion with himself in this matter. The election was held May 18, 1857, and resulted in the choice of the following officers : -
Trustees-M B. Callahan, John Loag, George C. Furber, William Chamberlain, H. E. Stimmel.
Marshal-W. D. Slade.
Recorder-H. H. Riker.
Assessor-E. S. Hunter.
Treasurer-E. Wadsworth.
The new board met on the twenty-fifth of the same month, the following being a transcript of their proceedings :-
YREKA, California, May 25, 1857.
The elected trustees, viz. : H. E. Stimmel, M. B. Callahan, William Chamberlain, George C. Furber, met at the court house in said city, at 10 A. M. Absent on business, John Loag.
Organized by electing George C. Furber president of the board, M. B. Callahan, secretary of the board.
Proceeded to business by action on bond of city marshal elect, William D. Slade. The bond of W. D. Slade, city marshal, signed by M. B. Callahan, Elijah Carrick, and Jerome Churchill, each one sworn and qualified in the separate sum of $1, 700, was accepted by unanimous vote of the board.
Ordered that the city marshal be authorized to employ with himself one or more deputies, to act with himself as watchmen at night, and policemen by day, to act under his direction, and be paid as at present paid, both himself and them, by the private weekly subscription of the citizens of the business portion of the city, it being the duty of the said marshal and deputies, in behalf of the said citizens, to watch for alarms of fire, as well as breaches of the peace.
202
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
(Four ordinances in regard to fast driving, riotous conduct, and licenses, were then passed, to take effect June 1, 1857.)
On motion, ordered that the board adjourn until Monday, June 8, 1857, at 10 A. M., at the court house. GEORGE C. FURBER, President. M. B. CALLAHAN, Secretary.
At a meeting of the board of trustees, held July 6, 1857, the following action was taken in regard to the debt of the former incorporation :--
WHEREAS, The Board has been often requested to take some action with regard to the acts and doings of the former "sup- posed " Board of Trustees; therefore, Ordered, that G. W. Pier- son, Esq., be employed to collect and place in form all of the facts relating to the action of that hody, concerning any labor done for them, or at their order, by any individual; or any moneys drawn by them, or by their order and direction, from any individuals; and all other items that he can obtain with regard to the public doings of that body; and of the debts they may have contracted, and bills, notes, scrip, or any such instru- ments of writing or printing, that they may have issued; and of the amount of money, particularly, that they obtained from the inhabitants of this town under plea or pretense of lawful taxes, etc., etc .; and such information, or any other in the premises that he can obtain, to place in form on schedule, so that the same may be available for examination, discussion or action by the Board, for the information of the public, and the expression of public opinion thereon. It beingstated, however, that the Board by this order shall not be understood to adopt or concur with the enactment of Section 7th of the Act of the late Legislature, incorporating the city of Yreka, the unconstitutionality of said section being, in the opinion of the Board, apparent to every citizen on its very face.
In connectionhe rewith, the firm of Rossi & Davidson appear this day before the Board and acknowlege that they received from the said body, in behalf of the inhabitants, on a contract made with said firm, the sum of $225, and say that the said con- tract was never fulfilled by said body; and that said firm have been put to much trouble and great expense to recover back their property; but the said firm is of the opinion that the said money thus paid to them was illegally extorted from the inhabitants, and therefore they offer to this Board to restore the same, in ben- efit, to the town, by delivering and spreading 200 good two- horse loads of clean gravel for the improvement of the streets, particularly Miner street, or other place that the Board may direct. Ordered, that the above offer be accepted, and that H. E. Stimmel and Wm. Chamberlain be appointed to direct the places where the said gravel shall be placed.
The gravel was duly deposited on Miner, Second, and Center streets. This money had been paid Rossi & Davidson as an installment of the purchase money on a strip of land now occupied by the stage office and other buildings, on Fourth street, from Miner to Center streets. This strip had been pur- chased for the purpose of widening the street, but when the town was disincorporated, Rossi & David- son took action to recover the land, and returned the purchase money in this way. This accounts for the peculiar narrowness and alley-like appear- ance of Fourth street at this point.
Mr. Pierson made his report on the condition of the affairs of the defunct city government on the twentieth of July, embracing the transactions of the board from May 1, 1855, until the town was disin- corporated. It showed that the treasurer had received $3,823.15, of which $3,330.34 had been realized from taxes, all of which had been disbursed, leaving the treasurer's books balanced. A large portion of this was paid on contracts entered into before May 1, 1855. The amount of scrip, or war- rants, issued during the period under consideration, was $7,485.17, of which $4,640.26 were still out- standing. The report concludes as follows :--
The scrip issued to S. S. Brooks, $1,511.46, and sixty-five dol- lars issued to F. G. Hearn, making $1,576.46, is now held by D. Isaacs, which, principal and interest to this date, amounts to $2,350, more or less. This will increase the indebtedness of the old corporation about $773.54, which, added to the amount ($4,640.26)
before stated, makes the sum of $5,413.80 indebtedness outstand- ing, say nothing of the interest on the other scrip held by other individuals.
The Board will perceive that in enumerating the indebtedness of the old corporation I have only gone back to May 1, 1855, indeed that is as far back as any record evidence exists. But I have presented to me an order dated November 2, 1854, signed by Van Wyck, President, and A. G. Annihal, Clerk, drawn in favor of Dorris Fellows, or order, for sixty dollars. This I learn from the late Treasurer, Mr. Morton, to have been for the stone work near Wood's brick building. Mr. John Eldridge is now the holder. Also, Mr. Morton informs me. that there is another order for forty-six dollars ontstanding, drawn before May 1, 1855, in favor of E. M. Stevens, for surveying the town plat. These, also, are to be added to the foregoing indebtedness, increasing it to $5,519.80.
On the fifth of October this matter was again con- sidered by the board, Mr. Isaacs, the principal holder of serip, being present by invitation. After a full discussion, it was decided that the board petition the legislature to so amend the objectionable Section 7, as to allow the board to examine all claims, and to allow only such as they decided to be just and proper. A compromise was effected, by means of which this large claim was disposed of, as is clearly set forth in the following extract from the minutes of the board, November 30, 1857 :-
Mr. Isaacs, of the firm of Hollub & Isaacs, relinquished and abandoned, as void, scrip to the amount of $1,575.70, and which, with the interest allowed by the board of that former "supposed corporation," amounts now to the nominal sum of $2,555.10, passed the same over to the board, with a request that they would buy of him a certain ditch or sewer, constructed from the corner of Center and Fourth streets to the junction of Main and North streets. After full discussion upon the same, Mr. Isaacs being present and agreeing to the same, it was unani- mously ordered to be purchased for the sum of $1,000-one-half down and the remainder in sixty days.
July 10, 1859, Dr. Hearn surrendered $701 in city scrip which he held for fifty cents on the dollar, and other amounts were taken up at the same valuation. The last was paid March 9, 1860, and Yreka was free from the old debt.
On the first of March, 1856, there was a grand jubilee in Yreka over the completion of the great ditch from Shasta river, and a few months later the first through stages from Sacramento received a hearty welcome. Quite an extensive fire occurred on the night of October 18, 1857; another May 3, 1859, and still another October 22, 1859.
A gas franchise was granted April 28, 1858, to Samuel P. Fair and others, which was forfeited, and April 28, 1859, another was granted to the Yreka Gas Company, composed of A. Pierce, D. E. Knight and C. E. Burrows. Works were at once con- structed where they still remain, and on Saturday night, the seventeenth of December, 1859, the streets of Yreka were first illuminated with gas.
April 28, 1860, the legislature amended the incorporation Act, adding to the plat " a piece of land lying immediately on and adjoining the westerly line of said survey, one-fourth of a mile in width and one mile in length, thus making the area of said city one mile in length from north to south, and three-fourths of a mile in width from east to west."
Several fires occurred in the summer of 1862, but the largest one was on the morning of August 20th, before daylight. The Arcade saloon and several adjoining buildings were burned. A fire occurred March 7, 1865, burning some buildings in the rear of E. Lauer's brick store.
The most important event in the history of
203
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Yreka since the discovery of gold converted it from a wilderness to a bustling city, and the greatest calamity that has befallen her and her people, is the conflagration of the fourth of July, 1871. It happened the same year as the great Chicago fire, and here, as there, was a terrible blow at the industry and prosperity of the place; and here, as there, is looked back upon as an era in the history, from which events are dated. In speak- ing of an occurrence the expression is often heard, " Let me see; that was two years after the fire," or, "I know that was before the fire, for I had the account, and my books were burned." Despite the belief that this was a death blow to the place, Yreka still lives and is prosperous. Most of the burned district has been rebuilt, and but few traces of the great conflagration still remain, among them being, however, the place where the fire originated.
When the citizens of Yreka arose on the anni- versary of our independence, 1871, they little dreamed of the spectacle the shades of night would rest upon. Joyous and happy they commenced the day; weary and sad were they at its close. There was no special celebration in Yreka, and quite a number of the people were absent in Scott valley and elsewhere, and returned, to find their property in ruins. Small boys and fire-crackers formed the surface patriotism and made the noise inseparable from a proper observance of the day, and to these little explosives is attributable the almost entire destruction of the town. About the middle of the afternoon, a bunch of crackers ignited on the back porch of a Chinese wash-house on the north side of Miner street, just west of Second, set fire to that tinder-box, and in an instant the whole structure was wrapped in flames.
The alarm was instantly sounded, but during the short interval that elapsed before the fire department appeared on the scene, the flames spread with frightful rapidity. Opposite the place where it originated, stood the old Yreka House, a heavy frame structure with hewn timbers, one of the earliest buildings in the town. It was formerly a hotel, but at this time was used as a stable, and the upper part was full of hay. The flames stretched their scorching arms across the street, and seized upon this building, the hay blazing up with indescribable fierceness. The Colton theater, just west of the wash-house, was also soon blazing, and by the time the engines were ready for action the fire was burn- ing from Second to Fourth streets. Chief Engineer Raynes directed the movements of the firemen with energy and good judgment, but the headway the flames had made and the extremely dry condition of the buildings, rendered all efforts to check the progress of the destroyer seemingly futile. Great sheets of flame leaped into the air, their fiery tongues hissing and crackling. Long arms of scorching red reached out in all directions, seized the buildings in their warm embrace, and in an instant laid them in ruins in their pathway. Fire- men, citizens and women worked with desperate energy, tearing down fences and buildings in the path of the flames, carrying water, spreading wet blankets, and removing goods and furniture. Even Chinamen worked at the engine brakes, an act so unusual as to be deserving of comment. All the
water in Scheld's City Water-works was turned into the cisterns to supply the great demand made upon them by the engines. By means of wet blankets at Engine House No. 1, the fire was pre- vented from crossing the street at that point, so that the north side of Miner strect, above Third, was saved. Checked in this direction the fire spread rapidly towards the east and south, and consumed everything between Miner and Butte streets, Fourth street and the creek, including the Colton theater, Union House, old Yreka House, Metropolitan Hotel, Catholic church, Odd Fellows Hall, the first house built in the town, and stores, barns, shops and resi- dences. This was the work of but one hour, and in that hour many who were in good circumstances were reduced almost to poverty, while many others lost the little that they possessed as well as the means of procuring more. For two days the engines were kept at work, extinguishing the many smoldering fires that threatened to break out anew and destroy what had been spared.
The losses were great in number, and some of them great in amount. A careful estimate gives the fol- lowing statement :-
McConnell & McManus (store) $30,000
Cleland & Walbridge (store) 17,500
R. O. De Witt (store) 12,000
Odd Fellows Hall 10,000
Rohrer & Co., Union Hotel 8,000
O. Norman (goods). 8,000
Lazard Freres (Colton theater and 3 bld'ngs) 6,000
B. Guilbert (soda factory) 5,000
Fred. Ringe (store) 5,000
Catholic church and parsonage. 4,000
Chinese merchants. 20,000
A multitude of other losses, less in
amount, in all.
124,500
Total loss. $250,000
On this vast amount of property destroyed there was but $75,000 insurance, the balance being a total loss to the owners.
A public meeting was called at the court house on the sixth to take measures for the alleviation of the sufferings of those deprived of their means of subsistence and to start them again in the race of life. It was a large gathering and took energetic action to effect its object. A committee appointed to prepare a statement of the facts to be presented to the public, made the following report :-
TO THE PUBLIC :- On the fourth of July, 1871, one-third of Yreka was, in little more than an hour, destroyed by fire. The aggre- gate loss, in dellars and cents, is estimated at $250,000. Steres, with every article of merchandise, blacksmith, carpenter, gun- smith, shoemaker, carriage and paint shops, livery stables, lum- ber yards, were entirely consumed, so that the town has not a single shep of but one or two of the above trades remaining ; and to this must be added the further fact, that the tools and stock of the above were lost in the flames, so that every mechanic in the place is suddenly deprived of the means of gaining a sub- sistence for himself and family. Besides the loss to the business part of the town, very great damage and suffering has been brought upon the families of a large number of our citizens. Homes and houses, with every article of furniture, every vestige of clothing, all provisions-in a word, everything beneath the roof was lost in the conflagration, and se suddenly did the flames, driven by a high wind, burst upon them, that the utmost exer- tions could barely save the lives of the inmates. Many families are left homeless, houseless, and foodless, while those upon whom they depend for support have, by the fire, been deprived of every means of livelihood.
204
HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
It is impossible to enumerate by statistical statement the want and suffering thus untimely brought to our doors ; but so general has been the loss and desolation, that those of our citizens who have escaped the flames can do little more than meet the imme- diate wants of the sufferers, and every energy of our community is taxed to the utmost to provide food, clothing, and shelter for the destitute.
The undersigned, therefore, as a committee appointed at a meeting of the citizens of Yreka, on July 6, 1871, for the purpose, put forth this statement, and appeal to a generous and charitable people to aid us in relieving the deserving and destitute sufferers, assuring all that need is great and the charity a most worthy one; and we further assure all that contributions will be faithfully applied to the relief of the suffering.
L. N. KETCHAM, C. EDGERTON, E. SHEARER, JOSEPH HAMMOND, A. M. ROSBOROUGH
Committee.
This report was adopted, and issued as a petition for aid, both in this vicinity and in San Francisco. Agents were appointed in every town in the county, to receive and forward contributions. A relief com- mittee of nine was appointed to take charge of all funds and supplies contributed and to make proper and judicious distribution of them. This committee, whose acts covered a space of two years, and embraced many cases of suffering occurring subse- quent to the fire, was composed of Dr. E. Wadsworth, president; M. Sleeper, secretary; Dr. Daniel Ream, Hon. William Irwin, C. H. Pyle, Robert Nixon, Will- iam Stine, J. S. Cleland, John C. Burgess, and Father Farley.
Supplies and cash soon came pouring in upon the committee from all sides. These were carefully dis- tributed, and the money apportioned among those who had lost their all, so as to give each one enough to enable him to earn his living at his usual avocation and to provide for his family. The largest cash sub- scription came from San Francisco, where Hon. L. M. Foulke, supervisor of internal revenue and formerly a senator from this county, aided by Gen. D. D. Colton and Louis Livingston, succeeded in col- lecting from old residents of Siskiyou county over $5,000. The contributions, consisting of cash, flour, lumber, shakes and other goods, as near as can be ascertained, were as follows :-
CASH.
San Francisco $5,086 00
Yreka. . 1,132 00
Fort Jones
423 00
Scott Bar 335 00
Red Bluff. 314 00
Jacksonville
301 00
Humbug
180 00
Etna. .
174 00
Rock Point.
118 00
McAdams Creek
101 75
South Fork. 100 00
Shasta Valley and Butteville. 97 50
Henly or Cottonwood 28 00
Gazelle or Edson's.
25 00
Soda Springs.
20 00
Willow Springs
11 00
Miscellaneous.
204 75
Total cash
$8,650 00
GOODS.
Yreka .. $ 145 00
Butteville or Edgewood. 264 50
Fort Jones .. 83 00
Henly or Cottonwood. 50 37
Jacksonville 27 00
Etna. . 26 00
Willow Creek . 7 50
Total value of goods. $ 603 37
FLOUR.
Jacksonville . 14,900 lbs
Willow Springs
3,100 lbs
Rock Point
2,000 lbs
Ashland
2,000 lbs
Gasburg.
1,500 lbs
Total flour 23,500 lbs
The total subscription amounted to nearly ten thousand dollars and for two years the relief com- mittee managed its distribution, receiving the well- merited thanks of the whole community. The money, besides that spent in purchasing immediate necessities, was apportioned to thirty-five families and firms in sums of from fifty to eight hundred dollars, and was the means of placing many on their fect, who had fallen beneath the blow inflicted by the demon fire.
Many good and substantial buildings have taken the places of those swept away by the destroying flames, while in places the ravages of the fire can be plainly seen. The new structures in the business portion of the town, are substantial brick buildings, while many good residences have been built. Since the fire have also been built a Masonic Hall, Odd Fellows Hall, Red Men Hall, Catholic church, Epis- copal church, and jail.
In 1872 the town site was surveyed by A. M. Jones, and a United States patent was applied for, which was received after considerable delay, a re- survey being made for that purpose in 1874, by A. McKay.
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