USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 19
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FLOUR.
Until 1853, the people of California imported flour from Chili and the East at a great expense. It was then supposed that wheat could not be successfully cultivated in this State. A few fickls of barley had been raised in different localities, but the farmers, being unacquainted with the requirements of agriculture in a country whose climate was so much at variance with that from which they came, were very timid about attempting the cultivation of grain on an extensive scale. Not. withstanding these disadvantages, in October, 1852, Dr. Eli Teegarden, and William Foster decided to construct a mill, and the latter weut East to procure machinery. The Buckeye Mill was completed by July
70
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
of the next year, and was put into snowful op ration at one. Within a year from that tius. J. S. A. La Malfa built the Yuba or La Malfa Mill ou Second street, near the slough, Williamm & C', the Marysville Mill, on F street, and Soule, Bordwell & Co., the Queen City Mil- Almut a year later the ('nuningham Mill, on Feather river, corner of N and Fourth streets, Was built by A. Cunningham & Co. At first, imported wheat was chelly depended nou by the mills, but gradually more and more was wise at home and discovered to be of a superior quality, until finally there was enungh not only to supply the mills here but to ship abroad. By 1869, they had all breu abudoued except the Buckeye and Marysville, und a new one was built, called the Player. The last mill shut down in 1871, the property bring soll and removed to Real Bluff. The Marysville was so badly damaged by the flood in 1875 that it uever started again. The ouly one now left is the Buckeye. During all these umtations this will has continued in operation, steadily inervasing its facilities and manufactures. In 1864, the structure was rebuilt, and the new hunil ling ocenpied a space of three hundred and twenty foot synare at the corner of Ynha and Fifth streets, near the railroad depot. The property is owned and managed by un incorporated company with one thousand shares at a par value of two hundred dollars, or a capital stock of two hundred thousand dol- lars, Mr. Justus Greely is President, and G. W. Peacock, Secretary. lu 1869, the capacity was two hundred barrels in twenty-four hours, wow the production is from four bmalred to four hundred and tifty barrels in the same time. The trudo through the valley, in the monn- tains, China, and Europe is about seven hundred and fifty thousand dol- lars munmilly. During the last year, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars were expended for labor and nine thousand dollars for wood. Connected with the mill are two warehouses with a storage capacity of ahont four thousand tons. The company gives employment to a large minber of men, and is one of the leading manufacturing establish- monts in Marysville, and in fact in Northern California.
FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOPS.
The first foundry and machine shop was established in 1852, by Stombs, Daggett & Co., corner of A and Seventh streets. This insti- tntion is now known as the Marysville Foundry, and is situated on the corner of B and Fourth streets. I. G. Shepard is the Superintendent, and Charles M. Gorham, Manager. From thirty to fifty mon are employed. A specialty is made of mining machinery, and the manufactures are sent to Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Montana and thuonghont this State. In 1864, a small shop was started on Maiden Lane, between Second and Third streets, and ran ahont three years, when the machinery was taken to Ynba City, In 1870, H. B. William- son and C. S. Cary established the Empire Foundry, which was, in 1878,
wold to R. Hoskin. It is situated on the corner of Fifth and F streets, and is smjerintended hy H. B. Williamson. The manufactures consist of eugine boilers, agricultural and mining machinery. The gang-plow American Chief, and the Little Giant, hydraulic mining machinery, are made here. Their mannfactures are sent to all the Western States and Territories, and to South America.
LEATHER.
As early as 1852, a small tannery was built by Drake & Spindler, called the Pioneer Tauncry. Here a small portion of the immense products of hides in this region was converted into leather for home consumption. Hides had been for years ono of the great staple pro- dnets which were oxported from the State, and until the few early tanuerics were established, they were brought back in the shape of leather, and in a manufactured state at greatly advanced prices. This condition of affairs continued for a number of years after the introduc- tion of tanning, and is true to a certain extent to-day. The numer- ous tanneries in the State, however, have so increased their facilities that eastern manufactures are only salahle on account of price and quality, aud are not as formerly a necessity. The Pioneer Tan- nery was in operation until 1862, when it was abandoned. The next enterprise of this nature was the Feather River Tannery, built in 1858, by Heitmann & Hoelsher. It stood on Feather river until it was drowned out hy the flood in 1862, when it was removed to its pres- ent location, on the block hounded hy Eighth, Ninth, M, and L streets. In 1864, Mr. Hoelsher sold his interest to his partner, Henry Heitmann, who is still managing the husiness. He employs three men, and Ins manufactures are nearly all consumed in the city. Another tan- nery was built in 1860, on the slough ahove the Oroville depot. It was destroyed by fire after ahout one year's existence, and was never rebuilt.
MARBLE.
McCready & Brothers, in 1859, were the first marble carvers in Marysville. Since then there have heen always from one to three firms engaged in that business. At present there are two establishments, Condon Brothers, corner of High and Second streets, employing fonr men, and Wood & McWain, on D street, hetween First and Second streets, employing two men. These establishments manufacture head- stones, monuments, etc. The stones mostly nsed are Italian marble and Scotch granite, thongh other kinds are occasionally nsed, and any stone desired can he procured. These firms send monuments to all points in this section of the State.
MARYSVILLE COAL GAS COMPANY.
In May, 1858, this company was incorporated with a capital stoek of one hundred thousand dollars. D. E. Knight, A. Pierce, and C.
sH. Simpkin were elected Trustees, and D. E. Knight, President. These officers have been retained in power continuously. A contract was made with the city granting the company the power to lay mains and pipes, and by which the company agreed to furnish gas free of cost to the churches and public buildings so long as no fran- chise should be granted to other parties. The city was first lighted August 18, 1858, and the company has since continued to light the city lamps. The company has extended its main to Yuba City, and is now supplying that placo from the same works. The first building was erected on Virgin Alley in 1858. The present brick structure was built in 1865, on the corner of B and Sccond streets. The amount of gas manufactured yearly, is about twelve million three hundred and twenty thousand feet. Five men are employed about the works. The works have been successfully managed by D. E. Knight, the Superintendent, who has given them much of his attention.
MARYSVILLE WOOLEN FACTORY,
The idea of establishing a woolen mill in Marysville was first con- ceived and acted upon by A. Shields. He, with W. H. Parks, can- vassed Yuha and Sutter counties for subscriptions to the stock, and raised forty-eight thousand dollars. The company was incorporated in the spring of 1867, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. D. E. Knight went east and purchased machinery for a "four-set mill." The property of the California Stage Company, corner B and Second streets, on which was a brick building, 140x160 feet, was purchased, and the mill put in operation in September, 1867. The first officers were :- W. H. Parks, President; D. E. Knight, Vice-President; C. M. Patterson, Secretary; J. H. Jewett, Treasurer. D. E. Knight has been Superintendent of the mill from the time of its opening. In October, 1868, D. E. Knight was elected President and Superintend ent, C. M. Patterson, Secretary, and N. D. Rideont, Treasurer; since that time there has been no change in officers. The Trustees are I. S. Belcher, William Fletcher, Charles Sexey, M. Marcnse, N. D. Ride- out, C. M. Patterson, and D. E. Knight. Wool was cheap the first year, and the mill was snecessful enough to declare a stock dividend of twenty-fiveper cent. The samedividend was also declared for the second year. The capital stock is now two hundred thousand dollars, of which one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars represent the earnings of the mill. The company has built an addition to the mill, a fire-proof picker room, 40x40 feet, and also a brick warehouse, 40x80 feet, and put in two more sets of cards and other machinery., Since it has commenced operations, the mill has nsed two million eiglit hundred thousand pounds of wool, and paid out five hundred and four thousand dollars. The company has employed an average of sixty hands, and paid over three hundred thousand dollars for labor. The hest grades of wool are used, and tho finest qualities of cassimeres.
LITH QL. SMITH & GIOCHIAMO CAL
RANCH AND RESIDENCE OF JOHN F. BARRIE YUBA C. CAL.
71
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
doeskins, flannels, blaukets, etc., are manufactured. The factory also makes underwear and overshirts for the market. By thus always ranking a first class article, the mill bas never come into competition with the manufacturers of shoddy and inferior articles, and has always found a ready sale for the product at a good price. The goods are sold chiefly in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Chicago. Field, Leiter & Co., of Chicago, purchase large quantities of the girls, paying the high freight on them in preference to procuring a cheaper article and poorer quality in the Kast. The mill, under the ablu superintendence of Mr. Knight, has continued to flourish, until to-duy, it is the leading manufacturing industry of the city.
SADDLERY.
With the inerense of teaming enme a necessity for shops where harnossex could be made and repaired, yet it was not nutil the fall of 1850, that a shop of that character was started in Marysville. That fall the firm of Biely, Albreght & Hurstoll, of Sacramento, started a branch shop in this city. Mr. Hurstell took charge of the business, and employed a man named O'Connor to do the work. The next spring (. (. Schroter was sent up to take O'Connor's place, and tho latter started u shop of his own. Other shops were soon opened, until tho business became a very large und prosporons one. Prices ruled very high in 1852, n saddle costing from fifty to five hundred dollars; six- mule harness, two hundred and fifty to four hundred dollars; buggy harness, twenty-five to sovonty-five dollars; bridles, twenty-five to suvonty .five dollars. J. Hoisor, who commouced work hero in tho full of 1851, was the first manufacturer of the Marysville saddle- tree. William 14. Lawrence opened a shop in July, 1853, and has since continued in the business, thins being the oldost harness maker still in the city. Marysville has in the past been a great center for this class of manufacturing, and is so to-day. So many goods aro mado hore, and the competition is so sharp, that prices have been brought down below thoso prevailing in the surrounding cities. In this way a large outside trade has been created, and were it not for this foreign traule, thoro would be a great falling off' in the quantity of goods manufacturod. The firms engaged in this business are :- Wm. I. Lawronce, 103-7 Socond street, employing eight men; H. M. Harris, corner C and Third streets, employing seven men; V. L. Earnshiekls, corner C and Third streets, employing six men ; Amnos Fisher, corner C and Third streets, employing two men; J. C. Roth, C street, near Second street, employing two mon.
SASH, DOORS, AND BLINDS.
A sash, door and blind factory, and planing mill was built in 1854 by C. H. Goodwin, now one of the editors of the Territorial Enter-
prise, of Virginia City, Nevada. It was on the site vi the present water works lmilling, and was sold to the Water Works Company in 1858. Another factory was started in 1857, corner of Fourth stre t AIK Maiden Lane, by Aubrey & Bender, which continuelin operation until 1871. The large establishment of Swain & Hudson was started in 1860, by W. C. Swain, at which time the price of himler and mubor was so reduced as to render com«-tition with castern manufactures possible. The demand for finit boxes soon became great, and forined a large part of the product of these factories, one orchard alone using six thousand dollars worth of boxes. This part of the business has fallen off to a great extent. This firm does contracting and building, as well as general mill work, and employs from forty to fifty inen for nine months in the year. Another factory was estab- lished in 1871, by John Peffer on ('street, between Fourth nul Fifth streets. General mill work is done here, and five mon are employed.
SOAT.
Tho Marysville Soap Works were established in 1863, by J. W. Cowan. They stand on the corner of Sixteenth and Yuba streets. The works are complete in every jarticular, nud are operated by steam power. The present proprietor is James Cook. He employs three men, and umnufactures over twenty-five thousand pounds of soap montlily. In 1858, a soap factory, making two hundred thousand pounds annually, was being conducted by J. Hisey.
TINWARE.
There are two houses in the city that are largely engaged in the manufacture of tinwarc, water tanks, etc., in addition to doing a gen- eral hardware bnsinoss. White, Cooley & Cutts, 137-9-41 Third street, employ nine men in the manufacturing branch of their business, and in addition to making tinware and water tanks, do tin and iron roofing. Their water tanks and pipe are sent all over the northern part of the State. E. C. Ross & Co., No. 66 D street, aro also very largely ongaged in the manufacture of tinware, water tanks, pipes, etc. They generally have ten men employed in this branch of their business.
UNION LUMBER COMPANY.
The lumber business of this firm was established in 1852, by W. K. Hudson and Samuel Harryman, as Hudson & Co. In 1854, Harry- man sold out to W. H. and G. B. Pepper. The yard was bmned in 1854. In 1857, the firm was changed to A. P. Willey, Elisha Scott, and Thaddens Dean, under the name of Willey, Dean & Co. Mr. Dean sold out to P. P. Cain, and in 1858, Mr. Hudson again became a partner, the firm name being changed to Hudson, Willey & Cain. In 1864, they incorporated as the Union Lumber Company. W. K.
Hudson was elected President, and A. P. Willey, Vice President : T. E. Perkins, R. S. Jenkins, and A. J. Batcheller were the other Diretors. In 1:53, Mr. Hudson died, and A. P. Willey was elected President, and F. D. Hudson, Vice President, which positions they still hold. The Secretary is S. G. Daw. The company has owned mid operated fifteen saw-mills in this county, and several in other counties. In 1873. they disposed of them mills, and have since been doing a yard business only. The mills, when owned by this company, manufactured from four million to six million feet of luomuber annually.
WAGONS, etc.
One of the initinl industries of the young city of Marysville, as early as 1849, was blacksmithing und tho reparing of wagons. llorses and cattle had to ho shod, wagons repaired und mining inde. ments made and kept in good condition, and the consequence Was that blacksmith shops sprang up on every band. Those shops, how - ever, confined themselves exclusively to repairing, and it was nud until 1851, that any attempt was made to manufacture. In the sum- mer of 1851, George P. Hunt made two stages for John Adrieut to run to Long Bar and Parks Bar. The wood work was done by ti. W. Green. Mr. Hunt is still in the wagon inking business and is the oldest blacksmith and wagon maker in the city. The next oldest is AA. W. Cutts, who started a shop in 1851, und in the summer of 1852, made the first wagon manufactured in the city. It was a light four horse wagon and was valued at five hundred dollars. In 1854, the firm of Subers & Cutts was formed, and it has existed without any change until the present time-a term of twenty-five years. This is the only firm mentioned in the directory of 1855, that has remained unchanged. The next oldest wagon maker is Charles Keish, who commenced work in 1853. To him belongs the honor of making the first top buggy, which he did in 1854. This sold for five hundred dollars. Since these curly attempts, wagon and carriage manufactur- ing has been a great industry in the city, buggies, carriages, trucks , wagons, prairie schooners, stagos, etc., having been mado in large numbers. Even now, there are seventy or eighty made here annually by the various firms. The firms now engaged in the manu- facturing of wagons, with the number of men employed, are given below. A great deal of blacksmithing and repairing is done, and con- sequently, the number of men omployed, is no indication of the new work done by each firm. Charles Raish, 105 Third street, employs three men; Katzner, Russell & Chase, B and Sixth streets, four inen; Easton & White, Virgin Alley and Third street; S. H. Bradley & Co., Virgin Alley and Third street, seven men; Georgo P. Hunt, 97 C street, one man; Saul & De Pue, 73-5 and 84-5-6 C street, five men; W. C. Ogden & Son, Third street, between E and F streets ten
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HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
un; James Shed, Cand Fourth street, two men; A. M. Gof, 99 0 street, one man.
WINK AND BRANDY.
Wine was made in Marysville, by J. M. Ramirez, as early as 1855, though mong was made for the market prior to 1859, when Charles Covillund, who bad been making small quantities for several years, commenced its munnfacture on a larger scale. A great deal of wine is now muvle throughout the county, by a member of persons who lavo vineyards. The largest vineyard and winery near Marysville is that of Grass Bros. They commenced the manufacture as early as 1863, and now have twenty-five acres of vineyard. This, nt an average of me thousand vines to the acre, makes a total of twenty-five thousatol vines, which are of forty-three varic- tien. They love nudle as high as seventeen thousand gallons of wovon varieties of wine in one year. Last year their man. facture was, however, but four thousand five hundred gallons. Some of the wine undle here is shipped direct to the Fast, but the larger portion is sold in San Francisco. Two of the finest varieties of grapes, enltivated here, were imported from South America, by J. M. Ramirez; they are the Rose of Peru, and the ( Chili Rose.
A soda water and sarsaparilla factory was started in 1865. It is located nt No. 82, Second street, and two men aro employed thero; L. Behling is the propriotor.
May 20, 1872, the Johnston Wine and Brandy Manufacturing Co. was formed for the manufacture of those liquors hy the Johnston process. The capital stock was $100,000, divided into one thousand shares. Of this, about $27,000 were subscribed. That year a large quantity of both wine and brandy was made, but on account of the low price, the company became involved in doht, and was finally com- jaHod to discontinue their business.
VALUATION OF ANNITAL MANUFACTURES,
Sish, Blinds, ote. $130,000
Wine, Soda Water, etc 25,000
Flour.
700,000
Machinery 225,000
Brick
3,000
Grain and Flour Bags.
40,000
Wagons.
30.000
Beer
10.000
Momments, etc
20,000
Harness, etc
40,000
Tinware. Water Tanks, etc.
45,000
Soup.
20,000
Brooms
10,000
6,000
Leather
25,000
Boots and Shoes
200,000
Woolen Goods
50,000
Gas
$1,579,000
Total.
CHAPTER XXIII.
AMUSEMENTS.
Necessity of Relaxation-Gambling - Attractionsof the Oambling Halls-Destructive to Morals- The Rund Tent The El Dorado The Maguolin-License for Gaming Tables- Raffles Indictments -The First Entertainment Music-Acrobatic-Canvas Theater- The First Troupe-Bull and Bear Fight - Hand Organ-Minstrels- Banquets-The Chap- man Family-Cirens- The Need of a Theater-C. E. Bingham-D Street Theater-Dedi cation-Seventeen Hundred Dollars for One Seat-Theatrical Stars - Burning of the Theater- A Brick Theater -Destroyed by Fire-Erection of the Present Structure.
THE day's labor ended, the weary miner or merchant was anxious to throw off business cares, and seek a few hours of rest and amuse- ment in the companionship of congenial friends and acquaintances, there to discuss the situation of political or social affairs and the latest news from the outside world. With few books or newspapers, and none of the comforts of home, he was obliged to go to the general placo of assemblage, the gambling house. At that time, the lines of morality were not so strictly drawn, and all classes of citizens could mingle together around and among the gaming tables, without exciting the sharp criticism of the rest of the populace. It was the general place of meeting, and the presence of a person did not necessitate his being a participant in the gaming. At one time nearly every other house in Marysville was used for gambling. It became a feature of California life, and while capitalists, merchants, bankers and others hesitated in the improvement of property, the proprietors of saloons, with a prodigal hand, lavished their ill-gotten gains in the elaborate decoration of their apartments. They stinted nothing in their en- deavor to make them the most attractive and popular. A person who could manipulate a musical instrument, however poorly, and who was lucky enough to have brought one with him from his home, was sought after, and could command an immense salary for his services. Music had charms to soothe the miner's breast, and these caterers were aware of the faet. Miners were not at all careful as to the amount of their stakes. Fortunes were made or lost on the tiun of a single card. Frequently thousands of dollars were bet on a hand at poker. Gold was readily obtained by digging on the bars, and as easily lost on the tahles. It served to amuse the participants, and that was all they seemingly cared to live for at that time. There is no doubt but that this degenerate state of affairs has left its imprint on many a man who came to this State from the moral home-life of New England, frell of hope and good intentions, only to throw them aside and join with
the throng in wooing the fickle goddess, through the medium of the card. Many thus fell into early graves, with the only epitaph, " llere lies one, who, unable to withstand temptation and suffering from the curso of strong drink and gaming, died and is forgotten." Others, whose principles of right and morality were more firmly grounded, resisted the alluring temptations of those exciting times, and stand now as monuments to denote the character of the larger class of men who came to the coast during the few first months of the mining fever. Very little gambling was carried on in Marysville in 1849, but in 1850, the increase in that business was startling. It was then that the professional gamblers began to arrive and make their prepa- rations for fleecing the unwary miners.
The first regular gambling house in Marysville was the Round Tent, on the south sido of First street, between D street and Maiden Lane. It was kept by James Wharton, and was of very rude con- struction. Poles were imbedded in the earth aud covered with canvas, forming a structuro more primitivo than gaudy. At one time Frank Ragsdill was interested in this establishment. This place was started about the time the town commenced its rapid strides, in February, 1850. A little later the El Dorado was erected, fronting on D street, and having an L on First street. This, for some time, proved the favorite resort, about forty or fifty tables being kept constantly ocen- pied during the evenings. It was owned by Plummer Thurston, John Kelley and others. The Magnolia, another large house owned by a man named Smith, was started in the early part of the year. At this time, nearly the entire space on First street, between Vand High streets, and on the west side of D street, between First and Second streets, was occupied by gambling houses. Some of the build- ings were frame structures, but the greater part had board fronts, with cloth sides and baek. A pistol ball could pass through the buildings from one side of the block to the otber, almost without inter- ruption. In the first part of August, 1851, the El Dorado closed its gambling department and received its revenue from the sales of wines and liquors. At one of the first sessions of the Legislature an act was passed obliging parties keeping gaming houses in San Francisco, Sac- ramentoand Marysville to pay a license of one thousand dollars per quar- ter if they kept three tables or less, and the sum of fifteen hundred dol- lars for any number over three. In other parts of the State the license was thirty-five dollars per month for each table. The cause of this difference in the amount of the license, was due to the fact that the gaming was carried on to a greater extent in those cities, and was supposed to effect a greater injury. February 9, 1852, indictments having been found against Rawls, Nesbitt & Co., and Van Reed and McDuffie, for failure to procure a license, they were brought before the Court of Sessions. A demurrer was entered which was sustained,
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