USA > California > Yuba County > History of Yuba County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 42
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gay and festive legislators passed their evenings, the witter says: "The almost nightly amusement was the fandango. There were some respectable ones and ome which at this day would not be called very respec- table. The term might he considered relative in its signification. It depended a good deal on the spirit of the times (not Boruck's newspaper) and tho notion of the attendant of such places." Those fandangos, where the members kept their huts on and treated their partners after each dance, were not considered of a high-toned character (modern wwmbers will please bear this in mind). There wero frequent par- ttes where n little more gentility was exhibited. In trath, considering the times and the country, they were very agreeable. The difference in language, in some degree, prohibited a freo exchange of ideas between the two sexes when the Americans wero in excess. But then, what one could not say in so many words he imagined, guessed, or made signs, and on the whole, the parties were novel and interesting. The grand out-door amusements were the hull and bear tights. They took place sometimes on St. James and sometimes on Market square. Sunday was tho usual duy for hull fights. Ou the third of Feb- ruary the legislators
were entertained hy : great exhibi. tion of a fellow- mau putting himself on a level with a beast: In the month of March there was a good deal of amuse- ment mixed with il good deal of excite- ment. It was re- ported all over the Capital that gold had heen discovered in the bed of Coyote L&CURTIS CANE Creek. There was a general rush. Picks, shovels, crowbars, and pans had a large sale. Mem- hers of the Legislature, officials, clerks and lobby- ists, concluded suddenly to change their vocation. Even the sixteen dollars per day which they had voted themselves was no indnccment to keep then. away from Coyote Creek. But they soon came back again, and half of those who went away would never own it after the excitement was over." Beyond the above interesting, and presumable prominent facts, history gives us very little concerning the meet- ing of our first Legislature, except that the session lasted one hundred and twenty nine days, an adjourn- ment being effected on the 22d of April, 1850.
The second legislature assembled on the 6th of January, 1851. On the 8th the Governor tendercd his resignation to the legislature, and John McDou- gal was sworn in as his successor. The question of the removal of the Capitol from San Jose was ono of the important ones of the session, so much so that the citizens of San Jose were remarkably active in catering to the wishes of the members of the legis- lative body. They offered extravagant bids of land for the Capitol grounds, promised all manner of buildings and accommodations, and even took the
THE STATE CAPITOL, SACRAMENTO.
State script in payment for legislators' board. But it was of no use. Vallejo was determined to have the Capitol, and began bribing members right and left with ull the city lots they wanted. The Act of removal was passed February Ftth, and after that inte the legislators had to suffer. The people refused to take State script for San Jose board, charged double prices for everything, and when, on the 16th of May, the Solons tinally pulled up stakes and left, there was not thrown after them the traditional old shoe, but un assorted lot of mongrel onths and Moxi- can maledietions.
THIRD SESSION-Convened nt Vallejo, the new Capitol, Jannary 5th, 1852. Number of members : Senate, 27; Assembly, 62 ; total, 89.
Fouurn SESSION .- Convened at Vallejo January 3d, 1853, removed to Benicin, February Ith, 1853.
Fırın SESSION .- Convened nt Benicia, January 2d, 1851, removed to Sacnonento, February 25th, 1854, where it has sinco remained.
In the beginning of 1860 the citizens of Sacra menta deeded to the Stato lots of land in the city on which a new Stato Capitol could be built. Work commenced the 15th day of May, 1861, and the corner atono was luid with Masonic ovremon- ies, conducted hy N. Green Curtis, thon Grand Master of the Order. Inn t ryears + ther blocks were added, so that now the grounds extend from Tenth to F'if- teenth and from L. to N. For this a Idli- tion thocitizon: wub. scribed $30,000, the State appropriation not being sullicient to fally pay for the land. The original architect was Reuben Clark, to whom the greatest. meed of praise should be given for the beautiful building that now adorns the city and is an honor to the State. After the dedication ceremonies, work was discontinued on it for some time, and it was not till about 1865 that labor wis recommencod in carnesl. Up to November 1st, 1875, the cost, added to the usual items for repairs and improvements, amounted to $2,449,429,31. The building is 240 feet in hight, the hight of the main building being ninty-l'our feet. Its depth is 149 fect and its length 282. Tho Assembly Chamber is 73x75, with a hight of forty- eight feet, and the Senate 73x56, with the sune hight. The first, or ground story of the building, is sixteen feet above the levet of the surrounding streets.
This State Capitol, one of the prettiest ir Ainerica, stands in a park of eight blocks, terraced and +rna- mented with walks, drives, trees, shrubs and plants, forming one of the prettiest spots in the country. This fino structure cost about $2,500,000, and its towering dome, surmounted by the temple and God- dess of Liberty rises 240 feet, and is the first object presented to view in the distance us the traveler approaches the city in almost every direction.
146
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN CALIFORNIA.
BY GEN. M. G. VALLEJO.
IN 1776 the presidio and mission of San Francisco wero founded, on the extreme border of California civilization ; the presidio being a kind of frontier cominund, with jurisdiction extending to the no: thern limit of Spanish discovery. San Francisco was founded on September 17, 1776.
In October, 1775, Bodega Bay had been discovered by a Spanish voyager, and named in honor of its dis- coverer. The very month that San Francisco was founded, Capt, Quiros mudo the first boat voyage up the intricato windings of what is now Petaluma Creek, and proved that there was no communication in this direction hetween tho bays of Bodega and San Francisco, us had hithorto been supposed. In 1793 much aların was caused by a report of the Indians
val was first known to the California authorities in 1813. Gov. Arguello sent dispatches of the Viceroy Revilla Gigedo, ordering the Russians away ; the only reply was a verbal message, to the effect that the Viceroy's orders had been forwarded to St. Peters- burg for the action of the Emperor.
In 1816 there arrived at San Francisco the Russian brig Rurick, nudler command of Otto von Kotzebue, in charge of a scientific expedition. Gov. Sola, in accordance with orders from the Spanish Government, went to San Francisco to offer Kotzebue all possible aid; but at the same time complained that Coskoff had been for five years in occupation of Spanish ter. ritory, Kotzebue sent for Coskoff to come to San Francisco for a conference on the subject. Don Ger-
GEN, VALLEJO'S HOUSE, SONOMA, 1848 .- BARRACKS. - MISSION CHURCH.
that English vessels were anchored in Bodega Bay. Tho Viceroy of Mexico ordered Gov. Arrillaga to tako inmediato steps for the protection of Spanish rights, Ono of tho measures adopted was the open- ing of a road for the transportation of supplies by land. A battery was constructed and four cannon planted at Bodega, as I havo heard my father and his contemporaries relate, but the small garrison was with- drawn after a little, and the guns were taken to Monterey.
Bodega and Ross, now within the limits of Sonoma county, were occupied by the Russians in May, 1812. As the new comers caiue without permission from the Spanish Government, they may be termed the pioneer " squatters" of California. Alexander Coscoff, who had a wooden leg, and was by us called "Pie de Palo," was in command of the foreigners, whose arri-
vasio Arguello was the bearer of the message, and brought back the first definite report of the new set- tlement, which consisted of twenty-five Russians and eighty Kodiac Indians. The conference between Arguello, Kotzebue and Coskoff took place on board the Rurick, on October 28th, the Russian chief hav- ing made the voyage from Ross in a baidarka, or skin boat. Jose Maria Estudillo, grandfather of our present State Treasurer, and Luis Antonio Arguello, aftewards Governor of California, were present, while the naturalist, Chamisso, served as interpreter. Noth- ing resulted from the interview, since Coskoff claimed to be acting under crders of the government of Sitka. Subsequent communications on the subject were not satisfactory in their results, since the Russians long remained in possession of the lands they had so arbi- trarily appropriated to themselves.
As soon as the presence of the Russians nt Redega was reported by the Indians, Sergeant Jose Sanchez and Corporal Herrera, disguised as Indians, reconnoi- tered the Russian establishments. On their return a band of horses were taken across the Bay, being forced to swim behind ennoes, to what is now L'me Point ; called " playita de los Caballos " by the Cali- forniaus, from this circumstance. Padre Altimira and his party left Lime Point on June 25th ; passed, during the following day, the Punta de los Esteres, culled by the Indians Checuali, where Petaluma now stands, aud encamped at night on the Arroyo Lema, where my old adobe afterwards stcod. June 27th he reached the Laguna de Tolay, on the hills just back of Donahue. The expedition went on toward the northeast, and arrived at the present valley of Sonoma, so called, according to Padre Altimira, by former Indian residents. The party queamped on the little Arroyo of Pulpula. Here a guard of sold'e s was detailed, and the supply train made ready, and Padre Altimira, after writing to ask l'eense and a blessing from Padre Sarria, President of the Missions, started on August 23d for Sonoma, where he arrived on the 25th. The Padre narrates his movements as follows:
" We chose a sitc and began work. In four days we have cut 100 redwood beams with which to build a granery. A ditch has been dug, and running water brought to the place where we are living (now Mr. P ckett's vineyard); we are making a corral to which, by the grace of God, our cattle will be brought to- 'mcrrow. We are all highly pleased with the site, and all agree that it offers incre advantages than any other between here and San Diego." These words are taken from a letter to Gov. Arguello, dated ncar San Francisco, August 31, 1823.
Three years after the events I have just related, the Indians fell upon the new Mission and destroyed it. Fortunately, Padre Altimira escaped with his life; but as he could not agree with his superiors, he went down to Santa Barbara, and in company with Padre Antonio Ripoll, embarked on an Amer can ves- sel, commanded by Capt. Jeseph Steele, and bade a final adieu to the country. In 1827 San Francisco Solano sprang up anew from its ashes, in charge of the virtuous and active Padre Fertuni, and under the protection of the Presidio at the Golden Gate. Padre Fortuni remained in charge of the Mission until 1830, when the work of rebuilding in more permanent form was undertaken,
In June, 1834, Gov. Figueroa, learning that many colonists with their families were coming from Mexico to settle in California, and deeming it wise to make some preparations in advance for the establishment of the colony, personally undertook an expedition to the
northern freatier, extending his survey as far as the Russian Presidio of Ross. After exploring the coun- try, he choso a site for the colony, marked off the plaza and dwelling-lots which were to constitute the new pueblo, and named that "City of the Future," in honor of the Mexican President and Vice Presi- dlent, Santa Ana y Farias. The site selected was in Santa Rosa Valley, on the banks of the arroyo of Potiquiyomi, now known as Mark West Creek.
In 1835 I had been directed by my Government to advance . our colony northwestward. After the advance of the Russians, continual disputes arose between our co'onists and theirs, and as my settlers were ready for a quarrel, and were not sparing of those "energetic words" well known in tho English idiom, our neighbors gradually retired toward Ross, and le.t the country in possession of their rivals, who, like gocd Anglo-Saxons, knew how to maintain their rights. Matters constantly became more and more complicated until 1810, when Col. Kuprcanoff, Gov- ernor of Sitka, came to San Francisco, and many offi- cial communications passed between him and myself, as military commander of California. The result was that the Russians prepared to abandon their California territory, and proposed tosell me their property. I was obliged to decline, because they insisted on selling the land which was already the property of my Govern- ment. Finding that I would not yield the point, they applied to Gov. Alvarado, at Monterey, and received from him a similar reply; then they applied to John A. Sutter, who made the purchase. I will not stop to consider the conduct of Sutter in this matter; suffice it to say that California was at last, in 1841, freed from guests who had always been regarded by us as intruders. Yet, it is but just to say, that in all mercantile transactions the Russians were notable for strict honesty, as in social intercourse for hospitality and affability of manuer towards our people. They took immense numbers of otter, beaver and seal skins dur- ing their stay, and left the country almost without fur-bearing animals.
Sutter at once began to transfer all movable prop. erty to New Helvetia, While he was thus engaged, in 1843, Capt. Stephen Smith arrived at Bodega, in the "George Henry," bringing with him the first steam engine ever seen in California. Capt. Smith had a grant of lund at Bodega from Gov. Micheltor rena, and with his partner and brother-in-law, D. Manuel Torres, bought some of the Russian buildings from Sutter, establishing a steam saw mill near the port. Thus Sonoma County had the honor of intro ducing this element of wealth and progress.
On the day when the engine began to work, Capt. Smith sent invitations to all the Sonoma settlers, and I, with my brother Salvador, was one of the first to
C.L. SMITH & CO LITH. OAKLAND CAL
PLACER MINE AND RANCHO OF JOHN WINSELMANN AND CO,YOUNG'S HILL, SLATE RANGE TP. YUBA CO,CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
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CALIFORNIA
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY
arrive. I distinctly remember having predicted ou that ‹ cension, that before many years there wenbl he more steam engines than soldiers in California. My readers can bear witness that I was no false prophet. The successors of Smith have not only proved the truth of my words, but have alnost verified the remark of my compatriot, Gon. Jose Castro, at Mon- terey, that " the North Americans were so enterpising a people, that if it wero proposed, they were quite capable of changing the color of the stars."
Without entering into details respecting the various minor expeditions sent out from San Francisco to the region north of the Bay, hoth for the purpose of watching Russian movements at Bodega and the hardly less dreaded operations of the English who had settled on the Columbin River, I will confine myself to the choico of the site where Sonomm was founded, and quote from Padre Altimira's narrative, as fol- lows :-
"About 3 P. M., leaving our camp and our bont in the slough near by, wo started to exploro, directing our course northwestward across the pla'n of Sonoma, until we reached a stream (Sonoma River) of ahout 500 phimas of water, crystalline and most pleasing to the taste, flowing through a grove of boautiful and useful trees. The stream flows from hills which enclose the pla'n and terminate it on the north. Wo went on, penetrating a hroad grove of oaks; tho trees wero lofty and rohnat, offering an eternal sonreo of utility, hoth for fire-wood and carriage material. This forest was about three leagues long from cast to west, and a league and a half wide from north to south. The plain is watered by another arroyo still moro copious and pleasant than the former, flowing from west to cast, but tending northward from tho conter of the plain.
"We explored this ovoning as far as the daylight permitted. The pormanont springs, according to the statements of those who have scen them in the extreme dry season, are almost jumumerable. No one can doubt the bonignity of the Sonoma climate after noting the plants, tho soft and shady trees, ash, pop- lars, laurel and others, and especially the abundance und luxurianco of tho wild grapes. We observed also that the launch may come up the crock to where a settlement can be founded, truly a most convenient circumstance. We saw from theso aud other facts that Sonoma is a most desirable site for a mission."
Such was the beginning of Sonoma; unfortunately the indefatigable aud energi tie missionary encountered inuch opposition from his ecclesiastie superior, and notwithstanding the peremptory orders of the govern- ment, he had to yield to the demands of President Sarria, and the project of moving tho Mission of San Francisco was abandoned. In September of the same year, however, Padre Altimira was appointed Minis-
tur by Padre Sarria, and was empowered to establish. a un'w mission. To facilitate the enterprise, settlers were taken from San Francisco, San Rafael, and San Jose, but all the Sonoina emigrants came voluntarily to their urw home. San Francisco Solano was chosen as the jsetron suint of the new rstaldishment ; but later, when I cume bure, after the puchlo had been laid out, and the military comandancia established, I caused to be revived the ancient name of Sonoma, the name by which the towu and county are still known.
A little before dawn on June 14, 1846, a party of hunters and trappers with some foreign settlers, under command of Capt. Merritt, Dr. Semplo and William B. Ide, surrounding my res dence at Sonoma, and with- nt firing a skot, made prisoners of myself, then com- mander of the Northern frontier, of Lieut. C'ol. Victor Prudon, Captain Salvador Vallejo, and Jacob P. Leese. I should here state that down to October, 1845, I had maintained at my own expenso a respect. able garrison at Sonoma, which often in union with the settlers did good service in campaigns against the Indians ; but at last, tired of spending money, which the Mex'can Government never refunded me, I ilis- handed the force, and most of the soldiers who had constituteil it left Sonoma.
Years before I had urgently represented to the Government of Mexico the necessity of stationing a sufficient force on the frontier, else Sonoma would he lost, which would be equivalent to leaving the rest of the country an easy prey to the invader. What think you, my friends, wero tho instructions sent me iu reply to my repeated demands for means to fortify the country ? These instructions were, that I should at once forco tho immigrants to recross tho Sierra Nevada and depart from the territory of the Repub- lic. To say nothing of the inhumanity of these orders, their exceution was physically impossible. First, beenuse I had no military force; and second, because tho immigrants enme in autumn, when snow covered the Sierra so quickly as to render return impracticable. I can assure you that the American immigrants never had canse to complain.
The " Benr Flag" party carried us as prisoners to youth who, but for your influence, would probably
Sacramento, and kept us in a calaboose for sixty days or more, until the authority of the United States made itself respected, and the honorable and humane Commodore Stockton returned us to our hearths. I have alluded to this episode of my life rather as an event connected with history than from a desire to speak of myself, since at times like the present indi- viduality disappears before the magnitude of the sub- ject which elaims our attention. I will simply remark. that I retain no seutiment of hostility either against those who attacked my honor and my liberty, or against
DESCRIPTION OF CALIFORNIA IN 1833
DR. JOHN MARSH TO LEWIS CASS.
[This interesting letter descriptive of California, did much to call pub lic attention to this then unknown re, un. The leiter was written from the March Grant at the fo 1 of Munt Hablo, It Custra Ciasta County, and was first published in the Centru Costa tincette in [a]
FARM OF PULPINES, NEAR ST. FRANCISCO, } UPPED CALIFORNIA, 1816. 1
HON. LEWIS CASS-Dear Sir: You will produtos be somewhat surprised to receive a letter from an in- dividual from whom you probably have not heard, or even thought of, for nearly twenty years; yet al. t'ongh the lapso of time has wrought many changes both in men and things, the personal identity of us lu th has probably bern Irft. You will, I think, re tomber a youth whum vou met at Green Bay in 1825, wlo. laving left his Alma Mater, hud spent a year or two in the " far, far West," und was then return
impracticable. I have now been more than ten years in this country, and have traveled over all the iubal- Bed and meet of the uninhabited parts of it. I have resided right years where I now live, near the Bay of San Francisco, and at the point where the rivers Sue. ramento and San Joaquin unite together to meet the tile water of the Bay, about forty miles from the Great. I pases at this place a farm about 10 miles by 12 in extent, one side of which borders ou the river, which is navigable to this point for sen going vesels. I have at last found the far West, and in tend to rund my ramblings here.
1 perceive by the public papers that this region of enuntry, including that immediately north of it, which nutil lately was the most completely a terra incognita
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DAY OF SAN FRANCISCO IN 1810.
ing to his New Eugland homo, and whom you induced to turn his face again toward the setting sun; that now have been administering pills in some quiet Yankee village, is now a gray-haired man, breeding cattle and cultivating grape vines on the shores of the Pacific. Your benevolence prompted you to take an interest in the fortunes of that youth, and it is therefore presumed you may not be unwilling to hear from him again.
I left the United States in 1835, and came to New Mexico, and thence traversing the States of Chiliua- hua and Sonora, crossed the Rio Colorado at its june- tion with the Gila, near the tide water of Gulph, and those who endangered my life, disturbed the peace of eutered this territory at its southern part. Any more my family, and took possession of my property.
of any portion of the globe, is at length attracting the attention of the United States and Europe. The world at length seems to have become awake to the natural advantages of California and Oregon, and it seems probable that at the same moment I am writing, their political destinies are about being settled, at least for a long time to come. I mention the two countries together because I conceive the future des- tiuy of this whole region to be one and irreparable. The natural conformation of the country strongly indi cates it, and a sympathy and follow freling in the inhab. itants is taking place, which must soon bring about the consummation. California, as well as Oregon, is raj .- idily propling with emigrants from the United States. Even the inhabitants of Spanish origin, tired of
direct route was at that time mili.own and von dered | anarchy and mirule, would be glad to come under
148
HISTORY OF YUBA COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
tho American Government. The Goverment of the United States in encouraging and facilitating emigra- tion to Oregon is in fact helping to people California. It is liko tho British Government. sending settlers to Canada. The emigrants are well aware of the vast superiority of California, both in soil and climate, und I inuy add, facility of access. Every year shorter and better routes are being discovered, and this year tho great desiderutum of a good and practical road for wheol carriages has been found. Fifty-three wagons, with that number of families, have arrived sufoly, und moro than a month earlier than any pre- vious company. The American Government encour- ages omigration to Oregon by giving gratuitiously somno five or six hundred acres of lund to cach family of actuul settlers. California, too, gives lands, not by acres, but by longues, and has some thousands of lengnes more to givo to uuybody who will occupy them. Novor in uny instance has less than one league beon given to any individual, and the wido world from which to select from all the unoccupied lands in tho torritory. While Col. Almonte, the Mexican Minister to Washington, is publishing his proclama- tions in the Amorican newspapers forbidding people to omnigrato to California, und telling them that uo lands will bo givon them, the netual Goverment here is doing just the contrary. In fact they caro about as much for tho Govorimont of Mexico us for that of Japan.
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