USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 12
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On March 18th, the Governor approved the bill which created Alameda county from Contra Costa county and Washington township of Santa Clara county. Its original boundaries were as follows: "Beginning at a point at the head of a slough, which is an arm of the Bay of San Francisco, making into the mainland in front of the Gegara ranchos; thence to a live sycamore tree that stands in a ravine between the dwellings of Fluhencia and Valentine Gegara; thence up said ravine to the top of the mountain; thence in a direct line easterly to the junction of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne counties; thence northwesterly on the west line of San Joaquin county to the slough known as the Pescadero ; thence westwardly in a straight line until it strikes the dividing ridge in the direction of the house of Jose Harlan in Amador valley; thence westwardly along the middle of said ridge crossing the gulch one-half mile below Prince's mill; thence to and running upon the dividing ridge between the redwoods known as the San Antonio and Prince Woods; thence along the top of said ridge to the head of the gulch or creek that divides the ranchos of the Peraltas from those known as the San Pablo ranchos; thence down the middle of said gulch to its mouth ; and therce westwardly to the eastern line of the county of San Francisco; thence along said last mentioned line to the place of beginning. The seat of justice shall be at Alvarado." Afterward several changes were made in the boundary.
At the regular election in 1853 the following officers were chosen : Addison M. Crane, county judge; A. N. Broder, sheriff; William H. Coombs, district attorney ; A. M. Church, county clerk ; J. S. Marston, treasurer ; Joseph S. Wat- kins, public administrator; William H. Chamberlain, coroner; H. A. Higley, surveyor ; George W. Goucher, assessor ; W. W. Brier, superintendent of schools.
91
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The senator was Jacob Grewell, who continued to act as joint senator for the three counties of Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa, while the first chosen member of assembly was Joseph S. Watkins.
A committee was appointed to contract for the erection of a frame building 30x60 feet and twelve feet high to the eaves, not to exceed in cost $1,200 at San Leandro. The building committee on May 15th reported the structure completed at a total cost of $1,265.
At first the county seat was located at Alvarado, the then center of the county's population. As soon as it was determined (1854) to erect county buildings various towns, villages and hamlets came forward and urged their several claims for that distinction. Petitions were circulated and a sufficient number of signa- tures obtained to justify the calling of an election to determine where the future county seat should be. The election was held on December 5, 1854, and the canvas showed a total of 1,882 votes cast, which were divided among seven locations, as follows: Alameda, 232; Alvarado, 614; San Leandro, 782; Oak- land, 18; San Lorenzo, 220; Haywards Town, 4; Haywards, II. No town having received a majority of all the votes cast, another election was ordered held on December 30th. This time public interest centered upon two places only-Alva- rado and San Leandro, the former receiving 1,067 and the latter 1,301 votes, the latter thus securing the prize. The aggregate vote of the last mentioned election, 2,368, exceeded that of the first named by about five hundred ballots, a fact which should not be taken as an indication either of increased interest in the matter or of sudden growth in population. It was accomplished, it was alleged, by the most bare-faced fraud. An election in that day was free to all. Men were imported from San Francisco by the boat-load ; no conditions were imposed at the polls that were not readily complied with. The newly-acquired honors of San Leandro, however, were not destined to remain long uncontested.
Legal steps to determine the legality of the election were taken and the case was temporarily at least settled against San Leandro, because in the following August the board of supervisors met at Alvarado. The San Leandro people resorted to the Legislature, and on February 8, 1856, a bill was approved which confirmed to them the prize.
As soon as the county officials had betaken themselves to Alvarado in August, 1855, the question arose touching the legality of all county business transacted at San Leandro during its occupancy as the county seat from April 2d to August 15, 1855. The board of supervisors, therefore passed a resolution affirming and re-enacting all resolutions and enactments passed by them during that time.
On March 9, 1855, the act creating a board of supervisors for Alameda county was approved. It provided that the first board should be elected on the third Mon- day of March, and annually thereafter. This election was duly held March 19, and on April 2d the board convened at the courthouse in San Leandro for the transaction of business. There were then present: Henry C. Smith of Wash- ington township; A. C. Austin of Clinton township; James W. Dougherty of Murray township; J. L. Sanford of Oakland township; James Millington of Alameda township and S. D. Taylor of Eden township. Mr. Dougherty was elected chairman of the board. Their first duty was to appoint a committee to examine claims against the county and to fix the yearly tax levy. At this meeting the county treasurer was empowered to expend $200 for a safe.
92
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
In the month of October, 1856, the county was divided into five supervisor districts in accordance with the general law; they were described and designated as follows : Townships of Brooklyn and Alameda, district number two; township of Eden, district number three; township of Washington, district number four; township of Murray, district number five. At this meeting the office of public administrator was declared vacant, the incumbent, Edwin Barnes, having failed to file the additional bond required of him. On the same date Mr. Tool received his first installment of $1,500 on his contract, and Mr. Fairfield was allowed $50 for preparing the courthouse plans. At this session of the board, Noble Hamil- ton and Edward R. Carpentier were each allowed $125 for legal services in the case of The People, ex rel., vs. C. P. Hester which grew out of the assessment made during the month of August for a county building fund.
The following were the large tax payers in 1859: J. J. Vallejo $190,050, William Castro $148,000, Estudillo Family $120,339, Hathaway, Brady & Crabb $60,800, Soto family $60,392, J. B. Larue $56,145, Ygnacio Peralta $54,100, A. Alviso $45,900, S. B. Martin $43,250, H. G. Ellsworth, $38,975, J. W. Dougherty $31,800, F. Higuerra $28,950, Livermore estate $28,300, Contra Costa Steam Navigation Company $28,000, Edward Minturn $27,200, Robert Simpson $26.750, E. L. Beard $26,285, A. M. Peralta $25,550, Clemente Colombet $25,- 100, A. B. Fabes $23,000, Antonio Sunol $21,400, W. M. Lubbock $20,000, Earl Marshall 18,000, G. W. Patterson $17,320, Mrs. A. C. Colombet $17,000, Thomas G. Carey $15,400, H. N. Carpenter $15,000, Benjamin Holladay $15,000, C. J. Stevens, $14,725, A. Lewelling $13,700, California Steam Navigation Company $13,500, Z. Hughes $13,450, Richard Threlfall $12,450, William Glaskin $12,000, Coffee & Risdon $12,000, H. I. Irving $11,675, Wm. H. Souther $11,500, E. S. Eigenbrodt $11,450, Mulford & Co., $11,425, William H. Maddox $11,250, Cull & Luce $11,040, R. B. Donovan $10,950, Jesse Beard $10,625, J. Lewelling $10,385, A. L. Pioche $10,300, Domingo Peralta $10,000.
The board of supervisors being authorized by the Legislature, the direct result of a bill introduced by Senator Crane, approved April 21, 1863, to sub- scribe for Alameda county $220,000 worth of stock in the Alameda Valley rail- road, should the sanction of the people be obtained, a special election was held June 2, 1863, when the proposition was declared lost. The following was the vote :
WHOLE NO.
PRECINCT
VOTES
YES
NO
Oakland
419
389
30
Temescal
50
49
I
Ocean View
52
51
I
Brooklyn
258
IO3
155
Half-way House
65
5
60
San Leandro
90
12
78
Haywards
117
49
68
San Lorenzo
66
6
60
Mount Eden
45
II
34
Alvarado
I32
16
116
93
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
WHOLE NO.
PRECINCT
VOTES
YES
NO
Mission San Jose.
152
26
I26
Centerville
198
24
174
Hart's (Murray)
57
56
I
Dougherty's Station
62
4
58
Alameda
49
28
21
Totals
1,812
829
983
In September of this year a mandamus was issued by Judge Reynolds of Contra Costa to compel the board of supervisors of Alameda county to levy a tax to pay the Contra Costa judgment, but on application to the supreme court a stay of proceedings was granted.
On May 2, 1864, Dole & Brother were paid the sum of $2,000 on account for the building of the bridge at San Leandro; the time for finishing the same was extended to the Ist of June. It was, however, completed and accepted by the county on May 23d. Specifications for repairing and replanking the Oakland bridge were ordered and bids for doing the same called for. This con- tract was let to A. W. Hawkett & Co. for $1,995 to be paid in county warrants on completion, which was duly done on August 8, 1864. On August 18th the board of supervisors determined to lay a sidewalk on either side of the road between Alvarado and Centerville and make provision for shading the same with trees; but although the first part of the proposition was carried out, the matter of planting trees was revoked March 7, 1865. On this date the Contra Costa Water Company obtained permission to lay pipes in Oakland township. On May 27th, Dr. T. H. Pinkerton was elected resident physician of the County Hospital.
In compliance with the law the board of supervisors on December 3d made a semi-annual statement of the revenue and finances of the county and the debt existing at that date. The receipts from all sources were as follows:
From state fund. .$56,711.26
From county general fund. 19,752.II
From common school fund. 15,469.67
From road and bridge fund. 23,176.70
From indigent sick fund
4,379.02
From Oakland bar fund. 3,882.52
From Contra Costa fund. 2,453.01
Total
$125,824.29
Cash on hand June 4, 1866.
13,137.22
Grand total of receipts
$138,961.51
The total value of assessed property in Alameda county for the year was $5,620,976.50. On February 4, 1867, the board of supervisors resolved to expend $300 in laying out a courthouse square and planting trees therein, but that sum being considered insufficient for the purpose $250 more were appropriated, and on April 13th a flag-staff, to cost $50, was ordered for the square.
94
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The board of supervisors elected on October 4th was composed of F. K. Shattuck, Oakland township; Duncan Cameron, Brooklyn township; E. M. Smith, Alameda township; J. B. Martin, Eden township; John M. Horner, Washington township; Dan. Inman, Murray township; who elected Mr. Shat- tuck chairman, and Messrs. Shattuck, Cameron, Smith and Marlin, the hospital committee. December 12, 1867, it was ordered that no more armory claims would be allowed unless accompanied with evidence of approval by the state board of military auditors. Early in 1868 J. Ross Browne, was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Pekin, but not being impressed either with the "Flowery Kingdom" or the officials thereof, he resigned the post. Enterprise and activity reigned supreme throughout the year 1867. During 1867 there were established a County Teachers' Association ; the Oakland Bank of Savings; the location of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute; the reorganiza- tion of the County Agricultural Society; and the founding of the Agricultural College.
In this year the removal of the state capital obtained prominence, and Alameda county made an offer for the prize. At a meeting of the board held February 3, 1868, on motion of Supervisor Horner, the following preamble and resolution were unanimously adopted :
"Whereas, The question of the removal of the state capital is now pending in the Legislature; therefore, Resolved, That a committee of three members of this board be appointed to prepare a bill to be submitted to said Legislature, authorizing the board of supervisors of Alameda county to issue bonds to the amount of $150,000, to be appropriated to the erection of suitable buildings for use of the state, in the event of the Legislature locating the state capital in this county."
Messrs. Shattuck, Cameron and Smith were appointed such committee. On the 21st of February, the state Legislature visited Oakland, but declined to locate the capital there.
The principal occurrence in 1868 was the earthquake of October 21st, which was first felt a few minutes before 8; o'clock in the morning. In Alameda county, which appears to have been its center, it was particularly destructive, and great damage was sustained in nearly all of the interior and valley towns. It was the most prodigious shaking that the county thus far ever had. The shocks occurred as follows: 7:54 A. M. very heavy; direction northeast, east and southwest, a rolling motion. Almost like a continuation of this came a whirling motion. At 8:26 came a slight shock .. At 8:44 came a heavy shock with rolling motion and up and down movement. At 3:12 came a slight shock ; at 3:17 a slight shock ; at 4:08 double shock up and down. There were thirty- two shocks in all during that day, but these mentioned were especially noted. In comparison Oakland did not suffer much damage, crockery and glassware were broken and many chimneys were thrown down.' Portions of wharves were swept away and walls were cracked in almost every house.
On October 26, 1868, the county jail of San Francisco was designated as that for Alameda county. On November 16th the board of supervisors agreed upon plans for a new courthouse, jail and recorder's office, the latter to be a fire-proof brick building and the prison to be provided with iron cells. The board also appointed at this time a special committee to purchase a piece of ground on
95
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
which to establish the county infirmary; they were instructed to obtain fifty acres of land belonging to Mr. Puff, and located between San Leandro and Haywards above the county road.
Under the provisions of the Gopher and Squirrel act, passed March 2, 1870, a special tax of 11/2 cents on each $100 worth of property, to be called the Bounty Fund, was ordered to be levied; while another special levy of one cent, with the same conditions, was ordered in accordance with the act approved March 8, 1870, to be known as Interest Bridge Fund. On June 7th the county recorder was authorized to re-record in the proper book the following maps: Kellersberger's map of the city of Oakland; map of town of San Leandro by H. A. Higley ; and a map of Oakland showing the position of the property of Joseph Irving, deceased. At the same time the map of the ranchos of Vicente and Domingo Peralta was ordered framed.
The following acts of the Legislature were passed in 1870: To provide for building bridge across the Estuary of San Antonio; tax for payment of bridge bonds ; to issue bonds for bridge purposes ; to prevent the destruction of fish and game in and around Lake Merritt; for a bridge across San Antonio creek; to appoint bridge committee; to levy special bridge tax; to lay out and improve streets of Oakland; for lighting Oakland with gas; for redemption of school bonds; to improve streets in Oakland; to authorize a tax for interest on bonds ; to appoint commissioners for a bridge across San Antonio creek; authorizing a special tax for bridge across San Antonio creek; concerning wharves, not to apply to Oakland; establishing boundary between Brooklyn and Oakland. The population of Alameda county, according to the census of 1870 was 25,737.
On March 6, 1871, the boundary line between Eden and Washington town- ships was changed as follows: "Commencing at the junction of North and Alameda creeks ; thence running up said North creek to the mouth of Mathewson ditch; thence up said ditch to its intersection with the Mountain Road; thence following the line of said ditch extended to its intersection with the old town- ship line at a point on the lands of Andrew Patterson; thence following the old township line between Eden and Washington townships easterly to the corner of Washington, Murray and Eden townships."
In the early 'zos the stage route from Haywards to Mt. Diablo was well patronized. The route through the Alamo valley and in the pass through the Contra Costa ridge was not so popular, because muddier and rougher. The road from Martinez southward to Walnut creek was good except in winter. At this time Alameda county prepared to gravel the Telegraph road to the Summit ; buy the Moraga Valley Toll Road, gravel it in the worst places, make it free; and also gravel the roads from Haywards to Dublin and Danville. By doing this a means could be afforded the farmers of the valley between Contra Costa and Diablo ridges to bring their products to Oakland.
In early times large sums of money were spent on the following roads : Bay, Brooklyn, Alvarado, Centerville, Dublin, Eden Vale, Inman, Laurel, Lincoln, Mt. Eden, Mission, Murray, Newark, Niles, Ocean View, Peralta, Pleasanton, Palomares, Piedmont, Redwood, Rosedale, Summit, San Lorenzo, Stony Brook, Sunol, Temescal, Townsend, Vallecitos, Washington, Warm Springs and others.
On February 12, 1872, the district attorney was ordered to prepare and for- ward to the Legislature a bill authorizing the county to issue $15,000 of ten-year Vol. 1-7
96
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
bonds to be applied to the building of a bridge across Alameda creek near Niles. On the 19th of March, specifications and plans for the structure, to consist of three spans of 1331/3 feet each, resting on stone or iron piers, all timber except the floor, to be preserved by the "Robins" process, were called for. On the 11th of May the contract was awarded for a Smith truss to the Pacific Bridge Com- pany at $12,496 and the work at once proceeded. To meet this amount county bonds for $14,000 were ordered to be issued; and on September 30, 1872, the bridge was reported completed and satisfactory and the contractors were paid.
Owing to the great destruction of roads and bridges, consequent upon the floods of the winter of 1871-72, the road commissioner of Washington township issued certificates for labor and material expended in repairing to $1,006 in excess of the amount apportioned to that township, but the board of supervisors doubt- ing its authority to allow such an outlay, resolved on March 5th to prepare an empowering bill for presentation to the Legislature for the purpose of absolving him from any responsibility in the matter. The financial state of the county as made by the treasurer up to October 7, 1872, was as follows :
FUNDED DEBT
Oakland bar bonds $34,000.00
Oakland bridge bonds 20,000.00
Niles bridge bonds 15,000.00
Total $69,000.00
FLOATING DEBT
Registered warrants $74,221.94
VALUE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY COUNTY
Courthouse buildings and land $40,000.00
Infirmary buildings 6,000.00
Infirmary lands 6,000.00
Total .$52,000.00
Cash in county treasury $20,329.12
VALUE OF PROPERTY IN COUNTY
Real estate
$24,738,246.00
Improvements
5,498,020.00
Personal property 6,748,655.00
Amount of money
341,675.00
Total
$37,326,596.00
TAXES
Levied for 1872-73
.$327,618.62
Special tax in Alameda township 2,015.10
Total $329,633.72
97
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
In the early seventies the removal of the county seat interested every resi- dent of the county. Early in 1872, while the Legislature was still in session, a bill was introduced having that object in view. Outside of Oakland the county was almost a unit in favor of San Leandro. The preliminary contest in 1870 over the same object only fitted the contestants for a greater degree of efficiency for the coming battle. Mr. Crane who represented this county in the House espoused the cause of the country districts. The Oakland council promptly gave assurance that the necessary building sites and structures would be furnished. The people of San Leandro organized to resist the removal to the bitter end and were joined by prominent citizens of Murray, Washington and Eden townships. Washington and Franklin squares were offered as a site for the public buildings and tem- porary quarters were secured in the city hall and elsewhere. Finally, upon the request of many citizens, the Legislature postponed definite action at the request of a remonstrance signed by many taxpayers who opposed the removal. In the meantime a petition numerously signed asked for the passage of a law authorizing the removal.
Finally a bill calling an election to determine the matter passed the Legislature, but was fought tenaciously by the opponents of removal. Senator Farley of Amador, fought the cause of the "Edenites" at every step of progress through the assembly. A majority of the county board opposed the change, but Mr. Tomkins answered every argument and objection, showing the strength of the claims of Oakland for the removal. When the bill came up for final passage there was a majority of one against it. This defeat of a proposed election was cele- brated with great glee by all the country district which hoped that any further attempts would never appear. However, Doctor Pardee introduced a new bill having the same object, but it was learned about this time that the county board had the power to order such an election upon petition. Such petition was pre- pared and contained 1,453 names.
The question whether the county seat had been once removed by a popular vote was brought up. Back in 1854 or 1855 an election was held for the change of the county seat from Alvarado to San Leandro. There was no board of super- visors at that time, and the court of sessions called the election; which resulted in the removal. Alameda became a county in 1853. The county seat remained at Alvarado until 1854. A popular vote was taken in that year, and was in favor of San Leandro. Subsequently it was removed back to Alvarado. In accordance with an act of the Legislature after that, the county seat was again removed to San Leandro.
The case was taken into the courts and a new complication arose over the annexation of the town of Brooklyn to the city of Oakland. Finally an election was ordered for March 29, 1872, was held and resulted as follows: Oakland, 2,254 votes; San Leandro, 1,180; eight other towns in the county, 88; scattering and rejected, 5. This assured the victory for Oakland, though the fight was still kept up, more perhaps to compel that city to fulfill its promises as to sites and buildings than for any other reasons. The city hall was used temporarily for county offices and the conveyance of Washington and Franklin plazas to the county was made. At this stage of proceedings Brooklyn offered a block of land on Adams avenue and $10,000 cash and the county seat was established in that town by the vote of six to one by the county board. Oakland was thus com-
98
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
pletely ignored by the county board on the ground that it had no power to convey the two plazas to the county. This act roused the citizens here who prepared definite pledges that the sites and buildings proposed would be provided and that not less than $120,000 would be expended upon a hall of records. On the other hand a strong petition came from Washington township praying the board to establish the county seat in Brooklyn. At this time the Estudillo family of San Leandro claimed the old site at San Leandro, which had been donated by them when the seat of justice was located there in 1854. The fight between Brooklyn and Oakland went merrily on, the lawyers enjoying a profitable epoch in the diversion. The board prepared finally to erect the necessary buildings in Brook- lyn, but were opposed with all sorts of legal bombshells from the courts.
The archives were at last transferred to Brooklyn and there the board first assembled on June 7, 1873. It was at this time that Brooklyn became generally known as East Oakland. Gradually, as time passed and the future importance of Oakland became apparent, the people throughout the county came to favor the Oakland plazas as the site of the county buildings. Again the subject was taken before the Legislature and a bill calling for the issuance of $200,000 for the county buildings to be erected on the Oakland plazas was passed. There were many side issues and complications in this long and harassing contention.
The assessor's reports at the end of the year showed Alameda to have gained the distinction of being the chief rural county of California. Her assessment roll showed a value of $35,154,065; total county and state tax, $413,344 and indebtedness, $186,625. Chief among the events that transpired in 1874 were the steps taken by the board of supervisors towards the improvement of Oakland harbor, and the third fight over the county seat.
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