USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 44
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On May 11, 1885, the two constables of Alameda arrested seventeen China- men on the charge of opium smoking. In the trial before a justice nearly all were acquitted and suit'as to the rest was discontinued. The Chinamen then com- menced action against the constables to recover $250 for damages, false imprison- ment and malicious prosecution. A jury found for the defendants. On an appeal to the supreme court the verdict was sustained.
An artesian well was sunk by the Harmony Borax Works in Alameda and by March 17, 1885, was down 285 feet. Coarse gravel was found at a depth of 280 feet. Several fine specimens of gold bearing quartz were found at different depths. A. C. Gilbert a prominent and heavy real estate owner of Alameda failed with liabilities at $59,884, and assets at less than $25,000. He had built about one hundred fine residences there and at the time of his failure had ten in course of construction. He had started in 1877 in partnership with W. B. Hunter. In April W. J. Dingee of Alameda sold at auction thirty-eight lots of the Encinal park tract; the prices ranged from $590 to $820 and the bidding was spirited. About the same time he sold sixty-two residence lots on Main, Popular, Four- teenth and other streets of Oakland; they brought from $325 to $2,485.
A tax paying party was organized in Alameda in March. Its object was to levy a heavier tax for the purpose of making the improvements deemed neces- sary for the new city. The tax levy of 1884-5 covered a total of $36,934 of which only $338 was delinquent and at the close of the delinquent sale every dollar was realized. The Alameda trustees decided early in 1885 not to accept the offer to light the city by electricity. The funds would not allow it. The sewerage problem was the most important improvement at that time. The Electric Light Vol. 1-22
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Company of Alameda agreed to furnish within sixty days twenty mast lights of 3,000 candle power each, the masts to be eighty feet high, at a total cost of $4,000. The company agreed to expend $25,000 upon its plant.
In July, 1885, the Alameda trustees accepted the entire plan of Mr. Schussler for sewering the city as well as for providing water for flushing and street sprink- ling. The cost of the plan was estimated at $120,000. It was necessary to issue bonds to raise this large amount. But the system could be put in part at a time and bonds issued accordingly. They finally purchased twelve acres of land in the adjacent marshes for the purposes of their sewer system.
In October, 1885, Alameda city was one of the many owners of the Alameda marshes lying between that city and Oakland. The land comprised over one thousand acres and the title thereto was held by about twenty undivided owners. The Narrow Gauge Railroad Company owned about one-fifth ; the Oakland Water Front Company a large slice; Col. Von Schmidt owned a portion, having bought it when he began pumping the dredgings cut out of the tidal basin upon it. Ala- meda needing a tract there for sewer purposes bought of Theodore Leroy for $350 per acre a total of twelve acres.
In February, 1886, there were six fire companies in existence. In March, Alameda voted to Columbus Bartlett and associates a franchise for a street rail- road on Park street. The liquor license was fixed at $200, but was vigorously and savagely attacked by the saloonkeepers. Test cases were commenced to deter- mine the law's validity or break it down. Alameda was called the "City of Baths & Baseball" in July, 1886. That city joined Oakland in the reception given to the G. A. R. In August, the skeletons of six Indians were unearthed at the foot of Chestnut street ; they were found side by side at the foot of the shell mound standing there. The Artesian Water Company sank a deep well near High street in Alameda in September. At the depth of eighty-seven feet water began to come in so fast that a pump threw out 12,000 gallons in an hour. The well was sixteen feet wide and was encased with heavy timbers to prevent caving. Five shafts 1,500 feet long were run from the bottom in different directions. Later the encasing timbers were replaced by brick. It was believed that this well and the many artesian wells already in use would be sufficient to supply that city with good water for many years. The electric masts in Alameda were 135 high, each having six lamps of 2,000 candlepower.
In 1887 the citizens of Alameda considered the question of a public park and at first the opinion prevailed that it. should be situated near the center of the town. This plan proved to be impractical, because land in the center was too expensive. In the various meetings James A. Waymire, F. K. Krauth, F. W. Dohrmann, T. G. Daniels, G. C. Tobins, J. C. Siegfried, Doctor McLean, Henry Michels, Columbus Bartlett and others participated. Later it was thought best to gird the town with a system of park-like boulevards. But many obstacles arose and the whole matter was held in abeyance for a time. Gradually it came to be the wish of many to form a system of boulevards that would together constitute one of the finest drives in the West. In December, 1889, the right of way for such a highway was secured without difficulty, all property owners wish- ing such a drive to pass their premises.
In September, 1887, the Alameda Improvement Association was organized and at once began a rigid system of street, park and sidewalk reform. Charles
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
S. Neal was its first president and was succeeded in 1889 by George H. Payne. The membership in 1889 was 102. In April, 1888, the scarcity of water in Ala- meda made it necessary to dig more wells in the town of Fitchburg between Oak- land and San Leandro. The Thompson Water Works Company of that city dug the wells-twenty-four in all to the depth of about four hundred and eighty-five feet. At a depth of 275 feet, 900 gallons were supplied. A twelve-inch main was laid in April and May between Fitchburg and Alameda. On April Ist, the Alameda free library had a membership of 3,023. In the spring Alameda consid- ered the question of annexing Fruit Vale and a long narrow strip to the eastward. In May, Alameda was supplied with water from the new wells at Fitchburg; the water was pumped up by an engine. In July the citizens of Alameda voted on the question of issuing $75,000 in bonds for municipal improvements ; of these $35,000 was intended for new school buildings. An electric fire alarm system, the site for a city hall, street sewer and sidewalk improvements were also planned.
A. S. Barber of Alameda occupied the position of postmaster for thirty-four years. He was first commissioned in March, 1855, at which date the town had a population less than three hundred, clustered around High street at what became known as "Old Alameda." At that time Park street was covered with vines, bushes and trees. J. J. Toy was postmaster before him. At first there were no regular carriers. The first carrier was a sloop commanded by Capt. M. W. Peck. Letter postage was then ten cents.
The temperance people of Alameda in the fall of 1888 agitated the question of local option. They finally formed a local option alliance with T. L. Hierleley as president and George Brodwell as secretary, and had as members delegates from all churches of the place. It was announced as wholly non-sectarian and non-political. At a large mass meeting Doctor McLean said that inasmuch as thirty-three saloon licenses had recently been granted by the trustees local option could not be put into effect until after July 1, 1889, in any event. He suggested that the citizens vote on the question at the municipal election in the spring of 1889. He considered opium a greater evil than whiskey. Steps were taken to circulate a petition to secure local option. At a large meeting of the citizens of Alameda early in August, it was decided after a thorough discussion of the question that the city should issue $35,000 in bonds for school purposes; $15,000 for the fire department, and $25,000 for a new city hall site and building. Among those present were Dr. J. T. McLean, George W. Tyler, Mr. Sullivan, school superintendent, E. K. Taylor, city attorney, Judge J. A. Waymire, A. W. Pattiani, Col. P. T. Diskenson, H. P. Moreal, W. P. Daggett and Herman Cordes. An election was held with the following result: For school bonds, 456, against, 124; for city hall bonds, 345, against, 216; for fire bonds, 392, against, 180; thus the latter two were lost because not receiving two-thirds of the votes. The school bonds carried.
The Bank of Alameda was organized late in 1888 with a capital of $100,000 and with the following first directorate : R. R. Thompson, Henry Sevening, Adolph Schroeder, Joseph Knowland and Del Linderman. In October, twenty-nine of the thirty-three licensed saloonkeepers of Alameda presented a petition to the trustees asking that the brewers be allowed to deliver to them malt liquors by
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
paying a license of $30 per annum and not $200 as then required by ordinance. Their request was granted.
Early in February, 1889, the Alameda trustees granted to the Alameda, Oak- land and Piedmont Railroad Company a franchise to construct and maintain a street railroad on Park street from Santa Clara street to Encinal avenue. At the municipal election in Alameda in the spring there were many candidates and a vast amount of wire-pulling. Important questions were before the town. A petition signed by 1,200 citizens was presented to the trustees praying them to close every saloon in the town by refusal to grant licenses after July next. The question of local option came up at this time and the plan of the friends of that measure was to elect trustees who would carry it into effect. There were sharp contests for the offices of city clerk and members of the board of education, treasurer, recorder, marshall, etc.
The Pacific Land Investment Company owned the Neptune gardens in Ala- meda; also the baseball grounds at the West End. The baseball grounds were closed for over a year in 1888-89 because of the unwillingness of the owners to pay the high license of $500. Many residents favored this high license, because they had grown tired of having the town made the resort of rude crowds on Sundays. Others claimed the ground had not been used for a full year before the passage of the ordinance. The grounds were no longer profitable as a pleas- ure resort.
Alameda found in 1888-89 that it could not sell its $35,000 bonds for educa- tional purposes and its $25,000 bonds for the fire department; no purchasers appeared. The Legislature of 1888-89 repealed the law under which the issu- ance of the bonds was possible, which for the time killed the movement. The Alameda Savings Bank was organized in 1889 and began business in 1890 with a capital of $100,000.
A light vote was cast at the bond election in Alameda in November, 1889. The vote was as follows: For school bonds 572, against 74, scattering 6. For city hall site bonds 441, against 162, scattering 50. For electric light bonds 434, against 189, scattering 31. For fire bonds 505, against 113, scattering 36. It required a two-thirds majority on each issue to be successful. Four of the 189 votes were found to be illegal, which left a two-thirds majority in favor of the electric bonds. The bonds were for the following purposes: fire department, $35,000; city hall site, $25,000; purchase of balance of electric lights, $25,000; school department, $50,000. The assessed valuation of the place was $8,000,000. At this date the town had a bonded debt of $89,000.
In May, 1890, Alameda bought the entire electric lighting plant of the Jenny Electric Light Company and issued bonds in payment therefor-$23,000, not including $2,000 retained for plant extension. At this time the town had issued $73,000 for the school and lighting improvements. On November Ist, the city was given a free mail delivery. Three carriers were put on at the start. At this time Alameda was a promising, deserving place. Its streets were being macad- amized, its sewer system was excellent; it had good water and efficient fire department and had recently voted bonds to improve its departments. Three new churches were going up; the Masons were building a $30,000 temple and Mr. Boehm was erecting a $20,000 business block. The Home Protective Asso- ciation had already taken effective steps to drive out all the saloons. The
Greek Theater, University of California, Berkeley
Alameda Street Scene Lake Merritt, from Schilling's Garden, Oakland
Park Street, Alameda Mission San Jose
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Improvement Association was doing excellent work to advance all departments of modern city growth.
The first directors of the Alameda Savings Bank in 1890 were as follows: R. R. Thompson, H. Sevening, A Schroeder, J. Knowland, Del Linderman, D. S. Randolph and C. Bartlett. The unlicensed saloon keepers of Alameda made a bitter and protracted fight against high license in 1891, but in the end were defeated and forced to surrender.
Alameda grew rapidly in 1892-all over the Encinal. In particular many fine residences were erected. In all 221 new buildings went up. The residence of Doctor Tisdale cost $20,000 and that of Mr. Garratt, $14,000. The value of the building improvements was $627,000. Street improvements cost $85,000, sewer cost $12,300. The old Meetz street railroad system was reorganized under new owners and the town cared nothing for factories-did not want them with their din, smoke and dirt.
An election in Alameda for more school bonds in December, 1892, was car- ried in favor of the issue by the vote of 485 for and 230 against and 9 scatter- ing. Alameda's credit was good; before its sewer bonds were issued and while they were being engraved offers to take the whole at par were made by capital- ists ; it was determined to issue only about $60,000 of such bonds the first year.
In the 'gos Alameda acquired the reputation of being one of the most progres- sive cities on the coast by reason of its fine buildings, good streets and water, and its advanced stand in favor of public improvements. The construction of a boulevard around the Encinal had been proposed before, but finally began to assume a formative stage in 1895. In the preliminary steps the right of way to a strip 150 feet wide and about a mile in length was secured. Alameda in 1895 underwent a social or literary revolution. It had one of the best managed libraries in the state, but had no suitable house. A rate favored the construction of such a building, but many citizens, violently rebelled, not wanting the taxation even for so worthy an object.
In February, 1898, Frederick K. Krauth the veteran editor of the Alameda Encinal died in Alameda. He founded the paper in 1868 and had thus been at its head for thirty years. The paper was characterized by clean editorials and policies and its devotion to the interests of that town.
The Alameda Improvement Association considered the question of inducing manufacturing concerns to locate on the 700 acres of filled in marsh land adjoin- ing that city and the advisability of trying to reclaim about 1,000 acres more. There was much opposition in 1897 from those citizens who wished Alameda to remain exclusively a residence town. In July, 1899, the Alameda library con- tained 22,737 volumes and was located in the new city hall. Charles L. Weller was librarian. Early in 1900 the trustees of Alameda called an election to deter- mine whether the following bonds should be issued :
School improvements $25,000
New library building. 25,000
Webster street improvement. 20,000
City electric plant additions
20,000
Total
$90,000
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The new charter question was submitted to Alameda voters in August, 1900, with the following result: For charter, 593; against charter, 681. In March, 1902, the Alameda trustees sold $100,000 school bonds to eastern buyers at a lump sum of $500 over the par value. In May, 1903, the new high school build- ing of Alameda was dedicated. President Wheeler of the university was pres- ent and addressed the audience. In 1901 Alameda received its offer for a pub- lic library building from Andrew Carnegie and duly entered into an agreement to maintain it by an annual tax.
A new charter for Alameda was urged in 1904 by the West End Improve- ment Association and the Alameda Advancement Association. All agreed that the city had outgrown its old charter and that its progress was retarded thereby. In the fall of 1905 Alameda took up in earnest the project of opening the streets through to the estuary. Early in 1906 Alameda seriously considered a new char- ter, a large tourist hotel, a progressive system of improvement, an extension of the corporate limits and a separate supervisorial district. The new charter for Alameda was approved by the Legislature late in January, 1907; it contained a referendum clause.
In 1910 Alameda possessed the following advantages and attractions: munic- ipal electric lighting plant ; parks and play grounds which cost $150,000; pure food inspection ; the new library building with nearly 37,000 volumes and a child's story department ; an excellent sewer system; fifty miles of paved streets ; a new charter ; public property worth $2,500,000; bonded debt $595,000; low taxation.
On November 24, 1913, Alameda county generally observed Junipero Serra day-the anniversary of the establishment of missions by the Franciscan Fath- ers. Late in November the club women of Alameda considered seriously and profoundly the following three questions: (1) character of the immigrants of the present ; (2) establishment of a municipal opera house across the bay; (3) the Hetch-Hetchy proposition. In 1900 the population of Alameda was 16,464 and in 1910 it was 23,383.
The corporation of Alameda has existed under three different municipal bodies ; first, as a town with the management of affairs in the hands of a board of trustees ; second, as a city under the general state law ; third, as a city under a special charter passed by the Legislature in 1907 and duly ratified at an election held by the voters. E. K. Taylor was first mayor under the last form. He has been succeeded by W. H. Noy and Mr. Otis.
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS OF CITY, 1912
Schools
$286,075.00
Parks and playgrounds.
I12,500.00
Electric light
45,000.00
Fire
22,500.00
City hall building
28,750.00
Bay farm road. 11,000.00
Library
4,500.00
Webster street road. 33,300.00
Sewer
28,500.00
Total
$572,125.00
These figures do not include the bond election held April 30, 1912, for $158,000.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
POPULATION OF ALAMEDA (U. S. CENSUS)
Year
Population
Year
Population
1860
460
1890
11,165
1870
1,557
1900
16,464
1880
5,708
1910
23,231
CHAPTER XIX
BERKELEY
When the university was located at Berkeley in 1868 there then was near the bay a small village known as Ocean View, but which later was called West Berkeley. The village in the neighborhood of the college received the name of Berkeley, but later was generally termed East Berkeley. It was many years before Berkeley took any great strides in improvement. Fine homes first began to go up near the university-erected and occupied by wealthy and prominent people.
By 1874 the few residents of Berkeley lived south of the university site ; then the public schools were managed by district trustees or directors and were a part of the Peralta district. At that time West Berkeley known as Ocean View had a few business houses and the school district was known by the same name.
The California Watch Company erected buildings near Berkeley ferry early in 1876 and soon began operations. They had previously been in business in San Francisco; but needing more room had crossed to the growing town of Berkeley and bought $150,000 worth of property. The sale of the Blake tract near the university in October, 1876, was an important event in real estate circles ; the sales aggregating $31,705. At a large sale of real estate located within a few hundred feet of the University of California in 1877 the lots sold at prices varying from $280 to $575 each. The sale was at auction by Wood- ward & Taggart. In March, 1877, the Cornell Watch Factory was in a pros- perous condition at "the little village of West Berkeley."
The Land and Town Improvement Association erected a large windmill with a tank capacity of 12,000 gallons at Fifty and University in 1877; their pipes were laid to the ferry wharf. In all they had laid 2,600 feet of pipe and offered fresh and pure water to householders at reasonable rates. Berkeley at this date began to grow faster than ever; many fine residences were going up. The ferry boat was refitted and the time between Berkeley and San Francisco was greatly reduced. The old "Clinton" retired. The Berkeley Water Works secured an addition to their supply by adding the stream back of the university.
In 1877 a movement to raise $5,000 by taxation to buy a lot and erect a schoolhouse was defeated by a large majority. In 1878 after the town was incor- porated the schools were given half of the tax of 50 cents. In 1879 the Kellogg grammar school was established in West Berkeley and the following year it was conducted as a high school as well as a grammar school. Later the building was used by the Berkeley commercial school. The first school at Ocean View was called San Pablo. Still later came the Whittier, Le Conte and Columbus schools. In 1893 the Lorin district was annexed.
In 1882 many lots were sold in the Antisell tract. Harmon Seminary had just been built and Durant Hall was projected. The North Berkeley Neighbor-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
hood Improvement Association was organized early in 1882 and was planned to build up that village north of Virginia street and east of Grant street. The annual fee was $1 for men and 50 cents for women.
Frederick hall at West Berkeley was used for public entertainments of all kinds. Amateur performers gave a minstrel entertainment there for the benefit of the Catholic church. Among the performers being Heywood, Wheelan, Spauld- ing, Burns, McClain and others. The Judson Manufacturing Works were built at Emery in 1883. Many houses went up there in July. The new glass works in West Berkeley by Wheelan Canning Company of San Francisco were starting. West Berkeley was building up fast by the work shops there. A wall paper factory was established there at this time. Late in the fall the pipes for the water supply were laid through the streets of Berkeley. The reservoirs were completed early in 1884. This gave that town one of the best water systems in the state. The Berkeley Village Improvement Association was incorporated in September ; its objects were to buy and sell real estate, to lay sewers, sprinkle streets, borrow and lend money, etc. The directors were F. K. Shattuck, J. L. Barker and C. K. Clark of Berkeley, and G. H. Collins and E. B. Dean of Oak- land. In November all the Chinamen at work in the Giant Powder Works struck, because several of their number had been unjustly discharged, according to their views. A force of white men was at once employed to fill the vacancies.
In February, 1884, the Hopkins reservoir at Berkeley contained about 5,- 000,000 gallons of pure water. Preparations to build a second reservoir to hold 15,000,000 gallons were made at this time. The Wentworth Boot & Shoe Com- pany located here at this time; their old factory was also at Berkeley. It was planned to employ 150 persons, of whom three-fourths were to be whites. The big reservoir was completed in June. The property of the Berkeley Water Com- pany was transferred to the recently incorporated Alameda Water Company. Moses Hopkins controlled the stock. Mr. Rhorer was superintendent.
The trustees granted to R. P. Thomas, representative of the Peoples' Rail- road Company, and to the California and Nevada Railroad Company franchises to build railroads through their town. The latter was a narrow-gauge road which was commenced late in February, 1884, at Emery station, where a wharf was commenced and grading was started. The Peoples' Railway Company bought of Mr. Thomas seven acres in Berkeley and his ferry franchise between Berkeley and San Francisco. The franchise for the California and Nevada Railroad granted the right of way from north to south across the town from the terminus at Emery station: J. S. Emery represented the latter line.
War against selling liquor within one mile of the university broke out late in 1885 and involved all the best citizens against the saloon owners. The law had gone into effect April 3, 1876, but there were constant violations regardless of numerous prosecutions which seldom secured convictions-juries decided for the saloonkeepers. Finally the regents agreed to unite to pay the costs of such vigorous prosecutions as would establish the supremacy of the law and the best business men agreed to stand back of them. Under the first attack there were ten acquittals to one conviction ; this condition of affairs caused the citizens committee to extend their line of attack and to arm for permanent results. In the end they succeeded.
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