USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 50
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About the year 1870 D. Ghirardelli established soda works on Broadway; but about 1872 sold out to James J. Biven, who moved the factory to Thirteenth and Franklin streets. By 1875 he kept two delivery wagons running constantly to supply his customers. An immense sale of reclaimed marsh lands at Oak- land took place June 8th in San Francisco, and about $23,000 was realized. Lots sold for from $50 to $300 each and blocks for from $1,230 to $2,500 each. Among the blocks sold were Nos. 753, 754, 756, 757, 766, 767 and 768. The auction sale of the Scotchler real estate in 1875 brought good prices-the lots selling for from $675 to $1,025 each.
In June so great was the consumption of water from the pipes for the use of lawns and other purposes, that the supply gave out occasionally ; whereupon the water company asked to be allowed to shut off the supply from the city at night in order to allow filling anew the reservoir for the morning's use. It was a fact that the water companies at this date were unequal to the task of sup- plying Oakland with the necessary water. Hundreds of human beings and animals were thus forced to depend upon artificial means for water supply. This
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was true in wet seasons and was oppressively apparent during seasons of severe drouth. It was hoped that the new reservoir would remedy the situation-it was the catchment or "cow-pasture" plan, but the hills back of Oakland and San Leandro were free from animals. The inhabitants looked eagerly forward to the time when Chabot & Company and an abundance of rain should render the supply never-failing. It was a serious situation to be met and overcome at once. At this time Oakland had an estimated population of twenty thousand; fifteen public schools, which cost about two hundred and twenty-four thousand dollars; fifty-one daily trains-twenty-six out from Oakland and twenty-five from San Francisco, connecting at West Oakland with two swift and commodious steamers ; scores of miles of macadam streets; three lines of horse railroads; scores of excellent business houses; ten factories of all sorts; three banks with capitals respectively of $1,500,000, $1,000,000 and $100,000; about seventeen religious organizations, which in the end gave Oakland much of its fame abroad. In fact by this date the Basket Brigade had been put almost out of commission by the active and adventurous business houses of this city.
The long fought for glory of East Oakland departed in June, 1875, when the county offices were removed to the new courthouse on Broadway. The Tribune said July 29, 1875: "During the past two years over two thousand houses have been erected in Oakland, but rents are higher and houses scarcer than ever before here." In July the Kelsey Nursery tract was thrown into market; it was in the northern section of the city, about half a mile from the city hall between San Pablo and Telegraph avenues-in all seventy-five lots were disposed of.
In 1875 the Chinese quarters were situated on the San Pablo road, a few blocks north of the city hall. The houses were constructed of rude boards and rested in dirt and filth. The Tribune of March 13th said: "If a hotbed of filth and vermin ever existed it is at this spot ; decaying vegetable matter, deceased chickens, cats, rats, etc., have found their last resting place upon the ground around this Celestial village and the odor emitted therefrom would annihilate the olfactories of the staunchest stomach." The entire surroundings were unsanitary to a striking degree. The "settlement" was in the center of a beautiful part of the city and seemed like a "plague-spot in the midst of a paradise." Attention of the board of health was called to this disease-breeding condition. For a decade previous to 1875 a gypsy camp was a permanent settlement near the Stanford stables at the Point. Self-styled Egyptian fortune tellers there were patronized by thousands of citizens and others. The queen or madame was about forty years old. The camp was squalid, dirty, wholly uninviting and unsanitary. Col- ored children were admitted to the public schools in the county early in the '70s. In 1875 a colored man of Brooklyn township was drawn on the petit jury; this was the first case of the kind in the county.
The Home Security Building and Loan Association began business in July ; its president was Mack Webber and its capital stock $250,000. In October the Newark Land Association was incorporated, with a capital of $750,000, the directors being C. Mitchell Grant, J. Cochran, J. Barr Robertson, Stewart Men- zies and D. A. McDonald, the objects being to purchase, sell and lease real estate in Alameda county. In this year S. B. Martin chartered the Archer, and, loading her with wheat, dispatched her direct to Liverpool, a new departure, the first venture of the kind in the county.
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About 1876 a plan for a parking system for Oakland was prepared. It included Lake Merritt and four or five hundred acres to the northward in the direction of Piedmont. The park proper was to be connected with Lake Merritt by broad drives or boulevards that were to encompass the lake and wind among the natural oaks and other trees. But the people were not ready for such a progressive and advanced measure and so it expired. In the light of history the failure to secure the land and lake at that time was a mistake which will be regretted for all time-will never be wholly remedied. It retarded the growth by failing to make the city attractive to newcomers to that extent. In one week late in February fourteen families came from San Francisco and became residents of West Oakland. It was said that the fogs of the mornings and the wind and dust of the evenings in San Francisco were too much for them. Late in Feb- ruary a new fire engine was secured by West Oakland. It was a Sibby machine which threw two streams at once, with it came a hose cart.
In February, Thomas H. Clark, a reporter of the Transcript, assaulted A. B. Gibson and was prosecuted in the police court. City Attorney Vrooman and Zachariah Montgomery appeared for the state and William Van Voorhies for the defendant. The jury found the defendant guilty. The Tribune in 1876 was using the old Transcript press, a second and third hand affair which could turn off only about 600 papers per hour. At this time they ordered a new power press from Chicago which could turn out 2,500 copies per hour; rapidly increasing circulation demanded this improvement.
Under the Ward bill it seemed necessary that two city elections should be held and they were ordered by the council-one on the first Monday in March and the other on the second Monday in March; the latter was necessary under the recent act to district the city into wards. Representative Bogge introduced in the assembly a bill authorizing the city of Oakland to construct a fire and burglar proof safe in the city hall for the safe custody of the public records and the public moneys. The corporate limits of the city of Oakland were quite extensive in the centennial year, comprising about four and a half miles of territory running north and south and three and a half miles from east to west. At the council meeting in February a resolution was offered requesting the Alameda county delegation in the Assembly to secure the passage of an act authorizing the city of Oakland to levy and collect a tax to defray the expense of constructing a bridge across the estuary of San Antonio from Eighth street to East Ninth street.
The main lake sewer was newly built in 1876 and was 9,924 feet long. It was divided into two sections, one of brick and one of wood. It left Lake Merritt by the line of Delger street near the west line of Harrison street, thence ran to San Pablo avenue, thence to 22nd street, and thence to the bay. It was declared in the Tribune that Oakland was the only town of its population in the United States where petty private interests did not give way to the public good and the march of general improvements. At a previous date it declared there was bitter and persistent opposition of factions to the Central Pacific Railroad. Meet- ings were held and speeches against the construction of that road through this city were made.
In his message of February 28, 1876, Mayor Mack Webber stated in regard Vol 1-25
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to the improvement of Lake Merritt: "By your direction temporary repairs have been made to the Lake Merritt dam. As long as the present structure can be maintained with a moderate outlay for repairs, it is not necessary to construct one of a more permanent nature: whenever replaced it should be by one that will last for all time. It is to serve a double purpose : It gives us a beautiful lake and has made possible the construction of the main sewer, just completed. The dam and roadway should be combined in a single structure, thereby saving a needless expenditure when it shall become necessary to build another bridge. There is at present a roadway running by the margin of the lake on its eastern side. This should be continued around it and connected with Webster, Harrison or Alice streets. I recommend that the Council take suitable steps to open a street over the designated route and cause the same to be improved, if it can be done under existing laws. This can easily be made one of the most magnificent water parks in the world." During the first six months of 1876 first-class brick buildings worth over $500,000 were erected in Oakland or were in course of erection. The number of frame houses going up was very large.
The value of all the taxable property within the limits of the city of Oakland, as shown by the assessment for 1875-76, was $22,207,499, the rate of taxation being 88 cents, giving a gross revenue $195,425.99. In the beginning of the year 1876 the funded debt amounted to $664,400 on which there was interest amount- ing to $55,688 per annum. Of this $166,000 was incurred for the construction of the lake sewer. The interest on these bonds was $13,200 per annum; but these items should properly be deducted from the sum first stated. The actual debt then was $499,400 on which the annual interest was $42,488. The debt was but 21/4 per cent on the assessed value of the property within the limits of the city.
On June 19, 1876, an ordinance granting to the American District Telegraph Company of Oakland the right to construct and maintain telegraph lines in the city, was passed. In August of this year the submarine cable across the bay putting Oakland and San Francisco in direct telegraph communication, was laid by the Western Union Telegraph Company.
The Pacific Press Publishing House began business in 1876. The building, together with a one-story brick engine house in the rear, was erected that year. In it was placed a large Cottrell & Babcock four-roller press, run by steam, on which was printed the Signs of the Times, newspapers and books and pamphlets for the Publishing Association. The same year a bookbindery was established and on hand was kept a large stock of book and newspaper, and printer's sta- tionery.
In 1876 the following men and concerns were doing business in Oakland: First National Gold Bank, V. D. Moody, president, C. M. Fisher, cashier ; Oak- land Bank of Savings, E. C. Sessions, president, Ad. Cramer, cashier ; Union Savings Bank, A. C. Henry, president, H. A. Palmer, cashier ; Oakland Carriage Manufactory under M. W. Allen; Oakland Paint Planing Mill by Price and Moore; Harris Brothers, clothiers; Woodward & Taggert, real estate and com- mission agents; Young & Rothenberger, upholsterers; Oakland City Directory by D. M. Bishop & Co .; Chas. B. Rutherford, paints, oils, glass, etc. ; S. P. Olm- sted, dealer in poultry, game, etc .; Townsend & Wright, furniture; Sanford, Kelsey & Co., drugs; J. E. Hows, house and sign painting ; L. P. Berger, jewelry ;
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
W. G. Dinsmore, drugs; Adam Koob, city market; Henry Weeks, carriage fac- tory ; D. Stewart, boots and shoes; Bankhead & Sons, auctioneers; Luke Doe, real estate; E. W. Woodward, real estate; W. & M. Evarson, hardware; Rice & White, city market; L. M. Newsom, nursery, East Oakland; Bowen Brothers, grocers ; William Sagehorn, flour, hay and grain; W. C. Ralston, blacksmith; J. T. Gardiner, painter ; A. Lippmann, auctioneer ; Smith & Mather, real estate- they offered for sale lots on the north side of Twelfth street between Franklin and Broadway, 25 x 100, 20 per cent cash and the balance on time; London & Co., feed store; A. Cohen, dry goods in West Oakland; Frank A. Marston, har- ness, saddles, etc .; David's bookstore; Dr. W. Newcomb; George A. Case, den- tist ; Dr. Ferguson, dentist; Dr. T. H. Pinkerton; H. L. Plomteaux, dentist ; Dr. A. MacRae; Dr. J. Watson Webb also opened a free dispensary to the poor ; Welsher & Westerman, brewers; William Kirk, architect; Newson Brothers, architects; H. L. Paddock, produce and commission ; Sohst Brothers, carriages and wagons; Sage & Hurll, contractors and builders; W. W. Mckenzie, under- taker ; Philip Schreiber, furniture; Jones, Japan tea ; Chase & Baker, groceries; R. Horton, groceries ; E. Kreyenhager & Co., groceries ; W. T. Hurll, groceries; E. Johnson, groceries; A. Hansen, groceries; R. McCrum & Co., groceries and provisions; Thompson Brothers, bakers; Miley & Lodge, ice cream parlor ; Philip Mulauff, baker; Joseph Brandstatter, baker; Chappellet & Miner, coal dealers; Shapespear & Walter, coal and wood; Thomas & Anderson, Seattle coal; Lynch, Maloney & Fitzell, wood and coal; S. P. Boyce & Co., stock brokers; W. W. Fowler & Co., real estate; Carl & Co., real estate; Mellis Brothers, auction house ; S. Francis, merchant tailor ; W. S. Murphy, doors, windows, blinds, etc .; Farwell & Garrigan, painters; Herman Bordes, broom factory; A. Geanwell, plumber; J. J. O'Shea, stoves; Campbell & Spears, city market ; Union Hotel by C. Schneider; Sorocco House by Frank Lorber; Christian Bander, hotel and restaurant ; Mrs. M. Maguir, dining rooms.
The famous Amoskeag fire engine, which had been exhibited at the Centennial Exposition in 1876, was tested in Oakland in March, 1877, at Fourth and Broadway in the presence of Mayor E. H. Pardee and the other city officials. It was tested in comparison with the Felton engine, then owned by the city. The former engine made a little better showing than the latter. In the spring the city council prepared to finish the second story of the city hall; the total cost was esti- mated at $6,000. In April the newspapers claimed for Oakland a population of 30,000. The city had seventeen regular policemen and eleven special officers. D. H. Rand was chief of the force. The Potter Garden property in forty-six subdivisions between Telegraph and San Pablo avenues at Sixteenth sold at public auction. Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, block A, brought $30,000. Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, block B, brought $20,000. In one hour's time the sales aggregated $165,000, and at all times the bidding was spirited; the total sales amounted to $715,000.
The Oakland Hack and Transfer Company was a new corporation with a capital of $400,000; M. G. Kennedy was president. It was said that this com- pany supplied a long-felt want in this community.
In 1877 there were 75 business establishments between Center street and the bay at West Oakland : 2 drug stores, 3 restaurants, 14 saloons, 8 groceries, 2 sta-
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tionery stores, 3 barber shops, 5 cigar shops, I harness store, 4 plumber shops, I tailor shop, 2 bakeries, 6 butcher shops, 5 shoemaker shops, 4 fruit stores, I hardware store, I furniture store, 5 dry-goods stores, I watchmaker, 2 real estate offices, I clothing store, 2 coal yards, I art gallery, I paint shop, I livery stable and others.
Horace W. Carpentier and James Larue were rival claimants for a large tract of marsh and overflowed land stretching from San Antonio creek to Brooklyn station and out past the overland track to the channel leading up from the Alice street bridge to Brooklyn. A fence built around a portion of this tract by John Watson for Mr. Carpentier was attacked and destroyed by a force of men under the direction of Mr. Larue in August. The citizens of East Oakland looked on with much interest.
The old Oakland cemetery was bounded by Franklin, Harrison, Sixteenth and Eighteenth streets; but the first cemetery for the little village of Oakland was located on Eighth at Oak. The growth of the city forced the removal of the bodies to the new one on Eighteenth street, which was then out in the woods. But by 1877 it was found that the city had grown around this yard, and that another removal was necessary. In April a large plow used there in grading tore the top from a buried casket and left the body beneath exposed to the weather, animals, etc. The left hand and arm nearly to the elbow protruded from the ground and the face though covered with dust was visible. When the latter was brushed away the features of the dead man stood out in bold relief. The whole body was in a remarkable state of preservation, though having lain in the ground for about seventeen years. In the end this body was shown to be that of William F. Denman, of Jersey City, a civil engineer, who died at the City Hotel in 1860 and was buried by his friend, Thomas Wallace, who still (1877) resided in this city. About twenty-two bodies had been disinterred by April 28th.
The period from 1867 to 1877 in Oakland was noted for new residences, improved streets, sewerage system, new churches and schoolhouses. It was then demanded that immediate and steady attention should be given to the busi- ness interests, such as merchandising, lumbering, manufacturing and commerce generally. Already the work on the harbor was in a measure available. A large vessel drawing thirteen feet of water found in the channel three additional feet to spare. At high tide vessels drawing fifteen feet of water, it was boasted, could enter the harbor. Grain warehouses were demanded and planned. A further deepening of the channel to admit the large clippers was now deemed essential. This was the natural terminus of the great transcontinental railroad lines and here should be the great warehouses where the ocean ships could take their cargoes, it was argued. In July, 1877, the' Real Estate and Merchants' Ex- change of Oakland considered the harbor question, the water front problem, the projected public park, the efficiency of the sewer system and the question of free postal delivery. A. C. Henry lectured on "Rise and Progress of Banking."
On July 25, 1877, the great body of good citizens of San Francisco rose up en masse as an auxiliary to the municipal authorities to suppress rioting and lawlessness. There were no speeches, confusion and parade, but quiet, rapid movements as in the old days of the Vigilantes. Thousands of citizens acted
CITY HALL AND CITY OFFICIALS IN 1870
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
voluntarily like soldiers, because they felt their homes and the city were in imminent danger. The action of Oakland in this emergency was equally as decisive, prompt and effective. Agitators were told bluntly and plainly that they were treading upon dangerous ground when they advised the laboring element here to take the law into their own hands. But it cost the city about $1,500 per day until the excitement was over; about one thousand able-bodied men were enrolled here for active duty. The cannons were ready and the bayonetted rifles stacked ready for action.
Oakland's immunity from trouble at this time was due almost wholly to its prompt and efficient action. Scores of San Francisco's hoodlums came over to participate in any unlawful movement that might be attempted, but the gangs of armed men everywhere were a sufficient preventative. Mayor Pardee was praised even by his political enemies for his decision, energy and ability in this emergency. He was backed by all the best citizens regardless of party, faction or creed. However, business suffered a considerable stagnation. It was dur- ing this period of social and political upheaval that the Oakland Light Cavalry Company was formed and organized. Each member agreed to furnish his own horse; 101 joined at the outset. Threats of fire were numerous. San Pablo was largely burned and incendiary fires in North Oakland revealed the danger to this community. The citizens of Alameda also organized, armed and guarded the streets.
In July, 1877, the Oakland and Alameda Water Company was granted the right to lay down and maintain water pipes in the streets of Oakland. This was a new company. Fire alarm boxes were ordered at this time. In 1877 the supreme court decided in a Contra Costa county case that water companies were bound to furnish free water for fires and lawns. This decision was the basis upon which all water rates thereafter were fixed between the city and the Contra Costa Water Company through its president, Mr. Chabot.
In early times the wholesale butchers of Oakland acted independently, but about. 1875 the Wholesale Butchers' Association of San Francisco and Oakland formed a most oppressive monopoly against which there was a great outcry in 1877. It blacklisted a delinquent retailer and after a certain period refused to furnish him with a pound of meat until his delinquency was made good. Jobbers grew in favor, purchased the bulk of the wholesale meats and sold to retailers under a galling and crushing system of exaction and injustice. Finally the gold job- bers of San Francisco promulgated a decree that any jobber or retailer who purchased meat in Oakland should be cut off from purchasing meat in San Francisco for six months. This act resulted in almost the total abandonment of the Oakland trade. The Oakland wholesale dealers soon formed an inde- pendent monopoly which became equally as crushing. It was publicly demanded by other dealers in April, 1877, that this "meat ring" should be thwarted by a system that would procure meat from original sources. About fifty retail butch- ers of Oakland and Alameda in 1877 assembled in the city market, and organ- ized for mutual protection against the Wholesale Butchers' Association of Oak- land which had just established a gold basis and a blacklist. This was two years before the resumption of specie payments and gold was yet at a consider- able premium. But the Retail Butchers' Association proved a worse monopoly,
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if possible, than that of the wholesale dealers. They proceeded to blacklist and proscribe every retailer here who did not join their association.
On the evening of Saturday, August 25, 1877, ere the debts had been paid upon it, the City Hall building was laid in ashes. On the 27th the city council met at Armory hall, and passed resolutions to obtain suitable rooms for holding their meetings; to procure the bell of the Presbyterian church to strike the fire alarm; to adjust the insurance on the building; to thank the citizens of Oakland for their exertions in saving the public archives; and to offer a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the incendiary or guilty parties who fired the building. It required fifteen minutes after the alarm was sounded before the first engine reached the doomed building and five minutes more before the first stream of water was thrown on the flames. The loss was $70,000. The inefficiency of the fire department was painfully conspicuous on this occasion. During the fire the crowd removed the public documents and furniture to the Potter building on the opposite side of San Pablo avenue. After the burning of the City Hall on August 25, 1877, many citizens of Oakland thought that now was the proper time to open Washington street to the San Pablo road to which the city council demurred. Meetings were held and some considerable feeling on the subject was engendered.
The Transcript had a precarious existence for several years. In 1878 J. A. Johnson and J. B. Wyman became its owners and upon the retirement of Mr. Johnson the name was changed to the Daily Times and William D. Harwood became editor.
On May 6, 1878, an ordinance levying a library tax was passed and on the 27th the Oakland Library Association and Union Reading-room Association transferred their property to the city. On the same date A. P. Flint, O. H. Burn- ham, W. W. Crane, Jr., G. M. Fisher and J. P. Moore, were elected trustees thereof. On August 5th, the Golden Gate District Agricultural Fair Associa- tion was granted a lease for five years of Lafayette square to erect buildings thereon. Annexed are reports showing the nature and value of real estate, buildings, and personal property belonging to the city in 1879:
School lots $125,500
School buildings 160,000
School furniture 30,000
Engine house lots 7.600
Engine house
9,000
City hall lots.
250,000
City hall and prison.
30,000
City furniture, fixtures, etc. 18,000
Library building 3,000
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