USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume I > Part 60
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Weekly Reporter, Weekly Standard and Suburban Magazine; 2 hotels-Estu- dillo and San Leandro. The fine sewer system was established in 1893. Pure water was supplied by the Contra Costa and Oakland companies. The town had gas lights and electric lights, a fire department and a board of trade. The bank was organized in May, 1893 by Socrates Huff, with a capital of $100,000. In March, 1896, Mr. Hammond brought suit to prevent the city of San Leandro from selling $10,000 electric light bonds. In 1899 King-Morse Company built a large cannery which soon became one of the chief industries of the place. At this time the Suburban Monthly was removed from San Leandro to Oakland. The Alameda Sugar Company paid $4.50 per ton for sugar beets this year. In January when an epidemic of diphtheria prevailed at San Leandro, the use of anti-toxine checked the progress of the disease. Daniel McCarthy edited the San Leandro Reporter. In August, a choral society was formed with Mrs. L. Lynch as president. There were over thirty members at the start and much interest was shown and much benefit and pleasure derived. By 1900 San Lean- dro had become an important shipping center. More than three times the freight was handled there in 1899-1900 than in any previous year. Carloads of fruits were shipped direct to all the leading cities of the country. The King-Morse cannery was the pride of the local industries. In November, 1907, the chamber of commerce was organized. In recent years the little city has become the cen- ter of an important branch of the fruit growing and fruit canning industry of the county. In 1911 Mrs. Henrietta Farrelly, of San Leandro, endowed Samuel Merritt hospital, Oakland, with $50,000. The assessment of San Leandro on 1913 was $2,542,305. At this time the city was prosperous under Mayor J. J. Gill. Among the important movements were the following: Union Civic Center, Mrs. W. A. Brown, president; Estudillo Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West; four or five religious organizations; Court of Honor; Odd Fellows; Ladies' aid societies; St. Mark's Guild; two or three banks; excellent public schools; good stores, shops, hotels, factories, etc. The city had no high school yet. Fred B. Curry was editor and owner of the Standard. The growth of the business center was the pride of all the citizens.
San Lorenzo was first called Squattertown, like several other places in the county in early times. The place was famous for its beautiful grove of native willows where as time passed, hundreds of picnic, camping and tenting parties assembled to enjoy the cool shade in summer. In time a high fence was built around the grove by the manager, Fred Bormann, and a price was charged for the use of the grove where were refreshment stands, a dancing pavilion, etc. Many of the trees carried rich mantles of vines. J. L. Shinman was postmaster at San Lorenzo in 1857. Duncan Cameron carried the mail through San Lor- enzo from Oakland to San Jose. Stores, schools and shops were started in the '50s. By 1870 the village was a lively little place. Its population now is about four hundred and fifty. It has two hotels; two large nurseries-Lewelling and Meek ; a big plow and wagon factory ; stores, shops, churches, schools, etc. The Union Civic Center here is strong and active.
Mount Eden was first a small village on the road between San Lorenzo and Alvarado. John Johnson was the first settler, locating at Mount Eden Grove in 1852. About a year later Mr. Shinman started a store and Mr. Peterson opened a hotel. In 1853 Mr. Johnson commenced the manufacture of salt in
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
a small way on the marsh west of his property. He shipped twenty-five tons to San Francisco in 1854, a small coaster taking the cargo. He finally owned two schooners and produced from 1,500 to 2,000 tons of salt annually. Mount Eden grove was a resort for picnic and camping parties; refreshments were provided; hunting in the marshes was great sport. Eden Landing was estab- lished in 1850 by the Mount Eden Company, an association of farmers. Richard Barrow erected warehouses there and ran vessels on the bay. The Barrow salt works produced 1,000 tons in 1882-83. Early in the '8os two immense ware- houses were erected to meet the demands of producers. In 1883 there were shipped from this station 7,000 tons of hay. Artesian wells were dng in the '8os ; the water, soft and clear, came from a depth of 310 feet; the force of the flow was great. Mount Eden has two hotels, two stores, a schoolhouse, shops, etc. It is often called German Town. There are numerous landings along the bay coast in Alameda county.
Piedmont was commenced back in the '70s as a suburban residence adjacency of Oakland and Berkeley. Its commanding location drew inhabitants even before street car facilities were provided. Little or no business is transacted within its limits. On the other hand numerous organizations for the improve- ment of children and the advancement of the home have taken deep root along the winding avenues and on the beautiful slopes. These organizations are the pride of the town and have been the means of attracting inhabitants. In 1907 the citizens decided to incorporate by the vote of seventy-nine to thirty-eight. The town is governed by a board of trustees. It has now over seven hundred build- ings-nearly all of them cheerful homes. It has schools, churches, clubs, leagues and other centers of thought and action. The school for girls and Mills Semi- nary are here. The latter ranks among the greatest institutions of the country devoted to the education and advancement of women. The town taxation is about $1. The county assessment is $5,965,871. Hugh Craig is mayor.
Emeryville is located on the bay between Oakland and Berkeley and has become an important business center. It was incorporated about 1897 and the census of 1910 gave it a population of 2,613. It has a town hall, fire depart- ment, electric lighting system, two grammar schools and several religious organi- zations. It is a factory and railroad center and from the start was famous for its race track known all over the country. The stockyards are located here; also the baseball grounds. It is estimated that $1,800,000 is spent annually on the payrolls of the big factories and shops of this city. In early times it was called Klinknerville, then Golden Gate. Russell City, Chicken Lane, Pleasant View, etc., are other named spots of the county.
Albany, though comparatively young in years, is already a place of promi- nence and is bound to become more so owing to its location and the enterprise of its inhabitants. It was at first known as Ocean View, under which name it was incorporated in 1908, but was rechristened under its present name the fol- lowing year. When incorporated it had a population of about two hundred; now it has approximately one thousand five hundred. It has good business houses, a grammar school, St. Joseph's Academy, a public circulating library, a board of health, and the usual clubs, lodges and societies.
The origin and growth of Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, com- bine to form one of the marvels of modern city development in the United States.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
For many years attention was directed to less worthy sites for a terminal ship- ping point and a city of metropolitan proportions. Originally it was part of the Contra Costa opposite San Francisco and a section of the old Spanish ranchos ; later until 1899 it was cultivated as a farm. Then the Santa Fe Railroad Com- pany selected it as the most desirable site for its coast terminal. Here was deep water and here was a direct outlet to the East and to the fertile valleys of Cen- tral California without circumlocution or delay.
No sooner was the selection of the site permanently settled than the two or three farmhouses, figuratively speaking, began to grow with the cottages of the railroad company's workmen. The company first built the tunnel that carries its tracks from the city proper to the ferry point. In a short time the ocean ships met the locomotives and loaded cars at the Richmond wharf and the meeting was cordial and profitable. Soon residences by the score began to stretch out over the plain and climb the nearest hills.
The next great development event was the location here of the Standard Oil Company's works in 1903. An immense plant was put up which has since then been enlarged three or four times. Then came the Belt Railroad along the water- front, several small manufacturing concerns and in 1906 the California Wine Association which planned to build here the largest winery in the world. By this time the town had several thousand inhabitants, many stores and shops, schools, religious organizations, amusements, paved streets and business blocks. Later have come the Pullman Shops, Western Pipe & Steel Company's works, Pacific Porcelain Ware Company's plant, and the great quarring industry. Other business concerns that sprang up from time to time in quick succession were the following: Tilden & Eakle Lumber Company, Los Angeles Pressed Brick Com- pany, Central Brick Company, Great Western Brick Company, Richmond Brick Company, Healy-Tibbitts Quarry Company, San Pablo Quarries Company, John Nicholl Quarry Company, Hutchinson Quarry Company, Stege Crushed Rock Company, Hansbrough Bros. Quarries, Richmond Furniture Company, R. C. Berkeley Steel Company, Metropolitan Match Company, Union Sulphur Phos- phate Company, Stauffer Chemical Works, California Cap Works, Richmond Lumber Company, Jones-Slattery Planing Mill, Enterprise Brewery, Richmond Golden Gate Creamery, California Chair Company, Shaw-Harrison Gas Engine Company. United States Brignet Company, Presto-Lite Company, Richmond Brewing & Malt Company, Richmond Dredging Company, Pioneer Electric Con- struction Company, Pacific Electrical Manufacturing Company and many others. The fishing industry is large and growing. In all the city has about fifty million dollars invested in manufacturing enterprises, with a monthly payroll of over four hundred fifty thousand dollars to about five thousand workmen.
As soon as the city began to assume large proportions, banks made their appearance to meet the demand for ready money, for checking facilities and for exchange and clearings. The city now has four banks, viz: Mechanic's Bank, Bank of Richmond, First National Bank and Richmond Savings Bank. Their growth has been very rapid. From January, 1911, to January, 1912, the deposits more than doubled and the assets increased about 64 per cent.
In the city are four newspapers, viz : Richmond Daily Independent (morning), Richmond Daily Record-Herald (evening), Contra Costan (weekly) and Ter- minal (weekly). These four newspapers are enterprising and well conducted.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
The dailies will compare well with those of larger cities. The Evening Leader, another daily, flourished for a while. A monthly called the Advance had a fair, circulation. Other attempts to establish periodicals have been made.
It is recognized that the origin of Richmond was due to the facilities for erecting wharves and piers from the shore line to deep water without much ex- pense. The Santa Fe Company saw at once the advantages that must result from this natural condition. Their line here was built from 1899 to 1901, and as soon as the trains arrived passengers were transferred by ferry to San Francisco. A large terminal freight yard was built and a double track was extended through the Potrero Hills to the piers and slips at Point Richmond. This was in 1901. The wharf of the Belt Railway was built at Point San Pablo at the extreme northern end of the Richmond water front: there is a depth of 32 feet there at. low water within less than two hundred feet of the natural shore line. In real- ity the city has about seventeen miles of water front and four great railroad sys- tems with which to reach the outer world, viz : Pacific Coast terminal of the Santa Fe; Pacific Coast terminal of the Frisco System; is crossed by the Southern Pa- cific of the Harriman System; and is reached by the Western Pacific over the Santa Fe tracks. The East Shore and Suburban Railroad connects Richmond with Berkeley, Albany and Oakland. Branch lines of street railway traverse the streets and are extended as time advances. Several extensions are now being constructed or are already in operation, notably the Southern Pacific Electric System.
Thus the leading commercial advantages possessed by Richmond may be summed up as follows: Deep-water shipping; transcontinental railroads, ter- minal freight facilities and rates; cheap electrical power and oil fuel, both in unlimited quantities ; proximity to markets and labor supply ; distributing point for the products of the East and of Central California; cheap factory sites ; belt railway that connects all business houses with sea and rail; a large inner harbor ; presence of the United Properties Company ; a region of raw material such as coal, iron, oil, stone, wool, cotton, minerals, lumber, fruit, vegetables, etc. Rich- mond is the second most important port in California. Here more than one thou- sand ships a year take on or discharge cargos. Already preliminary surveys of the harbor have been made under the orders of Congress. The principal exports are oil, crushed stone, wine, powder, iron and steel, brick, lumber, ore, acids, cement, canned fruit, porcelain ware, scrap tin, coal and immense quantities of miscellaneous products that reach the city over the Santa Fe Railroad and other highways. The city is prepared to furnish oil for the propulsion of all steamers of the coast and ocean. Oil burning ships are fast supplanting coal burners. The opening of the Panama Canal has already had a powerful effect on the prospects of Richmond. Many of the great ocean steamship companies have come here prospecting for terminal facilities and several have acquired interests here upon certain conditions. Already the freight and passenger service has gone up by leaps and bounds. The Santa Fe investment here aggregates about five million dollars ; its monthly payroll exceeds seventy-five thousand dollars. The Standard Oil Company has likewise expended $5,000,000 on its works here; its payroll is over one hundred thousand dollars per month. Large additions are being made to the plant. It receives its crude oil from California fields through 500 miles of pipe. The Western States Gas & Electric Company supplies unlimited electric
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
power at low rates to the city; it can supply 30,000 horse power on short notice if needed. Many of the big manufacturing concerns here take their power from this company. The Pullman Plant cost $1.500,000 and gives employment to nearly one thousand men. The California Wine Association Plant cost more than one million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars and gives employment to several hundred men. Sixty-seven kinds of red wine are shipped to the markets of the world. The plant crushes over ten thousand tons of grapes annually. The ship- ping capacity is 500,000 gallons a month. The Western Pipe & Steel Company employs about two hundred men. The quarrying industry is immense; the water shipments alone in 1910 were 250,000 tons; hundreds of men are employed in the quarries.
In 1905 Richmond was incorporated as a city of the sixth class. It grew so rapidly that a new form of government was demanded to meet the changed, enlarged and modern conditions. Accordingly, on February 9, 1909, the voters ratified a new charter with greater amplitude and power. On March 4, 1909, this step was approved by the Legislature which gave the city its present charter of the fifth class. This organic instrument can be amended only by the vote of the people. The law making body is a council of nine members who select from their numbers a president who thus becomes mayor. The council members receive no salary. The elective and paid officials are a clerk, auditor, assessor and tax col- lector, treasurer, attorney, engineer, health commissioner, superintendent of streets, chief of police, fire chief, etc. The recall of a public official is provided for in the charter. In 1911-12 the total tax was 72 cents. The city is ambitious and abreast of the times with all civic improvements. Nearly a million and a half dollars has been spent since 1906 on sewers, street grading and other improve- ments. Many of its streets are oiled. Macdonald Avenue, 80 feet wide and 11/2 miles long is paved with asphalt. Various boulevards and drives are being built. The health department is doing an excellent work; it has a vigilant corps of workers including about half a dozen women deputies. The fire department is efficient and equipped with modern apparatus. The electric street lighting system is one of the best in the state.
The fraternal organizations have kept pace with the growth of the city. Their helping and boosting work is of strong and enduring character. Among them are the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Masons, Odd Fellows, Red Men, Eagles, Moose, Yeomen, Modern Woodmen, Royal Neighbors, Woodmen of the World, Knights of the Maccabees, G. A. R., Native Sons, Native Daughters, Women of Wood- craft, Catholic Order of Foresters, Fraternal Brotherhood, Fraternal Aid As- sociation, Homesteaders, Druids, Ancient Order of Foresters, Foresters of America, Independent Order of Foresters, N. P. E. C. and others. The Rich- mond Industrial Commission is the most powerful civic organization in the city. It has been the means of bringing here many manufacturing concerns.
The schools were started early and have passed through all the stages of early and rapid growth. The enrollment has doubled often within a short time. There are seven or eight grammar school buildings and one high school. All are up-to- date in apparatus and instruction. Large improvements are now being made. The University of California lying nearly at the city limits is patronized by the high school graduates. The public library is the result of local women's work. A reading room was opened in 1909 and was gradually enlarged. The library is
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
housed in a building which cost $17,500. When the library was formally opened in August, 1910, it had 1.450 volumes ; one year later it had 3,462 volumes.
In the beautification of the city the women are bearing a conspicuous part. The Richmond Women's Improvement Club and the Women's Westside Improve- ment Club are important factors in this development. A general system of beau- tification has been adopted. Janice Park improvement was advanced largely by the women; also Grand Canon Park. East Shore Park is owned by the United Properties Company. The first club above mentioned became simply the Richmond Club. This club really built Fire House No. 2. The women clubs are the chief philanthropic agencies of the city. They lead in art and social improvement.
There are now ten or a dozen religious organizations here, with several sub- stantial church buildings and large congregations. The church societies and the subordinate organizations of all sorts are numerous and are doing a great work in social uplift.
Unquestionably Richmond is one of the most promising cities of the Pacific coast. Already it is attracting attention from the great ports of foreign coun- tries and its trade is on the boom. In 1912 3,700,000 tons of freight were shipped In all respects it is a progressive. ambitious and promising city.
Vol. 1-30
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