USA > California > Santa Clara County > Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California > Part 29
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In 1865 the Western Pacific Railroad Company asked the county to subscribe for $150,000 of its capital stock, under the provisions of an act of 1863. The people accepted the proposition, and bonds were issued payable in twenty years, with interest at seven per cent. Of these bonds $5,000 were paid, and the remainder, $145,000, refunded by the issue of what was called the "Redemption Bonds of 1885." These were issued in three series, to wit :--
April 13, 1885-$45,000-41/2 per cent. Aug. 19, 1885-$55,000-4
Oct. 23, 1885-$45,000-4
In March, 1866, the Legislature authorized the county to issue bonds to the amount of $130,000 for the purpose of erecting county buildings. These bonds were payable in fifteen years, with interest at
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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."
twelve per cent, and were known as the "Court House Bonds;" $112,000 of these bonds were redeemed in 1872 with money received from sale of the W. P.R. R. stock, as noted in chapter on railroads. Four years later the Legislature authorized another issue of bonds by the county to the amount of $80,000, to pay for the construction of the jail. These bonds were payable in ten years and carried ten and one- half per cent interest.
The "Court House Bonds" and the "Jail Bonds" were refunded in 1873 by the issuance of bonds to the amount of $130,000, payable in twelve years and bearing eight per cent interest. These new bonds were called the " Court House and Jail Bonds." At the time they became due there remained unpaid the sum of $56,000, which was refunded in January, 1885.
In May, 1876, bonds known as "Redemption Bonds of 1876" were issued. The amount was $96,000, with seven per cent interest, and due 1890. The proceeds of the sale of these bonds were used to redeem the S. F. & S. J. R. R. bonds of 1861. Of these bonds there is $48,000 now outstanding.
In April, 1878, bonds to the amount of $31,065.60 were issued for the purpose of funding the debt due the estate of James Lick, for moneys advanced for the construction of the Mount Hamilton road. These bonds were known as the "Lick Avenue Bonds," and bore no interest. They were all redeemed in 1888. The new constitution, which went into effect in 1880, and the laws enacted under it, permitted all counties to fund any floating debt that might be outstanding prior to the first of January, 1880. The same laws also provided that, after January 1, 1880, the county should incur no indebtedness in any fiscal year in excess of the revenue of that year. When this law went into effect there was a floating debt of about $95,000, principally against the several road funds, which the supervisors did not fund. There was some misapprehension as to the full effect of the law, and while the expenses of the county were kept within the limit of the tax levy each year, the revenue was used to pay outstanding warrants in the order of their issuance. Thus, in 1883, the warrants issued prior to January, 1880, had been paid, while an equal amount of those issued in 1881 and 1882 were still outstand- ing. As the law was interpreted to mean that the revenue of 1883 could not be applied to payment of warrants of previous years, the Board was in a quan- dary. There was a debt of $95,000, with no means of payment under the law. Many meetings were held, and many suggestions made. It was finally
resolved to treat the payment of the warrants issued prior to 1880 as an error of book-keeping, and to consider the current debt as being the debt existing at that time. This solved the difficulty, and bonds to that amount were issued, payable in twenty years, with interest at five per cent. Bonds to the amount of $56,000, payable in twenty years, and bearing six per cent interest, were issued in January, 1885, for the purpose of redeeming the Court House and Jail Bonds of 1872.
The bonded indebtedness of the county, therefore, at this time, is as follows, after deducting the amount of bonds redeemed :---
Bonds of 1876. . .. $ 48,000. . . .
.Due, 1890 ..... 7 per cent.
66
1883. . .. 77,000. . . .. 1903 ..... 5
1885. . .. 50,000. ..
1905.
... 6
66
1885 ....
45,000.
1905
.... 472
1885. .. 100,000. . . 1905 .. ... 4
$320,000
This is practically the total debt of the county at this time, the law prohibiting the creation of any debt that cannot be paid by the revenue of the current year.
The following tables will show the increase in the value of property in the county from its organization Unfortunately the records for the first four years have been mislaid, but enough remains to show the won- derful increase in wealth, especially during the past six years :-
YEAR. ASSESSOR.
ASSESSMENT.
RATE.
1850 . Books missing.
1851. . Books missing
1852. . T. S. Burnett-Books missing.
1853. . J. H. Morgan-Books missing
1854. . W. Gallimore.
$ 5,355,074.
$1 40
1855. . John Bland
5, 122,440.
1
46
1856. . John Bland.
5,449,957
I
70
1857. . W. H. Patton.
4,504,328
J
65
1858 .. W. H. Patton.
5,131,582
1 90
1860 .. W. R. Davis
5,677,795
I 60
1861 .. D. M. Harwood
5,012,670
I 60
1862 .. D. M. Harwood.
6,038, 376
2 00
1863. . D. M. Harwood.
6, 129,012.
2 17
1864 .. D. M. Harwood.
6,883,682.
2 48
1865. . W. O. Barker.
6,955, 103.
2 40
1866. . W. O. Barker.
8,165,987
2 33
1867. . Henry Phelps
9,306,752
2 60
1868. . Henry Phelps.
10,674,926.
2 54
1869. . Henry Phelps
11,459,178.
2 47
1870. . Henry Phelps.
11,781,21I
2 08
1871 .. T. M. Lilly
12,088,901
2 06
1872. . T. M. Lilly
31,322,426.
1 20
1873 .. T. M. Lilly
27,528,013.
I 20
1874. . T. M. Lilly
31,707,926.
I
40
1875. . Henry Phelps
29, 362,646.
I
30
1876. . Henry Phelps.
28, 175, 269.
I
65
1877 . . Henry Phelps
27,990,450
I 60
1878. . Henry Phelps.
27,603,240.
60
1879. . Hiram Fairfield.
24,604, 121
I
50
1880. . Hiram Fairfield.
25,514,842
I
50
1881 . . Hiram Fairfield.
26,018, 127.
I 50
1882. . Hiram Fairfield.
26,018, 176
I 50
1883. . L. A. Spitzer (city property).
11,983,987
1 13
1883. . L. A. Spitzer (country property) . .
20, 554, 589
¥ 45
1859 .. W. R. Davis-Books missing.
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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."
Year. Assessor.
Assessment. Rate.
1884. . L. A. Spitzer (city property) ..
12,506,646. 92
1884. . L. A. Spitzer (country property) ..
24, 124,435.
I 20
1885. . L. A. Spitzer (city property) ... . ..
13,951,654.
95
1885. . L. A. Spitzer (country property). . 26, 344, 537
I 20
1886 .. L. A. Spitzer (city property) .. ..
13,420,716.
90
1886. . L. A. Spitzer (country property). . 26,286,071.
I 20
1887 .. L. A. Spitzer (city property) ..
15,510,691
90
1887. . L. A. Spitzer (country property). . 28,002,830.
I 20
1888 .. L. A. Spitzer (city property). . . . . 20,971,544.
1888. . L. A. Spitzer (country property) . . 36, 313,408.
This shows an increase, since 1882, of $31,266,676, or more than a hundred per cent.
The property of the county, consisting of public buildings, grounds, etc., is estimated at this time to be worth about half a million of dollars. Thus it will be seen that the county has a very handsome surplus over and above its $320,000 of indebtedness. An item showing the rapid growth of the country is this: In 1887 the number of acres of land assessed was five hundred and eighty-nine thousand nine hun- dred and sixty-five; in 1888 the number was five hundred and eighty-eight thousand one hundred and thirty one. The difference, one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty-four acres, was subdivided into lots and blocks, and rated as city property.
The number of fruit trees in the county, as near as can be estimated, is two million three hundred and fifty thousand six hundred and thirty-four. The value of the fruit crop was, in round numbers, two million and a half dollars.
Acres of grapes
10,618
strawberries.
509
blackberries.
127
raspberries.
39
wheat.
23,721
oals. .
131
barley
26,997
corn
215
hay .. .
49,265
Gallons of brandy manufactured .
60, 125
" wine
703,475
66
beer
66
1,270, 140
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS.
Up to the present time the development of the pe- troleum resources of Santa Clara County, and, in fact, of California, has been entirely the work of one man -Mr. Robert C. McPherson. He was born in Buf- falo, New York, May 6, 1840, and was reared and educated there. His father, John McPherson, was a Scotchman and had settled in Buffalo when it was a small village. His business was that of a beef and pork packer. In 1859, when the first oil excitement occurred in Pennsylvania, Robert, with his brother Angus, went there and operated until 1873, when he came to California. At that time there had been some desultory prospecting in the southern counties, particularly in what is known as the Pico District. Oil had been found by shallow wells but no intelligent
and thorough effort had been made toward a complete development. The work had been done principally by the San Francisco Petroleum Company, the di- rectors of which dil not seem inclined to make ex- pensive experiments. When Mr. McPherson came upon the ground, his experienced eye at once saw that the prospecting had been of a very superficial character. Against the protests of the company and against the remonstrances of his friends, he com- menced sinking a well with the determination to reach the reservoir, which he calculated was at a depth of about thirteen hundred feet. After much expense and many discouragements he struck the oil-bearing sand at a depth of twelve hundred and ninety-five feet. The oil flowed over the top of the derrick, eighty feet high. This was the first deep well ever drilled in Cal- ifornia, and from it sprung the oil interests of Southern California. There was no lack of capital for the work after Mr. McPherson had shown the company how to employ it to advantage. He operated there until 1874, when he sold the controlling interest to Charles N. Felton, and came to Santa Clara County, where he had leased land in Moody's Gulch and vicinity. Here he commenced drilling in 1878, and up to the present time, has made ten wells. As a matter of history the operations at these wells are important, not only as to what has already been accomplished, but as a starting-point for future work.
Moody's Gulch, which is a branch of the Los Gatos Cañon, at wells Nos. I and 2 (which are about one hundred feet apart), runs about north twenty degrees east. Altitude at this point, eleven hundred feet. At the bridge a little above, fine-grained sandstones and shales strike about north sixty degrees west, and dip sixty-five southwest. Within two hundred feet east of this bridge and seventy-five feet or more above the bed, and still higher up the hill, is well No. 5. East of this and yet higher is well No. 8. On the opposite side of the gulch and about two hundred feet from it is Logan No. I. Altitude, about thirteen hundred and eighty feet above sea-level. About three hundred feet south, twenty degrees west, from Logan No. I, is Plyler No. I. All the oil obtained from these wells is a green oil, known as paraffine oil, and has a specific gravity of forty-four degrees. It is piped a distance of about a mile to the mouth of the gulch, where it is received in a tank that stands on a side track of the South Pacific Coast Railway. The first well, named Moody No. I, struck oil at about eight hundred feet. Unfortunately the detailed record of operations has been lost, but that of subsequent wells is complete.
165
PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."
MOODY NO. 2 was drilled in October, 1879. It started in slate with streaks of rotten sandstone. At three hundred feet better sand was found, twenty-five feet thick. Then came slate and shale to the second sand, twenty feet thick, at a depth of six hundred and thirty feet. After this, sand very shelly with streaks of shale and slate. The third sand was struck at seven hundred and sixty feet. Here the well began to fill with oil. It was drilled to eight hundred feet, where it pumped thirty barrels a day.
MOODY NO. 3 was a loss. It was sunk to a depth of ten hundred and eighty feet, and showed signs of oil and gas, but caved in and was lost.
MOODY NO. 4 was drilled in August and September, 1880, and was started in shale and soft sand. At two hundred and sixty feet struck first regular sand, thirty feet thick. Afterwards streaks of slate and shale until reaching second sand, forty feet thick, at a depth of six hundred and eighty-five feet. Then streaks of slate, shale, and shells. Struck gray sand, twenty feet thick, dark gray in color, at a depth of nine hundred and eighty feet, carrying considerable oil, estimated at ten barrels per day. After this, hard shelly formation all the way until reaching third sand, at ten hundred and forty feet. This sand is first-class oil-bearing sand, carrying pebbles. On sinking five feet into this sand, the well began to fill up rapidly, and in twenty-four hours there were three hundred feet of oil in the hole. At ten hundred and fifty-five feet struck more oil, which seemed to be increasing very rapidly. At ten hundred and seventy-five feet, the well made its first flow. At ten hundred and eighty-five feet it flowed one hundred barrels per day, flowing nearly all the time. From here to ten hundred and ninety-five feet the sand grew finer and harder. Drilled to eleven hundred and three feet, still in the same sand. Here the well was stopped.
MOODY NO. 5 was started in slate. Struck first sandrock, twenty feet thick, at depth of four hundred and sixty-five feet. After this ran in slate and shale until, at a depth of six hundred and thirty feet, struck second sand, ten feet thick. Then ran in shale to nine hundred and thirty feet, where the third sand was struck, fifteen feet thick. The well here made two flows. This well was pumped for a while, but be- ing a small well and yielding only about ten barrels per day it was determined to go deeper. They went through slate all the way to one thousand four hun- dred and twenty feet, but there was no change in the yield. It was then shut down and pumped at seven hundred and thirty feet, yielding ten barrels per day.
MOODY No. 6 showed a little oil at eleven hun- dred and twenty feet. Went fourteen hundred feet, but the well was never pumped.
MOODY NO. 7 was drilled in 1880. Started in slate. First regular sand, twenty feet thick, at two hundred and seventy-five feet. Then ran in slate and shale until striking second sand, fifty feet thick at six hundred and twenty-five. Afterwards in slate, shale, and shells. At nine hundred and fifty feet struck a stray sand, fifteen feet thick, with a little oil. After this, very shelly with shale and streaks of slate. At ten hundred and fifty feet of hard shells run into twelve feet of slate. Afterwards shell and sand. More sand, with oil and gas. At ten hundred and ninety feet, better sand with more oil. At eleven hundred feet, well began to fill up with oil. At eleven hundred and twenty-five feet, pumped thirty barrels per day. Afterwards drilled to twelve hundred feet and increased the yield to forty barrels.
LOGAN NO. 1 is a twelve-inch hole, drilled in 1880. Started in slate and sand. Struck first sand twenty feet thick, at two hundred and eighty feet. Then slate and shale to second sand, thirty feet thick, at six hundred and fifty feet. Then slate and shells mixed. At eight hundred and eighty-five feet, stray sand with some oil and gas. Afterwards more shells with streaks of sand. At nine hundred and fifty feet, more sand and better. At nine hundred and eighty feet, well filling with oil (two hundred feet of oil in the hole). At ten hundred feet, filled with oil. Put in tubing and pumped fifteen barrels per day. Drilled to eleven hundred feet, sand all the way, and increased the yield slightly.
MOODY No. 8 commenced drilling March 6, 1887. Started in rotten sand and shale. Had slate and sand to five hundred and ninety-five feet when struck first regular sand, twenty-three feet thick. At six hundred and eighteen feet got first show of gas. Slate from bottom of sand to six hundred and forty-five feet, then shale. At seven hundred and fifteen feet, shelly. At seven hundred and forty feet, second sand, gray, twenty feet thick. At eight hundred and thirty feet, shelly, with show of gas. At ten hundred and twenty feet, slate and shells mixed; a little show of oil with an increase of gas. To ten hundred and eighty-five feet, slate with a little shale. At eleven hundred and thirty feet, slight show of sand. At eleven hundred and eighty, slate. At thirteen hundred and eight feet, shale. At fourteen hundred and seventy-three, slate. At fifteen hundred and fifteen feet, very hard slate. At fifteen hundred and thirty-five feet, slate and shells
166
PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."
mixed. At fifteen hundred and sixty-five feet, not so shelly and more slate. At sixteen hundred and five feet, shale and sand mixed. At sixteen hundred and fifteen feet, some shells with an increase of gas, with some sand. At this point it was concluded to dis- continue work temporarily.
PLYLER NO. I, seventy-three feet of rotten rock and then through sandstone to one hundred and eighty feet; then two feet of slate; then soft sandstone to two hundred and twenty feet; then two feet of slate; then sandstone to three hundred and eighty feet, the last ten feet being very hard. Sand continues with a streak of coffee-rock to four hundred and eighty feet; then hard sand to five hundred feet; then gray sand to five hundred and twenty feet. Slate and sand mixed to five hundred and fifty feet; then sand and slate to seven hundred feet; then shale and sand with a little show of gas; at seven hundred and fifty feet, a small pocket of water; at seven hundred and fifty-four feet, shale; at nine hundred feet, hard, gray shells with shale mixed; at nine hundred and fifty feet, sand full of yellow pebbles; at ten hundred feet, slate; at ten hundred and thirty feet, increase of gas; at ten hun- dred and forty feet, shale and light-colored sand; at ten hundred and sixty feet, shells; at eleven hundred and ten feet, gray sand twenty-six feet thick; at eleven hundred and thirty-six feet, black slate, very soft; at
twelve hundred and four feet, dark shale with some sand; at twelve hundred and sixty feet, slate; twelve hundred and ninety feet, slate a little lighter in color; thirteen hundred and thirty-five feet, shale; fourteen hundred and fifty feet, slate; fourteen hundred and sixty-five feet, black slate; fourteen hundred and seventy-five feet, black slate and sand; fourteen hun- dred and eighty-four feet, some gas, slate soft and cavey. The well is not yet finished.
The output from these wells up to 1886 was eighty thousand barrels. At the present time the yield is three hundred barrels per month, all of which is taken by the San Jose Gas Works at $3.00 per barrel. The wells have been pumped regularly three times a day since they were drilled. The machinery is run by two twenty-horse-power engines, the only fuel used being natural gas.
Mr. McPherson says that there is every indication that natural gas in large quantities can be found in many if not all parts of the Santa Clara Valley; the character of the formation in the surrounding hills and the dip of the strata leave no doubt in his mind that a thorough prospect will be richly re- warded. At this time an effort is being made to in- corporate a company with a capital stock sufficient to make exhaustive experiments.
6
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
1 TN April, 1854, a number of the farmers and stock- raisers of the county determined to organize an agricultural society. A call for a meeting was made, and on May 6 of that year they came together at the City Hall. The call had been responded to with con- siderable enthusiasm, and the agricultural interests were well represented. H. C. Melone was chosen to preside. and H. Hamilton was appointed secretary. The object of the meeting was stated by Wm. M. Stafford, who was followed by others, all favorable to the proposition of establishing a county agricultural society. The prevailing sentiment having been thus ascertained, a committee, consisting of J. F. Kennedy, Joseph Aram, and O. P. Watson, was appointed to prepare a draft of a constitution, after which the meet- ing adjourned until the twentieth of the same month. The meeting assembled at the court-house at the date mentioned. The constitution presented by the committee was adopted. The following officers were elected: L. H. Bascom, President; J. F. Kennedy, Vice-President; E. P. Reed, Recording Secretary; W. S. Letcher, Corresponding Secretary; F. G. Apple- ton, Treasurer. Board of Managers-J. B. Allen, of Gilroy; Mr. Frost, of Fremont; James Houston, of Al- viso; Joseph Aram, Wm. R. Bassham, Dr. Langhorne, and Samuel Robinson, of San Jose. Committee on Agriculture-H. C. Melone, Oliver Cottle, Isaac Bird, J. R. Weller, G. W. Peck, O. P. Watson, and H. C. Skinner. Committee on Horticulture-Joseph Aram, J. F. Kennedy, William Daniels, Louis Prevost, and John Morse.
There is no record of any fair having been held under the auspices of this society; but, owing to its influence, the State Agricultural Fair was held in San Jose in 1856. This fair was largely attended, Santa Clara County carrying off the honors. The first thoroughbred cattle brought to the State were ex- hibited at this time by Robert Blaco.
Prior to establishing the agricultural society, a hor- ticultural society had been formed, and, after the State Fair, an effort was made to unite the two interests.
On the thirteenth of December, 1856, a meeting was called for this purpose. William Daniels, H. C. Me- lone, and J. C. Cobb were appointed a committee to prepare a constitution. January 1, 1857, the consti- tution was presented and adopted, and the society formed under the name of the "Santa Clara Valley Agricultural and Horticultural Society." On Feb- ruary 7 the following officers were elected: President, William Daniels; Vice-Presidents, Coleman Younger and Joseph Aram; Secretary, J. C. Cobb; Treasurer, R. G. Moody; Directors, L. A. Gould and Louis Prevost. The old agricultural society met on the same day and disorganized by the following resolu- tion: "That the treasurer be, and is hereby, instructed to pay to each member of the society the amount subscribed by said member, provided he applies for the same before the first day of March next, and whatever remains in the treasury after said first day of March, to be paid to the treasurer of the Agri- cultural and Horticultural Society of the Valley of Santa Clara, subject to the disposition of the society last mentioned." After adopting this resolution the agricultural society adjourned sine die.
At a meeting held July 2, 1857, it was resolved to hold a fair on the eighteenth and nineteenth of Sep- tember. A premium list was arranged and the fair held with great success. A fair was also held in 1858, but the difficulties attending these exhibitions made it evident that they could not be continued under the then system of organization. The society had no funds, but was obliged to rely on voluntary contributions for its premium lists. After much dis- cussion of ways and means, it was determined to in- corporate the society. Pursuant to this determina- tion, the passage of an act was procured in March, 1859, incorporating the organization under the name of the "Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society," and from this date runs the legitimate history of the society. The first officers under the charter were: William Daniels, President; Cary Peebels and Coleman Younger, Vice-Presidents; C. B. Younger,
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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."
Secretary; R. G. Moody, Treasurer; Louis Prevost and H. H. Winchell, Directors.
One of the greatest inconveniences experienced by the society, both before and after its incorporation, was the lack of permanent grounds on which to hold the annual exhibitions. A committee had been ap- pointed, in 1857, to examine into the propriety and possibility of purchasing the necessary grounds. This committee accomplished nothing; neither did any re- sult flow from the appointment of a similar com- mittee in the following year. But in 1859, at the meeting at which the officers were elected under the act of incorporation, a committee was also appointed to solicit subscriptions with which to purchase fair grounds for the society. This committee consisted of Cary Peebels, Col. Younger, H. H. Winchell, H. C. Melone, T. Bodley, H. Shartzer, and J. C. Cameron. Other members were added to this com- mittee from time to time. The struggles of the so- ciety up to this time are thus related by Coleman Younger, one of the pioneers of the society, and who always shouldered a large portion of the work, which resulted in its success :-
"In the first place they had had no funds, no hall, no fair grounds; the Board would appoint their com- mittees to beg, and to sell annual memberships to form a basis for premiums; then they would have to cater for what we now call a hall, and for a piece of ground from some citizen for a stock fair ground; and, between the two, with other necessary expenses, they were in luck if they came out even. And thus it continued for years, until the old committees, or, in other words, the 'old war horses,' were ashamed to beg. Our first stock fair would beggar description; but our fruits, grain, vegetables, and flowers, on ac- count of the newness of the country, excited more interest then than now."
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