Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 36

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

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The engine-rooms next attract attention, where there is a row of four huge boilers, and furnaces, sup- plying steam for the engines necded to propel the machinery of the establishment, its lifting, and pull- ing and pumping, its mills, its elevators, and its cn- ginery. There are in all ten pumps, all necessarily of great power, employed in the establishment, forcing the beer in the different stages of its manufacture to the various parts of the building. Pure artesian water is supplied from two artesian wells. One of the most interesting departments is the refrigerator room, where

two engines of forty-horse power each are kept busy in the manufacture of ice, the capacity being over fifty tons per day, and in forcing salt water, cooled beneath the freezing point of fresh water, through the storing rooms. The pipes containing this water are en- veloped in a constant coating of ice, presenting a strange appearance as one comes upon them after the genial atmosphere of out-of-doors, or the torrid heat of the engine-rooms. The storage cellars present a sight that will not be easily forgotten, range after range of giant tanks and vats and casks, containing each from thirty-five to two hun Ired and fifty barrels of beer. The fermenting room, with its long line of frothing vats, when the beer is preparing for the stor- age cellars, the filters, the great ocean of cooling ship -but why attempt to describe the indescribable? It must be seen to be appreciated, and in despair we abandon the attempt to picture in detail.

After inspecting the main departments the visitor will not easily tire of going through the bottling, and washing, and the packing-rooms, the cooperage shops, watching the curiously capped bottles that are under- going the process of Pasteurization, the exquisite finish . of the clear and beautiful Pilsener and Culmbacher lager beers prepared for export; and after it is all over he will quaff with a new appreciation the nectar of the crystal clear and wholesome beer presented at the hand of the genial F. A. Baumgartner, the foreman who has done the honors of the establishment by accompanying him through.

These latter departments occupy commodious wooden buildings distinct from the main brewery, and are admirably fitted. To help the imagination, it must be known that from eight thousand to ten thousand bottles per day are required, these bottles being made some in Illinois and some in Germany, and the annual production has risen from the very small beginning made in 1869, to a grand total of fifty-three thousand barrels from May to May last year, and a probable sixty thousand during this pres- ent year, ending 1889. In all some one hundred and twenty men, women, and children find employment, the wages paid and the hours of work having always been eminently satisfactory. In San Jose fifteen horses are needed for the wagons, and a like number are used in connection with the San Francisco business. The brewery is connected directly by an independent switch with the Narrow Gauge Railway, a material advantage when it is considered that shipments upon an immense scale are required to fill the growing de- mands from Central and South America, Old and

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New Mexico, Japan, Australasia, the Sandwich Is- lands, and the most distant portions of the Pacific Coast States and Territories, in addition to the large and firmly established local trade.

This great business was inaugurated on a very small scale in 1869, and has steadily prospered, until now, un- der the efficient management of its proprietors, Messrs. Ernst Schnabel and Ernst A. Denicke, the business is unsurpassed, Mr. Schnabel, a biographical sketch of whose successful life appears on another page, is the manager of the brewery at San Jose, and his watchful oversight the direct cause of the purity and excellence of the beer, while Mr. Denicke resides in San Francisco and manages the outside business. They possess ample capital, and, backed as they are by long and successful experience, and untiring en- ergy, the Fredericksburg Brewing Company consti- tutes one of the most important commercial institu- tions of the State.

Mt. Hamilton Stage Co .- The history and descrip- tion of the Lick Observatory upon Mt. Hamilton, and of the nicely finished highway leading to it, is given under appropriate headings elsewhere in this volume. A short time ago Messrs. F. S. Chadbourne, the wealthy furniture dealer of San Francisco, San Diego, and Portland; A. H. Boomer, of the California, Oregon, and Idaho Stage Co., and S. D. Brasto, Division Superintendent of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, an- ticipating that the site of the observatory would be a tempting place of resort to the public, formed a cor- poration called the "Mt. Hamilton Stage Co.," for the purpose of establishing a superb line of stages be- tween San Jose and that point. Mr. Chadbourne was elected President, Mr. Boomer, Vice-President, and Mr. Brasto, Secretary and Treasurer. A. W. Ingalsbe was appointed local agent for San Jose, and Jo. Bacon assistant agent. The company sent out agents to purchase the best horses for stage service to be found on the Pacific slope; placed an order for twelve eleven-passenger coaches, constructed in such a manner as to afford to each passenger an outside seat, and began the erection of post-houses, stables, etc., on the route. They sounded the country also for old and experienced stage-drivers, whom they uni- formed in corduroy suits and broad-brimmed stage- drivers' sombreros. Tally-ho coaches are also being built, hung very low, which, when completed, will be preceded by a bugler to announce the special points of view, stoppages, etc.

There are two changes of horses, the coaches be- ing four and six horse, one at Hall's Valley, and one

at Smith's Creek. At the latter point, passengers stop thirty minutes for dinner at the Smith Creek Hotel, an establishment owned by T. E. Snell & Son, and ably conducted by Mrs. Hattie Garnosset. The Mt. Hamilton Stage Co. contemplates also the erec- tion of a hotel near the summit so that visitors can remain over and by night view the moon and stars through the largest telescope in the world. The re- turn trip is perhaps more enjoyable than the ascent. As the stage sweeps down the road with its many curves, the landscape unfolds, and in three short hours the tourist is again in San Jose, with ineffaceable re- collections of the mountain road, the marvelous pros- pect, the lofty mountain, and the lonely tomb.

The Western Granite and Marble Company, one of the representative industries of San Jose, and of the Santa Clara Valley, was organized in May, 1888, with C. T. Ryland as President, John W. Combs, Vice- President; D. B. Murphy, Treasurer; T. P. Ryland, Secretary; W. W. Blanchard, Manager, and T. O'Neil, Superintendent. Their office, yard, and works are sit- uated on North First Street, at the crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and are supplied with steam polishers, and the other requisite machinery to expedite the business. The company owns its own granite quarries at Yuba Pass, California, known as the Crystal Lake Quarries, the stones from which have no superior in the world. The marble used is chiefly from Vermont. The company employ from forty to fifty skilled workmen, including a special artist in designing. Besides the finest and most elaborate monumental and tombstone work, the company makes a specialty of building material in any style of finish. They have a branch house in Oakland for the exhibi- tion and sale of manufactured goods. Their trade ex- tends over California, and the contiguous States and Territories, and will reach $100,000 during the year 1888.

Although this company was but recently incorpo- rated, the history of its origin and business dates back over a period of years. J. W. Combs established the marble business in San Jose in 1870; and in 1878 W. W. Blanchard and T. O'Neil opened the first perma- nent granite manufactory in the city. In 1883 a partnership was formed between the three men, and the two interests combined under the firm title of Combs, Blanchard & O'Neil. The combination com- prised men of brains, energy, and ability, and its business prospered from the start, growing to such proportions that in order to own and operate their own quarries, and meet other requirements, it was

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thought best to merge the concern into an incorpo- rated company, with larger capital, which was con- summated as above stated.

John W. Combs was born in New York State, Oc- tober 17, 1836. His father, who was noted for his skill as a mechanic, died in Mr. Comb's boyhood, and having a blind mother to support, he never attended school but fourteen months. He started in life as a butcher boy, which led him to study the forms and structure of animals; and having natural taste for art, he one day asked a marble cutter for a block of marble, and taking it to his room, he procured an old chisel and mallet, and while sitting up with his sick mother, cut the figure of a lamb out of it. In this first effort the young tyro was so successful and caused so much favorable comment, that it determined the current of young Combs' life. He started in to learn the trade of mar- ble cutter at seventeen years of age, and soon became very expert in figure carving. Although he never took a lesson in art, he has made many pieces, busts, and faces in basso-rilievo from photographs, which have been pronounced fine likenesses. One of his pieces was a basso-rilievo of Pope Leo which sold at a Cath- olic fair for $150. Other pieces have been valued much higher; among them a bust of ex-Senator Henry C. McEwen, of Dixon, Salina County, which was presented to the Senator by a company of friends with appropriate ceremonies. His figure work has taken numerous first prizes at fairs and exhibitions wherever shown. He came to San Jose in 1870, and has been in the marble business ever since, in the re- lation of proprietor or joint partner

Mr. Combs was married in Ogdensburg, New York. He lost his wife in 1865, who died leaving two sons and a daughter. Mr. Combs married his present wife in the same city on January 19, 1867. His two sons are both superior workmen in marble. He is vice- president of the Western Granite and Marble Company.

W. W. Blanchard is a native of Maine, born in 1853. He attended school, learning his trade, and carried on a granite quarry in his native State, shipping dimen- sion stock to Boston. In 1876 he sold out his busi- ness and came to California, working at his trade for a time in San Francisco and Oakland; came to San Jose and opened the granite, monument, and building- stone business, in partnership with T. O'Neil, in 1878.

In 1884 Mr. Blanchard married Miss Lulu K. Baker, daughter of Rev. G. R. Baker, a prominent Methodist clergyman, who was prominent in establishing the University of the Pacific, and laying the foundation

for its present flourishing career. Mr. Blanchard is now manager of the Western Granite and Marble Company.

Timothy O'Neil, superintendent of the Western Granite and Marble Works, was born in Connecticut, thirty-five years ago, and learned the trade of stone- cutter in the city of Hartford. He worked at it at several points in the East: did some of the work on the Centennial buildings in Philadelphia. He came to California near the close of 1875, and worked at his trade until starting in business with Mr. Blanchard in San Jose, in 1878. Mr. O'Neil married Mary Frances Devine, in 1886. She is the daughter of J. J. Devine, a pioneer who came to this State in 1850.

San Jose Brush. Electric Light Co., organized Feb- ruary 25, 1882. In 1881 J. J. Owen, proprietor of the San Jose Mercury, conceived the idea of lighting the city by means of electricity, which he proposed to use by means of high towers which he thought could be so construcred as not to obstruct travel on the streets. The great electric tower at the corner of Santa Clara and Market Streets is the outcome of this idea. Through the efforts of Mr. Owen, money enough was raised by subscription to complete this work, which will stand as a monument to his disinterested public spirit. Soon after the completion of the tower, the system of cranes and masts was introduced, and is now in successful operation. A full account of the opera- tions of this company will be found in the biographi- cal sketch of Pedro de Saisset, elsewhere in this book.

San Jose Water Company .- This company was es- tablished November 26, 1866, by Donald McKenzie and John Bonner, of San Jose, and R. Chabot, of Oak- land, Alameda County, with a capital stock of $100,- 000. The city of San Jose and the town of Santa Clara granted them exclusive water privileges for the term of twenty-five years. To carry out their plan tanks were constructed, engines built, and the city supplied with water from artesian wells. At the end of two years the supply thus obtained was found in- sufficient for the growing wants of the community; therefore the right to use the water of the Los Gatos Creek was obtained, and a new company formed in 1868, with an increased capital of $300,000, with N. H. A. Mason, President; D. Mckenzie, Vice-Presi- dent; W. B. Rankin, Secretary; C. X. Hobbs, Super- intendent; E. Mclaughlin, Treasurer.

On the formation of the new company, work was begun in bringing the waters of the Los Gatos Creek to San Jose. Reservoirs were made, and pipes laid throughout the city, thus affording a generous supply.

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The water was originally taken from the tail race of the mill at Los Gatos, but other water rights in the mountains have since been acquired, besides large wells near the Guadaloupe Creek, on the Alameda, from which the water is raised by powerful pumps.

STREET RAILROADS.

San Jose aud Santa Clara Railroad Company .- The Legislature of California, in March, 1868, granted a franchise to S. A. Bishop, Charles Silent, Daniel Mur- phy, D. B. Moody, and their associates to construct a horse railroad along the Alameda from San Jose to Santa Clara. Messrs. Moody and Murphy having declined to avail themselves of the franchise, a new directorate was organized. S. A. Bishop was elected President; John H. Moore, Treasurer, and Charles Silent, Secretary. Work was first started August 31, and the cars made their initial trip on November I. In 1869 the line was extended eastward, along Santa Clara Street, to the Coyote bridge, and afterward to McLaughlin Avenue. In 1887 the company obtained a franchise from the city and county, and constructed the present electric railroad, which is the first of the kind ever built on the coast.

The First Street Railroad was built in 1870 by S. A. Bishop, and was the first narrow-gauge street rail- road track laid in the United States. Its original route was from the then San Pedro Street depot, along San Pedro, Julian, and First Streets to Reed Street. Mr. Bishop sold his interest to F. C. Bethel, who sold to Geo. F. Baker, and he to Jacob Rich, who now controls it. The route has been changed since to correspond with the general system of street railroads, it being now from the Market Street Depot along First Street, Willow Street, and Lincoln Ave- nue to Minnesota Avenue in the Willows.

Market Street and Willow Glen Horse Railroad Company .- The Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County, and the mayor and common council of the city of San Jose, granted a franchise, on February II, 1876, to C. T. Bird, Chas. B. Hensley, John Auzerais, F. J. Sauffrignon, J. C. Bland, Oliver Cottle, Isaac Bird, F. Brassy, T. W. Spring, James R. Lowe, R. C. Swan, and S. Newhall to establish a street railroad. This enterprise developed into the Market Street and Willow Glen Railroad Company, and was incorpo- rated February 23, 1876, with J. J. Denny, John Auzerais, Isaac Bird, F. J. Sauffrignon, and C. T. Bird, Directors; C. T. Bird, President; J. Auzerais, Treasurer, and F. Brassy, Secretary. The route originally authorized was from the intersection of Julian and Market, along Market, San Fernando,

San Salvador, and Bird Avenues to Willow Street. When the First Street road extended its line down Willow Street, the road was discontinued from the corner of Delmas Avenue southerly. The route has since been changed, it being at present from the depot at Market Street along Market, San Fernando, and Delmas Avenues. The road is now controlled by Jacob Rich.

The People's Horse Railroad Company .- The com- mon council of the city of San Jose granted to the Southeast Side Horse Railroad Company, on Febru- ary 26, 1877, a franchise for a narrow-gauge railroad, to Jacob Rich, C. G. Harrison, W. S. McMurtry, J. Y. McMillan, and S. W. Boring, the original stock- holders and trustees of the association, the officers being Jacob Rich, President; S. W. Boring, Secretary., The same parties afterward procured a franchise for a narrow-gauge road, taking for its starting-point the center of Second and San Fernando Streets, and running thence to Market and Santa Clara Streets; on Santa Clara Street to the Alameda, and thence to the town of Santa Clara. Approved February 28, 1879. The Southeast Side Company deeded all its franchises to the new corporation, named the People's Horse Railroad Company. This road is no longer in operation as originally laid out.

North Side Horse Railroad Company .- In June, 1875, a franchise was granted to the above-named company, commencing at the intersection of St. John and First Streets, and running thence to Fourteenth and Mission Streets. The officers were: W. S. Mc- Murtry, President; J. Y. McMillan, Secretary; and C. G. Harrison, Manager. It is now controlled by Jacob Rich.

The early history of San Jose is identical with the history of the surrounding country. So nearly were their interests and enterprises commingled that an attempt to treat them separately would complicate the narrative to an extent to render it nearly unin- telligible. After the organization of the county and its general settlement by "foreigners," which was the general appellation given to immigrants, different sec- tions began to develop different interests; villages and towns came into existence, and it is of these we pro- pose to give brief mention.

GILROY.

This beautiful and thriving city is situated on the Monterey road, about thirty miles south of San Jose. That portion of the county was formerly known as Pleasant Valley. - The first house erected was by

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James Houck, in 1850. It was a small roadside inn and stable, intended for the accommodation of trav- elers between Monterey and San Jose. It was built of split redwood, and was situated to the north of Lewis Street, and, we believe, is still standing. The next house was on Lewis Street, near Monterey Street, and here a store was opened by Lucien Ev- erett. This was followed by a building by John Eigelberry. The first hotel in the town was built by David Holloway in the winter of 1853-54. It was quite a pretentious structure, and stood between Lewis Street and Martin's Lane. About the same time David Holloway opened a blacksmith shop, and Eli Reynolds put up a building for a saddler's shop. About this time a post-office was established, James Houck being the postmaster. It is said that he could neither read nor write! In 1852 the first school was opened, and continued for one season. In 1853 a school building was erected by subscription, and school was taught by Mr. Jackson, the trustees be- ing W. R. Bane and Dempsey Jackson.

The first Protestant religious services were held in 1852, at the residence of W. R. Bane, and were con- ducted by the Rev. Mr. Anthony, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1853 Rev. J. T. Cox, of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, organized a con- gregation, and held services in the school-house; and in 1854 a church building was erected at a cost of a thousand dollars. Both the school-house and the church have been replaced by handsome modern buildings. The town continued to attract settlers, and, being situated on the principal thoroughfare of the county, thrived and prospered.

In 1867 F. S. Rogers, a dentist, opened an office, and in 1868 James C. Zuck established the first law- yer's office in the town. Zuck and Rogers formed a partnership for conducting a real-estate business. They purchased five acres in the northwestern part of town, and sold it at once as town lots. Twenty acres more, on Monterey Street, near the center of the town, were purchased of John Eigelberry, and sold in the same manner. W. L. Hoover then came into the firm, and thirty acres more land, on the east side of Monterey Street, were purchased from L. F. Bell, subdivided into lots, and sold.

On February 18, 1868, the town was incorporated under the laws of the State, and christened the town of Gilroy. March 7, of the same year, an election for town officers was held, and the following were chosen: Trustces, John C. Looser, William Hanna, Frank Oldham, Jacob Einstein, Jacob Reither; Treas-

urer, H. Wangenheim; Assessor, James Angel; Mar- shal, A. W. Hubbard. The Assessor failed to qualify, and H. D. Coon was appointed in his place. J. M. Keith was appointed Town Clerk.

In March, 1870, an act was passed by the Legisla- ture incorporating Gilroy as a city, with the govern- ment vested in a mayor, city marshal and ex-officio tax collector, a city clerk and ex-officio assessor, and a city treasurer. At the first regular election under this charter, which was held May 10, 1870, the fol- lowing officers were elected: J. M. Browne, Mayor; City Treasurer, M. Einstein; City Clerk, George T. Clark; City Marshal, M. Gray; Councilmen, William Hanna, Jacob Reither, J. B. Morey, C. K. Farley, William Isaac, Volney Howard.

A great obstacle to the prosperity of the city was the question of title to the land on which it was situ- ated. The ownership in the land was an undivided interest in the Las Animas Rancho, an early Spanish grant. The rancho had never been partitioned, and there was an uncertainty as to where any particular holder might be located when the different interests were set off. This state of affairs was a source of great annoyance, as it practically clouded all the titles in the city and vicinity. Many meetings were held for consultation. The matter culminated Jan- uary 3, 1879, when Henry Miller, the largest owner in the rancho, filed his complaint in partition. The defendants were all the other owners, and numbered over a thousand. The court, after hearing, appointed County Surveyor A. T. Herman, J. M. Battee, and H. M. Leonard, as commissioners to survey and set off to each owner his interest in the tract. It required several years to accomplish this, and it was not until June 19, 1886, that the final decree was filed. This settled forever the question of title, and each owner of property in Gilroy, or vicinity, has a claim to his land that is undisputed and indisputable.

Notwithstanding it was thus handicapped, Gilroy did not halt in the march of progress either before or during this litigation. Substantial improvements were made, and the city was beautified by handsome and substantial buildings, beautiful gardens, fine streets, and good sidewalks. A school system was built up which is unsurpassed in its efficiency by any in the Union. A certificate of graduation from the Gilroy High School carries as much influence where that institution is known, as a diploma from a college or university. A strong and efficient fire depart- ment has been organized, and shows in the front rank at the annual tournaments. Good hotels are numer-

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ous. Gas and water companies have been organized, and are increasing their capacity in proportion to the demand for their services. The growth of the city, however rapid it might have been prior to the settle- ment of land titles, has received a new impetus since that incubus was removed, and the onward march has been increased to a double-quickstep.

And there is no reason why this should not be. Surrounding the city are leagues of the most fertile land in California. Wherever the experiment has been made, it has been found to surpass expectations in its producing power. Fruits of all kinds mature crops of quality and quantity unsurpassed. The climate is superb, the people are energetic, public- spirited citizens, and good neighbors. With every- thing to make life profitable and enjoyable, we cannot err in predicting for the city of Gilroy a future pros- perity seldom experienced anywhere, even in progress- ive America.

Following are some of the enterprises of Gilroy :--

Gilroy Gas Company .- The present gas works which supply the city of Gilroy were completed in Novem- ber, 1886, the work being done by the firm of Sims & Morris, of San Francisco, at an expense of $17,500 for the plant and mains. The total length of mains is about thirteen thousand feet, the original contract having been for ten thousand feet of mains. The capacity per month is about three hundred and fifty thousand cubic feet. There are one hundred and ten business places and residences supplied by the works. The city has twenty-three street lamps, which were put up at the time of the erection of the plant. These works succeeded the old pneumatic process, which proved inadequate, but upon which the place depended for about sixteen years. The works are owned by a local corporation, the officers of which are: President, Thos. Rea; Vice-President, L. A. Whitehurst; Treas- urer, Bank of Gilroy; Secretary, Geo. W. Lynch, of San Francisco. Directors: L. A. Whitehurst, J. H. Ellis, Amos Robinson, Geo. W. Lynch, Thos. Rea; and the manager of the works, who has held that position since their building, is Edgar A. Holloway. The works are operated under a lease for five years by Geo. W. Lynch.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 36

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844