USA > California > Yolo County > The Western shore gazetteer and commercial directory for the state of California Yolo County : one volume being devoted to each county of the state, giving a brief history of each county. > Part 10
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Silk Culture.
From I. N. Hoag we have received a comprehensive ac- count of the silk interest of this county. We commend it to the careful perusal of our readers, as it embodies the experience of one who has been long and earnestly engaged in the business, as well as the experience of all prominent sericulturists in the county. Coming, as it does, from one actively engaged in the business, it possesses a value far above the crude opinions or hasty sketches of the uninitiated writer on the subject.
While the feeding of the silk-worm as an experiment, and upon a small scale, had been followed by the late Louis Prevost, in Santa Clara County, for a number of years previous to its introduction into any other county of the State, Yolo County has the undoubted honor of intro- ducing this rich industry as a matter of real, legitimate and lucrative business. In 1867, the writer, having be- come satisfied of the adaptability of our soil and climate to the prosecution of this branch of husbandry, and desir- ing to add one more to the limited list of agricultural products of our State, planted ten acres of land, situated on the Sacramento River, about two miles above the Town of Washington, with mulberry cuttings and seed. The cuttings were very successful-but a very small proportion of the seed planted grew. However, as a result of the enterprise, he produced about half a million of thrifty trees. These trees were grown partly for his own use in the production of silk, and partly for sale; but as no one had yet made a financial success in feeding silk-worms in the State, Mr. Hoag found no demand for his trees, as he had hoped, during the winter and spring of 1868. During
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the spring and summer of that year, however, le fed the leaves from the trees produced from his morus multicaulis cutting on three and one-half acres of land (the trees then being a little more than one year old) to the worms pro- duced from about ten ounces of silk-worm eggs; and, as a financial result, he made a net profit, over and above all expenses of feeding, of three thousand four hundred and forty-eight dollars. The time occupied in feeding the worms and preparing the product for sale was only about six weeks, commencing on the first of June and ending on the twenty-fifth of July.
It will be seen that the trees from which the leaves were picked were only a little over one year old from the first cuttings. The success of this first real business operation in this industry called the public attention to it more effect- ually than would thousands of pages of finely-written argu- ments in its favor, and in 1869 there were many plantations of mulberry trees started in almost all portions of the State. Among the largest and most important of these is that of the California Silk Culture Association, located near Davis- ville, in this county. This company is composed mostly of San Francisco capitalists, and it was organized through the energy and enterprise of our indomitable fellow-citizen, C. W. Reed, who is himself a large owner in the concern. The company's mulberry plantations now cover one hun- dred acres of land and contain about six hundred thousand trees from two to three years old. They have erected two large and well-arranged cocooneries ; one in the spring of 1869, the dimensions of which are thirty by one hundred feet square on the ground and two stories high. The other was built in 1870 and is much larger and better. Both are capable of accommodating the worms from over one hun- dred ounces of eggs at the same time. In the spring of 1869, the same year in which the trees were planted, the company made about a million of cocoons, most of which they reeled, producing some of the finest raw silk ever shown in any country. In the spring of 1870 they made over two millions of cocoons, a portion of which were al- lowed to hatch and reproduce eggs to the number of some
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three thousand ounces. The eggs have nearly all been sold at an average of four dollars per ounce, for export to Europe.
Encouraged by their success so far, the company have determined to extend their operations, both as to the size of their plantations and the number of the cocooneries. They will also add buildings and machinery for reeling silk on a large scale.
Mr. Hoag has also extended his plantation, so that the ground now occupied by his trees is about fifty acres and the trees number about two hundred thousand, between three and four years old. He has three cocooneries, one fifty feet square, one fifty by sixty and the other thirty-six by forty, capable of feeding the worm's from eighty to one hundred ounces of eggs. His trees are about half multi- caulis and half moretti or alba.
Besides the above, there are within the county other establishments for the cultivation of silk, on a less formi- dable scale, among which may be mentioned that of H. G. Ballou, on the Sacramento River, four miles above Wash- ington. Mr. Ballou commenced in the spring of 1869. He has about twenty thousand trees, covering some ten acres of land. The success of Mr. Ballou has also been very gratifying. He gives as the result of his first year's feeding, from a limited number of trees, a net profit at the rate of seven hundred and sixty dollars per acre.
James Haworth, some two miles below Washington, has a plantation of about ten thousand trees, and has been engaged in feeding worms for the past three years with uniform success. Dr. C. Ruddock, of Willow Slough, and James Edgar, of Cottonwood, and a number of others in the county, have a limited number of trees, and we are in- formed that many others will engage in the business the coming year.
While Sacramento, Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and other counties have been wide awake in the introduction of this valuable industry, we believe Yolo is still justly entitled to be set down as the banner county of the State in silk culture.
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It has been shown by the experiments and operations above cited that silk culture can be very profitably entered upon as an exclusive business, yet we believe it would be found one of the most valuable and remunerative products of every farm carried on in connection with other indus- tries. Its active operations cover but a very small portion of time in each year, and that time is in the spring, when other farming occupations in this State require but little attention. The expense of making a beginning is but a mere trifle for trees, and every farmer can so manage as to use some portion of his dwelling or some of his out-build- ings for the short time required each year. The work of feeding the worms being light and mostly in-doors, can be done by the women and children of the family, and thus, with almost no increase of capital and with no additional expense for labor, every farmer in the county might, by engaging in the culture of silk, add materially to his an- nual income and increase the comforts of his household.
As Yolo County has been the first to successfully intro- duce the business and render it remunerative, we hope she may be the first to render that business general among her agriculturists. We are assured that our grain-growing districts are well adapted to the successful growth of the trees, they being of a hardy nature, like cottonwood, and that the leaves grown on trees in a hard, dry soil will pro- duce the best quality of silk.
Another source of wealth which furnishes employment to several of our citizens is but little understood. From the meager data before us we give the following very imperfect sketch of the
Fisheries of Yolo.
The principal fishery on the Sacramento is at the mouth of Sycamore Slough, near Knight's Landing. It employs several men, the average catch during the summer and fall being from one to two tons of fish per day. One small steamer is employed in transporting the catch to the mar- kets-Sacramento and San Francisco. The principal fish
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taken here in the summer is the perch, along with other varieties of smaller fish.
Aside from this fishery, we have returns from thirty-two gill-nets, two men to the boat; average catch of the season, twelve hundred dollars to the net; also four pike fishermen, with twenty nets. The largest pike net on the river is at the Knight's Landing Fishery, of which we have spoken. During the salmon fishing, the fishermen take large quanti- ties of this fine fish, along with sturgeon and other varieties not so valuable. By the twenty-fifth of June the spring run of salmon up the river is generally ended, when the perch and other small fish take their place in the market. The fall run begins in August and lasts until November, and sometimes as late as December. The spring run is the best-the fish being short, fat and of a bright color. On returning from the spring run they frequently mix with the fall run, when they are poor and of a very rusty color. The average weight of the spring fish is about fifteen pounds, though they have been caught weighing forty pounds. Sturgeon have been taken in these fisheries, weighing more-one being recorded of four hundred and ninety-five pounds weight. During the spring run, it sometimes happens that a sudden rise occurs in the river, when the fish fall back for a few days until the floods sub- side, when the run is renewed.
This season the first shipment of salmon overland to the East was attempted. There is no doubt but that a large and profitable trade will grow out of this experiment. The salmon of the Pacific coast far surpass those of the Eastern fisheries, both in size and quality. Should the market be assured in that quarter, we may look for a large increase of boats and men on the river. Old fishermen tell us that the stock has increased in the inland waters very materially during the past few years. They attribute this to the de- crease of mining, and the consequent increased purity of the waters.
About one hundred and fifty men are engaged in fishing and hunting, who are residents of this county. The annual value of the trade is estimated at eighty to one hundred
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thousand dollars. The value of boats, nets and other property necessary to conduct the business is estimated at forty-five thousand dollars.
Mines and Minerals.
The mining interest is but lightly represented in this county, with one exception. But little prospecting for the precious metals has been attempted, though "indications " of the existence of various kinds of mineral are not want- ing in the foothills and mountain ranges that form the western boundary of the county. Gold, copper, sulphur, lead and cinnabar indications are frequently found, such as would justify extended prospecting in a country where the attention of the inhabitants was directed to mining instead of agriculture.
Gold Mining
Has been carried on, to some extent, on Putah Creek and in some gulches and ravines in the foothills near Cache Creek Cañon. Absence of water, inexperience of mining matters, and the all-absorbing interests of agriculture, may be given as sufficient reasons why this branch of industry has received no more attention. That gold exists in the first range of hills is a fact; but whether in quanti- ties sufficient to justify any great outlay of capital in the prospecting or working of the ground, remains to be decided. Copper "signs " are plenty in the hills, and occasionally one meets with indications of coal and iron. The formation of the ranges, their volcanic origin, and the undisputed fact of the existence of gold and cinnabar, would warrant a more extended and thorough examination of the county than has ever been given to it.
Cinnabar.
In the extreme northwestern portion of the county is located the cinnabar or quicksilver mines of Charles F.
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Reed & Co., known as the California Mines. This com- pany are pushing the work on their mine, with every assur- ance of success. The mine lies but a few (six) miles from the celebrated Knoxville and Manhattan cinnabar mines, and is evidently a continuation of the belt which traverses a section of Lake and Yolo counties. This cinnabar- bearing belt extends from Oregon southward through the Coast Range; how far is not definitely ascertained, but either the mineral or indications have been discovered at intervals through the whole extent of the Coast Range from Oregon to Mexico.
In the district where Reed's mine is located, very rich deposits of cinnabar have been found and two large mines, with furnaces and machinery attached, employing about three hundred men and turning out from four hundred to one thousand flasks of quicksilver per week when the fur- naces are in operation. These mines are located in Lake County, the dividing line between Lake and Yolo passing between these mines and that owned by Reed & Co. The surrounding hills are thickly studded with " indications " and " croppings" which reveal the existence of cinnabar- bearing lodes.
The California Mine.
By an Act of the Legislature of 1864-5 the boundaries of Yolo County were definitely determined. This location included the California and Occidental mines within the limits of Yolo County. In 1856 these mines were consoli- dated under the name of the " California Mine," and duly incorporated, with Charles F. Reed, of Yolo County, as President, and Henry F. Williams, of San Francisco, as Secretary. In 1867 the mine was sold to a company of English capitalists for five hundred thousand dollars, but, through some mismanagement of the company's agents sent to Europe, the sale was broken. The company then deter- mined to prosecute the work on their own account, and have been steadily engaged in opening and developing their mine since. They own six hundred and forty acres of rich agricultural land in Davis Valley, well improved,
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with good farm houses, barns, etc. At present they are working fifteen men, under the superintendence of John E. Regal, an experienced miner. They have out and ready for smelting about five hundred tons of fine ore, estimated to yield thirty per cent. of quicksilver. They have good boarding-houses, blacksmith-shops and other buildings necessary to the successful prosecution of the work. A contract has been made with Messrs. Roach & Form, of San Francisco, who are to erect a large smelting furnace, to be completed by the first of October. It is confidently expected that the mine will be turning out large quantities of quicksilver by that time or immediately thereafter. Several tunnels have been driven by the company, in all of which the prospects are encouraging. One of these tun- nels has been driven, through solid rock, six hundred and fifty feet, one over four hundred feet, and still another two hundred and fifty feet. At the time of writing the superin- tendent informed us that he had found large quantities of paying rock or ore in the new cut, one hundred feet be- neath the surface. Success in this quarter will induce capitalists to turn their attention to investments in that direction, and will have the effect of introducing a class of laborers in those hills who will add wealth and prosperity to a portion of the country now comparatively non-produc- tive and consequently valueless. Such an event would work a vast change in that section, and materially enhance the value of the foot-hill lands, especially those that are well timbered. It would open up a new market for pro- duce and hasten the construction of a railroad through that section, and in many other ways prove of great benefit to the county.
We now leave our general description of the county, for the purpose of giving brief sketches of the principal towns of Yolo.
Woodland,
The county seat, is situated in Cache Creek Township, fifteen miles west and six and one-half miles north of Sacramento. By the road, as now laid out, the distance is 8
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rated at eighteen miles to Washington. The town lies three miles south of Cache Creek, the nearest point being at Nelson's bridge. Where the town now stands, and im- mediately surrounding it, was once a beautiful grove of oaks, from which the town derives its name. A few of the trees are still standing, but by far the larger portion have fallen before the army of occupation, the advance guard of which seems to be wood-choppers. This grove, which was the most prominent feature of the place and its chief beauty in its younger days, has given place to dwellings, stores and other belongings of a thriving town; yet enough re- mains to enable the town to hold her name rightfully, with- out subjecting herself to the charge of having appropriated a name that did not correspond with the surroundings. The ground on which the town is located is slightly ele- vated above the surrounding plains, it being the end of a gravelly ridge, or rather elevation, traceable for several miles. The belt of timber in which the town was estab- lished extends northward and westward to Cache Creek, and eastward and southeastward for some distance beyond the town.
In 1855 Henry Wyckoff established a store, the place being then known as "Yolo City." This store was pur- chased in 1857 by F. S. Freeman. Hyman & Brothers established the next store, building what is now known as the Woodland House. In 1861 F. S. Freeman built the first brick building. The land on which the north part of the town stands was patented by F. S. Freeman in 1862. The southern portion of the town stands on land patented by T. M. Harris, in June, 1863. Such is a brief outline of the early history of the town, given to illustrate the rapid growth and improvement of the place.
A short time since, an effort was made to incorporate the town, giving it a boundary one mile square. From causes unnecessary to mention, the scheme failed, and Woodland remains unprotected by city laws, unburthened by city taxes. We do not propose to question the wisdom of the attempt at incorporation, or the more successful effort which resulted in the defeat of the measure; but we may
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be permitted to express the opinion that but a few addi- tional years of prosperity will elapse before Woodland will be found among the list of incorporated towns.
Public Buildings.
The county buildings-Court-house and jail combined- are situated in the north portion of the town. The structure is of brick, two stories high-76x60 feet. The jail contains eight cells, constructed of wood and lined with sheet-iron. The building is now undergoing repairs, a contract having been entered into between the Board of Supervisors and Turton & Knox, of Sacramento City, the latter undertaking to raise the building eight and one-half feet and put under it a new foundation, the present one proving inadequate for the purpose designed. Since the above was written the work has been successfully completed. The building is commodious, provided with fire-proof vaults and safes for the various offices. The offices of the Treasurer, District Attorney, Sheriff and the jail are on the first floor. On the second floor is the Court room, Supervisors' room, Grand Jury room, County Clerk's room and office. The yard or square on which the building is situated, is tastefully laid out with walks and planted with shrubbery, or rather a por- tion of it, and the whole has been sown in alfalfa, which thrives well, and adds much to the beauty of the place. A well one hundred and thirty feet deep furnishes a plentiful supply of good water, supposed to be the best in the town.
Hesperian College.
This institution, located at Woodland, was erected in the fall of 1860 and the winter of 1861.
The school was opened March 4th, 1861-the day of Presi- dent Lincoln's first inauguration. O. L. Mathews, a gradu- ate of Bethany College, Virginia, presided over the young institution until December, 1861; Henry Atkinson, a gradu- ate of Howard University, assuming control of the school the following term, January, 1862.
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In August following, J. W. Anderson, of Washington College, Pennsylvania, was elected to watch over the rising fortunes of a school that bid fair to attain to eminence among the schools and colleges of California.
In September, 1863, J. M. Martin, a graduate of Abing- don College, Illinois, was called to take charge of the in- stitution. From that time till the present he has presided over its destinies.
Though laboring under many difficulties and embarrass- ments, it gradually increased in members, influence and popularity, until the opening of the session, August, 1867, when with almost unprecedented rapidity it rose to the first rank among the schools of the Pacific Slope. The cata- logues of the institution for 1867-8-9 show an average at- tendance of more than two hundred students per annum.
On the fifth day of May, 1869, the institution was duly incorporated in accordance with the statutes of California in such case made and provided.
On the twenty-third of August, 1869, the Board of Trus- tees named in the certificate of incorporation met, organi- zed and proceeded to elect a Faculty, and to establish rules and regulations for the good government of the school.
The present Faculty is as follows: J. M. Martin, Presi- dent and Professor of Ancient Languages and Elocution; J. L. Simpson, Professor of Mathematics; G. N. Freman, Prin- cipal of Preparatory Department; Mrs. C. L. Cross, Prin- cipal of Primary Department; Miss Florence G. Johnston, Teacher of Vocal and Instrumental Music; Mrs. J. E. Dick- son, Teacher of Painting, Drawing, etc .; P. A. Espina, Teacher of Spencerian Penmanship; G. N. Freman, Secre- tary of the Faculty. Hesperian College admits both sexes, and stands a striking example of the superiority of such schools when conducted upon a rational basis. " A thorough, practical education-physical, intellectual and moral," is the motto of the Institution.
Public School-house.
This is a two-story frame building, situated in the extreme
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eastern part of town, in the midst of a beautiful grove of oaks. It is not worthy, as a public building, of any extend- ed notice.
Churches.
There are three brick churches in the town-the Christian or Campbellite, the M. E. Church and the Catholic. They are each good, substantial brick buildings, the Catholic Church being by far superior to the others in architectural beauty and design.
Theater.
Washington Hall, on Main Street, two stories high and one hundred feet long by sixty feet wide, was erected for public purposes by Adam Gerlach, at an expense of fifteen thousand dollars. The upper story is in one room, and fit- ted with a stage and stage scenery complete. It was opened by L. F. Beatty, with a theatrical troupe, who leased it for a season. His term having expired, Mr. Gerlach resumed the control of the hall, which is now at the service of the public.
Hotels.
The hotels in Woodland, two in number, are fine brick buildings, two and three stories high respectively. Among the
Other Buildings
Worthy of note are the bank building, the fine brick- three stories high-adjoining the bank, built by Messrs. Brown, Sill & Craft, and Elliott's carriage-shop, a fine two- story brick. Among the private residences that of F. S. Freeman takes the first place. The contract price for this building was sixteen thousand dollars. There are many tasty dwelling-houses in Woodland, of both brick and wood, but the predominating material used in construc- tion is brick, both in stores and dwellings.
General Description.
The town contains twenty stores, classed as follows :
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One hardware, one millinery store; dry goods, three ; dry goods and groceries, two; groceries, three; produce and groceries, two ; produce and fruit, one; jewelry and drugs and stationery combined, one ; jewelry, one ; clothing and drugs, one; tinware and stoves, two; variety stores, two. There are four barber's shops, one bath-house, two saddle and harness shops, three shoemaker's shops, one dress- making establishment, three restaurants, one flour-mill, two large carpenter's shops, one large carriage manufactory, seven blacksmith's shops, one sash and door manufactory, one ice cream saloon, three livery stables, and eighteen saloons and places where liquors are sold by the drink. This list comprises the most of the business of the town. The trade, value of exports and imports are included in the county returns.
The population of the town proper, or village, is sixteen hundred. Including the suburbs, or voting precinct, it is about twenty-two hundred.
Meat Markets.
The value of the animals slaughtered for home consump- tion in Yolo can hardly be accurately determined. We take the following statistics from the books of James Ash- bury, the leading butcher of the county. At his two markets, in Woodland, the sales foot up as follows, for the year ending September first : Number of pounds of veal slaughtered, nine thousand six hundred; pork, twenty- three thousand; mutton, sixty-six thousand; beef, five hundred thousand nine hundred. Total pounds of meat, five hundred and ninety-nine thousand five hundred pounds, worth at an average thirteen cents per pound, or seventy- seven thousand nine hundred and ninety-five dollars. Sup- posing the remaining shops in the county do a business ex- ceeding this by one-half, which is a fair estimate, we then have one million four hundred and ninety-eight thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds of meat annually sold from the markets, valued at one hundred and ninety-four thou- sand eight hundred and thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents.
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