USA > California > Alameda County > The centennial year book of Alameda County, California : containing a summary of the discovery and settlement of California, a description of the Contra Costa under Spanish, Mexican, and American rule, biographical sketches of prominent pioneers and public men > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
At the same meeting Supervisors Smith and Eagar were appointed
119
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
a committee on behalf of the county to confer with the owners of the San Antonio bridge and report upon what terms the same could be purchased by the county, with the view of making it a free bridge and removing the obstruction to travel on that public high- way on which it was situated.
The late District Attorney, John S. Chipman, was ordered to make "a full and complete report of all his acts and doings as such attorney, from the commencement to the close of his duties in said office and file the same with the Clerk;" from which it is to be inferred that the said District Attorney had not been attending faith- fully to his duties.
On the same date (May 6th) a committee was appointed to confer with Boards of Supervisors in adjoining counties in relation to a survey of the county lines. It was also resolved that the Surveyor- General be requested to employ the County Surveyor of this county to survey and locate the county boundaries, which had not been done before.
At a meeting on the 26th of May the Building Committee which was appointed to visit Martinez reported adversely to the new build- ings there; and they were instructed to advertise for plans and specifications for a Jail and Court-house.
On June 16th the committee appointed to confer with Carpentier & Co., with regard to the bridge, reported adversely to a purchase; and the same committee was appointed to ascertain the cost and value of the bridge.
Plans for county buildings were presented and approved; but before acceptance the cost was to be ascertained.
At this meeting a new township, called Jefferson, was created out of Washington and Eden, and its boundaries set forth; but the reso- lution was rescinded at the next meeting of the Board.
On July 16th the purchase of the bridge was again reported against, and the Clerk instructed to give notice in accordance with law for bids for building a Court-house and Jail.
On August 4th the tax levy for the year was made, as follows: For State purposes, 70c .; School Fund, 10c .; Roads, 5c .; Building Fund, 25c .; County General Fund, 50c .; Santa Clara indebtedness, 10c. In all, $1.70.
At this meeting we hear for the first time of provision being made for the indigent sick of the county, and on motion, Mr. Haile, of
120
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Alameda, and Mr. Eagar, of Brooklyn, were appointed a committee to report on a place for their keeping, at the next meeting.
On August 19th the proposal of C. B. Tool for building a Court- house and Jail for $32,400 was accepted. The plans were subse- quently amended so as to make a reduction of $2,400, leaving the cost $30,000.
The bid of Orrin Hamlin to house, feed and take care of the indi- gent sick of the county, at a charge of $12 each, per week, was accepted.
Mr. Eagar had a herculean task imposed upon him at this meeting. It was nothing short of an instruction "to proceed according to law to remove the obstruction of the public highway between the town of Brooklyn and the city of Oakland, being a certain gate placed upon the bridge, known as the Oakland bridge." Mr. Eagar did not undertake this arduous duty at once, but a short time afterwards Mr. Carpentier appeared before the Board, coolly requesting it to do as the Court of Sessions had illegally done : to make a contract with him with regard to the bridge. This proposition was rejected by a vote of four to one.
The matter of providing sufficient and safe county offices was be- coming daily more pressing, and on the Ist of September the Grand Jury of the Court of Sessions made the following presentment, exhibiting the piteous condition of the county in this aspect, and which justified the Board of Supervisors in taking the steps already recorded in providing a new brick building :
" The treasury and county records are but baits for the burglar and incendiary. The misfortune of the county heretofore in the loss of a large amount of money-the destruction by fire of one Court-house and the narrow escape of the records covering transactions of im- mense value to our fellow citizens. While we consider it neither be- coming nor economical that we should be yet unprovided with a place of confinement to enforce the decrees of our own Courts, having to depend upon the charity of our neighbors to supply a necessity we are well able to furnish ourselves."
On Oct. 4th the county was districted as follows : Oakland, No. 1; Brooklyn and Alameda, No. 2; Eden, No. 3; Washington, No. 4 ; Murray, No. 5.
On Nov. 17th the returns for Presidential, State, and County elections were canvassed. At this election Judge McKee presented himself for the first time before the people as candidate for County
121
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
Judge. His opponent was the late Asa Walker. The vote stood 969 for McKee, and 610 for Walker. For President of the United States, Buchanan received 729 votes ; Fremont, 723 ; Fillmore, 216. This was the first Presidential election in which a Republican can- didate appeared in the field. Although the Democratic candidate for President received a small plurality of votes, the Republicans elected their State Senator. Bell (Republican) received on that occasion 704 votes ; Hamilton (Democrat), 589; and Williams (Knownothing), 316.
One of the events of this year was the establishment of a weekly newspaper at the county seat. It was called the Alameda County Gazette, and was published by W. P. Rodgers and W. G. Hamilton. The former was afterwards an efficient Assemblyman ; the latter was a brother of Judge Hamilton ; and both were Democrats; but the paper was neutral in politics.
The following two acts concerning the government of the county formed a portion of the legislation of the year :
An Act to authorize the Sheriff of Alameda County to collect the delinquent taxes assessed during the year 1854, 1855, and 1856 ; empowered the Sheriff to act as Tax Collector, to collect taxes re- maining unpaid, without vitiating his official bond, and requiring him to file with the Recorder an official bond, providing for the faith- ful performance of his duties as such Tax Collector.
An Act to repeal an Act entitled an Act to create a Board of Supervisors for Alameda County, and to provide for the government of said county, repealing the special Act and subjecting to the Act creating Boards of Supervisors in the counties of the State, the pre- sent Supervisors to remain till their successors are appointed.
At the termination of the year 1856 the social condition of the county had considerably improved. People began to enjoy them- selves, and balls and parties were becoming quite common. Alva- rado, the old county seat, and Centerville, became as famous for social gatherings as San Leandro had subsequently. Haywards, too, was looming up in this respect. There was a good deal of lawless- ness yet abroad, and murder and violence was somewhat frequent. Education, under the efficient management of Mr. Brier, was mak- ing headway, and altogether much progress was apparent.
Up to July of 1856 there had been paid out of the Treasury, since the organization of the county, in May, 1853, upon orders of the County Auditor, $73,979.73, besides $7,156.44 stolen from County Treasurer Marston at Alvarado.
122
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
The number of children of school age in the county in 1856 was 847, but the school attendance was only 387. The girls were rapidly gaining on the boys ; the latter being 403, to the former's 444. There were 14 districts, employing 19 teachers, at an average salary per month of $76.70. There was paid on account of salaries, $4,937.36 ; expended in the erection and repair of schoolhouses, $2,512. The total expenditure for the year was $7,499.36. The average time of school in each district was 6 months. The expenses of each pupil in attendance amounted to $20.83.
There were cultivated, in 1856, 22,054 acres of wheat, 20,000 of barley, 210 of oats, 45 of rye, 105 of buckwheat, 3,108 of potatoes, 265 of Indian corn, yielding an aggregate of 1,877,999 bushels ; of broom-corn there were 39 acres; of cabbage, 139; of onions, 73; beans, 3,657 ; peas, 175; beets, 28; turnips, 41; cucumbers, 43; tomatoes, 31; carrots, 15; garden vegetables, 410 ; strawberries, 38; apple orchards, 426; peach orchards, 173; vineyards, 34; making in all 56,509 acres under cultivation. The total number of animals and fowls enumerated was 58,955 ; of which 4,734 were horses, 1,067 mules, 4,223 cows, 13,325 stock cattle, 9,328 sheep, and 18,250 hens and chickens. Of butter, 120,235 Ibs. were made ; of cheese, 163,013 ; of wool clipped, 27,984 Ibs.
The estimate of the average yield of all the land cultivated was at 50 bushels per acre, and the average price at $1.20 per bushel, giving the large sum of $3,390,540 as the value of the produce of the soil ; and estimating the value of the increase of stock and manufactures at $600,000, made the handsome little sum of $4,000,- 000, as the annual value of the various productions of Alameda County for 1856.
The County Assessor reported that there were in the county, at this time, 40 miles of telegraph wire in operation ; one steam saw-mill, two steam flouring-mills, two water flouring-mills, one toll-bridge, one flowing artesian well at Alvarado, another at Alameda, and several others of minor importance, in various localities.
Our legislative representatives were, as Joint Senator, for 1855-6, Sherman Day ; and as Assemblyman, T. M. Coombs.
In October of the year the following Supervisors were elected : Murray, J. M. Dougherty ; Brooklyn, Thos. Eagar ; Washington, Jos. R. Mason ; Eden, Wm. Hayward ; Oakland, J. A. Hobert.
The county officers were the same as in 1855.
123
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
1857-The New Supervisors Tackle the Bridge Matter-$1,000 Ap- propriated for the Castro and Amador Road-They Refuse to Release Jotham S. Marston-An Agreement to Purchase the Bridge-County Hospital Abolished-The New Bridge Project- The County Buildings Completed-Discount on California Gold Coin-The Yearly Tax Levy-A County Map Made-Marston's Sureties Released on a Compromise and Suit Dismissed-The New Court-room Furnished-Election of County Officers-The Bridge Again-Free at Last, and Suit Suspended-Temporary Court-house Sold at Auction-The Oakland and San Antonio Steam Navigation Company Formed-The Old Company Become more Accommodating-Legislation of the Year-Manufactures and Finances.
This year our representatives in the State Legislature were, as Joint Senator for 1857-8, S. B. Bell, whose election has been already mentioned, and Jas. B. Larue as Assemblyman.
The county officers elected in Sept., 1855, served to Sept. 2d, 1857.
The Supervisors elected in October, 1856, served till October, 1857. Their first meeting was on the 5th of January, when they took up the vexatious bridge matter. This time it was resolved to build an opposition bridge to Carpentier & Co.'s, from Seventh Street in Oak- land to Jackson Street in Brooklyn, and a committee of two was ap- pointed to invite proposals for plans and estimates. This committee consisted of those members most immediately interested, Messrs. Eagar and Hobart.
At the same meeting the sum of $1,000 was appropriated out of the road fund, to be expended on roads and bridges "running from Castro's Gate to Amador Valley."
A bill had been introduced in the Legislature, then in session, for the relief of Jotham S. Marston, late County Treasurer, who had been robbed as already mentioned ; but the Board not only refused to release him from the amount missing, as empowered by the Act referred to, but employed counsel to aid the District Attorney in his prosecution. The amount lost to the county was $7,000, and to the State, $1,300. Mr. Larue favored the bill to grant relief. At the meeting of March 3d an offer was received from Carpentier & Co., proposing to sell the bridge to the county for $6,000. The following resolution was passed in regard thereto :
"It is hereby ordered by the Board, that the offer of $6,000 be made to the owners of the bridge connecting Oakland with Brooklyn
124
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
Township, for all right, title and interest thereto, provided that on or before the presentation of said offer, Messrs. Hays, Caperton and others connected with them in the proprietorship of Spanish grants in said Oakland Township, and Horace W. Carpentier, shall pay to the Sheriff of Alameda County all arrears of taxes standing against them on the tax-lists of said county." Supervisor Hobart was author- ized to enter into a suitable contract.
On May 4th the Supervisors abolished the County Hospital, and the Supervisors instructed to take charge of the indigent sick in their respective localities.
On the same date the report in reference to the new bridge matter was laid on the table, and on the 1st of June it was taken up and the proposition rejected. Then, on 6th of July, came a petition from citizens in favor of a free bridge, to be located between Seventh Street in Oakland and Jackson Street in Brooklyn; and A. J. Coffee was ordered to notify parties on route of said highway.
The new county buildings were reported completed at this meeting, and the sum of $580 extra voted to the builder, Mr. Toole, for which he gave a receipt free of all demands. Messrs. Eagar and Hayward were appointed to take possession of the building in the name and in behalf of the county.
At the meeting of August 3d, a circumstance occurred which goes to show that even a gold currency as well as silver and paper is liable to depreciation. On that day the Sheriff was allowed $60 for "loss on California coin." Nothing is immutable, for here we have even our much-valued California coin suffering a depreciation of $60 in a single officer's hands, and a reimbursement of him for the same.
The tax levy for the year, for State and County purposes, was fixed at $1.55 on the $100.
The Seventh-street bridge matter was again taken up, and A. J. Coffee voted $6,000 for building and completing a bridge at the points indicated, to be finished on the 4th day of March, 1858.
On August 10th the Board of Supervisors met in the new Court house. The County Surveyor was allowed $2,600 for a new map of the county. Marston and sureties were released on payment of $3,441.40, being a partial reimbursement of the county for the money stolen, and the suit was dismissed.
On August 24th Freeman & Smith contracted to furnish the new Court-room for $1,150.
On September 14th the election returns were canvassed, when it
125
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
was found the following gentlemen were elected county officers, to serve for two years: County Judge, Sam. Bell McKee ; Sheriff, P. E. Edmondson; Clerk, H. M. Vesey; Treasurer, C. C. Breyfogle; Surveyor, Jas. T. Stratton; District Attorney, Wm. Van Voorhies; County Superintendent, W. W. Brier; Assessor, David S. Lacey; Coroner, W. J. Bowen.
On the October following the following Supervisors were elected to serve for one year: Murray, J. W. Dougherty; Oakland, F. K. Shattuck; Brooklyn, Jas. B. Larue; Washington, Jos. R. Mason; Eden, C. P. Wray.
On the 5th the new Board took their seats, and Mr. Shattuck moved that county warrants be issued for the sum of $6,000 to pur- chase Carpentier & Co.'s bridge, provided they agreed to replank the portion built by Carpentier. The resolution was adopted on a divis- ion; the yeas being Shattuck, Dougherty and Mason, and the noes Larue and Wray. Subsequently the county warrants were issued to Messrs. H. W. Carpentier, Edson Adams and John B. Watson, in payment for the long-contended-for bridge, and Jas. B. Larue was empowered to take possession of the same in the name of the county and issue the warrants out of the County General Fund. And thus was the second long-pending county controversy settled. Thereafter people felt more free and traveled more frequently, and rejoiced that that old toll-gate and that persistent toll-taker were forever out of the way. A suit had been pending against the bridge trio for ob- structing the bridge, which on this consummation was ordered dis- missed on payment of costs.
After the new Court-house was taken possession of, the old build- ing was sold at auction, on the first Monday of December, there being no use for the same any longer.
Some of the events of the year were the commencement of the steamer Peralta, on January 6th, to make three trips per day to " Peralta Landing," near Alameda ; and the County School Exhibi- tion, on the 1st of May. But the most important event in the way of progress and enterprise, was the formation of the " Oakland and San Antonio Steam Navigation Company," under the presidency of Mr. Larue, to run an opposition line of steamers between Brooklyn, Oakland and San Francisco.
The Minturn line had been in operation for some years, but the dissatisfaction of the public with it had become so great that the stock of the new company was readily taken up.
126
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
The Minturn Company were led to perceive by this the public want, and, on April 4th, put on another boat, the Contra Costa, in addition to the Clinton, with the intention of making nine trips per diem between San Francisco and Oakland.
The legislation of the year, for Alameda County, consisted of the following Acts :
An Act for the relief of Jotham S. Marston, late Treasurer of Alameda County. To be given a credit of $1,395.40 by the Treasurer of the State, he being relieved from the payment of that sum stolen from his office. The Board of Supervisors of Alameda County to give him a credit and acquittance for the sum of $7,156.40.
An Act supplementary to the Act to incorporate the City of Oak- land, passed March 25th, 1854. All sales of any property for the payment of delinquent taxes to be made at some public place within the city.
An Act to authorize the Supervisors of Alameda County to levy a special tax of one-fourth of one per cent., to constitute a special fund for the construction of a Court-house and Jail.
An Act to authorize the holding of the Courts of the County Judge at the same time, on the third Mondays of January, March, May, July, September and November.
An Act to fix the compensation of certain officers. The Assessor and his Deputies, each, in the Counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Napa, Alameda, Sonoma and San Joaquin, shall not be allowed more than $5 per diem, whilst actually engaged ; and no per diem for col- lecting poll-tax.
An Act to amend an Act to adjust the amount of indebtedness of the County of Alameda to the County of Contra Costa, and provide for the payment thereof. Passed May 15th, 1854. B. C. Whitman, of Solano County, John H. Livingston, of Contra Costa County, and Samuel Bell McKee, of Alameda County, appointed a Board of Commissioners to ascertain and adjust the amount of indebtedness of the County of Alameda to the County of Contra Costa. Award to be certified to the Board of Supervisors, who are, in the year 1857, to levy a special tax for the payment in cash of one-half of the said award with ten per cent. interest thereon, to be paid on or before the 1st of March, 1858. The balance to be raised and paid over before the Ist of March, 1859, with ten per cent. interest until paid.
An Act to grant the Sheriff of Alameda County additional time to make his annual settlement for the collection of State and county
127
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
taxes for the year 1856. Two months granted from the first Monday of March, 1857, for collection of State and county taxes up to the expiration of that time. Written consent of sureties required for extension of bonds. To make a settlement on the first Monday of March, 1857.
There were in the county at this date four grist-mills, two running by steam and two by water. The former were located at Alvarado and San Leandro ; the latter at Vallejo's and the Mission. Between them they possessed 16 run of stone, with a capacity for 600 barrels of flour per day. Their aggregate cost was $150,000.
The saw-mills in the Redwoods had become reduced to one, and that propelled by water. Its capacity was 10,500 feet of lumber per day.
There was one tannery, situated on the Encinal, the capacity of which was 250 sides of leather per month.
The condition of the county finances at the beginning of the year was as follows : Floating debt, $3,460 ; receipts from all sources from January 1st, 1856, to January 1st, 1857, $34,410.56 ; expendi- tures during same period, $27,780.52 ; excess of receipts, $6,630.04. This, it must be confessed, was a healthy condition for so young a county and one having so much to do with its money.
1858-The Business of the Supervisors Confined to Routine-The An- nual Tax Levy - The Santa Clara Indebtedness not yet Paid Off-Contra Costa's Claim also Drags-J. W. Luttrell Resigns his Office as Justice of the Peace, Leaves the County and Gains Fame Elsewhere-Careless Assessing-A Difference of Divers Leagues and Thousands of Acres-Value of Land and Stock in Murray Township-A New Board Seated-Heavy Physicians' Bills for Care of the Indigent Sick-Road Districts-Fining of a Sunday Bull-Fighter-Is Illegal-The Offender Commits a Murder-Fruit Vale to the Front-Fourth of July Celebrations -Wm. Van Voorhies and Judge McKee Deliver Orations-Daily Mail Between Oakland and San José-The Oakland Postmaster Failed to Forward it on Sundays -The Alameda Collegiate Institute - Formation of the Alameda County Agricultural Society.
The Board of Supervisors continued their sessions throughout the year, having little to engage their attention besides the construction of roads and bridges, and the payment of accounts.
128
HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
On the 26th of February the tax levy for the year was struck at $1.80 for all purposes ; but at the next meeting the State portion was reduced from $1 to 60c., so that the actual assessment was $1.40 on the $100.
At this date the account with Santa Clara was not yet closed, and on June 7th Supervisor Dougherty was appointed to meet a Com- missioner from that county, to decide upon the balance remaining unpaid.
On June 7th the amount remaining due to Contra Costa County was stated at $1,972.33, being the award of Commissioners ; and an additional tax of 5c. on the $100 was ordered, to pay one-half of this indebtedness. The indebtedness to Santa Clara was fixed by the Commissioners at $882.47.
On August 2d J. W. Luttrell, Justice of the Peace for Brooklyn Township, sent in a bill for $24.75 for services rendered the county, which bill was allowed, but not without it being " likewise ordered that the balance due the county, now remaining in his hands, amounting to $325, be paid by him into the County treasury." Im- mediately on the passage of this offensive order, the worthy Justice immediately tendered his resignation to the Board. Some time after he left the county, and has made a name and acquired fame since then, elsewhere, as a State Legislator and United States Congress- man. Asa Walker, since deceased, was appointed to succeed him.
The County Assessor for this year, or his deputy, showed consider- able carelessness, because, at the meeting of the Board of Equaliza- tion, José Livermore protested that he was assessed for four leagues of land, while, in reality, he only possessed two leagues. Even with this reduced quantity most people will think he possessed quite enough, and the Assessor ought to have been punished for making so bad a blunder. Evidently he supposed, in this land of great farms, a league or two of no consequence. Augustine Alviso was taxed for 3,500 acres, while he protested he owned but 2,500 acres, and had his assessment reduced accordingly. This land was all in Murray Township, and was valued at $10 per acre. Three hundred head of cattle were valued at $15 per head and assessed accordingly.
On the 1st of November the new Board, consisting of F. K. Shat- tuck, Oakland ; Jonathan Mayhew, Washington ; S. M. Davis, Ala- meda and Brooklyn ; Chas. Duer, Murray ; and A. A. Anderson, Eden, took their seats.
A committee was appointed to report on the best mode of caring for
129
UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES.
the indigent sick, who had become a great bill of expense on the county. At this meeting bills to the amount of $985.25 were passed upon in favor of several physicians of the county for their attendance upon them ; and some months later an Oakland physician got a bill of $700 allowed for medical attendance given to a single individual who had accidently broken a leg. The business was becoming unbear- able, and a proposition was seriously entertained to have the sick poor of the county transferred to the San Francisco County hospital, if a satisfactory arrangement could be come to. A somewhat similar arrangement was entered into the following year.
There were in the county, at this date, thirteen road districts, with a supervisor for each, and all seemed to be busy.
A committee of examination declared the new jail unsafe for hold- ing prisoners, and the defect was ordered remedied.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.