Alameda County

History

Past and Present of Alameda County, California - S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914

CHAPTER VI
THE COUNTY BOARD

        Previous to 1853 what is now known as Alameda county was a part of Contra Costa county and its public affairs were managed by the authorities of the latter. As early as 1850 several public highways were laid out across this county—one extending along the west side of the San Pablo and the San Leandro hills and another extending from east to west through the Livermore valley.

        Before the first roads were laid out by the county authorities numerous trails ran from ranch to ranch along the valleys and over the hills or led to the Mission San Jose towards which at first, like Rome, all roads led. The trails were well marked. One ran from the corral of Vicente Peralta, near Temescal along past the ranchos of Domingo and Ygnacio Peralta, Castro and on down to that of Vallejo near the Mission. Another began near the rancho of Robert Livermore at Las Pocitas Spring, thence on past the haciendas of Bernal, Sunol and Alviso, following the canyon in summer and crossing the mountains through the Corral Pass in winter, down to the mission. Another led from the Tules of the upper bay over the mountains and down through the beautiful valley where Amador lived, past the ranchos of Castro and Soto on to the mission. On this trail John C. Fremont and party rode on their way to Monterey, taking as they went such horses of Amador as they wished and never returning them or paying for them.

        The latter was the first road considered by the Alameda county authorities on June 6, 1853, at Alvarado, then the county seat. Judge A. M. Crane then presided over the court of sessions. The trail was first called Stockton Road and at this time was declared a public highway. The second county road was formally located from Vicente Peralta's house to Oakland. F. K. Shattuck was one of the viewers of this road, which in time became Telegraph avenue. The third ran from Broadway to San Pablo and was called San Pablo road and later avenue. Every one road on horseback in those days; that was the only way to cross the streams, valleys, hills and marshes. There were no buggies till later.

        The original boundary of Contra Costa county was as follows: "Beginning at the mouth of Alameda creek and running thence in a southwesterly direction to the middle of the Bay of San Francisco; thence in a northerly or northwesterly direction, following as near as may be the middle of the bay to the Straits of San Pablo; thence up the middle of the Bay of San Pablo to the Straits of Carquinez; thence running up the middle of said straits to the Suisan bay and up the middle of said bay to the mouth of the San Joaquin river; thence following up the middle of said river to the place known as Pescadero or Lower Crossing; thence in a direct line to the northeast corner of Santa Clara county, which is on the summit of the Coast Range near the source of Alameda creek; thence down the middle of said creek to its mouth which was the place of beginning, including the islands of San Pablo, Coreacas and Tasoro. The seat of justice shall be at the town of Martinez."

        The remainder of what is now Alameda county—that is, all south of Alameda creek—was a portion of Santa Clara county and was denominated Washington township, which name was retained after the creation and organization of Alameda county in 1853.

        In 1852, while Alameda was still a portion of Contra Costa county, an act provided that the stream called San Antonio creek, in the county of Contra Costa, should be declared navigable from its mouth to the old embarcadero of San Antonio, and no obstruction to the navigation thereof should be permitted. In this year the town of Oakland was incorporated.

        On October 28th, the board of supervisors of Contra Costa county made a contract with T. C. Gilman to build a bridge across the San Antonio creek, in Oakland, the contract price being $7,500. It was stipulated in the contract that should the treasurer refuse to pay any warrant or order drawn in favor of Gilman, out of any money belonging to said county, a penalty of five per cent per month, to be deemed an interest was to be paid Mr. Gilman. On March 8, 1853, the board of supervisors met and accepted the bridge and made an order directing the county auditor to draw a warrant upon the county treasurer, in favor of Gilman, for $7,662.50, that being the contract price of the bridge, together with interest thereon at five per cent per month from the time the bridge had been completed up to the period the order was made. A warrant was drawn by the auditor in favor of Gilman and delivered to him March 8, 1853. After long litigation the county actually paid for the bridge $31,611.21.

        On March 18th, the Governor approved the bill which created Alameda county from Contra Costa county and Washington township of Santa Clara county. Its original boundaries were as follows: "Beginning at a point at the head of a slough, which is an arm of the Bay of San Francisco, making into the mainland in front of the Gegara ranchos; thence to a live sycamore tree that stands in a ravine between the dwellings of Fluhencia and Valentine Gegara; thence up said ravine to the top of the mountain; thence in a direct line easterly to the junction of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne counties; thence northwesterly on the west line of San Joaquin county to the slough known as the Pescadero thence westwardly in a straight line until it strikes the dividing ridge in the direction of the house of Jose Harlan in Amador valley; thence westwardly along the middle of said ridge crossing the gulch one-half mile below Prince's mill; thence to and running upon the dividing ridge between the redwoods known as the San Antonio and Prince Woods; thence along the top of said ridge to the head of the gulch or creek that divides the ranchos of the Peraltas from those known as the San Pablo ranchos; thence down the middle of said gulch to its mouth; and thence westwardly to the eastern line of the county of San Francisco; thence along said last mentioned line to the place of beginning. The seat of justice shall be at Alvarado." Afterward several changes were made in the boundary.

        At the regular election in 1853 the following officers were chosen: Addison M. Crane, county judge; A. N. Broder, sheriff; William H. Coombs, district attorney; A. M. Church, county clerk; J. S. Marston, treasurer; Joseph S. Watkins, public administrator; William H. Chamberlain, coroner; H. A. Higley, surveyor; George W. Goucher, assessor; W. W. Brier, superintendent of schools.

        The senator was Jacob Grewell, who continued to act as joint senator for the three counties of Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa, while the first chosen member of assembly was Joseph S. Watkins.

        A committee was appointed to contract for the erection of a frame building 30x60 feet and twelve feet high to the eaves, not to exceed in cost $1,200 at San Leandro. The building committee on May 15th reported the structure completed at a total cost of $1,265.

        At first the county seat was located at Alvarado, the then center of the county's population. As soon as it was determined (1854) to erect county buildings various towns, villages and hamlets came forward and urged their several claims for that distinction. Petitions were circulated and a sufficient number of signatures obtained to justify the calling of an election to determine where the future county seat should be. The election was held on December 5, 1854, and the canvas showed a total of 1,882 votes cast, which were divided among seven locations, as follows: Alameda, 232; Alvarado, 614; San Leandro, 782; Oakland, 18; San Lorenzo, 220; Haywards Town, 4; Haywards, 11. No town having received a majority of all the votes cast, another election was ordered held on December 30th. This time public interest centered upon two places only—Alvarado and San Leandro, the former receiving 1,067 and the latter 1,301 votes, the latter thus securing the prize. The aggregate vote of the last mentioned election, 2,368, exceeded that of the first named by about five hundred ballots, a fact which should not be taken as an indication either of increased interest in the matter or of sudden growth in population. It was accomplished, it was alleged, by the most bare-faced fraud. An election in that day was free to all. Men were imported from San Francisco by the boat-load; no conditions were imposed at the polls that were not readily complied with. The newly-acquired honors of San Leandro, however, were not destined to remain long uncontested.

        Legal steps to determine the legality of the election were taken and the case was temporarily at least settled against San Leandro, because in the following August the board of supervisors met at Alvarado. The San Leandro people resorted to the Legislature, and on February 8, 1856, a bill was approved which confirmed to them the prize.

        As soon as the county officials had betaken themselves to Alvarado in August, 1855, the question arose touching the legality of all county business transacted at San Leandro during its occupancy as the county seat from April 2d to August 15, 1855. The board of supervisors, therefore passed a resolution affirming and reenacting all resolutions and enactments passed by them during that time.

        On March 9, 1855, the act creating a board of supervisors for Alameda county was approved. It provided that the first board should be elected on the third Monday of March, and annually thereafter. This election was duly held March 19, and on April 2d the board convened at the courthouse in San Leandro for the transaction of business. There were then present: Henry C. Smith of Washington township; A. C. Austin of Clinton township; James W. Dougherty of Murray township; J. L. Sanford of Oakland township; James Millington of Alameda township and S. D. Taylor of Eden township. Mr. Dougherty was elected chairman of the board. Their first duty was to appoint a committee to examine claims against the county and to fix the yearly tax levy. At this meeting the county treasurer was empowered to expend $200 for a safe.

        In the month of October, 1856, the county was divided into five supervisor districts in accordance with the general law; they were described and designated as follows: Townships of Brooklyn and Alameda, district number two; township of Eden, district number three; township of Washington, district number four; township of Murray, district number five. At this meeting the office of public administrator was declared vacant, the incumbent, Edwin Barnes, having failed to file the additional bond required of him. On the same date Mr. Tool received his first installment of $1,500 on his contract, and Mr. Fairfield was allowed $50 for preparing the courthouse plans. At this session of the board, Noble Hamilton and Edward R. Carpentier were each allowed $125 for legal services in the case of The People, ex rel., vs. C. P. Hester which grew out of the assessment made during the month of August for a county building fund.

        The following were the large tax payers in 1859: J. J. Vallejo $190,050, William Castro $148,000, Estudillo Family $120,339, Hathaway, Brady & Crabb $60,800, Soto family $60,392, J. B. Larue $56,145, Ygnacio Peralta $54,100, A. Alviso $45,900, S. B. Martin $43,250, H. G. Ellsworth, $38,975, J. W. Dougherty $31,800, F. Higuerra $28,950, Livermore estate $28,300, Contra Costa Steam Navigation Company $28,000, Edward Minturn $27,200, Robert Simpson $26,750, E. L. Beard $26,285, A. M. Peralta $25,550, Clemente Colombet $25,100, A. B. Fabes $23,000, Antonio Sunol $21,400, W. M. Lubbock $20,000, Earl Marshall $18,000, G. W. Patterson $17,320, Mrs. A. C. Colombet $17,000, Thomas G. Carey $15,400, H. N. Carpenter $15,000, Benjamin Holladay $15,000, C. J. Stevens, $14,725, A. Lewelling $13,700, California Steam Navigation Company $13,500, Z. Hughes $13,450, Richard Threlfall $12,450, William Glaskin $12,000, Coffee & Risdon $12,000, H. I. Irving $11,675, Wm. H. Souther $11,500, E. S. Eigenbrodt $11,450, Mulford & Co., $11,425, William H. Maddox $11,250, Cull & Luce $11,040, R. B. Donovan $10,950, Jesse Beard $10,625, J. Lewelling $10,385, A. L. Pioche $10,300, Domingo Peralta $10,000.

        The board of supervisors being authorized by the Legislature, the direct result of a bill introduced by Senator Crane, approved April 21, 1863, to subscribe for Alameda county $220,000 worth of stock in the Alameda Valley railroad, should the sanction of the people be obtained, a special election was held June 2, 1863, when the proposition was declared lost. The following was the vote:

        In September of this year a mandamus was issued by Judge Reynolds of Contra Costa to compel the board of supervisors of Alameda county to levy a tax to pay the Contra Costa judgment, but on application to the supreme court a stay of proceedings was granted.

        On May 2, 1864, Dole & Brother were paid the sum of $2,000 on account for the building of the bridge at San Leandro; the time for finishing the same was extended to the 1st of June. It was, however, completed and accepted by the county on May 23d. Specifications for repairing and replanking the Oakland bridge were ordered and bids for doing the same called for. This contract was let to A. W. Hawkett & Co. for $1,995 to be paid in county warrants on completion, which was duly done on August 8, 1864. On August 18th the board of supervisors determined to lay a sidewalk on either side of the road between Alvarado and Centerville and make provision for shading the same with trees; but although the first part of the proposition was carried out, the matter of planting trees was revoked ,March 7, 1865. On this date the Contra Costa Water Company obtained permission to lay pipes in Oakland township. On May 27th, Dr. T. H. Pinkerton was elected resident physician of the County Hospital.

        In compliance with the law the board of supervisors on December 3d made a semi-annual statement of the revenue and finances of the county and the debt existing at that date.  The receipts from all sources were as follows:

        The total value of assessed property in Alameda county for the year was $5,620,976.50. On February 4, 1867, the board of supervisors resolved to expend $300 in laying out a courthouse square and planting trees therein, but that sum being considered insufficient for the purpose $250 more were appropriated, and on April 13th a flag-staff, to cost $50, was ordered for the square.

        The board of supervisors elected on October 4th was composed of F. K. Shattuck, Oakland township; Duncan Cameron, Brooklyn township; E. M. Smith, Alameda township; J. B. Martin, Eden township; John M. Horner, Washington township; Dan. Inman, Murray township; who elected Mr. Shattuck chairman, and Messrs. Shattuck, Cameron, Smith and Marlin, the hospital committee. December 12, 1867, it was ordered that no more armory claims would be allowed unless accompanied with evidence of approval by the state board of military auditors. Early in 1868 J. Ross Browne, was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Pekin, but not being impressed either with the "Flowery Kingdom" or the officials thereof, he resigned the post. Enterprise and activity reigned supreme throughout the year 1867. During 1867 there were established a County Teachers' Association; the Oakland Bank of Savings; the location of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute; the reorganization of the County Agricultural Society; and the founding of the Agricultural College.

        In this year the removal of the state capital obtained prominence, and Alameda county made an offer for the prize. At a meeting of the board held February 3, 1868, on motion of Supervisor Horner, the following preamble and resolution were unanimously adopted:

        "Whereas, The question of the removal of the state capital is now pending in the Legislature; therefore, Resolved, That a committee of three members of this board be appointed to prepare a bill to be submitted to said Legislature, authorizing the board of supervisors of Alameda county to issue bonds to the amount of $150,000, to be appropriated to the erection of suitable buildings for use of the state, in the event of the Legislature locating the state capital in this county."

        Messrs. Shattuck, Cameron and Smith were appointed such committee. On the 21st of February, the state Legislature visited Oakland, but declined to locate the capital there.

        The principal occurrence in 1868 was the earthquake of October 21st, which was first felt a few minutes before 8 o'clock in the morning. In Alameda county, which appears to have been its center, it was particularly destructive, and great damage was sustained in nearly all of the interior and valley towns. It was the most prodigious shaking that the county thus far ever had. The shocks occurred as follows: 7:54 A. M. very heavy; direction northeast, east and southwest, a rolling motion. Almost like a continuation of this came a whirling motion. At 8:26 came a slight shock. At 8:44 came a heavy shock with rolling motion and up and down movement. At 3 :12 came a slight shock; at 3:17 a slight shock; at 4:08 double shock up and down. There were thirty-two shocks in all during that day, but these mentioned were especially noted. In comparison Oakland did not suffer much damage, crockery and glassware were broken and many chimneys were thrown down. Portions of wharves were swept away and walls were cracked in almost every house.

        On October 26, 1868, the county jail of San Francisco was designated as that for Alameda county. On November 16th the board of supervisors agreed upon plans for a new courthouse, jail and recorder's office, the latter to be a fire-proof brick building and the prison to be provided with iron cells. The board also appointed at this time a special committee to purchase a piece of ground on which to establish the county infirmary; they were instructed to obtain fifty acres of land belonging to Mr. Puff, and located between San Leandro and Haywards above the county road.

        Under the provisions of the Gopher and Squirrel act, passed March 2, 1870, a special tax of 1½ cents on each $100 worth of property, to be called the Bounty Fund, was ordered to be levied; while another special levy of one cent, with the same conditions, was ordered in accordance with the act approved March 8, 1870 to be known as Interest Bridge Fund. On June 7th the county recorder was authorized to re-record in the proper book the following maps: Kellersberger's map of the city of Oakland; map of town of San Leandro by H. A. Higley; and a map of Oakland showing the position of the property of Joseph Irving, deceased. At the same time the map of the ranchos of Vicente and Domingo Peralta was ordered framed.

        The following acts of the Legislature were passed in 1870: To provide for building bridge across the Estuary of San Antonio; tax for payment of bridge bonds; to issue bonds for bridge purposes; to prevent the destruction of fish and game in and around Lake Merritt; for a bridge across San Antonio creek; to appoint bridge committee; to levy special bridge tax; to lay out and improve streets of Oakland; for lighting Oakland with gas; for redemption of school bonds; to improve streets in Oakland; to authorize a tax for interest on bonds; to appoint commissioners for a bridge across San Antonio creek; authorizing a special tax for bridge across San Antonio creek; concerning wharves, not to apply to Oakland; establishing boundary between Brooklyn and Oakland. The population of Alameda county, according to the census of 1870 was 25,737.

        On March 6, 1871, the boundary line between Eden and Washington townships was changed as follows: "Commencing at the junction of North and Alameda creeks; thence running up said North creek to the mouth of Mathewson ditch; thence up said ditch to its intersection with the Mountain Road; thence following the line of said ditch extended to its intersection with the old township line at a point on the lands of Andrew Patterson; thence following the old township line between Eden and Washington townships easterly to the corner of Washington, Murray and Eden townships."

        In the early '70s the stage route from Haywards to Mt. Diablo was well patronized. The route through the Alamo valley and in the pass through the Contra Costa ridge was not so popular, because muddier and rougher. The road from Martinez southward to Walnut creek was good except in winter. At this time Alameda county prepared to gravel the Telegraph road to the Summit; buy the Moraga Valley Toll Road, gravel it in the worst places, make it free; and also gravel the roads from Haywards to Dublin and Danville. By doing this a means could be afforded the farmers of the valley between Contra Costa and Diablo ridges to bring their products to Oakland.

        In early times large sums of money were spent on the following roads : Bay, Brooklyn, Alvarado, Centerville, Dublin, Eden Vale, Inman, Laurel, Lincoln, Mt.
Eden, Mission, Murray, Newark, Niles, Ocean View, Peralta, Pleasanton, Palomares, Piedmont, Redwood, Rosedale, Summit, San Lorenzo, Stony Brook,
Sunol, Temescal, Townsend, Vallecitos, Washington, Warm Springs and others.
        On February 12, 1872, the district attorney was ordered to prepare and forward to the Legislature a bill authorizing the county to issue $15,000 of ten-year

bonds to be applied to the building of a bridge across Alameda creek near Niles. On the 19th of March, specifications and plans for the structure, to consist of three spans of 1331/3 feet each, resting on stone or iron piers, all timber except the floor, to be preserved by the "Robins" process, were called for. On the 11th of May the contract was awarded for a Smith truss to the Pacific Bridge Company at $12,496 and the work at once proceeded. To meet this amount county bonds for $14,000 were ordered to be issued; and on September 30, 1872, the bridge was reported completed and satisfactory and the contractors were paid.

        Owing to the great destruction of roads and bridges, consequent upon the floods of the winter of 1871-72, the road commissioner of Washington township issued certificates for labor and material expended in repairing to $1,006 in excess of the amount apportioned to that township, but the board of supervisors doubting its authority to allow such an outlay, resolved on March 5th to prepare an empowering bill for presentation to the Legislature for the purpose of absolving him from any responsibility in the matter. The financial state of the county as made by the treasurer up to October 7, 1872, was as follows :

                        FUNDED DEBT

Oakland bar bonds                                       $34,000.00

Oakland bridge bonds                                    20,000.00

Niles bridge bonds                                         15,000.00

Total                                                            $69,000.00

                                           FLOATING DEBT

Registered warrants                                      $74,221.94

                    VALUE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY COUNTY.

Courthouse buildings and land                        $40,000.00

Infirmary buildings                                             6,000.00

Infirmary lands                                                  6,000.00

Total                                                            $52,000.00

Cash in county treasury                                  20,329.12

                            VALUE OF PROPERTY IN COUNTY

Real estate                                              $24,738,246.00

Improvements                                             5,498,020.00

Personal property                                       6,748,655.00

Amount of money                                          341,675.00

Total                                                       $37,326,596.00

                                              TAXES

Levied for 1872-73                                     $327,618.62

Special tax in Alameda township                        2,015.10

Total                                                            $329,633.72

        In the early seventies the removal of the county seat interested every resident of the county. Early in 1872, while the Legislature was still in session, a bill was introduced having that object in view. Outside of Oakland the county was almost a unit in favor of San Leandro. The preliminary contest in 1870 over the same object only fitted the contestants for a greater degree of efficiency for the coming battle. Mr. Crane who represented this county in the House espoused the cause of the country districts. The Oakland council promptly gave assurance that the necessary building sites and structures would be furnished. The people of San Leandro organized to resist the removal to the bitter end and were joined by prominent citizens of Murray, Washington and Eden townships. Washington and Franklin squares were offered as a site for the public buildings and temporary quarters were secured in the city hall and elsewhere. Finally, upon the request of many citizens, the Legislature postponed definite action at the request of a remonstrance signed by many taxpayers who opposed the removal. In the meantime a petition numerously signed asked for the passage of a law authorizing the removal.

        Finally a bill calling an election to determine the matter passed the Legislature, but was fought tenaciously by the opponents of removal. Senator Farley of Amador, fought the cause of the "Edenites" at every step of progress through the assembly. A majority of the county board opposed the change, but Mr. Tomkins answered every argument and objection, showing the strength of the claims of Oakland for the removal. When the bill came up for final passage there was a majority of one against it. This defeat of a proposed election was celebrated with great glee by all the country district which hoped that any further attempts would never appear. However, Doctor Pardee introduced a new bill having the same object, but it was learned about this time that the county board had the power to order such an election upon petition. Such petition was prepared and contained 1453 names.

        The question whether the county seat had been once removed by a popular vote was brought up. Back in 1854 or 1855 an election was held for the change of the county seat from Alvarado to San Leandro. There was no board of supervisors at that time, and the court of sessions called the election; which resulted in the removal. Alameda became a county in 1853. The county seat remained at Alvarado until 1854. A popular vote was taken in that year, and was in favor of San Leandro. Subsequently it was removed back to Alvarado. In accordance with an act of the Legislature after that, the county seat was again removed to San Leandro.

        The case was taken into the courts and a new complication arose over the annexation of the town of Brooklyn to the city of Oakland. Finally an election was ordered for March 29, 1872, was held and resulted as follows: Oakland, 2,254 votes; San Leandro, 1,180; eight other towns in the county, 88; scattering and rejected, 5. This assured the victory for Oakland, though the fight was still kept up, more perhaps to compel that city to fulfill its promises as to sites and buildings than for any other reasons. The city hall was used temporarily for county offices and the conveyance of Washington and Franklin plazas to the county was made. At this stage of proceedings Brooklyn offered a block of land on Adams avenue and $10,000 cash and the county seat was established in that town by the vote of six to one by the county board. Oakland was thus completely ignored by the county board on the ground that it had no power to convey the two plazas to the county. This act roused the citizens here who prepared definite pledges that the sites and buildings proposed would be provided and that not less than $120,000 would be expended upon a hall of records. On the other hand a strong petition came from Washington township praying the board to establish the county seat in Brooklyn. At this time the Estudillo family of San Leandro claimed the old site at San Leandro, which had been donated by them when the seat of justice was located there in 1854. The fight between Brooklyn and Oakland went merrily on, the lawyers enjoying a profitable epoch in the diversion. The board prepared finally to erect the necessary buildings in Brooklyn, but were opposed with all sorts of legal bombshells from the courts.

        The archives were at last transferred to Brooklyn and there the board first assembled on June 7, 1873. It was at this time that Brooklyn became generally known as East Oakland. Gradually, as time passed and the future importance of Oakland became apparent, the people throughout the county came to favor the Oakland plazas as the site of the county buildings. Again the subject was taken before the Legislature and a bill calling for the issuance of $200,000 for the county buildings to be erected on the Oakland plazas was passed. There were many side issues and complications in this long and harassing contention.

        The assessor's reports at the end of the year showed Alameda to have gained the distinction of being the chief rural county of California. Her assessment roll showed a value of $35,154,065; total county and state tax, $413,344 and indebtedness, $186,625. Chief among the events that transpired in 1874 were the steps taken by the board of supervisors towards the improvement of Oakland harbor, and the third fight over the county seat.

        On July 13, 1874, the boundaries of Alameda township were changed as follows: "Beginning in the center of San Leandro bay, thence northwesterly to the mouth of Brick Yard slough; thence westerly along the center line of Washington avenue to the westerly line of Park avenue, at the bridge; thence northwesterly along the middle of Main slough, emptying into the Estuary of San Antonio, to said estuary; thence westerly along the main channel of said estuary to its mouth in San Francisco bay; thence westerly in said bay, following the deepest water, to the western boundary line of Alameda county; thence southeasterly along said boundary line 6¾ miles, more or less, to an angle in the same, and due east 1 ¼ miles, more or less, to an angle in the same; thence northerly to the most easterly extremity of Bay Farm; and thence northerly in a straight line to the place of beginning."

        On the 3d of August the board of supervisors was classified as follows: First—Two members to be elected at the next general election, in September, 1874. Second—Two members, to be elected at the general election in 1875. Third—Three members to be elected at the general election in 1876. The supervisors for the First and Sixth districts were to be elected in 1874; those for the Second and Fifth, in 1875; and those for the Third, Fourth and Seventh districts in 1876. The election was held on the 7th of September. The new board was James Beazell, district No. 1; H. Overacker, district No. 2; J. B. Marlin, district No. 3; Isham Case (chairman), district No. 4; W. B. Hardy, district No. 5; O. H. Burnham, district No. 6; F. K. Shattuck, district No. 7.

        On November 2, 1874, the boundary line between Murray and Washington townships was changed as follows: "Commencing at a point where the line between Murray and Washington townships crosses the Alameda creek, running thence up the Alameda creek to the junction of the Alameda creek and the Arroyo Laguna; thence up the Calaveras creek to the Arroyo Honda; thence up the Arroyo Honda to a point where it intersects the boundary line between Alameda and Santa Clara counties; thence following the said boundary line west to Monument Peak; thence in a southwesterly direction following the line between the two counties to the Bay of San Francisco."

        During the year 1874 the courthouse, situated on Washington Square, on the west side of Broadway, between Fourth and Fifth streets, was constructed of wood, brick, stone and iron at a cost of upwards of $200,000. Connected with it was a jail complete in all its details and a credit to the county.

        In 1874 there were cultivated in Alameda county 116,911 acres; 1,450,383 bushels of wheat were raised; 875,612 bushels of barley; 16,000 bushels of onions; 32,741 tons of hay; 624,756 pounds of wool. In the county were 627,611 grape vines; 62,720 apple trees; large numbers of almond, peach, cherry, pear and plum trees; 100,000 gallons of wine were made; sheep, 60,338; horses; 8,747; cows, 6,600; assessed valuation of all property, $25,070,867.

        On the 15th of March, permission was granted to the Livermore Spring Water Company to lay down water pipes in the public highways in and about that town. On the 29th of March the sheriff was granted permission to have the prisoners photographed. The county was divided into assessment districts corresponding to the townships; this act abolished the former county assessor. The assessors of each township were thereafter chosen at the general election. This remained the law until 1881 when they were elected every four years. In 1874 the county board agreed to pay over half the expenses of buying and installing a town clock in the new courthouse at Oakland provided the council would appropriate the other half; but the latter, owing to its great indebtedness and close money matters, procrastinated and failed to take definite action. There also arose local jealousy. Many said the clock should be in the city hall instead of in the courthouse. By December the county had already paid on the new courthouse $93,000. The roof was put on at this time.

        It was attempted about this time to take a strip of land of about two miles from off the southern portion of Alameda county and annex it to that of Santa Clara, but the scheme failed. The Tide Land Commissioners had in prospect the sale of a part of the tide land at the head of Lake Merritt, but this also failed on the passage of an act ceding the territory in question to the city of Oakland.

        The board of supervisors met in the new courthouse for the first time for the transaction of public business on Monday, June 14, 1875; the first session of the Third District court commenced there on the 21st of the same month, while county court met here for the first time on the l0th of July. In July, the Contra Costa Water Company offered to supply water for interior use in the county buildings for $18 per month in gold coin, or it agreed to set a meter and furnish water through the same at the following rates: 10,000 gallons at 75 cents per M and by a graduated scale falling to 50 cents for 35,000 gallons. The latter proposition was accepted by the county board.

        According to the assessor's returns in 1875 the following were among the rich men of Oakland township: Edson Adams, $355,680; Samuel Merritt, $293,675; Fred Delger, $210,390; S. E. Alden, $190,750; Michael Reese, $141,350; P. S. Wilcox, $127,350; Peder Sather, $112,072; G. C. Potter, $108,314; H. W. Carpentier, $103,250. In Brooklyn township were the following: Hiram Tubbs, $133,725; Mrs. Sarah Larue, $154,200. In Eden township: William Meek, $261,730; Theodore Leroy, $139,650; F. D. Atherton, $111,170; C. W. Hathaway, $106,390. In Washington township: J. G. Clark, $165,000; J. R. Reene, $439,000; George W. Patterson, $125,075. In Murray township: Charles McLaughlin, $245,066; Joseph F. Black, $103,250. In 1875 the assessed valuation of property in the county was $37,310,557, and the rate of taxation $1.28. The funded debt of the county was $179,944 and the floating debt, $89,325; property owned by the county was worth $90,804, and the cash in the county treasury was $120,945.

        Early in 1875 the House of Congress passed the Page bill which prohibited the importation of Chinese coolies under contract and of Chinese women for immoral purposes. The latter provision was as stringent as the California statutes on the same subject. The county board in February removed the old cells to the new county jail. Upon petition Alameda school district was declared a squirrel inspection district with H. S. Barlow inspector. The contract to erect two bridges over San Lorenzo creek in Eden township was let to the California Bridge Company which submitted the lowest bids ($668) and ($768) out of seven competitors; the bridges were called Lovin and Willow. A burying ground for county poor was ordered bought at Livermore. The grand jury preferred serious charges against the management of the county hospital, whereupon the county board ordered an investigation upon the special invitation of the steward, Frederick Gerstenberg. The investigation committee were Case, Hardy and Overacker of the board. They reported that there were forty-six inmates in the county infirmary and that all were well cared for with one or two exceptions; that the attending physician had had only three skeletons prepared since he was connected with the institution; that he should be censured for neglect of duty; but that as a whole the infirmary was well conducted.

        In March, 1875, the contract to build a bridge across the Arroyo del Leon in Brooklyn township was awarded to J. H. McCracken for $475. W. J. Tucker was allowed to repair the windmill on Telegraph avenue in Oakland township at an expense of $85. The board of supervisors met for the last time at East Oakland in June. June 8th was proclaimed by the board as the date when the new courthouse, etc., should be occupied by the county officers.

        On September 6, 1875, Juana M. Estudillo presented a claim to the board of supervisors as follows:

Iron vault taken from old courthouse                $5,000

Nine iron cells                                                   8,000

Rent from June 25 to January 25, 1875             2,850

Rent from January 25 to August 25                      700

Damages to premises (courthouse)                    1,500

Total                                                             $18,050

        The vault here referred to was placed in the courthouse to be used for storing the public funds, and figured also in the suit entered by F. Rhoda, the proprietor of the temporary county buildings in East Oakland. After being referred to the district attorney, the supervisors rejected the claim of Senora Estudillo. On December 6th, Judge Nye appointed Valentine Alviso to the board of supervisors in place of James Beazell, who was elected to the Legislature. In this year the taxable property of the county had grown to about ten million dollars, thus putting it at the head of all the counties of the state, with the single exception of San Francisco.     The year 1876 was one full of interest to Alameda county. This year the city of Oakland was first partitioned into wards, while it saw the incorporation of the two towns of Haywards and Livermore. The construction of the sea-walls for the protection of Oakland harbor entered upon its second year.

        On January 24th, the road fund tax paid in by townships amounting to $38,218.28 was ordered distributed among the several township districts. On the 21st of February, the city council of Oakland requested a conference with the board of supervisors in the matter of repairing the Twelfth Street bridge. The result was that the Alameda delegation in the Legislature requested to obtain the passage of a bill authorizing the building of a solid causeway in the place of the bridge, the cost not to exceed $20,000. On March 13th, the board of supervisors received a petition from the citizens of Ocean View Road district, asking for an issue of $44,000 in township bonds for the purpose of macadamizing their streets, which was denied on the 29th of May, on the ground that it would inflict too great a burden of taxation on the people.

        On the 22d of January, 1876, a franchise was granted to F. Chappellet for a horse railroad along Shattuck avenue from the terminus of the Central Pacific railroad at East Berkeley, to Cordoneces creek. In February, a bill in the Legislature provided for the consolidation of the offices of county treasurer, tax collector, clerk and auditor. Mr. Bogge introduced the bill. On the 27th of November, permission was granted to the Berkeley Water Works Company to lay their pipes in certain streets. In 1876-7 the county assessment roll was as follows :

Alameda township        $ 2,139,525

Brooklyn township           5,003,210

Eden township                 3,136,670

Murray township              2,860,019

Oakland township          19,727,232

        On the 4th of December, the new board took their seats; they were Valentine Alviso, district No. 1; Howard Overacker, district No. 2 ; Joseph B. Marlin, district No. 3; William C. Mason, district No. 4; Peter Pumyea, district No 5; O. H. Burnham (chairman), district No. 6; Jerry A. Chase, district No. 7. On the 11th of December, certain additions to the county infirmary were completed, and the bills of the contractor, J. W. Watson, and architect, J. J. Newsom, amounting in the aggregate to $3,365 were accepted and allowed.

        On January 2, 1877, Supervisor Alviso presented a deed for certain lots in Oak Knoll cemetery near Livermore, to Alameda county, which were contracted for when Mr. Beazell was a member of the board of supervisors. On February 2d, the Secretary of State impressed upon the board of supervisors the necessity under the statutes of having a set of standard weights and measures, at a cost of $300.

        On February 5th the Central Pacific Railroad Company offered to pay $3,806.24 in full of all taxes unpaid by them to the County of Alameda for the year 1872-73, it being understood that all suits against them should be discontinued. This matter was referred to the district attorney, who, under date July 16th, consented to the plan provided it should receive the approval of the Attorney-General of the State, which it did, June 2, 1870, when all suits against the Central Pacific Railroad Company were ordered to be abandoned. On the 24th of April, the clerk was directed to communicate with the board of supervisors of Contra Costa county with a view to more definitely establishing the boundary line between the two counties to which a reply signifying their willingness was received May 25, 1876. About this period Alameda township petitioned that the Webster Street bridge being over a navigable stream, should properly become a charge upon the county and that the township of Alameda should be relieved from the payment of the balance due thereon, amounting to $13,000, incurred under the act approved April 4, 1872, but when referred to the judiciary committee they reported adversely to the proposition and there the matter rested for the time.

        On the 1st of October the reorganized board of supervisors, composed as follows: John Green, district No. 1; H. Overacker, district No. 2; J. B. Marlin, district No. 3; William C. Mason, district No. 4; Peter Pumyea, district No. 5; John F. Smith, district No. 6; J. B. Woolsey, district No. 7, had their first session. Mr. Overacker was chosen chairman. On the 22d of the same month a standing reward of $1,000 was offered for the arrest and conviction of any person or persons unlawfully setting fire to any property in Alameda county. A resolution that had been for some time before the board was adopted, November 26th, authorizing the Oakland Railroad Company to operate their road on Telegraph avenue on the extension outside the city limits of Oakland with dummy engines in lieu of horses. On the 3d of December, the custom heretofore prevailing of drawing monthly warrants in favor of outside indigents was declared to be wrong; it was therefore directed to be discontinued, while it was commanded that thereafter all such matters should come before the board at the regular monthly meetings in the form of bills and take the usual course. On the 17th of December, the supervisors, by resolution, earnestly protested against the passage of a bill then pending in the Legislature, whereby the control of the Webster Street bridge, Oakland, would be transferred to the county. In spite of this opposition, however, the act was approved December 21, 1877. On December 12th the Oakland Homeopathic Hospital and Dispensary Association set forth in a petition to the board that it was a corporation formed by the ladies of Alameda county for the purpose of affording free medical and surgical advice and treatment to the poor; that they proposed to establish a hospital and dispensary in the city of Oakland that would largely benefit the county, and they asked the board to furnish them two rooms free. A motion to allow the society $40 per month was lost, and the petition referred to the hospital committee, who later reported favorably on the matter. On February 11, 1878, that amount was granted for rent, the supervisors retaining the privilege to send patients thither.

        In September, 1878, the board decided that the supervisors-elect from the third, fourth and seventh districts should not take their seats until the first Monday of March, 1880. The code declared the term of office of a supervisor to be three years, but was silent in regard to the commencement of the term. On December 8th the new board organized and consisted of: John Green, district No. 1; Henry Dusterberry, district No. 2; J. B. Marlin, district No. 3; W. B. Clement, district No. 4; Fred. F. Myers, district No. 5; John F. Smith, district No. 6; W. S. McClane, district No. 7.

        The city of Oakland conveyed to Alameda county, Washington and Franklin plazas with the proviso that buildings should be erected thereon on or before March, 1878. In the spring of 1877 the county board prepared to build a hall of records on Franklin plaza.

        In regard to the establishment of another hospital and poor-farm, the committee appointed to report on the scheme, on January 28, 1878, set forth reasons adverse to it stating that they were furnishing aid to many parties outside of the infirmary at much less rates than could be done inside. On the same date the maps prepared by Thompson & West were declared to be the official maps of the county. In the month of March the board decided to adopt a new plan in the matter of the county infirmary, and advertised for proposals for the care of the inmates at a stated per diem rate per head, the contractor to furnish medical attendance, medicines, nurses, food, etc. On August 8th, a resolution for building the new hall of records on Franklin plaza was taken under advisement for two months. On the 4th H. Dusterberry and F. F. Myers were elected supervisors for districts Nos. 2 and 5, respectively, thus making the new board, when they took their seats on October 7, 1878, to consist of John Green, district No. 1; Henry Dusterberry, district No. 2; J. B. Marlin, district No. 3; William C. Mason, district No. 4; Fred F. Myers, district No. 5; John F. Smith, district No. 6; James B. Woolsey, district No. 7.

        On the 2d of December the board of supervisors passed the following resolution: "That commencing January 1, 1879, this board will grant no further relief to those indigents now dependent upon the county and receiving aid, nor to any others who may apply at any time thereafter for the payment of rent, or for groceries, or fuel, as all the dependent poor of the county will then and thereafter be required to go to the county infirmary, and no outside relief will be granted, except in extraordinary cases, and then only by a vote of the entire board."

        On February 28, 1880, water rates were established for the following which were named as the water companies of the county: The Contra Costa Water Company, the Mission San Jose Water Works Company, the Livermore Water Company at Livermore, and the Washington and Murray Townships Water Company in Washington township. The board decided that the same rates be established as were charged by these companies during the past year, the scale to commence on July 1st. Under the provisions of the act approved April 7, 1880, authorizing the appointment of a board of education, O. S. Ingham, Joseph McKown, A. L. Fuller and W. H. Galbraith were chosen on April 19th to fill the offices, their salaries being fixed at $5 per day for the time necessarily employed, and 20 cents allowed for mileage in going to their place of business. On June 14, 1880, the county treasurer made the following statement of the outstanding indebtedness of the county:

Outstanding warrants on general fund                        $52,457.13

Outstanding warrants on infirmary fund                         9,457.03

Outstanding warrants on district road fund                    8,875.89

Interest on above warrants                                              882.50

Total                                                                        $71,672.55

Claims allowed and not yet drawn by auditor about       3,000.00

NILES BRIDGE BONDS

        Thirty in number ; $500 each, issued August 5, 1872; 10 per cent interest; semi-annually; ten years to run; redeemable after five years at option of board of supervisors. Statutes 1871-72, p. 206                                                                                              $15,000.00

WEBSTER STREET BRIDGE BONDS

        Four outstanding; annual interest, 10 per cent; statutes 1871-72, p. 83; also minutes of board of supervisors, Vol. 3, p. 589; also Statutes 1877-78, p. 942                                                                                                                                                     $8,444.66

COUNTY BUILDING BONDS

        Two hundred in number, $1,000 each; issued July 6, 1874; interest 10 per cent; semi-annually; one-tenth of said bonds due in 1885; and one-tenth each year thereafter until all paid. Statutes 1873-74, p. 594                                                                              $200,000.00

                                                                                                                                                        $223,444.66

        On June 1, 1880, the board issued order to have prisoners confined in the county jail made to perform eight hours work daily in and about public buildings, roads and highways. On June 14th, a resolution consolidating the offices of county clerk and recorder, tax collector and treasurer, on and after July 1st, was referred to the committee of the whole. The building committee having had under advisement the establishment of a receiving hospital in Oakland, reported favorably on the scheme on June 21st. The report was adopted and was handed over to the hospital committee, who, at the following meeting of the board recommended the fitting up of rooms in the basement of the new hall of records. On July 19th, a resolution to fund the debt and issue bonds therefor was referred to the committee of the whole, but the matter fell through on account of the county government bill being declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. On the same date the county was repartitioned into supervisor districts, the same districts being reestablished with the boundaries heretofore designated. On July 31st the board adopted a seal.   A communication was received from Sidney Sanders, attorney, setting forth that James M. Goggins owned six-thirty-sixths undivided interest in Washington and Franklin squares in the city of Oakland, and wished to know what action the supervisors would take in the premises. The document was laid on the table. In October Mr. Smith introduced J. J. Hanifin as his successor and the board then reorganized as follows: John Green, district No. 1; Henry Dusterberry, district No. 2; J. B. Marlin, district No. 3; W. B. Clement, district No. 4; F. F. Myers, district No. 5; J. J. Hanifin, district No. 6; W. S. McClane, district No. 7. Mr. Dusterberry was unanimously chosen chairman. On the 26th of September, 1881, the proper condolatory resolutions were passed on the death of President Garfield.  

        In 1883 the total assessment of the five townships Brooklyn, Washington, Eden, Alameda and Murray was $20,006,357.  Brooklyn had 26,256.99 acres; Washington, 105,728.16 acres; Alameda, 6,608.38 acres; Murray, 215,993 acres. The total assessment of the county in 1883 was $4,382,821 more than in 1882. In Oakland township the increase was about $2,000,000. At this time there was organized in all three cities a league to resist the payment of the county license tax. Lawyers were employed and funds raised to make the fight. The county board offered for sale bonds to the amount of $120,000.

        Marko P. Kay, auditing clerk of the county clerk's office, was defaulter to a large amount in January, 1883. He raised warrants over $10,000. Alameda county brought suit against the Oakland Bank of Savings and the First National Bank to recover the money paid them from the county treasury on the forged warrants of Mr. Kay. The county agreed to relinquish its claims of a penalty if the banks would return the money. The total amount was about $5,572.

        In September, the county funded debt was $200,000 and the floating debt $101,180.95. The property of the county and the funds on hand were estimated to be worth about $340,000. A new bridge was ordered built at the Mountain House.

        Late in October, 1883, the committee of the whole of the board of supervisors voted on the question whether the charges against Doctor Burdick were sustained with this result: five voted not sustained; two voted sustained. The charge was that the food supplied to the inmates of the infirmary was bad and ill-cooked and that the sick and well were treated alike, no difference being made in their diet; he was also charged with neglect of duty and incompetency. Thirty-two witnesses appeared against him and fifty for him. The examination consumed twelve days before the full board on full pay and the county paid the cost of investigation.

        In 1883-84 the county board performed their duties under the newly enacted and more or less revolutionary county government bill under which they were compelled to pass ordinances and cover matters formerly governed by statutes such as the license and pound ordinances. The most perplexing problem was to manage the finances of the county under new conditions and on a gigantic scale. Formerly all warrants, to pay which no money was on hand in the several funds, were registered and thus a floating indebtedness was carried over from year to year. This was prevented by the supreme court, which caused a financial climax, but was met in a masterly manner by the board. The whole indebtedness was funded and bonds were issued, saving the county thousands of dollars. The bonds though drawing less interest than the warrants were sold at a premium. In a few months $10,000 of the bonds were redeemed, and as much more a little later. It was apparent that if the wise measures of the board of 1883-84 were continued, the time would soon arrive when the county would not owe a single dollar. The new board of January, 1885, were .Messrs. Dusterberry, Hanifin, Morgan, Mollay and Pelonse; Mr. Hanifin was chosen chairman. The board decided to hold regular meetings on the first Mondays of January, April, July and October.

        On January 1, 1884, the county infirmary had 133 inmates, there were admitted during the year of 1884, 463, births 2, total 598; discharged 398, died 58, present January 1, 1885, 142. The total expenses of the institution were $24,007.74. The board allowed 25 cents a day per prisoner for feeding them during 1885. County finances were in excellent condition. There was a large surplus on hand and a great reduction in the tax levy was promised. There was paid off in 1883 $13,000 in county bonds. The county board in February ordered purchased a safe for the treasurer's office to cost $1,500 and a vault built to cost $750.

        In 1884 the roads of the San Lorenzo district were the best in the county. All the county roads were good enough in summer, but when the rains commenced the upper crust was soon cut in pieces and the whole surface was converted into deep mud. In the San Lorenzo district the roads were treated to a top coat of creek gravel which withstood the rain and served to keep firm the clay beneath.

        In June, 1885, county bonds bearing 4½ and 5 per cent interest were selling at a premium. There were yet outstanding $180,000 of the county buildings bonds issued in 1874 and bearing 8 per cent interest, but they were being reduced at the rate of $20,000 per year. The law of March 14, 1883, which established a uniform system of county and township governments, provided that debts similar to the above could be refunded. It was therefore proposed in 1885 to refund the above bonds with those bearing a much smaller rate of interest. In June the supreme court decided that the township assessors were the proper officers to assess the county.

        Formerly the county owned the jail in Livermore and then the town was charged $5 per month for its use. In the '80s when the town owned it the trustees asked the county board to pay the same rate for its use. It was used by the county constables for the detention of county prisoners. W. F. Mitchell, town clerk of Livermore, asked this appropriation of the county board. Intelligence was received by the board that the Contra Costa board refused to take any action toward a resurvey of the county line on the ground that the line had already been located in 1877. The district attorney rendered the opinion in August, that the board could issue new bonds at a lower rate of interest and use the proceeds to pay off the old 8 per cent bonds of 1874.

        On August 14, 1885, the salt makers of Alameda county met at Mt. Eden to consider the proposition of the Union Pacific Salt Company of San Francisco to lease the various salt work properties along the bay; the lease was agreed to by a vote of eighteen to four. John Barton presided at this meeting. The whole county was obstructed by large landowners who would not sell nor would not die and make room for progress. In December the grand jury lashed the management of the county infirmary which was located near the foothills miles east of San Leandro. There were then 148 inmates and the cost it was claimed was far too great—about $48,000 per year.

        The total amount of salt manufactured yearly along the bay below Mt. Eden and Alvarado in 1885 was as follows: Union Pacific Company, 20,000 tons; John Quingley, Alvarado, 2,000 tons; B. F. Barton, Alvarado, 1,500; L. Whisley, Mt. Eden, 1,500; Mr. Oliver, 1,500; F. Lund, 200; S. Liquari, 400; Olson & Co., 800; R. Barron, 600; Peter Mickelson, 5,000; John Mickelson, 300; P. Macannia, Mt. Eden, 5,000; C. & D. Pestdorf, Mt Eden, 4,000; Mr. Tuckson, Mt. Eden, 800; Peter Christensen, Mt. Eden, 800; Plummer Bros., Newark, 4,000.

        The Anti-Chinese League of Alameda county met in Germania hall on December 27, 1885, and the room was filled to the doors. F. W. Hunt presided. Addresses were made by F. W. Hunt, T. D. Hanniford, Mrs. Anderson, D. S. Hirshberg, ex-Mayor Andrus, Judge Church and B. G. Haskill of San Francisco. The following preambles and resolutions were adopted:

        Whereas, The policy of the National Government which induces Chinese immigration to this country has filled the State of California with Chinese greatly to the detriment of her citizens; and Whereas, If the policy of evading and nullifying the law passed by Congress for excluding the Chinese from this country by the executive and judicial branches of the Government is continued, it will rapidly fill the Pacific Coast states and territories and eventually the whole United States with the class of laborers belonging to a race who are directly opposed and antagonistic to our race and nation, politically, morally and socially, and whose presence is a constant menace to its welfare and prosperity; and, Whereas, From our experience with the Chinese we know that unless they are excluded from our country they will ultimately bring upon it a greater calamity than was entailed upon us by the introduction and establishment of African slavery; and, Whereas, The question of coolie servile labor and the evil resulting from the presence of that alien race among us has been so long and well discussed; and, Whereas, The further discussion of the subject without action will not only be useless but a waste of time; therefore

        Resolved, That we have within our power the constitution and laws which are the means to rid our country of this curse; Resolved, In mass meeting assembled that we will not patronize any Chinese. Resolved, That we will not patronize anyone who does. Resolved, That the Chinese must go.

        The Anti-Chinese state convention met at San Jose early in February, 1886, and passed drastic resolutions to terminate the evil. The convention adopted the name—California Non-Partisan Anti-Chinese Association. Two of the resolutions were as follows: That we regard the Chinese among us as a mental, physical, moral and financial evil; That the Chinese must go.

        In the '80s San Francisco experienced a season of growth, unparalleled in its history since the gold rush and the improvement extended to Oakland, Alameda and Berkeley first and then to Haywards and San Leandro and finally to Niles, Sunol, Pleasanton and Livermore. It was a summer-resort fever, thousands in the city seeking rural homes and retreats among the sunny valleys of Alameda county. Before this time, Livermore was the only interior town for ten years to receive a considerable increase in population. Pleasanton, Sunol and Niles were made charming by the foothills and Livermore by the vineyards and orchards, and all by the marvelous climate.

        In March, 1886, a society of California pioneers resident of Alameda and Contra Costa counties was formed in Oakland under the charge of a provisional committee with power to secure other members until a permanent organization should be effected. The Oakland members of the committee were John M. Buffington (chairman), Newton Sewell, William Winnie, William Atherton and Edwin A. Sherman (secretary). The members were limited to persons who arrived in California on or before September 9, 1850; also their children and grandchildren.

        Central avenue, Brooklyn township, was declared a county road in March, 1886. In order to settle the irrigation riparian question, Governor Stoneman in response to public demand and the request for such a session signed by two-thirds of the members, called a special session of the Legislature. The riparian decision of the supreme court denied the popular right to appropriate water for agricultural or general purposes. In September the county board appropriated $3,000 for the repair of roads in the Temescal district. On October 1st, the county funded debt was $160,000 at 8 per cent and $86,000 at 6 per cent, floating debt $650 at 5 per cent. There was in the treasury at this time cash, $211,157. The whole county grew very rapidly in property and population in the '80s. In 1886 the total assessment was $55,926,632. In 1889 it was $69,866,381, an advance of $13,939,749 in three years without increase in rates or inflation of values.

        A dead whale seventy-two feet long was stranded in San Leandro bay in October, 1886. Lying on its side it was twelve feet high. From backbone to stomach it measured thirty-five feet. The carcass was scarred and torn by sharks and sea lions. Five or six young men tried out the oil and secured about six barrels for which they received $12 per barrel. The stench in that part of the county was almost overpowering and was said to have rivaled the famous thousand stinks of the city of Cologne.

        Previous to 1883 it was the practice of the county board to levy a tax sufficient to pay the claims against the county up to about the month of October of the following year. The warrants were registered and drew 7 per cent interest until the next year's taxes came in. Under this plan the county went farther and farther in debt until in some years the taxes collected paid the claims no farther than March of the following year and the county paid interest on warrants which had been registered almost a year. By 1883 more than $100,000 in warrants on the county were registered, all drawing 7 per cent interest. At the same time no provision was made for the payment of either principal or interest. The warrants usually passed among brokers at from 3 to 10 per cent discount and the loss mainly fell on the laborers. The plan was faulty, because it compelled this rich county to pay unnecessarily large sums for interest. This practice affected all branches of county finance. Contractors raised their bids to cover this discount. In 1883 the board issued in county bonds $119,000 and paid off all the floating indebtedness and at the same time levied enough tax to put the county on a cash basis. These acts solved the difficulty and the county from that time presented the most meritorious, creditable and enviable financial condition of any in the state. By 1889 there had been paid of the bonds $104,000 and the county had still been kept on a cash basis, as the current floating debt was inconsiderable. In 1880 the county building bonds outstanding amounted to $200,000 of which $80,000 was paid off by installments by 1889 without increasing the tax or running in debt.  During this period the tax was as follows:

        On October 1, 1888, the bonds outstanding were $155,000 and enough floating obligations to raise the total indebtedness to $159,507. The cash in the treasury was $63,875 and the county buildings were the courthouse, jail, hall of records, receiving hospital and county hospital. Among the old members of the county board who served with great credit were Henry Dusterberry, J. J. Hanifin, Thomas Malloy, McClane, Clement, Myers, Fallon and Bailey.

        In 1888 the salt industry of Alameda county was largely controlled by the Union Pacific and American Salt Company which shipped nearly 25,000 tons and had on hand half as much more. They controlled the products of Mickelson & Brother, Whisley, Oliver, Ligouri, Plummer & Bros., Marsicano, Jessen and Pestdorff. In addition salt was manufactured by Olsen, Lured, Quigley, Barton, Johnson, Pestdorff, Tucson, Christensen, Baron, Mathiesen and others. The following vessels were engaged in marketing this product: Jesse Fremont, Rock Island, Lizzie T. Adams, Anna Hawley, Marsicano, Josephine, By Squeeze and Narrow Gauge.

        At the close of 1888 Alameda county was in better financial condition than any county in the state. The debt ($155,000) was a trifle compared with the assessment—much less than 1 per cent and the county property was valued at $740,000.

        One of the largest items of expense and one of the most harrowing subjects to consider by the county board at all seasons of the year was that of care for the indigents. They came at all times and were of both sexes and all ages. It was stated early in February, 1889, that fully one-half of the indigents were Portuguese.

        In January, 1889, Mr. Hanifin retired with honor from the county board after eight years of continuous service.

         In 1889 W. A. M. Van Bokelen, an expert accountant, was employed to examine the county finances; he said, "I have not found any errors excepting such were strictly clerical and by none of which has the county lost any money. There had passed through the hands of the auditor and treasurer in about two years ending January 7, 1889, 29,000 separate and distinct items covering a disbursement of $1,182,802 without the loss of a cent."

        Late in the eighties and early in the nineties the county infirmary at San Leandro was reported to be in deplorable condition, with ramshackle buildings, squalid surroundings and unsanitary equipment generally. Its conditions were greatly improved late in the '90s under the management of W. H. Church, chairman of the hospital committee of the county board, and Dr. W. A. Clark, superintendent. But the good management did not improve the rude buildings nor remove the stigma from the county name.   

        Late in February, 1889, Joaquin Miller, the "Poet of the Sierras," appeared before the county board and offered to give five acres of his olive land above Fruit Vale for the site of a pesthouse. He said that if here in the shadow of forty church spires respectable people can burn down a pest tent, drive out a stricken man and his nurse, what may be expected of ignorant, simple Portuguese kelp and driftwood thrown up on the Azores; "therefore I have thought over this matter without consulting anybody and I make this offer just to help you out for I know you are banged and battered on every side." The board passed a resolution thanking him for his very liberal offer. The Tribune reporter spoke of Mr. Miller as an "eccentric recluse," and later said: "We hope the supervisors will not locate the pesthouse near the property of Joaquin Miller. Mr. Miller is too good a neighbor, too valuable a friend, to have this injury put upon him by the people of Oakland and Alameda county. His little garden spot in the hills should be treated with something of that reverence which is due to the poet. It will be a lasting disgrace on Oakland if we put this indignity on Joaquin Miller." "When I settled down here I let one man have my water for his garden; then he wanted my grass for his cows and I gave him the use of my pasture also, but now he wants the land as well and will probably think himself greatly wronged if he doesn't get it. I bought land or rather water—precious-flowing mountain springs, with the land thrown in, at an average of $200 an acre. The land is within one mile of the nearest street car line in Oakland. This land (100 acres) has more than doubled in value in the two years that I have owned it"— (Joaquin Miller, April, 1889.) The French and Portuguese residents near Joaquin Miller's home declared that if pesthouses were built in that vicinity 365 times in a year they would tear them down 365 times in the year.

        The '90s were busy years for the county board. All county roads were vastly improved, extended and multiplied. Many new bridges took the place of old structures that seemed likely to fall; concrete began to be used extensively for culverts, bulkheads, etc. Springs of water were bought to be used in connection with windmills for sprinkling the roads. About 1890 a carriage road was planned to extend from Berkeley along the base of the foothills to Haywards, but was abandoned for the time after a few weeks of agitation.

        In June the county board called a convention of l00 citizens from all parts of the county, the object of which was to take steps to secure proper representatives at the Chicago World's Fair. Thirty-three citizens met and formed a permanent organization and the management was entrusted to a board of eleven directors which appointed scores of committees and set the movement in action. The board granted the association $1,000 with which to commence preliminary work.

        The new county liquor license was similar to the old one in use in Oakland; it required a bond of $1,000, an affidavit of good moral character and the recommendation of ten prominent citizens. On August 24th, County Treasurer Huff reported that the last of the bonds of 1883 had just been paid and that there was a surplus in the treasury ; the bonds amounted to $119,000 originally. On December 29th the office of county physician was abolished by the county board and the office of physician and surgeon of the county receiving hospital was created; also a similar office for the county jail. The salary of each was fixed at $75 per month. M. L. Johnson, M. D., and R. T. Stratton, M. D., were appointed to these positions respectively. Mr. Anderson was the supervisor of census in 1890; he divided the county into thirty-one districts, nineteen being in Oakland.

        Much fault was found during the winter of 1891-92 that, notwithstanding the promises of both leading political parties in 1888 to improve the county roads and notwithstanding the county had a wealth of $100,000,000, the highways throughout the whole county were never in worse condition since pioneer times. The board of trade asked the county board to remedy road conditions at the earliest possible moment. The road from Oakland to San Leandro was bottomless. The board pleaded lack of funds and lack of law. A big bridge was built in 1891 over the Calaveras creek on the road leading from Mission San Jose to Stockton.

        The total increase in taxable property in the county in 1891-92 was a little over $6,000,000, of which Berkeley's increase was $2,116,550 and Alameda $609,925. The attractions at Berkeley were the university, the electric street railway, the public schools, the exclusion of liquor near the university, the free reading rooms, the numerous religious societies, and the excellent water system. Early in December, 1892, the county board appropriated $2,000 more for the Alameda County World's Fair Association. For the quarter ending December 31, 1891, the county paid $305 for sixty-one coyote scalps.

COUNTY ASSESSMENTS

1888        $65,918,510            1891        $83,390,297

1889          71,896,182            1892          89,373,466

1890          76,377,178

        In January, 1893, the county board increased the appropriation for the Alameda World's Fair Association to $5,000. The committee of 100 resolved itself into a permanent body to be known as Alameda County World's Fair Association. Delegates were elected to the State World's Fair Association. E. M. Gibson was president of the association. An assessment of $5 was levied on each member of the committee. Several special committees were appointed.

        In 1893 the county board appropriated all told about $20,000 for the purpose of giving the county suitable display and prominence at the World's Fair, Chicago. The sum was paid in installments as needed by the committee. At the World's Fair in Chicago Alameda county was represented by two pagodas with a relief map between them in the California building. Its fruit and wine products on exhibition were excellent and attracted wide attention. June 19th was California day; the state building was formally opened with great ceremony and enthusiasm. In the fall Alameda county had a large building and a fine display of products of all sorts at the Mid-Winter Fair in San Francisco.

        In May, 1893, thirty representative women and several ministers appeared before the county board and protested against the poolrooms which had been conceded to the sporting element. They showed several petitions with hundreds of names asking that the poolrooms might be suppressed. The bookmakers

resisted this movement. In May, the county board bought of the Ladies Town Hall Association of Centerville the city hall or jail lots of that village with the design of continuing the jail or calaboose.

        In May, 1893, the county infirmary underwent a severe investigation, owing to charges of mismanagement and incompetency. Doctor Shirk, superintendent, sustained the management. The charges were not substantiated.

        In July the grand jury charged several members of