Alameda County, CA History

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Past and Present of Alameda County California
Joseph Baker, Editor, Volume I, Illustrated
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company 1914 
 
CHAPTER XIX
BERKELEY
 
        When the university was located at Berkeley in 1868 there then was near 
the bay a small village known as Ocean View, but which later was called West 
Berkeley. The village in the neighborhood of the college received the name of 
Berkeley, but later was generally termed East Berkeley. It was many years before 
Berkeley took any great strides in improvement. Fine homes first began to go up 
near the university—erected and occupied by wealthy and prominent people.
        By 1874 the few residents of Berkeley lived south of the university 
site; then the public schools were managed by district trustees or directors and 
were a part of the Peralta district. At that time West Berkeley known as Ocean 
View had a few business houses and the school district was known by the same 
name.
        The California Watch Company erected buildings near Berkeley ferry early 
in 1876 and soon began operations. They had previously been in business in San 
Francisco; but needing more room had crossed to the growing town of Berkeley and 
bought $150,000 worth of property. The sale of the Blake tract near the 
university in October, 1876, was an important event in real estate circles; the 
sales aggregating $31,705. At a large sale of real estate located within a few 
hundred feet of the University of California in 1877 the lots sold at prices 
varying from $280 to $575 each. The sale was at auction by Woodward & Taggart. 
In March, 1877, the Cornell Watch Factory was in a prosperous condition at "the 
little village of West Berkeley."
        The Land and Town Improvement Association erected a large windmill with 
a tank capacity of 12,000 gallons at Fifty and University in 1877; their pipes 
were laid to the ferry wharf. In all they had laid 2,600 feet of pipe and 
offered fresh and pure water to householders at reasonable rates. Berkeley at 
this date began to grow faster than ever; many fine residences were going up. 
The ferry boat was refitted and the time between Berkeley and San Francisco was 
greatly reduced. The old "Clinton" retired. The Berkeley Water Works secured an 
addition to their supply by adding the stream back of the university.
        In 1877 a movement to raise $5,000 by taxation to buy a lot and erect a 
schoolhouse was defeated by a large majority. In 1878 after the town was 
incorporated the schools were given half of the tax of 50 cents. In 1879 the 
Kellogg grammar school was established in West Berkeley and the following year 
it was conducted as a high school as well as a grammar school. Later the 
building was used by the Berkeley commercial school. The first school at Ocean 
View was called San Pablo. Still later came the Whittier, Le Conte and Columbus 
schools. In 1893 the Lorin district was annexed.
        In 1882 many lots were sold in the Antisell tract. Harmon Seminary had 
just been built and Durant Hall was projected. The North Berkeley Neighborhood 
Improvement Association was organized early in 1882 and was planned to build up 
that village north of Virginia street and east of Grant street. The annual fee 
was $1 for men and 50 cents for women.
        Frederick hall at West Berkeley was used for public entertainments of 
all kinds. Amateur performers gave a minstrel entertainment there for the 
benefit of the Catholic church. Among the performers being Heywood, Wheelan, 
Spaulding, Burns, McClain and others. The Judson Manufacturing Works were built 
at Emery in 1883. Many houses went up there in July. The new glass works in West 
Berkeley by Wheelan Canning Company of San Francisco were starting. West 
Berkeley was building up fast by the work shops there. A wall paper factory was 
established there at this time. Late in the fall the pipes for the water supply 
were laid through the streets of Berkeley. The reservoirs were completed early 
in 1884. This gave that town one of the best water systems in the state. The 
Berkeley Village Improvement Association was incorporated in September; its 
objects were to buy and sell real estate, to lay sewers, sprinkle streets, 
borrow and lend money, etc. The directors were F. K. Shattuck, J. L. Barker and 
C. K. Clark of Berkeley, and G. H. Collins and E. B. Dean of Oakland. In 
November all the Chinamen at work in the Giant Powder Works struck, because 
several of their number had been unjustly discharged, according to their views. 
A force of white men was at once employed to fill the vacancies.
        In February, 1884, the Hopkins reservoir at Berkeley contained about 
5,000,000 gallons of pure water. Preparations to build a second reservoir to 
hold 15,000,000 gallons were made at this time. The Wentworth Boot & Shoe 
Company located here at this time; their old factory was also at Berkeley. It 
was planned to employ 150 persons, of whom three-fourths were to be whites. The 
big reservoir was completed in June. The property of the Berkeley Water Company 
was transferred to the recently incorporated Alameda Water Company. Moses 
Hopkins controlled the stock. Mr. Rhorer was superintendent.
        The trustees granted to R. P. Thomas, representative of the Peoples' 
Railroad Company, and to the California and Nevada Railroad Company franchises 
to build railroads through their town. The latter was a narrow-gauge road which 
was commenced late in February, 1884, at Emery station, where a wharf was 
commenced and grading was started. The Peoples' Railway Company bought of Mr. 
Thomas seven acres in Berkeley and his ferry franchise between Berkeley and San 
Francisco. The franchise for the California and Nevada Railroad granted the 
right of way from north to south across the town from the terminus at Emery 
station. J. S. Emery represented the latter line.
        War against selling liquor within one mile of the university broke out 
late in 1885 and involved all the best citizens against the saloon owners. The 
law had gone into effect April 3, 1876, but there were constant violations 
regardless of numerous prosecutions which seldom secured convictions—juries 
decided for the saloonkeepers. Finally the regents agreed to unite to pay the 
costs of such vigorous prosecutions as would establish the supremacy of the law 
and the best business men agreed to stand back of them. Under the first attack 
there were ten acquittals to one conviction; this condition of affairs caused 
the citizens committee to extend their line of attack and to arm for permanent 
results. In the end they succeeded.
        In 1885 an investigation of the accounts of the town officers was made 
by an expert, C. F. Lutgen, who made a report covering about one hundred and 
fifty pages and entering into details. It covered the period from June 21, 1878, 
to March 2, 1885. The expert found that the tax levies were as follows:
 
                                                    TOTAL                        
                                                 TOTAL TAX
                                                    TAX                          
                              TOTAL         OMITTING
                         TOTAL              OMITTING                 YEAR        
        VALUE           CENTS
YEAR              VALUE              CENTS                         1881-82       
  $2,609,599         $10,438
1878-79           $2,263,114         $11,315                        1882-83      
     1,801,659             9,008
1879-80             2,377,124           11,885                        1883-84    
       2,162,889           10,814
1880-81             2,788,103           11,153                        1884-85    
       2,454,514           12,272
 
        The street assessments were kept up in a very unsatisfactory manner. 
Both treasurer and clerk had been careless. There were missing 177 vouchers; 
some of the records were missing. In the books there were many changes and 
erasures. The marshal was short, but the error was in the footings. No 
dishonesty was charged, merely lack of knowledge as how to keep the books 
properly and carelessness.
        In the old suit of H. P. Irving vs. Mary Ann Cunningham for much of the 
land in North Berkeley the former won in 1885. The tract in question was known 
as the J. D. Peralta homestead tract. In February a joint stock company was 
organized with a capital of $50,000, to provide that town with electric light; 
the directors were A. M. Stoddard, H. A. Palmer, F. W. Beardslee, O. G. Dorrin 
and F. K. Shattuck. The Odd Fellows hall was dedicated February 21st, with 
appropriate ceremony. The building cost about nine thousand dollars and was near 
the railroad station. The leading address was delivered by James G. Maguire. The 
Wheeler Carmery Glass Works began operations now. The Guadalupe Mill and Mine 
Company there started also. Both brought many families to that growing town.
        Early in 1886 Berkeley grew so rapidly that a demand for a local bank 
arose and was met for a time by the Building and Loan Association. The Homestead 
Loan Association was incorporated late in February; the directors were C. R. 
Lord, J. K. Stewart, Philip Monroe, W. E. Sell, Otto Nichaws, M. M. Rhorer, G. 
A. Embury, I. A. Boynton and C. M. Hant, all of Berkeley. The capital stock was 
$1,000,000. This concern did a general loaning business and for a while served 
many of the functions of a bank.
        The rapid growth of Berkeley was the surprise of nearly everybody, but 
should not have been. Hundreds of fine residences and business blocks were 
erected from 1882 to 1888. Already houses began to dot the plateau from the, 
university grounds to Shell Mound. East Berkeley celebrated the occasion of the 
first illumination of the city with electric lights March 17, 1888. The scene of 
the celebration was at the station of the broad gauge railroad. There was a 
large crowd who set off bombs, rockets, Roman candles and guns. In a speech at 
Odd Fellows hall, R. G. McClellan said that the introduction of electric lights 
marked an epoch in the history of the town, and that where now hundreds of happy 
and beautiful homes stood, the vaquero only a few years before herded his cattle 
and that children then living would see a solid city from San Pablo to Haywards 
and from the bay to the foothills. A poem was read by Dan O'Connell, one verse 
of which was as follows:
 
Here rode the undaunted vaquero,
And deemed it a wilderness, far
From the scene of his Saturday's revel,
The wine-cup and dance and guitar;
Nor dreamed that the oaks where he rested 
'Neath whose branches once blazed his camp-fire 
Should mingle in his generation
With mansion and schoolhouse and spire.
 
        In 1889 Berkeley continued its steady and rapid growth. Real estate 
sales in January were larger than ever before—were larger than during the first 
four months of 1888. The district immediately around the intersection of 
Alcatraz avenue and Adeline street became the center of business of all the 
outer districts between Oakland and Berkeley and was known as Lorin which had 
its beginning in 1888. Klinkner's hall was there. The little village of Lorin 
was located about a mile beyond the northern terminus of the San Pablo avenue 
cable road. It grew rapidly in 1888, lots selling quite readily at $350 each. It 
had schools, a fire brigade, a Good Templars lodge, and numerous shops, stores, 
etc. In April, Lorin voted $10,000 in bonds for school purposes; there was 
little opposition.
        The trustees in 1889 finally resolved "that in view of the fact that no 
authority appears to exist for granting licenses within one mile of the 
university, this board will hereafter refuse to grant such licenses within such 
limits." Every member of the board voted for this measure. At a public meeting 
in the Lorin schoolhouse late in November, a motion to apply for annexation to 
Berkeley was defeated by the vote of fourteen to ten. Steps to form a village 
improvement club were taken on this occasion. Among those taking part in this 
meeting were H. D. Irwin. Mr. McMurray, A. B. Taynton, Thomas Stevenson, Mr. 
McClellan, W. F. Bickford, Mr. Barrows, J. L. Tisdale, Harry Geinough, Mr. Rice 
and others. Early in December the citizens voted against the annexation to that 
town of the territory between the south line of Berkeley and Russell street; 123 
votes were cast against annexation and ninety-eight in favor of annexation. The 
vote in the territory wishing to be annexed was eighteen votes for and six 
against.
        At a large meeting in Lorin late in January, 1890, it was resolved that 
it was the wish of the people to be annexed to Berkeley; twenty-seven names were 
signed to the petition asking for such annexation. In February, 1890, Lorin, 
Newbury, Butchertown and Posen voted on the question of annexation to Berkeley. 
On February 8, 1890, Berkeley voted on the question of annexing the following 
territory to that town:  The north boundary to be the town of Berkeley; then to 
begin at a point in said boundary, 1,260 feet east of College avenue; thence 
south to a point 300 feet north of Claremont avenue; thence in a line running 
southwesterly and parallel to Claremont avenue to a point 960 feet south of 
Alcatraz avenue; thence westerly parallel with Alcatraz avenue to the western 
boundary of Alameda county; thence along that boundary to the south line of 
Berkeley. South Berkeley was annexed to Berkeley in 1890 and at that time was 
included in the Peralta school district; 246 school children resided in the 
annexed district. The school funds were divided when the annexation took place.
        In February, 1890, a piece of rich gold bearing quartz was found on the 
ranch of B. D. Boswell at Berkeley. In 1883 Captain Holmes found similar pieces 
on his land in North Berkeley. At the municipal election in May the non-partisan 
ticket was elected throughout. There was an independent taxpayers ticket which 
received a majority in East Oakland. The highest number of votes cast was 831 of 
which 490 were in East Berkeley.
        In February, 1891, the citizens voted on the question of a new charter 
as follows: For, 191; against, 288; total, 479. In May Berkeley and Lorin voted 
to have the latter annexed to the former. But a portion of the Lorin school 
district was left out and in November, 1892, the citizens there asked to be 
admitted for school purposes only. This request was granted by the county board 
in January, 1893.
        The year 1891 was one of great prosperity for Berkeley—the population 
increasing nearly 20 per cent. It was estimated that an average of one house a 
day was built throughout the year. As many as fifty were under construction at 
one time. The university chemical laboratory was built at a cost of $400,000. 
South Berkeley was annexed. The electric road connecting Oakland and Berkeley 
was put in operation and immediately afterward the first street car line in 
Berkeley was constructed—the Claremont, University and Ferris street railroad 
connecting East and West Berkeley. Streets were vastly improved and at light 
expense owing to the excellent slope toward the bay; much cement was used for 
the walks. During 1891 over three hundred thousand dollars was expended on 
streets, sidewalks and sewers. Good water was scarce, but the facilities were 
improved and expanded—new reservoirs were built. The lighting system was greatly 
improved. Before 1891 one ferry was all that was needed between Berkeley and San 
Francisco, but in 1891 two were required and were put in operation. The number 
of stores quadrupled in number. The Berkeley Savings Bank and the Berkeley Bank 
were established with a capital of $50,000 and $75,000 respectively—all with 
home means. The enrollment in the high school increased over twenty-five per 
cent this year over the previous year. In the lower grades the increase was 
almost equally large. This rapid growth, together with the annexation of the 
districts to the south caught the town without the necessary school room. But 
the people promptly voted $50,000 in bonds to build whatever additional houses 
were necessary. The enrollment of students at the university increased to over 
nine hundred and fifty and there were over three hundred special students in the 
extension courses. Church growth kept pace with growth in all other regards.
        On July 9, 1892, the Giant Powder Works at Highland Station, just beyond 
West Berkeley, were blown in pieces, there being five distinct explosions as the 
magazines were reached and fired. All over Oakland the terrific explosions broke 
window glass and dislodged articles of all kinds. It was by far the greatest 
explosion ever experienced by Oakland. The works were originally built by Mr. 
Judson prior to the formation of the Judson Powder Company. Three young men were 
torn to pieces.
        In 1892, Berkeley annexed Lorin and its surrounding settlements and in 
all ways grew faster than ever before. It grew from a village to a town almost 
in one year. The town bonded itself for $50,000 for increased school facilities 
and bought five new schoolhouse sites and erected three new six-room 
school­houses. The introduction of the electric street cars added more to the 
growth of the town than almost any other impulse. There were two electric 
lines—the loop line of the Oakland consolidated road and the Telegraph avenue 
line. The old steam dummy which formerly ran every half hour on the latter to 
and from Temescal had disappeared forever. This excellent street car system 
doubled values in a short time. The fine Y. M. C. A. building known as Stiles 
hall was erected in 1892. Shattuck avenue was macadamized and the fine Shattuck 
block on Center street was built. Over thirty-one thousand linear feet of 
streets were macadamized at a cost of $137,000; nearly ten thousand linear feet 
of sewers were built and about the same length of cement sidewalk was laid. 
There were erected 269 new buildings of all kinds valued at $525,800. In 1888 
local train service was performed with two or three cars attached to the 
locomotive of the Southern Pacific Company. At the close of 1892 eight or nine 
cars and sometimes more were required to carry the passengers to and from San 
Francisco.
        In December the Berkeley Herald suspended publication. It had recently 
been conducted by Mr. McCarthy who had turned it over to Cheney and McLean who 
were unequal to the task of keeping it alive. It was noted at this time that all 
of the old newspapers which had been issued at Berkeley had been compelled one 
after the other to suspend—Gazette, Register Standard, Beacon, Reveille and now 
the Herald.
        In November the trustees of Berkeley awarded the contract for lighting 
the town to the Berkeley Electric Light Company at $350 per month. Over 1,500 
votes were polled in Berkeley at the November election and the people now began 
to demand a free mail delivery. It was claimed that the population was about 
nine thousand.
        On January 12, 1893, the canvassing committee of the Holmes Library 
Association reported that $1,250 had been secured with the business portion of 
the town yet to canvass. In May Berkeley voted on the question of 
reincorporation —for, 366; against, 517. There were registered in the town 2,005 
votes.
        In July the town voted to become a city of the fifth class, but in a 
suit brought by Isaac Wells to test the legality of the election the superior 
court first and the supreme court second decided against the town.
        In June, 1894, Berkeley became a free mail delivery city—a boon she had 
fought for during two years. South Berkeley hall was dedicated this year with a 
musical and literary entertainment, on which occasion many highly educated and 
cultured people were present. The hall was on Ashby street near Shattuck. A 
tornado visited West Berkeley and Lorin in December, and in an instant threw 
3,000 feet of lumber and piles in one place and 1,000 in another hundreds of 
feet into the bay. The path of destruction was about one hundred and fifty feet 
wide. This was a rare event and was particularly noted.
        Late in 1894 Berkeley elected a board of freeholders to frame a new 
charter for the municipality. The town was cramped in all its movements for 
general improvement owing to the restrictions of the laws under which it 
labored. The trustees were unable without a new charter to raise the amount of 
money required for necessary improvements. They could not exceed 50 cents on the 
$100 valuation and hence the revenues were insufficient to meet the needs of the 
rapidly growing town. Early in 1895 the trustees considered the advisability of 
expending $446,500 on certain needed public improvements—a storm sewer two miles 
in extent along Strawberry creek and a water plant to be owned and operated by 
the town. The sewer was estimated to cost $158,000.
        In August, 1895, Mr. Shattuck offered a tract of five acres as a site 
for the Wilmonding school. The people of Berkeley voted down a proposition to 
issue $60,000 bonds for school purposes. It was believed that the result was due 
to the fact that the question was united with a proposition to issue bonds for 
wharf improvements which the majority did not want. The attempt to pass the 
school bonds was made again in March, 1896.
        The question of a sufficient supply of good water was all important to 
Berkeley in the summer of 1898. The town trustees appointed a commission to 
investigate the sources of supply. Enough was found in the hills and in the 
wells and a 300,000 gallon additional reservoir was planned. The North Berkeley 
Improvement Club endorsed the findings of the commission. To add to the trouble 
the trustees issued a notice prohibiting irrigation and lawn sprinkling. Many 
declared that the Alameda Water Company was to blame for the existing deplorable 
state of the water supply—that it was a caprice of that company to advance their 
own interests. In the fall of 1899 the trustees of Berkeley passed a resolution 
to remove the town hall from West Berkeley to a more central location. The 
immediate question was, whether to move the old hall or build a new one. The 
progressive movement had taken possession of the town and many citizens wanted 
new and better public buildings largely for advertising purposes.
        The Berkeley trustees considered the temperance ordinance for several 
weeks and at first could see no way to raise money for town expenses except from 
the liquor licenses. Finally Mr. Barker and Mr. Naylor agreed to pay to the 
board for one year the sum of $1,800 in quarterly payments, the amount then 
received for liquor licenses. This offer, in the presence of a large audience, 
was received with a loud burst of applause. The liquor men asked that action be 
deferred one year in order to give them time to dispose of their plants and in 
the meantime raise by taxation an amount equal to the saloon licenses. This 
request was also loudly applauded by the saloon followers. After striking out 
the mile limit clause, thus making the ordinance apply to the whole town, and 
after making the law effective on October 1, 1899, instead of July 1, 1899, it 
was passed.
        On May 8, 1899, the citizens committee presented a prohibition ordinance 
to the trustees of Berkeley in the presence of a room crowded with spectators. 
This was a result of the recent election. Present were the temperance leaders of 
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the saloon men from Lorin, West 
Berkeley and other localities. The petition stated that the people of Berkeley 
had just shown their wish to have no more saloons in the town. The ordinance was 
drafted to restore the two-mile liquor law of 1873. This citizens committee 
consisted of H. L. Gear, G. W. Haight, C. K. Clark, N. W. Naylor. J. L. Barker 
and W. C. Haines. The whole matter was referred to the committee of the whole.
        In July the total value of all property in Berkeley was $7,200.023. The 
Berkeley public library contained 6,000 volumes and had several reading rooms in 
different parts of the town. D. R. Moore was librarian. The water plans of 
Berkeley included the bonding of the town for the purpose of buying the San 
Pablo wells which were tested and pronounced satisfactory. It was at this time 
that the establishment of a municipal water system received great impulse. The 
San Pablo wells were owned by a syndicate of Berkeley business men who held 120 
acres. The total cost to the town to secure this tract was estimated at $13,500.
        In 1900 the town bonded itself for $100,000 for school purposes. The 
bonds were sold at a premium of over six per cent. The ground on Grove street 
near the town hall was bought for a high school; its total cost was about 
$70,000. The Hillside, the San Pablo and the Haste Street schools were newly 
provided for. The commercial department of the public schools was established in 
1899 and quarters were secured in Golden Sheaf hall. Later departments of music 
and manual training were established. Berkeley planned to secure a paid fire 
department to take the place of the various volunteer companies. In July, 1901, 
the trustees enacted that licenses should not be granted to saloons situated 
within 300 feet of any school building. At first the distance of 500 feet was 
proposed, but it was defeated. In August the trustees considered three important 
subjects: (1) saloon license proposition; (2) application of the Bay Counties 
Power Company for a 49-year franchise; (3) raising the license of the Pacific 
States Telephone Company to $100 per year. About this time three acres of 
buildings were burned at West Berkeley. A new building for the Hospital 
Association was planned at this time to cost $15,000. In 1901, the trustees 
declared forfeited the tracks and franchise of the California and Nevada Railway 
Company owing to the fact that it had not paid its taxes since 1894. The trains 
had not been in operation for a year. The line extended from Emeryville to 
Orinda park through Berkeley. The Santa Fe Company was negotiating for this 
line. In September specifications for a fire alarm system were adopted by the 
board of trustees of Berkeley. The citizens at the last town election had voted 
$10,000 for such an improvement. The tax rate at this time was $1.10.
        From 1892 to 1902 the town spent $1,500,000 for street improvement, 
putting sixty miles of roadway in first class condition. Many miles of concrete 
sidewalks were also constructed. Fine engineering work was done in the Daley 
Scenic tract. Over $100,000 was spent on the streets of West Berkeley. The 
greater portion of all this improvement was made from 1898 to 1902 under 
Superintendent Maloney and was imperatively demanded by the rapid growth of the 
town.
        Early in 1902 Berkeley experienced another district revival in building 
and realty operations. The transfer of the Schandt block, the Vance property on 
Center street and the Mathews tract set the wheels of growth in motion. Even 
West Oakland sprang into new life. A new furniture factory there was commenced, 
at this time. The Realty Syndicate bought large tracts there—a sure sign of 
importance, because it meant an extension of the car lines of the Oakland 
Transit Company. The Realty Syndicate secured large tracts in West Berkeley 
along the bay shore and along the line of the California and Nevada Railroad. 
Berkeley celebrated its first Arbor Day in 1902. A total of 500 trees were 
planted throughout the town. A John Muir sequoia was planted as a memento on the 
south yard of the high school by John Muir and W. H. Marston, president of the 
board of trustees.
        At this time there were in Berkeley about 85 miles of sewers, of which 
25 miles were constructed that year. There were 90 miles of cement walks, 20 
miles of wooden sidewalks and 58 miles of macadamized streets. In 1896 there 
were only 27 miles of improved streets. The membership of the library November 
30, 1902, was 3,327.
        During the summer of 1902 the Town and Gown Club of Berkeley and other 
citizens made new efforts to set in motion plans that would beautify that city. 
The site itself was a beautiful one—with rolling slopes descending by gentle 
steps from the range to the bay. It was agreed that Nature had done her duty and 
that the citizens should now make the streets, drives and parks the most 
attractive on the coast.
        The plan in 1902 to build a hospital in Berkeley was abandoned and the 
money subscribed was returned to the donors and the court was petitioned to sell 
the property acquired. Mrs. Phoebe Hearst had donated $1,000 to the project. Dr. 
F. H. Payne and Madame E. M. Paget had labored unremittingly to establish the 
institution under the name Berkeley Hospital Association. The project failed 
because sufficient funds could not be raised to insure success. Very little help 
outside of the university could be secured. The people did not want the 
institution bad enough to pay for it.
        In February, 1903, Andrew Carnegie offered to give to the City of 
Berkeley the sum of $40,000 for a public library upon the usual conditions of 
his gifts —that the city should sustain the institution thus established by 
suitable taxation. On May 14th, President Roosevelt, on a tour of the country, 
visited Berkeley on commencement day and paid a short trip to Oakland. He 
received a cordial greeting from everybody, particularly the children. The 
trustees finally concluded to ask the citizens to vote $100,000 for a town hall 
and site, $45,000 for wharves, $20,000 for parks, $40,000 for fire equipment, 
$20,000 for manual training and $7,000 for street equipment. At this time the 
city had only a small bonded indebtedness and these improvements were 
imperatively demanded. The plan of progressive bond issue for public 
improvements was believed wiser than the recent bond proposition of Oakland 
which was too big and called for the doing of too many things all at once.
        At a second meeting in 1904 the trustees concluded to call an election 
on the following bond propositions: Fire department, $40,000; manual training 
department for the public schools, $20,000; apparatus for street department, 
$7,000. In October the town hall was totally destroyed by fire; the most of the 
records were saved. In November the North Berkeley Improvement Club favored 
municipal ownership of the water system.
        Notwithstanding the defeat of the bond proposition in Oakland the 
citizens of Berkeley prepared to test a similar program in that city late in 
November, 1904. Voters were asked to provide $35,000 for improvements covering 
new fire houses, their lots and equipments; $75,000 for a new steam roller and 
for experimentation with oil on the streets; $150,000 for school improvements 
and manual training facilities and instruction; $10,000 for parks; $45,000 for a 
new wharf 1,500 feet long; and $200,000 for a storm sewer. Thus Berkeley began 
to figure on a scale even larger than anything that had appalled the taxpayers 
of Oakland. However, it was finally concluded to postpone the bond election.
        The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce was organized late in October, 1905, 
there being present at the town hall about seventy-five business men interested 
in the movement. It amounted to a reorganization of the board of trade which 
thereafter ceased to exist. It was fully organized in December by the election 
of officers, of whom F. W. Foss was president.         
        The problems before Berkeley in the spring of 1905 were: (1) a police 
department to take the place of the marshal and eight deputies; (2) bonding for 
public improvement; (3) adequate funds for the street, fire and school 
departments.
        The election for public improvement bonds was triumphantly carried, by 
the following vote: Fire department project—for 1,440, against 133; town 
hall—for 1,331, against 243; police alarm system—for 1,419, against 154; West 
Berkeley wharf—for 1,441, against 140. The total voted was $298,100.
        Berkeley in 1907 put forth strong claims for the removal of the state 
capital to that city and offered to donate forty acres valued at $200,000 as a 
building site. The Chamber of Commerce was at the head of this movement. A body 
of Legislators visited the city to investigate. The bill passed the Legislature 
and was signed by the Governor. It provided for a submission to the people of 
the state whether the capital should be removed from Sacramento to Berkeley. The 
signing of the bill was celebrated with great enthusiasm by Berkeley early in 
March. The question of removal was submitted to the voters of the state at the 
November election, 1908. Alameda county gave a large majority in favor of the 
removal, as did San Francisco. The vote in this county was—for removal, 17,774; 
against removal, 5,983.
        In August, 1906, all records were broken in Berkeley when 152 building 
permits were issued, the average cost of the buildings being $2,500. The highest 
previous record was in June, 1906, when 132 permits were issued. The northern 
and western sections were growing with great rapidity with modern residences and 
substantial business blocks. The same year West Berkeley promised to soon become 
a great commercial center. From the date of the earthquake until August 12, 
1906, a total of thirty-seven manufacturing establishments sprang into existence 
in that town. Realty men there were active and jubilant and prices soared. The 
new wharf project was one of the great inducements for capital to locate there. 
The trustees sitting as a board of equalization, fixed the rate of taxation for 
the fiscal year 1906-07 at 85 cents on a total assessed valuation of 
$23,800,000—an increase of $7,400,000 over the year before. This assessment gave 
a total working fund of $203,300. This great advance was due to the enormous 
growth of the city and to the imperative need for greater expenditures for 
improvements.
        In the fall the committee of twenty-seven on the approaching election 
for the issuance of $287,000 bonds appointed by the Berkeley Chamber of 
Commerce, conducted an active and determined campaign. The funds were divided as 
follows: New wharf in West Berkeley, $T00,000; new fire equipment, $50,000; new 
town hall and site, $137,000; new fire alarm system, $10,000. It was concluded 
to postpone until next year the question of voting $348,000 bonds for a salt 
water pressure system.
        In October the committee engaged in framing a revision for the Berkeley 
city charter recommended that women be allowed to vote on all school matters and 
should be eligible to places on the board of education. This act met the 
approval of nearly every other town and city in the county. In January, 1907, 
the Realty Syndicate sold to the North Berkeley Development Company and the 
Berkeley Land Company 600 acres for $1,450,000; the land was located in North 
Berkeley at Spruce and Josephine streets.
        In 1908 after the board of freeholders of Berkeley had labored a long 
time on its new charter it was learned that, owing to a misunderstanding of the 
law, all the ground would have to be gone over again. There was also a 
comparatively small element that advocated the postponement of definite action 
on the charter and the consideration of a consolidated government embracing 
Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Piedmont, Fruitvale, Melrose and Elmhurst. A new 
board of freeholders with President Wheeler of the university at the head was 
proposed and supported by a strong contingent in East Berkeley. To this movement 
there was spirited opposition from the Citizens and Taxpayers League and the 
West End Protective Association, both of which fought the commission plan of 
government, which was the distinguishing feature of the rejected charter, and 
provided that a mayor and four commissioners should administer city affairs. It 
was at this time that a scheme to divide East and West Berkeley was hatched and 
given considerable support, and that numerous factions struggled for supremacy. 
Thus far the clan that favored an independent existence for Berkeley had 
dominated public affairs and with that object in view had bonded the city for 
$120,000 for a new city hall. The project to unite the east bay cities to form a 
Greater San Francisco had its advocates. The Citizens and Taxpayers League 
favored consolidation with Oakland under the new county project. The real estate 
men opposed this measure as damaging to property values.
        On the proposition to issue in bonds the sum of $1,340,000 the voters of 
Berkeley defeated every measure—fire houses, police alarm, civic center park, 
central playgrounds, Acton Street park, school playgrounds, garbage incinerator, 
storm and sanitary sewers, lower schools, kindergartens and high school. The 
building permits of Berkeley in 1908 were 1,017 at an estimated value of 
$2,264,000. This did not include new schoolhouses, the town hall, nor the new 
Doe library building on the campus.
        In 1910, with a population of 40,434, Berkeley was the scene of 
wonderful material growth, exceptional civic virtue, and gratifying intellectual 
and moral progress. There was an immense development of manufacturing 
enterprises in the western part. The new form of municipal government was 
successful and popular and was in a large degree adopted by Oakland. The 
distinctive feature of the charter was the one which originated the majority 
requirement for election of officers with the provision for possible choice at 
the first election. In the fall there was strong feeling in Berkeley both for 
and against the proposed annexation to Oakland. Those who favored annexation 
were also the advocates of the consolidation of city and county governments. 
Professor Jones said: "It is absurd to call this annexation a step toward city 
and county government. It does not mean that. Instead it simply means the 
absorption of Berkeley by Oakland. If we wish to keep the schools of which we 
are so proud running under the same conditions as they are now and reflecting 
the same degree of credit on the city, we must not combine with the larger 
city." Mr. Robinson did not think the time ripe for consolidation and rather 
preferred the San Francisco consolidation plan. Mr. Barnett favored annexation 
for many reasons, one of which was to change unsatisfactory conditions in the 
courthouse and another to secure greater economy in the administration of 
municipal affairs. The annexation question was determined by the following vote: 
Oakland—for, 2914, against, 333  Berkeley—for, 1,401, against, 4,010.
        Theodore Roosevelt attended the charter day celebration at the Greek 
theater, in March, 1911. He made a strong speech in favor of higher education. 
The scene at the theater was impressive in the extreme with the lofty 
inspiration of noble motives and with higher ideals and aspirations.
        During the fiscal year 1912-13 the following municipal improvements were 
carried into execution: 1, Municipal incinerator; 2, municipal garage and 
ambulance; 3, municipal bacteriological and chemical laboratory; 4, municipal 
employment bureau; 5, perfection of the police telegraph and flashlight system; 
6, additional fire apparatus; 7, new heating apparatus; 8, extensive street 
improvements; 9, spotless town campaign; 10, new corporation yards.
        In 1913 the Roosevelt Hospital of Berkeley bought the equipment and 
business of the Abbott Hospital of Richmond. In December the West Berkeley 
Improvement Club passed resolutions asking the city council to call an election, 
not only to vote on the bond question for the public school, but also on the 
question of bonding the city for harbor improvement at the same time and on the 
same ballot. Late in 1913 Berkeley planned to bond the city for about one 
million dollars to promote the following improvements: (1) A ship channel for 
large vessels; (2) a harbor one mile wide; (3) a stone bulkhead with wharves 
along the proposed water front; (4) a municipal electric belt line railway; (5) 
a channel for the development of the inner harbor; (6) reclamation of 800 acres 
of state tide lands and over one thousand acres outside thereof for various 
uses.
        For the year 1913-14 Mayor Wilson made the following recommendations: 1, 
Taxation of land values; 2, four-year terms for mayor and auditor; 3, abolish 
the commissions and the board of health; 4, increase the salaries of 
stenographers, secretaries, clerks, etc.; 5, extension of auditor's services; 6, 
improvement of San Pablo park; 7, addition to public library; 8, street 
improvement; 9, public convenience stations; 10, new system of garbage 
collection; 1, abolish business license; 12, motorcycles for policemen; 13, 
motor-trucks in street department; 14, real estate purchase.
        In January, 1914, the West Berkeley Improvement Club endorsed the 
proposed bonds for harbor improvement and for the local schools. Among the 
important recent movements in Berkeley are the following: Vast increases in 
population; growth of business enterprises; the commencement of a new sewer 
system to cost $475,000; improvement of the fire department to cost $95,000; 
plans to greatly increase the schoolroom capacity; plans to improve the water 
front; extension of street pavements and cement work; electric lighting of the 
whole city; municipal ownership of the street car service considered; the water 
problem considered; a tremendous impulse in the direction of a city beautiful.
        Berkeley's population in 1900 was 13,445, and in 1910 was 40,434.