Contra Costa County, CA History

Transcribed by Sally  Kaleta

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://calarchives4u.com/

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for 
profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations 
desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain
the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative 
of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their
own work.


SOURCE:  The History of Contra Costa County, California
Edited by: Frederick J. Hulaniski
Publisher: Elms Pub. Co., Berkley, CA 1917
 
CHAPTER XXXVII
PORT COSTA
 
                    Port Costa first came into prominence along in 1879, when 
the late G. W. McNear, Sr., purchased a large strip of frontage along the shore 
and built the immense grain warehouses that have had a prominent place in Port 
Costa's commercial history. Out of his large holdings he laid out the town of 
Port Costa and founded the Port Costa Water Company, which supplies the 
principal towns along the northeastern shore. Since his death the interests that 
he founded have been ably conducted by his son, G. W. McNear, Jr.
                   Port Costa has always been a great grain port, shipping wheat 
and barley from interior California points to all parts of the world. Of late 
years the volume of grain has fallen off to some extent, due to the fact that 
the soil has been utilized for other purposes; but this has resulted in no 
commercial loss to Port Costa, for her warehouses have been constantly filled 
with other products.
                   The Southern Pacific operates the largest ferry boats in the 
world, the "Solano" and the "Contra Costa," between Port Costa and Benicia, 
across the Straits of Carquinez.
                   Several large brick factories play a prominent part in Port 
Costa's commercial activities.
                   An institute for seamen, located at Port Costa, branch of the 
San Francisco Mission to Seamen, watches after the welfare of sailors on the 
Carquinez Straits and does much good, affording means of wholesome recreation 
and amusement for crews of visiting ships.