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 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:
 
                                                                         WHOLE 
      NO.  
      PRECINCTVOTESYESNO
      Oakland           41938930
      Temescal                      50491
      Ocean View                 52511
      Brooklyn          258103155
      Half-way House           65560
      San Leandro     901278
      Haywards                     1174968
      San Lorenzo                 66660
      Mount Eden     451134
      Alvarado          13216116
      Mission San Jose          15226126
      Centerville                    19824174
      Hart's (Murray)            57561
      Dougherty's Station       62458
      Alameda           492821
      Totals1,812829983

 
        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:
 
      From state fund            $56,711.26 
      From county general fund          19,752.11 
      From common school fund        15,469.67 
      From road and bridge fund       23,176.70 
      From indigent sick fund 4,379.02 
      From Oakland bar fund            3,882.52 
      From Contra Costa fund           2,453.01 
      Total                 $125,824.29
      Cash on hand June 4, 1866        13,137.22
      Grand total of receipts   $138,961.51

 
        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 1� 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 6� miles, more or less, to an angle in 
the same, and due east 1 � 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 4� 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:
 
      Year                     Outside CitiesInside Cities
      1880    $1.15$1.40
      1881                1.151.40
      1882    1.051.30
      1883    1.001.25
      1884    .901.10
      1885                1.151.45
      1886    1.001.25
      1887                1.00I.30
      1888    .951.25

 
        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 the county board with 
illegally and wrongfully passing certain bills but after a thorough 
investigation in court the charges remained unproved.
        In November, 1893, the county board awarded the contract for building an 
annex to the hall of records to the Fortin Brick Company at $29,149. The Golden 
Gate Agricultural Fair was a splendid success. It lasted four days and had a 
large attendance. The racing was especially fast and attractive.
        In February, 1894, the county board appropriated $2,500 for the purpose 
of aiding and carrying on the work of inducing immigration to this county, the 
same to be paid in installments named. The county had a splendid exhibit at the 
Mid-Winter exposition in January, 1894. The wine exhibit was one of the best, 
the vineyards represented being those of McIvers, Stanford, Beard, Ferndale, 
Crellin, Wetmore, Chauche & Bon, J. P. Smith, Concannon, Lilenthal, Waggoner and 
Beck. The public schools and the parochial schools made elaborate and excellent 
exhibits. Fruits, beet sugar, blind asylum products, flowers, hops of Livermore 
valley, Niles nursery products�were all a credit to the county.
        Early in July the county board paid for the transportation of fifty men 
to the Suisan landing on their way to work in the Vacaville orchards. In 1894 
many tough road-houses were refused licenses by the county board. In September 
the county board went en masse to Claremont to inspect the Kennedy grade with 
the view of opening up a public road to the summit of the range on the way to 
the heart of Contra Costa county.
        In 1894 Alameda county had $109,714,598 worth of taxable property�the 
third in the state. It was generally admitted that the county board had earned 
the gratitude of the people by their progressive policy of public 
betterments�better roads, improved public buildings, economy, wise management of 
public institutions, and close attention to county affairs generally.
        At 6 o'clock A. M. on March 2, 1896, snow fell heavily for a short time 
and the hills east of town were white. From Berkeley to Livermore the grass on 
the hills was completely covered. This was the first considerable snowfall in 
Oakland since January, 1888. Hail as large as peas fell here on March 2, 1896. 
All disappeared in a few hours. On March 3d, it snowed again and was piled in 
little banks on the sidewalks, lawns and roof tops. Everybody snowballed. Many 
people took the street cars to the hills to enjoy fully the novelty. The hills 
were white. The storm ended with hail and sleet and all soon disappeared. It was 
nearly two inches deep on the level. On December 31, 1882, snow fell here to the 
depth of about three inches and the mercury fell to 18� above zero. A few sleds 
were seen on the streets, more for novelty and frolic than utility.
        During the legislative session of 1896-97 the county government 
committee planned to reduce the salaries of nearly all the officers in Alameda 
county by an aggregate of $15,000. The reductions proposed were as follows :
 
REDUCTION OF SALARIES
 
                                        Present         New             Another 
New
Office                               System         Schedule         Schedule
County clerk                 .   $16,000          $15,400           $17,000
Sheriff                                15,000            13,900 (est.)     
15,100
Recorder                            16,000           14,000                9,100
Auditor                                6,000             5,450                 
4,950
Treasurer                             6,000             4,200                 
4,200
Tax collector                        9,500             8,400                 
8,400
Assessor                            18,100           16,600               17,100
District attorney                  10,100             9,300                 
9,300
Superintendent of schools     4,500             3,600                 3,900
                            Total reduction, $10,350.
 
        Early in 1895 the county board ordered a jail built at Centerville, the 
cost not to exceed $350. In August the county board granted $25 per month each 
to the Free Clinic of West Oakland and the Oakland Free Clinic.
        In 1897 the income of Alameda county was $1,989,538 and its outlay 
$14,000 more than that sum. There remained in the treasury about half a million 
dollars. People of Alameda county were greatly interested in the prominence 
attained in the East by Henry George, the single tax champion. In February, the 
county board appropriated $1,500 with which to buy a work called "Facts and 
Figures of Alameda County" for distribution in the eastern states.
        In the spring of 1898 one of the county supervisors was tried for 
malfeasance in office, but after a trial that was drawn out three months, he was 
acquitted. The assessment roll of the county was cut down from $91,299,125 in 
1897-8 to $81,403,400 in 1898-9. The following was the assessment in 1898-9, the 
figures showing the comparative size and importance of the places:
 
      Oakland                       $42,067,675
      Alameda                       10,599,075
      Berkeley           7,042,850
      Brooklyn township        5,218,350
      Washington township    4,640,950
      Eden township 3,646,450
      Murray township          3,354,425
      Oakland township         1,613,275
      San Leandro                 929,025
      Haywards                     751,375
      Emeryville                     667,400
      Livermore         550,525
      Pleasanton        322,025
      Total    $81,403,400

 
        In October, 1898, the grand jury reprimanded the county board for its 
slip�shod methods of handling its accounts. A considerable sum of money had been
lost through raised warrants. In the spring of 1899 Alameda county had no debt 
and its buildings were valued at $2,469,441.
        The movement to light the public highway between Haywards and Oakland 
like a city street received strong impulse at San Leandro in July, 1899. The 
Board of Trade and Merchants' Exchange of Oakland, the Board of Trade of San 
Leandro, the Fruit Vale and Elmhurst Improvement clubs and the board of trustees 
of Haywards favored the improvement. All sent representatives to a big meeting 
in San Leandro which was presided over by J. M. Frank of that town. While there 
the delegates visited the large new cannery where 420 persons were then 
employed. Who should build the lamps and maintain them, was the all important 
question. All agreed that it would be a splendid and desirable improvement. It 
was a suggestion for improvement that encountered no opposition.
        In the fall of 1900 the salt plants near Alvarado numbered nearly thirty 
and produced all the salt used on the coast except about thirty thousand tons of 
refined product imported from Liverpool. New York business men tried to buy all 
the plants at this time, in the interests of a combine or monopoly. They tried 
to control the output by securing an option on all the product for $2 per ton; 
the output at this time was about one hundred thousand tons of the crude article 
annually. They succeeded in securing a five-year option on this product, and at 
once raised the price from 95 cents to $2 per bag. The new concern took the name 
Federal Salt Company. The Union Pacific Salt Works controlled 1,100 acres of 
salt marsh near Alvarado and was organized in 1872 and produced about fourteen 
thousand tons annually. The oldest works were those of Plummer & Sons, at 
Newark, who began operations in 1864, and Turk Island Works founded in 1869. 
Salt works extended along the bay from Mount Eden to Newark.
        In 1900-01 Alameda county produced more coal than all the other coal 
producing counties of the state combined; the total output of the state in 1899 
was 160,941 tons. Previous to 1897 the coal output of this county did not amount 
to much, but in that year the Tesla mine operated by the San Francisco and San 
Joaquin Coal Company put on the market 21,900 tons; in 1898, 70,500 tons, and in 
1899, 80,703 tons. Tesla was twelve miles by wagon road southwest of Livermore 
and there the company owned 4,600 acres under which there were ten coal veins, 
limestones, gravel, and glass sand. In 1896 the company constructed a railroad 
thirty-six miles long from Tesla to Stockton where its distributing bunkers were 
situated. It at once began briquetting its products and soon received large 
orders; all the screenings, slack, waste and oily products were thus utilized 
for domestic consumption. In 1900 Oakland was the distributing point for about 
six hundred thousand tons of coal, of which the Southern Pacific imported 
378,000 tons. About two hundred thousand tons were received and distributed by 
James P. Taylor, Charles R. Allen, Pacific Coal Company, the Howard Coal Company 
and others. Already large quantities of California fuel oil were substituted for 
coal proper by manufacturers, railroads and steamships.
        On February 25, 1901, the county board voted an appropriation of $300 
for an Alameda county exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo. At the 
same time they voted against a proposition to appropriate $10,000 for the Contra 
Costa Tunnel road.
 
TOTAL ASSESSMENT OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
 
1894    $92,814,821                 1897        94,057,417
1895     93,434,774                  1898        83,549,470
1896     94,267,840                  1899        84,136,668
 
        The assessments were reduced by omitting railroad property. In 
September, 1899, the county board fixed the inside tax rate for state and county 
at $1.34 and added 35 cents for roads. The amounts to be raised by taxation were 
as follows for the years named, omitting cents:
 
      1890-1  $829,7211895-6             1,174,850
      1891-2  777,4251896-7             1,023,633
      1892-3 737,2521897-8             1,020,774
      1893-4 994,1251898-9             1,064,015
      1894-5 996,3901899-1900       1,201,895

 
        In September the county board passed a resolution calling for bids for 
lighting the public highway from the eastern boundary of Oakland to the western 
boundary of San Leandro and from the eastern boundary of San Leandro to the 
western boundary of Haywards.
        On August 4, 1902, the whole county was redivided into townships, and at 
this time the new township of Pleasanton made its appearance on the map.
The county was now composed of the following townships: Alameda, Brooklyn, Eden, 
Murray, Oakland, Pleasanton and Washington.
        Alameda county is well supplied with building rock�macadam, dimension 
stone, rock for concrete, cement and ballast rubble and a red quartz suitable 
for fluxing iron. Perhaps the most famous quarries are situated in Shephard's 
canyon and in Niles canyon. Immense ledges of red quartz are situated three or 
four miles south of Oakland.
        In 1902 the Oakland Board of Trade asked the county board for a suitable 
appropriation for an exhibit of Alameda county products at the St. Louis 
Exposition of 1904. The following medals were awarded Alameda county at the 
World's Fair: Hunt Brothers, Haywards, canned fruit, gold medal; Pacific Vinegar 
and Pickle Works, pickles, gold medal; Alameda Sugar Company, beet sugar, gold 
medal; E. A. Wright, vinegar, gold medal ; Pleasanton Hop Company, hops, gold 
medal; California Fruit Cannery Association, preserves, gold medal; J. M. Doty, 
olive oil, gold medal; August Hagerman, barley, gold medal; F. J. Lea & Company, 
olive oil, gold medal; University of California, seeds, gold medal; Cresta 
Blanca Vineyard, wine, gold medal; Mountain Range Vineyard, wine, gold medal. 
The county received the gold medal for the best general play out of twenty-two 
counties that made exhibits at the World's Fair in 1904.
        In July, 1903 the county board bought fifty ballot machines of the Dean 
Machine Company, one-half to be delivered May 1, 1906, and one-half in August of 
the same year. The price of each was $650.
        In 1905 the total products of the county were $21,881,330. The 
agricultural products were valued at $8,596,133, and the manufactured articles 
at $13,285,197. These figures were furnished to the county board by Mr. Wyckoff. 
Late in August, 1906, Alameda county was awarded first prize for the general 
excellence of its exhibit at the state fair at Sacramento. In September the 
county board fixed the rate of taxation at $1.45 for inside property and $1.85 
for outside property. It was necessary to raise $190,000 more for building 
purposes than was raised the previous year. Of this sum $100,000 was needed on 
the new jail and about $20,000 for repairs to county buildings made necessary by 
damage done by the earthquake of April 18th and the same amount for repairs to 
school buildings. In November the tunnel through the hills to Contra Costa 
county was finished at a total cost of about $46,000. Its completion was 
celebrated with a fine banquet tendered the Contra Costa county representatives 
by the Oakland Merchants Exchange. The total length of the tunnel was 1,100 
feet.
 
ASSESSMENTS, 1906
 
Emeryville         $1,532,420         Livermore              658,830
Fruitvale, etc.     4,513,610          San Leandro       1,060,735
Pleasanton            387,422          Haywards              995,275
 
        The earthquake of April 18, 1906, between 8 and 9 o'clock in the 
morning, was a real shake�not a wave. In all about twenty different quakes were 
experienced after the first great shock, nearly all being slight and several 
scarcely noticeable. Four persons were killed in Oakland and several injured. 
The hall of records and the courthouse were considerably injured. Many churches, 
schoolhouses, business blocks and residences were more or less damaged. The 
damage to San Francisco was so much greater than in Alameda county that the 
people here forgot their own troubles and losses in view of the awful calamity 
which swept that city. It was estimated that from 18,000 to 50,000 refuges from 
San Francisco passed the night of April 19th, in this city. A relief committee 
of 300 was busy providing care for all who came. Every church and relief society 
went actively to work; so did the Chamber of Commerce and the various lodges, 
clubs and societies. Practically every city and town in the county threw open 
its doors for the unfortunates. A large relief corps was formed in Berkeley and 
in Alameda and thousands were cared for. The people of San Leandro, San Lorenzo 
and Haywards and the surrounding country organized and tendered food, shelter 
and clothing. The schools throughout the county were generally closed. Thousands 
volunteered for service across the bay if needed, but were refused, as their 
presence would only add to the confusion. Many who had relatives in San 
Francisco were refused passes to visit them. By the l0th immense quantities of 
flour, meat and vegetables were rushed to Oakland for transportation across the 
bay. The Salvation Army provided tents for a large number of persons. All the 
cities on this side of the bay marvelously escaped the dreadful aftermath of 
fire which devastated San Francisco. At the time of the shock the electric 
current was largely turned off. One of the water mains burst, but there being 
few fires it cut no figure. The loss here to business plants was large, but was 
scarcely noticed in the shadow of the greater calamity across the bay. Governor 
Pardee arrived in Oakland on the 20th and at once instituted measures of relief. 
Every town in the county suffered more or less in damage to buildings. On the 
21st the Oakland Relief Committee announced that there was plenty of food, beds 
and rooms here for all who needed help.  Hundreds were provided for in Berkeley 
and Alameda. Every park was filled with the refugees who were supplied, with 
blankets and food. In two days the relief committee at Berkeley raised over 
$3,000 cash for relief purposes. Churches and lodge rooms were opened every 
night to the refugees and relief funds were accumulated. From all over the 
country�the world�came encouraging and cheering messages and as fast as trains 
could bring it, help of the most substantial character. The various labor 
organizations were active in the good work. By April 21st the relief committee 
in Oakland had collected $10,000 cash. On the l0th five persons became so 
demented by their awful experiences that they were taken in charge by the 
police. The relief committees secured from the railroads free transportation of 
the refugees to outside points. Scores of cities to the eastward wired that 
money and supplies were on the way.
        The hospitals were full to overflowing. Many babies were born during the 
night of the l0th and every woman's society was busy furnishing care and 
encouragement. Everywhere throughout the county the Native Sons were active day 
and night to aid the sufferers. Eighteen physicians and an equal number of 
nurses arrived in Oakland from Oregon to aid the local medical men. The Governor 
declared April 23d and 24th legal holidays to enable business to get its 
bearings once more. Among those who escaped with their lives from San Francisco 
and came to Oakland was Goddaret E. D. Dimond, aged 109 years. He slept on the 
ground one night in San Francisco and had nothing to eat from Wednesday morning 
until Friday noon. Though rendered penniless by the fire he announced his 
intention to start anew by lecturing on his life and the earthquake catastrophe.
        The Oakland high school building was seriously damaged by the shock. The 
plaster in every room was partly thrown down. Much furniture was damaged, 
pictures particularly. The massive chimneys were thrown down and forced through 
the slate roof wrecking it completely and creating great havoc below. Several 
rooms were almost completely wrecked.
        An artesian well near San Lorenzo on the day after the earthquake, first 
spouted salt water, then water containing oil, ink-colored water, milk-white 
water and then settled down to good clear drinking water.
        Late on the 23d another earthquake shook the bay cities. It was severe 
enough to drive people into the street. Professor Bushhalter said it was the 
first shake for about thirty hours. It was severer in San Francisco and among 
the frightened people there caused a considerable panic. On Sunday, April 22d, 
the churches devoted themselves almost wholly to relief work. Thousands were fed 
in the auditoriums. "Talk about booms !" said the Enquirer, "The population of 
Oakland has increased more rapidly within the last week than anything Los 
Angeles ever experienced." It was estimated on the 23d that the cities and towns 
of the county were caring for from 100,000 to 150,000 persons made temporarily 
helpless by the fire. The population of Oakland about doubled. One splendid act 
of the authorities was that which compelled all selling and dispensing agencies 
not to increase prices. The Catholic Central Relief Committee organized and did 
excellent work.     Oakland and the surrounding towns, in view of the presence 
of thousands of refugees, made strenuous efforts to keep down lawlessness and 
succeeded. Large numbers of persons were taken into custody on suspicion as an 
act of prevention. An unknown rancher at Fruitvale, with a wagon full of freshly 
cooked victuals�macaroni, boiled ham, buttered bread, baked beans, etc., seeing 
the hungry throng there, called all to come forward and eat heartily without a 
cent to pay. He did not have to ask a second time. With undisguised satisfaction 
he saw the wagon-load of eatables disappear, then mounted his wagon and drove 
home; enjoying the superb sensation which always accompanies a noble act. This 
feeling, in short, embraced this whole community which offered food and shelter 
free to all the refugees. As a matter of precaution over 100 special building 
inspectors were appointed to examine all buildings to see that their chimneys 
were free from damage from the shock. Rapidly, under the direction of the board 
of health, the names of the refugees were taken and system was created out of 
confusion. Twenty-five stenographers were employed to handle the enormous 
emergency correspondence. Soon every park and open place became a relief camp. 
Thousands were cared for at Idora park.
        In 1907 the banks of the county were as follows: Savings banks: 
Oakland�Central, Farmers and Merchants, Oakland Savings, State Savings, Union 
Savings, First National, Italian, Banker's Trust, California, Security, West 
Oakland and Union National; Alameda�Citizens Savings, Alameda; Berkeley�Berkeley 
Bank and Trust, University, South Berkeley, West Berkeley; Fruitvale�Citizens 
Savings, Citizens Commercial, Bank of Fruitvale; Claremont�Citizens State; 
Emeryville�Syndicate; San Leandro�San Leandro; Haywards�Haywards Savings, 
Haywards Commercial, Farmers and Merchants; Livermore�Bank of Livermore, 
Livermore Savings, Livermore Valley; Pleasanton�Bank of Pleasanton; Niles�Niles 
State; Centerville�Centerville. The combined deposits amounted to over 
$54,000,000. National banks, Oakland�First National, Central National�total 
capital, $1,500,000; deposits $9,018,898.35. In Berkeley�First National, 
Berkeley National�total capital, $550,000; deposits $3,087,635.86. Other 
national banks�Alameda National, Citizens National, San Leandro, Pleasanton, 
Livermore, Emeryville�total capital, $350,000; deposits $1,845,821.84. Total 
capital of all county banks, $6,939,490; total deposits and circulation 
$72,006,005.63. There were thus forty-three banks in the county.
        In 1908 the grand value of all property in the county was $186,892,225. 
The total county indebtedness was $119,104.28. Total state and county taxation 
$1.36 on inside property and $1.76 on outside property. The real estate was 
valued at $106,901,475.
        In 1908, the county board appropriated $1,500 to enable the Oakland free 
public library upon petition to extend its benefits to the people of the county 
residing outside of incorporated cities and towns.
        The construction of the Foothills boulevard connecting Oakland, 
Fruitvale, Elmhurst, Fitchburg, Ashland, San Leandro, Castro Valley and Haywards 
and covering a distance of twelve miles or more was brought to completion in 
1908 and at once became the pride of the people and a crowning act of 
improvement by the county board.
        The anti-alien or anti-Japanese sentiment claimed prominent attention in 
this community in 1908-09. The bills in the Legislature on the subject, the 
attitude of Governor Gillett and President Roosevelt, the formation of 
anti-Japanese organizations and the attack on a Japanese student at the 
university, were sufficient to rouse the people to the impending perils.
 
POPULATION IN 1910
Townships        People         Cities            People         Towns           
   People
Oakland        147,199         Oakland        150,174       Haywards         
2,746
Alameda         23,183          Berkeley         40,434       Livermore         
2,030
Brooklyn        49,140          San Leandro      3,471      Emeryville         
2,613
Eden              11,515          Piedmont           1,719
Murray            4,137          Albany                  808
Pleasanton       2,883          Pleasanton         1,254
Washington     7,874
 
        In February, 1911 the county board passed stringent resolutions against 
the Wolfe bill which planned to dismember Alameda and other counties in order 
that portions might be annexed to San Francisco. Petitions remonstrating against 
the passage of the bill were signed by over three thousand residents of Alameda 
county in February, 1911. The senate bill was finally killed by the vote of 
twenty-one to nineteen. At this time the county board also set aside the Scenic 
or Foothills boulevard for the purposed automobile road race.
        In 1912 the Metropolitan Municipal Water district was established, to 
comprise seven cities and unincorporated territory in Oakland. This year the 
irrigation bond amendment was adopted by the voters of the state. A movement for 
a children's hospital for the whole county was commenced. A consolidation of 
various county public offices in order to save expenses was considered by the 
tax association. The poultry show at Oakland this year was a success, Haywards 
leading in the poultry industry. The Alameda County Water district was 
established in 1913-14. The county board gave the Rotary Club $500 with which to 
advertise the county for 1915, and appropriated $9,000 for a county exhibit at 
the San Diego fair of 1915.
        In October, 1913, the banks of the county were as follows: State banks 
in Oakland�Oakland Bank of Savings, Central Savings, Union Savings, First Trust 
and Savings, Farmers and Merchants Savings, State Savings, Security Bank and 
Trust, Bank of Fruitvale, Citizens Bank of Fruitvale, Harbor Bank, Bank of 
Commerce, West Oakland Bank and Trust, Banco Popolace Italian, Twenty-third 
avenue, Elmhurst�total capital of all $3,124,440; deposits $43,445,556.55. State 
banks in Berkeley�Berkeley Bank of Savings, University Savings, Homestead 
Savings, West Berkeley, South Berkeley�total capital of all $693,400; deposits 
$5,691.484.07. Elsewhere in the county�Alameda Savings, Bank of San Leandro, 
Bank of Centerville, Bank of Alameda County, Alvarado, Farmers and Merchants of 
Haywards, Bank of Haywards, Haywards Bank of Savings, Niles State Bank, 
Livermore Valley Savings, Livermore Savings, Bank of Pleasanton�total capital 
$721,650; deposits $6,801,823.96.
        At the election held December 30, 1913, to determine whether the Alameda 
County Water district should he organized, the result was: for the district 884,
against the district 19. The county is not without its commercial minerals. 
There are coal, pyrites, clay, petroleum, magnesite, building rock, gravel, 
sand, trap-rock, limestone, concrete rock, sandstone, etc. The annual product is 
worth about $5,000,000. The assessment rolls of the county for 1913-14 contained 
6,000 more names than those of the previous year. The total assessed valuation 
was $256,363,895.