El Dorado County History Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County California with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominentmen and Pioneers. Oakland 1883. Paolo Sioli, Publisher. Compiled by P. Sioli. Transcribed by Peggy Hooper, Oct 2009. This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. CHAPTER XXIX. COUNTY HOSPITAL, ETC. From the organization of the county up to the year 1855, the citizens of the county had been heavily taxed for the support of the indigent sick in the county, who had to be removed to the Marine Hospital at Fan Francisco. But the State Legislature in 1854 to 1855, in accordance with the general dislike of the people to go there, abolished this use of the Marine Hospital and made provision for each county to take care of its own indigent sick. Whereupon the Board of Supervisors of El Dorado county, under date of June 9th, 1855, awarded the contract to take care of and provide for the indigent sick of the county to Drs. Clark and Harvey, two well known physicians of Placerville. The substance of this contract was to the following effect : that both these gentlemen bind themselves to render their medical services and to furnish an appropriate building for the sum of $3,500 for the time of one year, the county furnishing all other materials necessary for the patients. The Broadway hotel, in Upper Placerville was rented, and r- arrangements made for its occupation as the first hospital. The first county hospital report was presented to the Board of Supervisors of this county, for the quarter the Board of Supervisors of this county, for the quarter ending December 20th, 1856, to March 20th, 1857. The report gives the number of patients remaining in the hospital on December 10th, 1856. . . . 10 Admissions for the quarter. . . 26 Total number treated in the hospital. . . 36 Discharged during the quarter. . . 15 Deaths. . . 4 To deduct. . . 19 Remaining on March 20th, 1857. . . 17 The number of charity patients seeking advice and treatment from the dispensary during the quarter, not residing in the hospital, were 37. DEATHS. Dropsy of the chest. . .1 Bronchitis. . . 1 Phthisis. . . 1 Unknown. . . 1 Total. . . 4 Nativity of Deaths. Ireland, 1 ; Germany, 2 ; United States, 1. The report then continues : Many of the cases admitted are more properly subjects for an infirmary than a hospital, the primary design of which is for the treatment of acute or remedial disease, and the speedy restoration of the invalid to the active walks of life. This number includes those who are afflicted incurably, the aged and imbecile, and those whose mutilations from disease or accident incapacitates them from earning a livelihood. Under our imperfect hospital system the insane alone have been provided with an asylum under State patronage. The deaf and dumb, the blind, the indigent sick, the poor, the destitute and unprotected are left to the benevolent care of the respective counties, and to the humane consideration of individuals, and a large portion of whom necessarily become inmates of the county hospital. This class of cases have received at our hands that consideration due to their unfortunate condition, although the terms of our c ontract do not oblige us to take charge of and maintain them. Of deaths there have been a much smaller number than during the preceding quarter. Only four have died, and one of the number was dead on reaching the hospital. O. Harvey, M. D. A. Clark, M. D. Under this contract system the expenses of the county for hospital purposes were : In the first year, from June 9th, 1855, to 1866. . . $15,000 In the second year, from June 9th, 1856, to 1857. . . 11,500 In the third year, from June 9th, 1857, to 1858. . . 7,000 In the fourth year, from June 9th, 1858, to 1859. . . 7,000 In the fifth year, from June 9th, 1859, to 1860. . . 4,800 Showing a considerable decrease in the contract price, while at the same time the number of patients was increasing ; the average number of sick constantly in the hospital was in the third year 16, in the fourth year, 21. The large difference in the expenses for the hospital from $7,000 to $4,800 in the fifth year, was caused by means of some lengthy newspaper controversies. Another consequence therefrom was a bill introduced into the Legislature in January, 1860, by Dr. I. S. Titus, then Senator from El Dorado county. The bill provided for the establishment of County Infirmaries, and the better care and support of the indigent sick. The contract system, however, was not abolished so soon in the administration of the county hospital. The contract for the seventh and eighth year, in 1861 and 1862, was awarded to Drs. John Cook and I. S. Titus, and not before the expiration of their term did the county hospital go under the direct superindence of the county administration, with Dr. John Cook as acting physician. The following statement of the Board of Auditors will give the best information concerning the location and condition of the county hospital, together with all of its other affairs and arrangements. During its whole existence, the county hospital of El Dorado county has been one of the best managed institutions of the kind in the State. For fourteen years Dr. John Cook devoted a large share of his time to it, and its present satisfactory condition is due, in a great measure, to the fostering care it received at his hands. Its situation is one of the most healthful that could possibly have been selected. Located on the flank of Quartz Hill, with a southern exposure, it is elevated above all miasmatic influences, while a small ditch, a branch of the South Fork canal, supplies it with an abundance of water for irrigating purposes. The soil, originally fertile, has been well manured, and is capable of raising anything that can be raised in this altitude. The grounds � including the pest house � comprises 8.92 acres; all enclosed with a substantial fence. The buildings are large, roomy, well ventilated and conveniently arranged. Dr. Proctor, the present physician, is following faithfully in the footsteps of his predecessor. Economy is the order of the day. Although the present yield from the garden is large, arrangements have been made to increase the income from this source materially. In this connection, the following letter, in answer to a communication from the Supervisors of Nevada county, soliciting information on the subject, will doubtless prove interesting to the people in general : Office of the Board of Auditors, Placerville, El Dorado County, December 1, 1877. Dear Sir � The Board of Auditors have directed me to reply to yours of the 1st inst. Our hospital system is really a combination of Hospital and Infirmary, both the helpless indigent and the indigent sick being accommodated at the same institution. The system substantially conforms to the several enactments of the Legislature received thereto. Vide Statutes 1855, pp. 67; 1867, 215; 1875-6, 681; and the Codes. The County Physician has direct management under the control of the Board of Auditors. His salary for hospital services is $100 per month. The steward has supervision under the physician. The combined salary of steward and cook is $105 per month. The hospital grounds comprise about 6 1/2 acres and the pest house about 2 1/2 acres additional. At the hospital a great abundance of all kinds of vegetables is raised, and quite a variety of fruit, more than is required for its own use; the labor being performed by the patients. The hospital buildings and ground belong to the county. Hospital supplies are all purchased by contract. There is no income whatever from the paupers. The hospital tax levied for several years past is 25 cents. Four years ago we had a per capita tax of $1 50. A bill for the same amount was passed two years ago, but owing to a mistake in engrossing, the Act is a nullity. All taxes for this county are levied by the Legislature. The taxes for this year will pay nearly, if not all, accrued hospital indebtedness to January 1, 1878. We have a few indigent persons on the outside not in the hospital � who are not able to make a living, but have homes; who are allowed, each, a small amount monthly by the county, and in that way manage to get along. Below you find a statement of entire cost of hospital for twelve months. The average of cost, 47.7 cents per day, includes physician's, steward's and cook's salaries, burying dead, repairs, (which have been considerable this year) and everything of whatever nature that is a hospital charge. Statement � Whole amount of warrants drawn on Hospital Fund, for twelve months commencing December 1, 1876, $6,481 89. Of this amount, there was drawn for outside purposes � such as indigent persons not in hospital, burying outside poor, etc., $659. Actual amount applied to hospital $5,822 89 Average number of patients per day 33,153 00 Average cost per day 47.7 cents Very respectfully, Geo. Burnham, Clerk of Board of Auditors. By E. W. Witmer, Deputy. To J. S. Thompson, Esq., Member of Board of Supervisors, Nevada County, Cal. The Board of Auditors, at their regular meeting of March, 1880, appointed Dr. H. W. A. Worthen County Physician. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. John G. Eustis, Esq., Superintendent of Public Schools, in 1857, gave the following statistical information concerning the number of children in each township of El Dorado county, and the whole amount of the taxable property of the same : Greenwood. . . 115 Cosumnes. . . 81 Georgetown. . . 165 Mountain. . . 85 Mud Springs. . . 278 Diamond Springs. . . 179 Salmon Falls. . . 62 Kelsey. . . 92 White Oak. . . 125 Big Bar. . . 28 Placerville. . . 368 Coloma. . . 234 Total. . . 1812 The amount of taxable property in the county, $3,151,618 � on which amount a tax of 15 cents on one hundred dollars was levied for county school purposes. The school census of 1858 gave but 1,736 children between 4 and 18 years; of these 700 attended school during the year, the average attendance being 412. The county received an appropriation out of the State School Fund during the year of $2,881 07. The total amount expended for school purposes was $9,141 59. H. S. Herrick, County Superintendent of Schools, in December, 1860, gave the following figures concerning the school statistics: The number of children in the county between the ages of 4 and 18 years, was 2,449; of whom 1,289 were boys, and 1,160 girls. Under 4 years, of both sexes, were 1,289, and between 18 and 21 years, 188; 2,042 were born in California ; deaf and dumb, 3 ; blind, 2. The total number attending school was 1,127; the average attendance was 704 and a fraction. The aggregate cost of school houses and furniture in the county has been $9,863. The total receipts for school purposes during the year 1860 have been $13,773; $13,641 have been paid for teachers' salaries and the total amount expended for school purposes during the same year has been $16,460. SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EL DORADO COUNTY IN 1860. Placerville, Placerville City, Upper Placerville, Johnson's, Smith's Flat, Coloma, Gold Hill, Cold Springs, Uniontown, Diamond Springs, Newtown, El Dorado, Kelsey, Mount Gregory, Clarksville, Jayhawk, Salmon Falls, Greenwood, Georgetown, Dry Creek, Mountain, Indian Diggings, Cedarville, Coyoteville, French Creek, Cosumnes Grove, Buckeye Flat, Deer Creek, Green Valley, Negro Hill, Spanish Dry Diggings, Mount Ankum, Diamond, Pilot Hill. LATER FORMED SCHOOL DISTRICTS. Cave Valley, Mosquito, Latrobe, Pleasant Valley, Mud Springs Township, Tennessee Creek Middle School District of Diamond Spring Township. The following are figures from the Annual Statistical Report of the County Superintendent of this county to the State Department for the school year beginning July i, 1869, and ending June 30, 1870. Number of white children between 4 and 15 years of age � boys, 1,139; girls, 1,110; total, 2,249. Number of Negro children between 5 and 15 years of age � boys, 8; girls, 15; total, 23. Number of Indian children between 5 and 15 � boys, 14; girls, 13; total, 27. Grand total, 2,299, a falling off within one year of 49. Total number of children under 5 years of age, 942 ; 79 less than at the close of last school year. Expended for school apparatus, $170 49; for building, repairs, etc., $1,334 30; for library books, $687 97 ; for teachers' salaries, $16,001 70; $146 79 less than for preceding year. Reported valuation of school houses, lots, etc., $16,145 50; valuation of school libraries, $2,626 41; valuation of school apparatus, $Ij737 75 ; total valuation of school property, $21,109 66. Number of new districts organized, 1; whole number of districts, 39; number of schools, 42; whole number of children attending public schools, 1768; 25 less than the year preceding. From Superintendent Munson's annual report of 1874, we take the following : The whole number of School Districts in which school has been kept is 38 ; whole number of schools 43 ; of which 23 are first grade, 16 second grade and 4 of the third grade. There were in the county 2,448 census children, of whom 2,379 were white, 27 colored and 42 Indians and Mongolians. Of this number 1,971, or nearly 83 per cent, attended school, leaving 408 who have not attended school during the year. The average daily attendance is very low, being only 1,211, or but a little more than 50 per cent. of the whole number of children. For the length of time for which school has been maintained Latrobe is leading with 9 1/2 months. Of the teachers employed, 20 are males, 22 are females ; 23 are of the first grade, 13 of the second and 6 of the third. The highest salary paid to one teacher was $125 per month, the lowest $30; the average salary was $66.86. The total amount of money expended is $23,499.11, being nearly $10 to each census child. The amount needed to keep a school in each district for a period of eight months, $26,973, The total valuation of school property is $29,226, the highest valuation of any being $7,000, the lowest $50. Six teachers are graduates of the State Normal school, and one teacher holds a diploma. Courts of El Dorado County. District Court � Regular Terms commence on the second Monday of February and May, and third Monday of August and November. County Court � Holds regular Terms on the first Monday of January, May and September. Court of Sessions � Hold regular Terms on the first Monday of March, July and November. Probate Court� Holds regular Terms on the fourth Monday of each month. Board of Supervisors � Hold regular meetings on the first Monday of each month. RULES OF THE COUNTY COURT OF EL DORADO COUNTY. HON. OGDEN SQUIRES, JUDGE. (To go into effect, April 4th, A. D. 1864.) RULE I The hour of 10 o'clock a. m., is fixed for the opening of the Court during term. The order of business will be as follows : First � The hearing of applications for naturalization. Second � The arraignment of and hearing of pleas of parties indicted for criminal offenses. Third � The hearing of motions and demurrers. Fourth � The calling of the calendar. Fifth � The trial of criminal causes on the calendar for the day. Sixth � The trial of civil causes on the calendar for the day. RULE II. On the first day of the term, before proceeding to other business, the Grand Jury will be impanelled, when the calendar will be called and causes set for trial, unless otherwise ordered by the Court. RULE III. In all causes appealed to this Court, where the appeal is perfected fifteen days before the first day of the next succeeding term, the papers on appeal shall be sent up and filed and the cause placed on the term calendar on or before the last Wednesday preceding the first day of the term. If the papers are not so sent up and filed, and the cause placed on the calendar, the appeal may be dismissed, on motion, during the term without notice, unless good cause be shown to the contrary, by affidavit at the time of the hearing of the motion. A cause so dismissed may be restored upon three days written notice to the adverse party or his or her Attorney, upon good cause shown by affidavit, and upon terms. On such motion to dimiss an appeal, if the grounds of the motion shall be that the papers are not sent up by the Court below, that rendered the judgment appealed from, because of the non-payment of fees, the certificate of the Court below of that fact shall be presented in support of the motion. If the grounds of the motion shall be, that the papers have been sent up but not filed because of the non-payment of fees, the papers or the certificate of the clerk that the fees for filing remain unpaid, shall be presented in support of the motion, and want of an entry of filing on the papers shall be prima facie evidence that the fees for filing remain unpaid. If the grounds of the motion shall be, that the papers have been sent up and filed, but that the cause has not been placed on the calendar, because of the non-payment of fees, the certificate of the clerk of that fact shall be presented in support of the motion. In no cause in this Court shall either party be compelled to go to trial unless such cause shall have been placed upon the calendar on or before the last Wednesday preceding the first day of the term, Provided, however, that by consent of Court, a cause may be placed upon the calendar and set for trial at any time during the first week of the term, after three days' notice to the adverse party by the party moving the cause on the calendar. In causes in this Court, either party, by leave of the Court, may amend any pleading or paper, so that a fair trial may be had on the merits, but not so as to change the character of the action or defense. If, when a cause shall be regularly called for trial, the plaintiff or appellant shall fail to appear or proceed to trial, unless for sufficient cause shown, the Court should otherwise order, the defendent or respondent may take a dismissal of the action, or apply for such relief as he may be entitled to in his pleadings. RULE VII. The first application for a postponement of a trial, on the ground of absence of evidence, must be made upon affidavit, showing that the evidence is material and that due diligence has been used to procure it. In criminal causes, unless required by the Court, the moving party need not in his affidavit, state the evidence which expects to obtain. The affidavit must state that he has fully and fairly stated the case to his counsel (naming him), and that he is advised by his counsel, after such statement is made, and believes that said evidence is material, and that he cannot safely go to trial without it. In any subsequent application for a postponement of the trial of a criminal cause, the affidavit used must, in addition to the above, state the evidence which the moving party expects to obtain and from whom, and also state his reasons for believing the witness will testify to such facts. RULE VIII. Agreements or consents between parties or their attorneys, relating to proceedings in an action, must be in writing and filed, or be entered in the minutes. Whenever a judgment shall be rendered in any action, and the party against whom the same is rendered or his attorney, is not in Court or present at the time of the rendition of the same, the party, or his attorney, in whose favor the judgment is rendered, shall give notice to the adverse party, or his attorney, in writing, of the rendition of the judgment and the time allowed by law in which to file exceptions, or move for a new trial, or appeal in such case shall not commence to run until such notice has been given.