Marin County CA Archives History - Books .....History Of Bolinas Township 1880
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Book Title: History Of Marin County

BOLINAS TOWNSHIP.

BOLINAS.

  GEOGRAPHY.—Bolinas township is bounded on the north by Nicasio township, on
the west by Point Reyes township, on the south by the Pacific ocean, and on the
east by San Rafael township. In shape it is oblong, its greatest dimension being
from southeast to .northwest. There are no streams in it of any importance other
than drainage. Its only harbor is the bay of the same name situated at the
southeasterly corner of the township. In days gone by this, doubtless, afforded
a very ample anchorage, but the soil from the hillsides on the one hand and the
sands of the sea on the other, have conspired to fill the entire bay, almost.
The entrance to it is now nearly closed by an extensive sand-beach, there being
only a narrow channel open through it. The greater portion of the bay is a great
sand-bed which is bare at every low tide, and which affords a breeding ground
for countless gigantic clams. It has, of course, required ages to effect these
changes, for the attrition of the soil and the accretion of the sand, must
necessarily have been very slow. When the country began to settle up, this
filling in of the harbor progressed much faster; for the soil, being loosened by
the plowshares, was the more easily washed into the bay by the Winter rains.
When vessels first began to sail into the port, a schooner drawing ten feet of
water could pass over the bar with ease at any stage of the tide, while now, the
same draught of vessel can barely pass at the highest stage; and where those
large vessels formerly lay at the wharf, the depth of water will not admit of
more than a fishing smack. Old sailors are free to assert that the day is not
far distant, at the present rate of filling in, when the entrance of the bay
will be entirely closed, and the body of it will be mere tide and overflowed
land open to reclamation and cultivation. It is true that the harbor is not of
as much importance now as it has been in days gone by when the major portion of
the wood and lumber supply of San Francisco passed over its bar; still it would
work a great hardship to the citizens of that section to have it closed
altogether. It does not seem practicable nor probable that any efforts will ever
be made to reopen the channel or to care for it in its present condition. At the
termination of another generation the records of the many vessels which once
spread their canvas in this harbor will read like a fairy tale, and will seem
certainly to be among the improbabilities; very much as the greater portion of
the early history of our Golden State will read to our grandchildren.

  TOPOGRAPHY.—The general surface of this township is in keeping with the others
in the county, and is quite rough. On the eastern side a ridge of the Tamalpais
chain extends nearly the entire length, which is penetrated with lateral canons,
causing that portion of the township to present a very corrugated appearance.
Stretching northward from the head of Bolinas bay is a wide and fertile valley
extending all the way to the head of Tomales bay. To the westward of Bolinas bay
there is quite an extensive mesa or table-land, which extends to the ocean.
North of this the land is rolling and finally culminates in a series of mountain
peaks which stretch to the northern limits of the township along its western
boundary.

  SOIL.—The soil of this township is generally very rich and fertile. It is
mostly a sandy loam, with here and there a section of clay. Most of the hills
have-elay quite near the surface, but the out-croppings of it are not very
frequent. The clay is yellow and would, doubtless, be well adapted for the
manufacture of brick. The soil of the valleys is well adapted for the purposes
of growing grass, grain, vegetables, and fruits. Fruit trees planted almost
thirty years ago by Captain J. A. Morgan are still bearing, and the fruit is
excellent, considering the variety. There was a time, however, when there were
not so many choice varieties in the State, and when these apples were much
sought for and highly prized in the San Francisco market. A twig from this
orchard, on which there were twenty apples once sold for a twenty dollar gold
piece in that city. Some years ago quite large quantities of oats were raised
about Olema for the city market, and oats and barley are still grown very
extensively for hay. They are sown together, as it is thought that one protects
the other from rust. Fine potatoes are also grown in this section, but as it is,
found to be more profitable to use the land for dairying purposes, the growing
of all these grains and vegetables is mostly abandoned.

  CLIMATE.—The climate of Bolinas township throughout is very fine, and varies
from the cold and foggy air of the ocean beach to the mild and dry atmosphere of
the interior. At Bolinas the ocean breezes have a fair sweep across the mesa,
and come upon the town freighted, aye, saturated at times, with moisture from
the ocean. At Olema it is quite the contrary, and while the wind is fully as
cool and refreshing, the dampness has all been absorbed by the thirsty
vegetation and trees over which it has passed. Here is as salubrious and
health-producing a climate as is to be found in any section, not only in Marin
county but of the State of California.

  TIMBER.—There was a time when the timber of this township was bountiful, and
its forests grand and extensive. It was from Bolinas that the greater portion of
the early lumber supply for San Francisco came. It is estimated that about
fifteen million feet of lumber was cut in the immediate vicinity of Bolinas, and
judging from the stumps which still remain, the redwoods of this grand old
forest primeval must have been the peers of any of their congeners in the State,
always excepting of course the "Big Trees of Calaveras." This forest extended
from about midway of the bay on the eastern side northward to the summit between
Bolinas and Olema. They grew much larger in the gulches where they were in a
measure sheltered from the fierce winds of the ocean and also where the fog was
the densest. On the ridges they grew very sparsely, and the few which did have
the hardihood and indiscretion to spring up on those barren and forbidding
mountain spurs were stunted in their growth by the bleak winds from the
northwest, and warped into ill-shapen and unseemly dwarfs of a monster race.
Their leaves and limbs have long since succumbed to the fierce blasts of old
Boreas, and their trunks now stand mere bare poles, looking much like skeleton
sentinels guarding the destinies of the race of men who have so fully supplanted
the people which knew and perhaps loved them in their quasi and quandon glory.
Of the other timber in the township, pine, fir, oak and alder form the greater
portion. The pine is of the species known as "bull pine," and is gnarly,
coarse-grained and unfit for use except as firewood. This tree seemed to
flourish well here, and in an early day there were large quantities of it on
every hill and mountain side. The fir is fine-grained and grows straight and
tall. It makes good lumber for certain purposes, and is much sought after in the
markets for the uses to which it is adapted. No prettier sight can be seen in
many miles travel than a large forest of young fir trees growing on a mountain
side. They stand in such regular order that, to the eye, they present the
appearance of an army drawn up in rank and file. The oak, is the common black
oak indigenous to all the coast <~>f this section. It is gnarled and knotty, and
its wood fit only for firewood, and not so good for that as its congenor, the
live oak. The alder grew in the valleys and its forests were almost
impenetrable, growing so closely together that they were obliged to follow
Webster's suggestion to the young lawyer, and find their "room at the top,"
hence they grew very straight and tall. When they were cut the cord wood almost
covered the ground from which the trees were chopped. The wood is light, makes a
quick, hot fire, but not a lasting one. There is no other timber in this section
worthy of mention. Of all these the major portion has long since been chopped
out, and the places which knew them shall know them no more forever, nor will
others spring up to take their places—"Peace be to their ashes."

  PRODUCTS.—The fertility of the soil of this township would admit of a
versatility of products, but here, as elsewhere in Marin county, the chief
industry is dairying. In early times quite large quantities of oats, barley and
wheat were grown both in the section around Olema and on the mesa west of the
town of Bolinas. Potatoes do well also, and in days agone were grown quite
extensively. The products of this township at the present time chiefly consist
of butter and cordwood.

  EARLY SETTLEMENT—Bolinas.—In considering the early settlement of this township
we shall divide it, for convenience, into two sections, Bolinas and Olema. Their
location and interests were such that their settlement was not contemporaneous.
To Rafael Garcia doubtless belongs the honor of being the first man to settle in
the Bolinas section. It is not known now just what year he came in, but it was
probably about 1834. He located the Baulinas rancho, and after remaining on it
for a few years disposed of it to Gregorio Briones, his brother-in-law, to whom
it was granted February 11, 1846, by Pio Pico. Briones sent his son Pablo to
Bolinas in 1837. The family went in 1838 and he in 1839. The grant contained
eight thousand nine hundred and eleven acres, and afforded pasturage for his
extensive bands of stock. His house was only partially adobe, the lumber for the
wooden portion having been "whip-sawed" in the adjacent forests. The adobe
portion comprised four rooms, two bed rooms, sitting room and kitchen. His stock
multiplied very fast and in a few years he numbered his cattle by the thousands
and his other stock by the hundreds. In domestic matters he dispensed with the
same liberal hand which so preeminently characterized all the rancherias of that
day. Gregorio Briones was born in Monterey in 1797, and his wife, Donna Romana
Garcia, was born in San Diego in 1803. At the age of twenty-two he entered the
army and remained in it for a period of eleven years, during which time, in
1822, he was married at the Mission Dolores, San Francisco. In 1830 he went to
San Jose and spent two years, then to Pinole, Contra Costa county, where he
resided till September 5, 1837. He then went to the Presidio in San Francisco,
and remained two years, during which time he was Alcalde of the place. They had
five children, two sons and three daughters. He died May 10, 1863, beloved and
respected by all who knew him. He was ever accredited with being an honest,
upright and truthful man, and probably, with the exception of some few who had
land difficulties with him, he did not have an enemy in the world.

  The first marriage which occurred in the township was contracted between
Francisco Sebrean and Senorita Maria J. Briones, daughter of Gregorio Briones.
This occurred May 20, 1850, and was an event long to be remembered by those
present. Great preparations had been made for the occasion, and everything was
in keeping with the order of things in that day. Up to this time there had not
been a floor laid in the township, but what was a wedding without a dance, and
what was a dance without a floor? So some whip-sawyers, among whom was Charles
Lauff, were employed to furnish the requisite lumber and construct the floor.
This floor was fourteen by twenty, and, though seeming quite small now, afforded
ample opportunity for devotion to the Terpsichorean muse. A grand barbecue was
also prepared, and the carcass of a fat bullock was roasted to a turn over the
pit of bright coals. In connection with this there was a table set, the like of
which had not been seen before in all these regions round about. Viands were
spread upon it in bountiful profuseness, so that there was enough and to spare
for all the guests. In the early hours of that bright and beautiful Spring
morning, a single horse with two riders might have been seen threading his way
along the mountain trail leading from Bolinas to San Rafael. These riders were a
man and woman, both in the full flush of youth and of love. He was the hero of
the day, Francisco Sebrean, and she, the fair Senorita Maria J. Briones, and
their destination, the mission, where was to be realized the full fruition of
their ardent love. The services of Padre Santilla were invoked, and the twain
were made one flesh, both by the laws of God and man. Again mounting their
horse, they started out on the journey home. Here was romance more than
realized, but we draw the curtain and leave the newly-made man and wife alone
with their love, their happiness, and their hopes. Arriving at the Briones
homestead late in the afternoon, •they found all preparations for the wedding
feast duly made. Congratulations were showered upon them from every side, and
all was joy and gaiety. The wants of the inner man having been more than
satisfied, all repaired to the dancing floor, and then the real pleasure of the
guests began. The music consisted of a violin and guitar, and the dances were
waltzes, polkas, schottisches and reels. A few quadrilles were indulged in by
the American guests present. And thus was continued the round of eating,
drinking and dancing, till the early dawn of another day was being heralded
through the world by the clarion-throated chanticleer, and the approach of
Aurora in her chariot of light.

  Among the many men whom chance circumstances had stranded upon the Pacific
coast in that early day, long before immigration set in in this direction, was a
man known only by the cognomen of "The old Blacksmith;" whence he came or what
had been his past life, no one ever knew, for those were subjects on which he
was very reticent. He appeared at the Mission of San Rafael very suddenly and
mysteriously about 1840. He had evidently deserted from some ship in San
Francisco bay, and stopped at the first settlement he came to. He was employed
in several menial capacities by Timothy Murphy for a few years, but finally
disappeared from there as mysteriously as he had come. In 1849, Captain J. A.
Morgan had occasion to go to Bolinas bay, to wreck a vessel which had been
stranded on the beach. Upon going ashore he was met by a very peculiar looking
individual who seemed to be a fixture in that vicinity. Upon entering into
conversation with him, he found that the man was living near by in a deep
ravine, and he invited the Captain up to his residence for an inspection of his
premises When he arrived at "the house," what was his surprise, to find it to be
simply a cask picked up from the beach, with the open end against a rock which
served as a door. In the hogshead there was a lot of leaves, and a few rags
which answered for a bed. The Captain then inquired of the man what his name
was, and was answered with the laconic reply, "Blacksmith," and no amount of
persuasion could ever induce him to reveal any other name. The old Blacksmith
offered to divide his claim with Morgan, which proposition was accepted, and he
subsequently located there. The Blacksmith was eccentric, erratic, cunning, bold
and mischievous, and many used to think somewhat of a lunatic. He had a small
raft which used to serve his purposes of navigation about the bay, and which he
propelled with a long pole. He seemed to be a fire worshipper, for no matter
where he stopped, be it day or night, Winter or Summer, he would build up a
large fire and sit by it. He had two companions, a cat and a pig, both of which
followed him in all of his peregrinations, and if he chanced to push off from
the shore without them, they would both plunge into the water and swim to him.
The affection which existed between them was something remarkable, and would
more than emulate Robinson Crusoe and his pets. He always went barefooted, and
half naked, being inured to the extremes of weather. His food consisted of
clams, fish and game, capturing the latter with an old flintlock musket, from
which the lock had been gone for years, but which he discharged by applying a
lighted match to the powder in the "pan." After there was a trading post
established at the Point he would sometimes come across the bay and get a
quantity of whisky and return to his hogshead and have a glorious drunk. He came
to the Point for whisky one day, and found everybody absent from home. Getting
angry at this seeming disrespect for him by leaving home the day he had chosen
to come to town, he set about to wreak revenge upon the inhabitants. He poured
out all the fresh water about the premises, and replaced it with sea water. He
then went to the only spring, a small one, and bailed out all the fresh water
and filled it also with salt water; when supper had been prepared by the
unsuspecting victims of this perfidy, with this salt water, it can easily be
imagined how little it was relished, and one can also readily guess that the
anathemas pronounced upon the Blacksmith were not few nor other than dire. In
1857, at about the age of sixty, the old Blacksmith met the rider of the white
horse face to face and passed away from the scenes of life to those which death
opened to his view. When he realized that his end was near, he was asked to
reveal the secret of his life, but he refused to say anything further than to
intimate that he had murdered his wife. What a burden to carry on one's mind and
heart through all the days and years of life! Driven, like the first of his
kind, from the presence of man, with the mark fixed upon him, although not
visible to stranger's eyes, yet always standing out boldly before his own. There
ever upon his hands were the drops of her blood; in his ears there ever rang
that last wild shriek, the groan, the death rattle in her throat, the gasp;
before his mind's eye there ever >arose the vision of that last sad scene and
the tragic end of the life he had sworn before God and man to cherish and
protect, the supplicating appeal in her face when the hand of the slayer
descended upon her, the recoil, the quiver, and all was over and he a doomed
man, an outcast from the society of men, and with no hope of Heaven. Peace there
was none, solace could not be found, all, all was gone. In the wilderness of a
far away country he tried to entomb himself, and struggled in vain to forget.
His punishment began on earth, and who shall say where the end shall be! His
grave was made on the brow of a hill overlooking the beautiful bay beside which
he had spent so many unhappy days, and the ceaseless roar of the Pacific is his
requiem.

  In 1849, quite late in the season, a party composed of the following named
persons came to Bolinas bay for the purpose of getting out wharf timbers:—Joseph
Almy, Charles Lauff, Henderson, B. T. Winslow, James Cummings, James Hough, Fred
Sampson, Dr. Grattan, Hiram Nott, William F. Chappell and a few others whose
names have been forgotten. James Hough had the contract for getting out the
timbers and employed the other men, and received two dollars per running foot
for the timbers delivered at San Francisco. The timber was rafted down the bay
and over the bar where a vessel was anchored ready to receive it. It was used in
the construction of wharves and warehouses in San Francisco. Joseph Almy
undertook to take a raft to the city, but not being familiar with the tides and
currents of the ocean he was driven into the breakers on what is known as the
"potato patch," and his raft went to pieces. This company had quite a large
building located about one hundred yards north of the present residence of W. W.
Wilkins. The only passenger boat running from San Francisco to Bolinas at that
time was a small "double ender," run by a man with the peculiarly odd title of
"Captain Town Meeting," and no other name is known for him. The only house on
the east side of the bay at that time was located where Mr. McKinnon now lives,
and was occupied by a man named Johnson. There was an unoccupied shake shanty on
the point on the west side of the bay. Two men by the name of Winston and
Cummings were located further up toward the top of the ridge, and were engaged
in making shingles. Of this party, only Joseph Almy and Charles Lauff are still
residents of Bolinas. Mr. Almy was County Judge for a number of years, and Mr.
Lauff is one of Bolinas' substantial citizens. Henderson afterwards married one
of Rafael Garcia's daughters and died. This was the first marriage which
occurred in the northern end of the township, in San Rafael in 1855. Dr. Grattan
lived in Stockton for a number of years, and Hiram Nott married one of the
daughters of Gregorio Briones and settled on the Mesa west of the bay. He died
in 1869.

  In December, 1850, there arrived in that section a man by the name of John
Greenwood, who was a hunter. He was the son of a Rocky Mountain hunter and a
relative of the mighty nimrod, David Crockett, and had the reputation of being
one of the finest shots in the country. He brought with him a young wife, not
yet half out of her teens, with rosy cheeks and skin as fair as a lily, who
contrasted very strangely with the tawny daughters of the native Californians.
To them was born, March 15, 1852, the first child in the township, of other than
Spanish parentage. Greenwood was killed in San Bernardino in 1859, but his wife
is still living, having lost none of her vivacity by the added years, which seem
to rest very lightly upon her head. Captain A. D. Easkoot came next, in 1851,
and located at the extreme southern point on the bay. The next place north of
him was located on by Captain J. A. Morgan. He lived in a ship's deck-house,
which was fourteen by twenty, and seven feet high, and was engaged in farming
and dairying. In 1872 he returned East, and in 1874 was thrown from a buggy and
killed. The next place north was settled by Captain Joseph Almy, and the next
was occupied by Greenwood. On the west side of the bay there was the Briones
ranch house and a house owned by Captain George Gavitt at the point. In 1852
David Robinson and Calvin E. Woodbury built a small saloon at the point, getting
the lumber out of a ship's poop. It was about ten feet square and had two banks
and a deal table for poker in it. Two brothers, Thomas and William Johnson came
in and located on the west side of the bay, in what is still known as the
Johnson gulch. They were ship-wrights and built a number of schooners there. In
the same gulch a man by the name of Adams located and began raising poultry.
Further north James Brayton was living in a little shanty and was growing
potatoes. He afterwards went to Contra Costa county and settled. On the west
side of the bay a Califomian by the name of Jose Jesus Vuelinsuelo had built a
house just back and a little to the south of the present site of the Druid Hall.
During this year Captain George Gavitt began running the schooner "Eliza" from
San Francisco to Bolinas. He also had a saloon with the title of "Golden Racer."
W. W. Wilkins, S. P. Weeks and several others came in and located in the
vicinity during the year. In 1853 Captain Samuel Clark and Captain P. L. Bourne
came to Bolinas, also several others. In 1854 George Hilton located on the ridge
east of the bay. As yet there had not been a wagon road constructed either to
San Rafael or Saucelito, and to reach the former place with a team it was
necessary to go via Olema. There was a trail over the mountain about where the
present most excellent grade is, and a trail also leading to Saucelito. In 1857
T. J. and E. B. Mahon opened the first store, which was located at Woodville.
They continued there only one year. In 1857 Henry Clover built and opened a
store near the Briones ranch house. He sold to William Levy, and he to George
Brittian and William Lacy. George Brittian and William Haskell opened the first
store at the point in 1862. The first hotel at the point was located by John
Gifford. The first dwelling house erected at the point was built by Captain Almy
and the Johnson brothers. There was an abundance of California lions and bears
in the woods on the east side of the bay. These lions would kill colts and small
stock. They were extirpated about 1860.

  SAW-MILLS.—In 1851 Captain Hammond built the first saw-mill in this section,
which was located on the present site of Woodville. It was a circular, and had a
capacity of about eight thousand feet daily, and was run by steam. In 1852 this
mill was reconstructed by Captain Oliver Allen, and a circular saw put in,
giving it a capacity of twenty thousand feet. This mill was run at times for
about six years, when the machinery was taken out and shipped to San Francisco.
It is estimated that all told this mill cut six million feet of lumber. The
second mill was built by an association known as the Bolinas Saw Mill Company,
who had also come into possession of the first mill. It was put in operation
soon after the first one and was located in a gulch very near the former. It was
a steam, circular saw, and had a capacity of about eight thousand feet daily. It
was afterwards sold to George R. Morris, who moved it down to what is now known
as Pike County Gulch, near the head of the bay, and run there for some time. It
is estimated that this mill cut three million feet. The next mill was built in
December, 1853, by J. L. Moulthrop, and was located on what is known as Peck's
ridge. It was a steam, circular saw, and could cut twelve thousand feet daily.
It was afterwards purchased by Captain Peck and moved farther up the ridge, and
was thereafter known as the Peck mill. It is estimated that this mill cut three
million feet of lumber. The last mill built in that section was put in operation
by D. B. L. Ross and John Rutherford in 1858, and was located in the road
leading from Bolinas to Olema, and just south of Wm. Randall's place. This mill
did not run but a short time, and it is estimated that it cut one million feet.
This would make a total yield of thirteen million feet of lumber from that belt
of redwood. When the mills were first put in operation it was estimated that
there were over fifty million feet in those forests, but they did not
approximate the estimation. The logs were drawn to the mills with heavy ox teams
on carts, the wheels of which were made from sections sawed off from a log. The
lumber was drawn to the head of the bay, and thence lightered out over the bar}
where it was loaded on vessels for San Francisco. The transportation of this
lumber required from six to eight vessels ranging in carrying capacity from
eight thousand to one hundred and twenty thousand feet each. The remnants of the
old lighter wharves are all that is now left to mark the site of these busy
operations, and where once there existed an industry which gave employment to
hundreds of men, and yielded a handsome income, not even the stroke of an ax is
heard. All is gone, and naught of it will ever return. In the days of the
pristine glory of this forest primeval it was no uncommon thing to find trees
fifty feet in circumference, and the lumber was all first-class. There was a
shingle mill on Randall's place in 1858, but nothing is known now, however,
concerning it.

  SHIP BUILDING.—On account of the availability of lumber and timber at Bolinas,
there have been probably more vessels built here than at any part of the coast
outside of San Francisco. The greater portion of this work has been done by two
brothers, Thomas and William Johnson. As stated above, they came to this place
in 1852, and at once began operations at their business. The following list
embraces the names, time of building of the first and last ones, and tonnage of
all the vessels which they have built here. "Louisa," built in 1854, fifty tons
register; "Hamlet," sixty-five tons; "Lizzie Shea," forty-five tons; "Anna
Caroline," eighty tons; "Effie Newell," eighty tons; "Fourth of July," forty
tons; "Leda," twenty-eight tons; "Emma Louisa Morgan," thirty-five tons; "Emma
Frances," forty-five tons; and "Francis," built in 1870, forty-five tons. This
makes a total of ten vessels, all of which were schooners, with a total register
of five hundred and thirteen tons, and as the carrying capacity was one-third
greater than the registered tonnage, they had a total burthen of seven hundred
and seventy tons. Of all these schooners only two are left, the "Hamlet " and
the "Emma Frances." The "Louisa" was sunk off Duxbury reef by colliding with a
schooner from Tomales bay; the "Hamlet" runs to Sonoma; the "Lizzie Shea" was
lost at Sitka; the "Anna Caroline" was wrecked in the Bay of San Francisco; the
"Effie Newell" was rebuilt into a steamer called the "Pearl"; the "Fourth of
July" went ashore at Tennessee Valley in a heavy north-wester, three lives lost;
the "Leda" was lost down the coast somewhere; the "Emma Louisa Morgan" was
wrecked inside the heads in a south-easter ; the "Emma Frances" hails from some
Mexican port, and is still alive; and the "Francis" was lost off Point Reyes.
The ship-yard where these vessels were built was near where Mr. H. McKennon now
resides, on the east side of the bay.

  Captain, since Judge, Almy built a small schooner in 1855 which he called the
"Joseph Almy." It registered nineteen tons, and had a carrying capacity of
thirty tons, and was launched in September. His ship yard was located on the
Sand beach at the mouth of Bolinas bay, a short distance to the eastward of the
channel. He had never built a vessel before, and knew nothing about the work
practically, but he was an experienced sailor, and had a theory of his own as to
how a schooner should be constructed, and he set about it to put his theory into
a tangible form. Ship builders and sailors laughed at him, and prophesied all
sorts of evil betidings for his craft, but he laughs best who laughs last, and
the outcome proved that the builder of the vessel was he who had the last smile.
When she was launched she proved that she was well proportioned and rode the
crested waves like a thing of life. Captain Almy continued to run her for twelve
years, and then disposed of her. She changed hands frequently, being used at one
time as a pilot boat. She was so seaworthy that pilots in her felt secure in
going out as far as the Farallone Islands. At last, in 1876, she came into the
hands of Captain Mullet, who used her in the sea lion catching business. In
1878, while in the vicinity of Bolinas bay; a storm overtook her, and she put in
for shelter. While there she was chartered by a party of sightseers for an
excursion to the Farallones. The trip was made safely, but instead of coming
inside the bay when they returned, they cast two anchors on the bar. In the
morning when they waked up they found the vessel rolling in the breakers and
dragging both anchors. The men on board were saved, but the schooner was
stranded on the beach within a hundred yards of where she had been launched
nearly a quarter of a century previous. She had truly come home to die! Her
insurance had expired just the week before, which is the only ill-luck she ever
brought to any man.

  SHIPWRECKS.—While there are no harbors of safety along the coast line of
Bolinas township, yet it does, not stand out so boldly to the sea as that of
Point Reyes, and hence shipwrecks are less numerous. There is, however, one
place which is very dangerous, and were it not well known and carefully avoided
by sailors, it would prove disastrous to many vessels. This is Duxbury reef, a
series of sunken rocks extending in a southerly direction for a distance of
about two miles from the coast. The first vessel to be wrecked on this reef was
the propeller steamer."S. S. Lewis," bound from Panama to San Francisco with
freight and passengers, there being four hundred of the latter, on board. The
accident occurred at three o'clock A. M., April 9, 1853. The night was very dark
and foggy, and knowing that they were near the entrance of San Francisco bay,
they fired signal guns at frequent intervals, hoping to be heard at the heads
and be signaled into port. They were evidently drifting with the tide waiting
for the moving light to show them where they were. At last she drifted upon the
reef, and sprung a leak, but fortunately the swell carried her over the rock
into deep water. She was then headed for the shore hoping thus to save the
passengers. Happily they came upon a beach just at low water, and all on board
were safely landed. The return of the tide drove the vessel upon the rocks, and
by nine o'clock she had broken to pieces and her sides were washed ashore. All
the freight and baggage was lost, as was also the safe containing twenty
thousand dollars. More or less of the former was washed ashore, but nothing was
ever seen of the latter, nor have divers been successful in finding it. After
the passengers were landed, large tents were constructed for their
accommodation, and they remained here two days till the Captain and Purser could
go to San Francisco and get assistance, and two revenue cutters finally came and
took them to their destination. While encamped here Gregorio Briones slaughtered
a bullock daily and sent it to them.

  The steamer "Governor," or "Eldorado" as she was also known, ran aground at
one side of the channel, just at the entrance to the bay. It is not known now in
what year it occurred, but evidently about 1853, as she was engaged in
transporting lumber from Bolinas to San Francisco. She was an old boat, and but
little effort was made to save her. Sand washed into her hold with the water,
and anchored her so firmly that no effort could get her to float again.

  The schooner "Josephine" went ashore on the beach just west of the channel at
the entrance to the bay. No lives were lost, but nothing further is known of her.

  In 1870 the sloop "Clark" was run aground at one side of the channel, at the
entrance of the bay, but no lives were lost. She was an old vessel, and no
effort was made to save her.

  The schooner "Joseph Almy," went ashore in 1878 on the beach east of the
channel, a full account of which has already been given in these pages.

  In 1878 the ship "Western Shore," bound from Seattle to San Francisco, laden
with coal, was driven upon Duxbury reef, and sank just inside of it, but no
lives were lost. Great quantities of coal were washed ashore, and proved a rich
harvest for the people along the beach.

  CORD-WOOD.—This was a staple interest of Bolinas at one time, there being as
high as four hundred cords of wood per week shipped from the bay. At that time
there was a number of small vessels owned by Capt. J. A. Morgan, known as the
"Mosquito Fleet," all of which were engaged in the wood carrying business. It is
estimated that fully five hundred thousand cords of wood have been shipped from
here, as many as ten schooners, making each two trips a week, being required
during the busy season.

  BOLINAS NAVIGATION COMPANY.—This organization was incorporated April 13, 1874,
with David McMullen, Samuel Clark, W. W. Wilkins, Wm. J. Randall and George W.
Drake, Trustees. The capital stock of the corporation was fifteen thousand
dollars, of which nine thousand four hundred dollars was paid up, and the shares
had a face value of one hundred dollars each. A double propeller steamer was
built in San Francisco, and christened "Continental." When she was brought into
the bay it was found that she drew too much water, and that it was unsafe to try
to take her over the bar in any kind of rough weather. She was sold to Whitelaw
of San Francisco, and after running up and down the coast for a few years, was
lost in Humboldt bay.

  COPPER MINES.—In 1863 a company was organized known as the "Pike County Gulch
Copper Mining Company," of which Samuel Clark was President. The occasion of the
formation of this corporation was the indication of copper ore found in
extensive outcroppings in this gulch. A tunnel was run seven hundred feet into
the hillside, occupying about three years, but copper could not be found in
quantities large enough to pay, and the enterprise was finally abandoned. During
the same year indications of copper ore were discovered less than a mile
north-east of Woodville, and Pablo Briones and William Ewings, under the title
of "The Union Copper Mining Company," undertook to develop a mine. They were
much encouraged, and sent several tons of the ore to San Francisco for
reduction, but after working at it seven years they abandoned the mine. It is
probable that there is a lode of copper-bearing ore somewhere in that vicinity,
for the out-croppings are common and rich with metal, but it will, however,
remain for future generations to find it.

  CHURCHES—Methodist.—The following sketch of the Methodist Church at Bolinas
has been kindly furnished by Rev. Wm. Gordon of that place:—

  The first Protestant preaching in Bolinas was by Rev. Mr. Gilbert (Baptist),
of San Rafael. Sometime in 1861, Rev. Mr. Canberry (Methodist) came to this
place and preached a number of times. In 1862 Rev. N. Burton was appointed by
the M. E. Conference to the Marin Circuit, which included the State Prison, San
Rafael, Olema, and Bolinas, and remained on the charge two years. In 1864 Rev.
Wm. Gordon was appointed to this same circuit, and added to the already
established appointments, Tomales bay and Chileno valley. With the exception of
the State Prison, school-houses were the only places of worship. The place of
worship in Bolinas, at that time, was a small, dingy school-house, about sixteen
feet square, situated near the head of the bay, close to the County road and on
the place now owned by Mr. A. Steele. The house had been taken possession of by
the woodpeckers, and their rights were disputed only once in two weeks—on the
Sabbath—when a few of the people gathered together for public worship. During
the Winter of 1865-66 the Sons of Temperance enlarged and improved the house,
which made it more suitable as a place of worship, and it was used for such
purpose until the Bay District School-house was built, which became the
sanctuary of all religious denominations who chose to occupy it, till the three
churches were built in 1877. In 1866 Rev. J. A. Burlingame was appointed to this
charge, preaching at Bolinas, in connection with other points of the circuit,
once in two weeks, but during the second year of his pastoral work his health
failed, and his labor ceased. In 1868 Rev. B. W. Rusk was appointed to the
circuit and preached at Bolinas once in two weeks during the two Conference
years he remained on the charge. In 1870 the old circuit, embracing nearly all
of Marin county, was divided and Rev. Mr. King appointed to Bolinas and Olema,
and remained on the charge one year. In 1871 Rev. A. Williams was appointed to
San Rafael and Bolinas, and remained on the charge one year. In 1872 Rev. John
McIntire was appointed to Bolinas and Saucelito, and remained on the charge one
year. In 1873 Rev. Mr. Cummings was appointed to Bolinas and remained one year.
In 1874 Rev. N. Burton was reappointed to the Marin Circuit, which included
Bolinas, and remained on the charge one year. In 1875 Rev. D. E. George was
appointed to Bolinas Circuit, which embraced Bolinas, Olema and Point Reyes.
Under the pastoral supervision of Mr. George the only camp-meeting ever held in
Marin county, was conducted in a grove between Bolinas and Olema in July, 1876.
Mr. George remained on the charge one year. In 1876 Rev. Mr. Dinsmore was
appointed to this charge and remained one year. In 1877 this circuit was divided
and Mr. Dinsmore was appointed to Point Reyes and Olema, and Rev. George W.
Beatty was appointed to San Rafael and Bolinas. This was the year the Methodist
Church was built at Bolinas, costing about two thousand dollars exclusive of the
lot, which was donated by S. McCurdy, and is one of the finest buildings of the
kind to be found in the State outside of the large towns and cities: an ornament
to the place and a credit to the taste and enterprise of those who built it. It
is free from all debt, and was dedicated to the worship of God December 16th of
that year by Rev. F. F. Jewell, D. D., of San Francisco. In 1878 Rev. W. M.
Woodward was appointed to Bolinas, and preached in the M. E. Church every
Sabbath for one year when he was removed, and in 1879 Rev. S. Belknap was
appointed to the place.

  PRESBYTERIAN.—In 1874 Rev. Thomas Fraser, Synodical Missionary for the Pacific
coast, went to Bolinas and organized a Presbyterian church, with the following
members:—Mrs. Mary Morse, Miss Elonor Strain, Mrs. Gillespie, Hugh Ingram, Mary
Ingram, Robert Ingram, Robert D. Baily, Andrew Steele, Mrs. Jane Steele, Mrs.
Joseph Morse, and Miss Ada Ingram. Rev. James L. Drum officiated as pastor for
the next three years, preaching on alternate Sabbaths and holding the services
in a school-house. He was succeeded by Rev. John Hemphill, Jr., who began a
movement June 1, 1877, for the erection of a church building. Work on the
structure was begun in September, and the house was dedicated to the service of
the Lord in November of that year. The cost of the building and finishing was
three thousand dollars, all of which had been paid when it was dedicated, which
speaks very highly for the energy of the minister and the liberality of the
people. In architecture it is gothic, and presents a very attractive appearance.
In size it is twenty-five by sixty-two feet. The present membership numbers
eighteen.

  THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE IN BOLINAS.—The following has been furnished by Rev.
William Gordon:—Fifteen years ago temperance reform was needed in Bolinas as
well as some other places, and an effort in this direction was made by the Good
Templars, who effected an organization in the Winter of l864-65. It had but few
members and did not survive more than a few months. On the 12th of September,
1865, the Bolinas Division, No. 8, Sons of Temperance was organized by Rev.
William Gordon, D. G. W. P., in his own house, and the following charter members
elected to the respective offices:—L. J. Foster, W. P.; John O'Harvy. W. A.;
Lewis Gordon, R. S.; Louis Woodrum, A. R. S.; Jessie Cole, F. S.; J. M. Burke,
P. W. P.; Loss C. Pyles, Treas.; George Davis, Con.; Peter O'Neil, A. Con.; W.
B. Foster, I. S.; Edward Baker, O. S.; William Foster, Ch.; Joseph Almy, G. T.
Sproat, John Jacobson, William Gordon. This division continued to prosper for
several years, and included among its members nearly all the prominent citizens
of the community, numbering at one time over seventy members. Their place of
meeting was the school-house, near the head of Bolinas bay, which they enlarged
and fitted up for their use as a hall to meet in. They accomplished a great
amount of good, which has never died out, although the organization disbanded
several years ago. September 23d, 1878, Bolinas Division, No. 9, Sons of
Temperance was organized by Rev. William Gordon, D. G. W. P., and the following
charter members elected to the various offices:—H. Strain, W. P.; Hugh Munro, W.
A.; David McCoy, R. S.; William Strain, A. R. S.; Dougald McLean, F. S.; David
McMullin, Treas.; Samuel McMullin, Chap.; William Betten, Con.; James Golden, A.
C.; James McMullin, T. S.; Joseph Gastael, O. S. This division is now in its
fourth year, and owns its own hall in Woodville, which cost the division about
five hundred dollars.

  CATHOLIC CHURCH.—There have been church services held by the Catholic people
of this place for a number of years, but it was not till 1877 that they erected
their church edifice. The building is not yet completed, however, but when it is
it will be a very handsome structure. It has cost so far about three thousand
dollars. Services are held in it once a month.

  SCHOOLS.—There are two school districts at this end of the township, the Bay
View and Bolinas, but the whole section was included in one district till 1876,
when it was divided. The house in the Bay View district was built in 1863, but
was not used for school purposes until the division of the district occurred.
Two teachers have been employed since 1878, an addition having been made to the
building for the use of the primary department.

  DRUIDS GROVE.—Duxbury Grove No. 26, United Ancient Order of Druids was
organized Under Dispensation August 2, 1874, and their charter was granted June
3, 1875. The charter members were Joseph Adams, James Pedrotti, Henry Wegner,
Albert Ingerman, Samuel Clark, J. C. Gibson, W. J. Randall, Thomas Johnson, John
Turner, Wm. Betten, James M. Davis, and W. W. Wilkins. The first officers Under
Dispensation were Samuel Clark, N. A.; James M. Davis, V. A.; W. J. Randall,
Sec. and Treas. The first officers Under Constitution were the same as above.
Their present officers are E. F. Betten, N. A.; N. C. Odin, V. A; Samuel Clark,
R. Sec; R. T. Cottingham, F. Sec, and James Steele, Treas. The present
membership is fifty. When the Grove was first organized the meetings were held
in an upper room at the residence of Samuel Clark, and were continued there
until the completion of the new hall, September, 1879. The building is
twenty-six by fifty and thirty feet to the eaves. The lower story is fourteen
feet to the ceiling, and is used for a public hall. The upper room, which is the
lodge hall, is fifteen feet to the ceiling and twenty-five by thirty-five feet,
with two ante-rooms. This room is nicely furnished and is one of the most
pleasant lodge rooms in the county.

  DEATHS BY DROWNING.—Several men have been drowned at this place from vessels.
Capt. Riley, of the sloop "Falmouth," is the only master of a vessel who has met
his death in that manner. As he was taking his craft out over the bar, standing
at the helm, the mainsail jibed and the boom knocked him into the sea, and he
was lost. A sad affair occurred here by which a man by the name of Clute lost
his life by drowning. He had just made all his arrangments to return to the
Eastern States for the purpose of getting married, and having some friends at
Bolinas he started for that place on board the sloop "Frazier," for the purpose
of paying them a visit before he returned East. When they arrived off Rocky
Point the vessel was becalmed and there was a prospect of spending the night
there. Two men, George Gavitt and Mr. Crane, proposed to proceed in a yawl boat,
and Clute, being very sea-sick, desired to go with them. When the boat got into
the breakers it was upset, and he went down, with the words, "O, George."
Instead of wedding festivities there was mourning in that far away Eastern home.

  POST-OFFICE.—J. C. Gibson is the present postmaster. This office was
established June 3, 1863, with Henry Clover as postmaster.

  OLEMA—Early Settlement.—It is very befitting that the history of the early
settlement of the northern end of this township should be opened with a sketch
of Rafael Garcia. This pioneer of pioneers of Marin county was born in San Diego
about 1790. He remained in that place until he entered the military service,
which was at an early age. In the course of a few years he had attained to the
rank of "Alferez" or ensign. The only glimpse which we get of his military
career is from a letter written by ex-Governor Juan B. Alvarado, dated January
5, 1874, from which we take the following extract. Speaking of the Mission San
Rafael, he says:—Fifty years ago the Indians hereabouts were very savage and
hostile, and it was thought prudent to station a small guard at the mission for
protection. This guard of three or four soldiers was commanded by Corporal
(ensign) Rafael Garcia. The Friar and the Corporal held out the olive branch of
peace to the savages, but were not met in the same spirit. The Caynameros, a
Marin county tribe, made a descent on the mission with a purpose to surprise and
massacre the inhabitants. Our corporal was not surprised, however, but made a
gallant defense. When the Indians appeared in sight, with hostile
demonstrations, he embarked the Friar Juan, his (Garcia's) wife, Loreto, and two
or three children, upon a balsa or raft made of tules, and despatched them with
the tide to go elsewhere for safety. Strange to say this frail float and its
precious cargo landed safely near the Presidio. The corporal having freed
himself of the non-combatants, made a stubborn fight, and repulsed the
assailants, or as the Governor has it:—Garcia en este caso defendio la mission y
Presidio a su valor y resignation, los Indios fueron rechazados y espulsados de
las immedraciones del establecimients. It will be seen by the above that Garcia
was the first man to have a family in Marin county. Father Gleeson, in his
"History of the Catholic Church in California," gives the date of the
establishment of this mission as 1817, at which time he was about twenty-seven
years of age. It is not known just when his connection with the army ceased, but
it was not until he had served his full time. He was then for several years
major domo of several missions, among which were Sonoma, San Rafael, San Jose
and others. He came to Bolinas and located what is now known as the Briones
rancho about 1834. He was followed soon after by his brother-in-law, Gregorio
Briones, to whom he disposed of the Baulinas rancho, and located on the rancho
adjoining it on the north, and now known as the rancho Tomales y Baulinas. This
was about 1837. He built a very large adobe house for the use of his family,
which stood on the present site of Thomas Crandall's house. The work was done by
Indians, and an Indian was foreman and had full charge of the work. He
afterwards built two more adobe houses for the use of his servants and employes;
also several frame buildings. In the olden and balmy days of the Spanish-Mexican
regime, the Summa Summarum of the dolce far niente style of life of that age
could be found at this ranch. Three thousand head of cattle roamed at will over
the hills and through the valleys, one of which was slaughtered daily to supply
the demands of the establecimiento. Four hundred horses bore the ranch brand,
and extensive flocks of sheep and herds of swine formed a part of the princely
possessions of the Garcia estate. Looms and spinning wheels were brought into
requisition, and the wool grown upon the sheep was washed, carded, spun and
woven into cloth beneath the shelter of the ranch houses. The hides of the
cattle were tanned, and boots and shoes made of the leather. The seasons came
and went unheeded, and life was to those old Spaniards a near approach to the
Utopian's dream. A Summer's sun, set in a bright ethereal empyrean, across whose
rays not even a hand breadth's cloud ever passed to cast its shadow on the
world, showered down a golden flood of radiant light to bless the happy days,
while the Winter's rains fell in copious showers, causing the grass to spring to
luxuriant life over all the hills and dales spreading as it were an emerald
tapestry on every hand full dainty enough for tread of princely feet. But the
dream ended, and sad indeed the awakening. From the lap of luxuriance they fell
into the arms of poverty, dying sad and broken hearted. Gone were their flocks
and herds, and the land on which they had roamed. Life which had been to them a
hey-day of sunshine and gladness was robbed of all that went to make it worth
the living for, and to many of them death was a welcome guest, lifting the
burdens and cares which had gradually settled upon their shoulders. Rafael
Garcia was married to Senorita Maria Loretto Aletemerando, either at San Diego
or San Jose, in about 1810. Eight of their children grew to manhood and
womanhood, of which five were boys and three were girls. He died February 25,
1866, while his wife survived him till April 17, 1873, when she was foully
murdered by one Ambrosio Carrera.

  The first land disposed of by Garcia was to Messrs Post and Taylor, in 1855,
and the amount was three hundred acres, of which one hundred lay on Daniels'
creek, at the present site of the paper mill, and the other two hundred was in
three tracts lying in Olema valley. During the next year these last mentioned
tracts were disposed of to John Connor, Wm. Johnson and John Garrison. The
first-named died on his place, the second sold his place, in 1864, to Levi
Balver, and went to Monterey county, where he still lives, while the third sold
to Nelson Olds, and went to Sonoma county, and continues to reside there.
Subsequently, Olds purchased a league of land from Garcia, which was bounded on
the east by Daniels' creek, and on the west by Olema creek. Olds still lives on
the place. John Nelson and Wm. Randall came to Olema in June, 1857, and bought
fourteen hundred acres from Garcia, located on the south side of the Olds tract.
All these men had families except Connor and Nelson. A man by the name of
Benjamin Miller had a claim on one hundred and fifty acres just west of Nelson
and Randall and some trouble grew up between them, which culminated in the
killing of Randall by Miller in June, 1861.

  Benjamin Winslow built the first house in the present town of Olema in 1857,
which was a store, bar, and hotel combined, and was known as the "Olema House."
In 1859 John Gifford erected a hotel, which he called the "Point Reyes House,"
and in 1864 Manuel Levy opened the first store, while Charles Nelson built the
first dwelling house.

  SCHOOLS.—The entire northern portion of this township was included in one
district, formerly, and was called Olema. It was divided in 1866, and the
southern portion retained the old name, and the northern portion received that
of Garcia. The village of Olema was included in the latter. The first
school-house built in the Olema district was erected in the Spring of 1860. The
money was secured by subscription, and much work was done on it by the citizens,
especially by Wm. Randall, who was a carpenter. It was fourteen by eighteen,
weather-boarded and covered with shakes, and was located on the ranch now owned
by Joseph Muscio. The first teacher was an Englishman by the name of James
Bailey, who boarded around during his term, which lasted three months, and was
paid by subscription. The School-house in the Garcia district was erected in
1866, and is a two-story building, thirty by forty in size. The lower floor is
used for school purposes, and the upper as a public hall. There is only one
grade in the school. In 1878 the Garcia district was divided, and a school-house
built north of the station.

  OFFICIAL AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY.—Olema is a pretty little village, lying in a
very pleasant valley of the same name, and contains about one hundred souls. The
post-office was established there February 28, 1859, with Benjamin T. Winslow
postmaster. The office is at present under the charge of W. L. Crandall, who is
also Justice of the Peace. James Fried is Constable, and Nelson & Friedlander
are agents for Wells, Fargo & Co. The business interests of the town comprise
one hotel, three stores, two blacksmith shops, one livery stable, and one meat
market. It is reached by stage from Olema station, which is located about two
miles away on the North Pacific Coast Railroad. Tokoloma is also about the same
distance away. There are no churches, but services are held by both the
Methodists and Presbyterians in the school-house. The present fine hotel was
built in 1877. Both the former hotels were destroyed by fire, the Point Reyes
House having been burned April 27, 1876, and the Olema House June 27, 1876, just
two months later.

  THE PAPER MILL.—The pioneer paper mill of the Pacific coast was put in
operation in this township in 1856 by Messrs. Samuel P. Taylor & Post. The mill
is located on land purchased bv them of Rafael Garcia, and situa-ted on Daniels'
or Paper Mill creek, something more than five miles east of Olema. The building
is a wooden structure of sufficient capacity for all required purposes. The
power for driving the machinery is both water and steam. About one-half mile
above the mill a strong dam has been constructed across the creek from which the
water is conducted to the mill in a flume. The engine is one hundred horse
power, and is used only in the Summer-time when the water supply is exhausted. A
description of the modus operandi of paper making will not be without interest
hence it is appended. Paper is made, at this place, from old scraps of paper,
cotton and linen rags, old rope and burlaps, which articles come to the mill in
great bales. It is carefully sorted and the proper material for the various
kinds of paper segregated. In this establishment book, news, brown wrapping
(hardware) and Manilla paper is manufactured. For making book and news paper
only white cotton or linen rags and white paper are used. Manilla paper is made
of old rope and burlaps, while the heavy wrapping paper is made of the coarse
material which will not work into Manilla. The rope and burlaps are first passed
through a chopping machine which cuts them into pieces about two inches square.
This process is gone through with twice, when the material is passed through a
coarse bolt for the purpose of freeing it from dirt. It is then placed in a
large vat and covered with lime water which is kept hot and moving about by a
jet of steam passed into it. The object of this is to bleach the material. After
remaining in this vat fifteen hours it is put into a vat in which there is a
beater, which is so arranged that all the matter in the vat must pass through
the machine, which consists of a cylinder under which there is a plate both of
which are corrugated; water is added to the mass and the cylinder set in motion.
As the material gets ground up finer the cylinder is allowed to work closer and
closer to the plate until they touch. Muriatic and sulphuric acids are now added
to further bleach the pulp, which it has now become. After the rope and burlap
material has been triturated for six hours a certain proportion of paper pulp is
added and the process continued three hours longer. It is then passed into a vat
called a "stuff chest" in which there is kept revolving an "agitator" so that
the pulp may be kept evenly distributed through the water. It is pumped from
this into a box-like receptacle to which there is a gauge to regulate the
outward flow of the pulp according to the desired weight or quality of the paper
to be made. From this it passes through a strainer or screen, so that only
particles of a given fineness can pass into the composition of the paper. It is
now deposited into a vat in which there is a gauge cylinder revolving, arranged
so that the water is drawn from the inside of it. This causes the pulp to float
on the current of the water passing through the screen, against it, and to
adhere to and pass up on it. It is taken from this cylinder by a felt belt and
passed through a press-roll, when it is taken up by a coarser felt belt and
passed through another press-roll, during which process all the water has been
extracted. It is then passed over four consecutive cylinders through which a
current of steam is passing for the purpose of thoroughly drying it. The
pressure of steam in these cylinders varies from forty to sixty pounds,
according to the quality of the paper. It then passes through two series of
calender presses of three cylinders each whence it passes to the reels. From
these it is placed under the knife and cut into sheets of the requisite size. It
is then folded and put into quires and pressed, and then bundled, when it is
ready for the market.

  The capacity of the mill is about twenty tons of paper a month, which, if made
into Manilla bags would amount to over five hundred thousand. Three hundred tons
of rags and ropes are consumed annually. During 1867 this mill manufactured
three hundred and eighty-four reams of colored paper, three thousand five
hundred reams of news and book, and nine thousand two hundred and fifty reams of
Manilla; and the value of the total product was sixty-four thousand eight
hundred dollars. There were used three hundred tons of rags, rope and burlaps,
two hundred and fifty barrels of lime, and two thousand pounds of muriatic and
sulphuric acids. About twenty men are constantly employed, the most of whom,
however, are Chinese.

  POWDER MILLS.—These works are located on Daniels' creek, about three miles
above the paper mill. The buildings were erected in 1866 at a cost of
sixty-three thousand dollars. In 1867 there were manufactured thirty thousand
kegs of blasting powder and two thousand packages of sporting powder. The
buildings were distributed over several hundred acres for greater security. Both
water and steam power were used. In November, 1877, an explosion occurred by
which three men were killed and several of the buildings demolished. The latter
were, however, soon rebuilt. At the present time nothing is being done there,
and the buildings are going, to decay.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA;
INCLUDING ITS
Geography, Geology, Topography and Climatography;
TOGETHER WITH
A Full and Particular Record of the Mexican Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the most Authentic Sources; Names of Original Spanish
and American Pioneers;

A Full Record of its Organization; A Complete Political History, including a
Tabular Statement of Office-holders since the Formation of the County;

Separate Histories of Bolinas, Nicasio, Novato, Point Reyes, San Antonio, San
Rafael, Saucelito, and Tomales Townships;

Incidents of Pioneer Life, and Biographical Sketches of its Early and Prominent
Settlers and Representative Men;
ALSO
An Historical Sketch of the State of California,
In which is embodied the Raising of the Bear Flag

ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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