Santa Barbara-Ventura County CA Archives History - Books .....Items Of Interest, 1850-'90 1891
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Book Title: A Memorial And Biographical History Of The Counties Of Santa Barbara, Ventura, And San Luis Obispo

ITEMS OF INTEREST, 1850-'90.

  The first supply of public money for Santa Barbara County was obtained for
licenses for selling liquor and merchandise. The treasurer's account began
August 23, 1850. An accounting was made January 4, 1851, when he was charged
with State taxes, $5,507.18; county taxes, $2,753.59; total, $8,260.77. The
total of credits was $5,667.53, leaving for salaries, etc., $2,593.24.

  Apropos to the subject of licenses, there would seem to have been some
thirst-inspiring property in the climate of Santa Barbara at this period, for,
of the fifty licenses issued from August, 1850, to February, 1851, thirty-two
were for the sale of liquors. It should be said, however, that the sales were
mostly to foreign customers, for the native Californians of that day were not
excessive drinkers, but it is surprising to see how many of the aristocratic old
families took out licenses to sell liquor.

  It is said that the three lustrums from 1850 to 1865 were a period of great
peace and order in Santa Barbara. No place in California, nor even in all the
United States, it is declared, with an equal population, was more free from
crime than was this city at that period. The county jail served as the place of
incarceration of all the town prisoners, as well as those of the county; yet, as
we are told, more than half the time during those fifteen years the jail door
stood  wide open, the edifice being without an occupant. Many of the new-comers
had intermarried with the natives, and these relations served to bind the
diverse elements together in harmony. There were occasional strifes over the
possession of land outside of the city, such as always occur in a new country,
but these were not frequent in the earlier times, for land was not considered
worth enough to warrant dispute.

  It was, however, inevitable that owing to a not unnatural friction, should be
occasional passages which caused strained relations between the Californians and
the Americans. For instance, two men coming up the coast to buy cattle were
murdered near the San Gabriel River by one Zavaleta and another native, who came
to Santa Barbara to spend the money taken from their victims. The murderers were
  recognized by description, and were arrested by the sheriff, Valentine Hearne,
aided by a number of citizens. Some of the native families, including that of
Captain de la Guerra, protested against the treatment of the men, as based on
insufficient evidence, and inspired by race prejudice. Hence considerable
ill-feeling was engendered. An escort of twenty-five men was made up to
accompany the accused back to Los Angeles, and a semi-official demand,
accompanied by a menace, was made for a supply of horses to be furnished for the
purpose, by the citizens of Santa Barbara. The men were tried, and confessed the
murder in detail, pointing out the burial place of their victims, so that they
were hung by the people of Los Angeles. Notwithstanding this justification, Dr.
Den and the de la Guerras were so much displeased with Hearne for having
arrested the men, that they withdrew from his bond, and so forced him to resign
his office of sheriff. It is said that W. W. Twist, his successor, was not even
an American citizen.

  Again, trouble arose from the dissatisfaction of American newcomers with the
system of large holdings of land by the natives, and from such a cause arose one
of the celebrated cases of the county. John Vidal, a member of Carnes' Company
in Stevenson's Regiment, had rented for a time a tract of land on the Arroyo
Burro, a small creek emptying into the sea near Santa Barbara, and when his
lease expired, he claimed the land under the pre-emption laws as Government
land. Suit being brought in the respective courts, the land was adjudged the
property of Dr. Den, of whom Vidal had rented, and the sheriff (Twist) was
ordered by the court to evict Vidal and put Den in possession. Vidal was known
to have many friends among the gamblers, and the attempt to disturb him was
considered very dangerous. When the sheriff called out a posse to execute the
writ of ejectment, the people began to take sides, and Yidal's friends gathered
upon the disputed territory, some say merely in friendly union, others declare
to fortify and hold the place at all hazards. The sheriff enlisted some 200 men,
engaged a surgeon, and secured a small cannon to be used, if necessary, in
demolishing the fortifications. At this juncture, Vidal and a few of his
companions rode up to the assembled force, whether with hostile intent or in the
hope that the issue might be determined by amiable parley. Two of his companions
lassoed the cannon, and made as if to drag it away, upon which pretext Twist
fired upon them, and at once the fight became general. One of Vidal's companions
rushed at Twist, and attempted to plunge into him a long knife, which was
deflected by a rib, so that the wound was not dangerous. Vidal was shot, and
fell from his horse, but, although terribly wounded, he lingered under Dr.
Brinkerhoff's care for fourteen days, unable to speak, even regarding a ring he
wore, which he evidently wished to leave to some one. Twist soon recovered.
These were the only serious casualties which occurred, although a running fight
lasted for some minutes. By advice of their leading men, the Californian
citizens remained within doors that day, and Pablo de la Guerra proceeded to the
spot with a flag of truce, and persuaded the Vidal adherents to submit to the
legal authorities. The next morning, a ship-of-war anchored here, having been
despatched from Monterey to enforce order if necessary.

  The land in dispute was afterward pronounced public ground, although Vidal had
practically acknowledged Den's ownership by possession, by his payment of rental
for it. Vidal appears to have been largely a scapegoat in the matter, as he was
a man of some worth. He was justice of the peace when killed, and had been
associate justice with Joaquin Carrillo.

  The feverish excitement, the disorganized conditions of society, and general
lawlessness, naturally led to a vast deal of gambling, drinking and other vices,
as well as systems of outlawry,-practically highway robbers.

  One gang, which flourished in the early '50s, had its headquarters at the Los
Alamos and Purisima Ranchos. It was headed by Salomon Pico, a connection of Don
Pio and General Andres Pico; and this prestige of blood no doubt greatly
facilitated the gang's operations, by procuring shelter, protection, aid, and
warnings of danger, from the powerful rancheros. The ostensible occupation of
this set was driving and trading in stock, and the consequent irregularities of
movement greatly facilitated the suppression of strangers who came thither, well
supplied with money, to purchase cattle. Many were the disappearances noted of
such individuals, and after years brought to light many skeletons, on which were
signs of violence telling of robbery and murder.

  Jack Powers was another bandit, and one of the most remarkable and most
successful of the epoch. He had been a member of Captain Lippett's Company F,
Stevenson's Regiment, and is said to have enjoyed at one time a good reputation
and standing. After being mustered out, he took up the career of a gambler, in
which he was very successful, and when Salomon Pico's band was dispersed, Powers
brought its remnants together under his own leadership, and for a time they
terrorized the section for a period of about four years. He was deemed the best
rider in the State,-no slight compliment, as the Californian boys were very like
unto centaurs. Powers once at San Jose rode for a wager 150 miles in fourteen
hours, changing steeds at will. This skill as a rider, and his command of good
horses, made him appear fairly ubiquitous, as was reputed to be Joaquin Murieta,
Powers had a gray mule, which, it was said, would carry him 100 miles in twelve
hours. He was once in Santa Barbara within ten hours after he had committed a
robbery near San Luis Obispo. Many anecdotes are told of Powers' exploits.

  Another of the fraternity of "holy terrors" was Patrick Dunn, who had the name
of belonging to Powers' gang. Dunn, while intoxicated, shot a stranger, a
passenger from a steamer; the murder, done in the square before the de la Guerra
House, was witnessed by several ladies of that family. But such was the terror
of incurring the enmity of the gang, that only the court's solemn assurance of
protection could induce them to testify. Whilst the trial was in progress, the
judge, the district attorney and the sheriff, each received a warning that they
would be killed if they prosecuted the case, and no doubt murder would have been
done in open court, had not six deputies been sworn in, with instructions to
shoot instantly Powers and Dunn, at any attempt to interfere with the
proceedings. Dunn pleaded justifiable homicide in self-defence, and after a
trial of twenty-one days, the jury disagreed. A similar result followed a second
trial, held at Los Angeles.

  Dunn was again tried for an attempt at murder, he having loaded a double
barreled shot-gun to kill one Martin, who had offended him. Both barrels snapped
without effect, but Dunn was sentenced to State's prison for a term of years. It
became known that Powers had determined to rescue Dunn on his passage from the
jail to the boat, and twenty-five men were sworn in as deputies, with
instructions as before, to shoot both Dunn and Powers upon any attempt at a
rescue. Powers, so Russell Heath, the sheriff, assured him, would be the first
to fall. The deputies followed the van containing the prisoner from the jail to
the shore, where he was transferred to the lighter without interruption,
although Powers and his friends, about thirty in number, had assembled at the
beach on horseback. Powers left California about 1850, and went to Mexico, where
he was shot. Dunn died in Arizona in 1866.

  Up to 1856, the mail facilities for Santa Barbara were very sketchy; Lewis T.
Burton was the first postmaster. When the Panama steamers began to touch here,
they carried letters between this point and San Francisco, but the mail-bag was
treated with so little consideration that it was often wetted in transit between
the steamer and the landing, and on one occasion several gallons of water were
turned out of the bag, along with the letters and papers. The dispatching of the
mail was treated as a matter of little moment, and the letters received for
distribution were kept in a candle-box, where each could help himself to his
own-or his neighbor's-missives. In March, 1856, William Carey Jones, in a letter
addressed to the Postmaster-General, set forth the disadvantage and detriment
suffered from this lack of postal service, cited the superior means of
intercommunication enjoyed under the Spanish rule eighty years previous, and
advocated the establishment of a regular weekly mail, to be carried by couriers,
between Monterey and San Diego. Within a year or two, the overland stage,
carrying mail and passengers, was established by the United States Government,
at a cost of about $500,000 per annum. It was designed to open a line of
settlements from Texas to California, in the interest of the Southern States.
Few passengers took this route, and as the schedule time was but little less
than by steamer, the large Eastern mail continued to be transferred by the main
lines of passenger travel. The stage route lay through the coast counties, and
afforded their people the long-needed facilities. The war of the Rebellion
scattered the stock, and put an end to this line.

  At a little after 8 A. M., on January 9,1857y was felt the premonitory shock
of one of the severest earthquakes ever felt in California. The morning was
clear, sunny and cool, with no forecast of the temblor whose shocks continued at
intervals until the next day, their force extending from Point Concepcion to Los
Angeles. The most violent alarm was felt by the people at Santa Barbara; but,
fortunately, there was no loss of life, and but little damage to property beyond
cracking the walls of some of the houses. The reservoir at the mission rocked so
violently that the water slopped over at each of its sides so plentifully as to
set quite a stream running; and near the hot springs great boulders were
detached from the cliffs and rolled into the valley. At San Buenaventura, the
mission church was badly injured, the roof partly falling in, and the belfry
suffering considerable injury. The tower of the Point Concepcion light-house
also was much damaged.

  The Gazette died this year, the plant being sold to parties who removed it to
San Francisco. It is believed that no file of this paper was preserved.

  The whole tax rate for this year was $1.62 1/2 on the $100. In September there
was in the county treasury $8,724.77 1/4, the largest sum yet known, and the
supervisors took the subject in hand, fixing the treasurer's bonds at $20,000.
The system of accounts in this department was very obscure and imperfect, and it
is said that the amounts on the stubs of the warrants gave the only clue to the
condition of the funds. There seems to have been a pretty continual agitation on
this subject during this period, and inspections were ordered made of the books
of the auditor also. The same trouble ran into the succeeding year.

  The whole number of votes cast at the county election in 1858 was 319. The
total of tax rates for this year was $1.52 1/2 on each $100. A road tax of $2.00
was levied on every man between twenty and forty years old. It was now ordered
that one-sixth part of all taxes raised be set apart as a hospital fund.

  On June 17, 1859, Santa Barbara was visited by a hot, sirocco-like wind from
the northwest, which began about 12 M., and blew furiously until about 3:30 P.
M., killing birds, rabbits, lambs, etc., blasting fruit, scorching the leaves on
the wind ward side of trees, and sending the mercury up to 136° F. In 1860 Santa
Barbara shared in the split in the Democratic party on the slavery question, and
the electoral ticket was divided. It was this year that San Buenaventura became
ambitious of planning the town plat after regular, and laying out a street in
front of the mission, between it and the orchard. After some controversy, this
was carried into effect, and the fine main street of the town, which serves as
its base line, dates from this beginning.

  In 1861 there was a general resolve to discharge the heavy debt incurred by
previous mismanagement and extravagance, and a law looking to that purpose was
enacted by the Legislature, by the expressed wish of the people. The tax rate
for this year was $1.90 on the $100. An appropriation was made by the
Legislature of $15,000 for the construction of a county road, bids were made,
and the contract was awarded to T. Wallace More; but he, after some little time,
declared his inability to complete the undertaking, and suit was brought against
him for the performance of the contract. The question was ultimately compromised.

  The elections passed off very quietly this year, perhaps because of the
absence of a newspaper to incite violence of political feeling.

  Santa Barbara shared in the excessive rains that fell all over California in
the winter of 1861-'62, and many changes were / wrought in the way of changing
the beds of rivers, filling up estuaries, etc. Until this season, the estuary of
the Goleta was a sort of harbor, accessible to small crafts, which might have
been made into a safe harbor of refuge from storms, but this season's freshets
filled it with sand and gravel from the mountains, beyond the hope of clearing.
In other places, the swollen streams swept out channels through the bolsas, or
miry lagoons, in which they had terminated. The appearance of the country was
also much changed by slides in the mountains. At San Buenaventura there was a
slide along almost the whole face of the hill where ran the aqueduct, and the
canal was so nearly destroyed as to require rebuilding. Many cattle perished
this winter, but they were hardly missed, as stock was even over-abundant.

  The taxes for 1863 footed up to $2.52 on ths [sic] $100. The election of this
year showed a notable increase in the population, as indexed by the number of
voters. The salaries of the county judges, the sheriff, and the county clerk
were fixed this year, respectively, as follows:-$1,000, $1,000, and $500 per
annum. It was about this season that the enormous increase of the herds had
brought down beef to a price that hardly repaid the killing. The loss in the
hard winter of 1861-'62 was speedily recouped, and the droves had now attained
proportions that demanded diminution. Particularly in the southern counties was
this result made necessary, for here the distance from the markets, the long
drives thereto over closely-grazed country, the inevitable shrinkage contingent
upon the journey, and the inferior quality of the beef after the drive, all
tended to depress greatly the value of this product. This led to the institution
of a matanza, or species of wholesale slaughter, which reached, it is asserted,
far toward 100,000 head. The slaughter-works were situated on the seashore
between Santa Barbara and Carpenteria, that the refuse might be swept away by
the tide. The carcasses were put into steam baths, and subjected to such heat
that the flesh fell from the bones and became a mass of jelly and fat. This was
put into a mighty press, and every particle of the tallow extracted; the jelly
went to the manufacture of glue, the horns were sent East to be made into combs
and other such matters. The cake or pressed meat was fed to hogs, so that every
portion of the beef was utilized. Yet, notwithstanding this economy and the low
price paid-$5 per head-the enterprise was unprofitable to its projectors.

  In 1864 began the development of misfortunes arising from various causes. The
excess of cattle and low prices of beef; the number of mortgages incurred as
lands were changing owners; the purchase of goods, often superfluities, on the
credit system, to be paid for with heavy interest-all these factors entered into
the conditions. Mortgages on ranchos were given as security for comparatively
small debts, and they were seldom redeemed. As land was held at about 25 cents
per acre, an indebtedness of a few thousand dollars not infrequently laid a
mortgage on a rancho of eleven leagues, or 44,000 acres. In this manner the
Santa Clara del Norte, the Las Fosas, the Simi, and other fine ranchos were
alienated from their original owners. The sum of $20,000 or less would have
saved to the mortgageor the ranchos Simi Las Posas, Conejo; San Julian and
Espada, aggregating 200,000 or more acres, Nearly all the principal
rancho-owners this year asked and obtained considerable reductions on their
assessments.

  The whole number of votes cast in this year's election was 429.

  To add to the general drawbacks of this year, the great drouth created
terrible havoc, compared to which that caused by the floods had been trifling.

  This drouth, though severe throughout the State, was much more disastrous in
the southern counties than elsewhere. The country was overstocked with cattle,
and the dried grass was eaten close to the ground before the time came for the
usual rainfall. Then a little rain fell, early in December, but barely enough to
lay the dust in Santa Barbara. December and January passed with no more rain.
The grazing grounds were absolutely bare, and there was no grass nearer than the
snow-watered valleys over the Sierra, across the rainless desert. The cattle
were unfit for a day's drive, far less 400 miles. There was no remembrance of a
season without rain, but this season felt not those of either winter or spring.
The cattle died daily by hundreds, and the whole country was strewn with their
heat-dried carcasses. The assessment-roll of 1863 had showed over 200,000 cattle
in Santa Barbara alone, and this probably was not more than two-thirds of the
real number; yet when the grass sprung up under the welcome rains of the winter
of 1864-'65, there were less than 5,000 cattle left to graze upon it. The great
herds were gone, and the reign of the cattle kings was over. Their possessions
were for the most part hopelessly mortgaged, and within the next five years had
passed from their hands. It was sensationally reported during the drouth that
the people of the southern counties were reduced to subsisting upon the flesh of
cattle that had died of starvation, and that famine was imminent. The people of
San Francisco promptly raised $3,000 and forwarded food and delicacies by
steamer. This generosity was greatly appreciated, although it was not needed, as
there was no destitution which could not be relieved in the district.

  As regarded county politics, Santa Barbara was democratic; but owing to the
influence exerted by a few of the leading families, 343 of the votes cast were
in favor of the Republican presidential electors. A representative of one of
these families, Antonio Maria dela Guerra, raised a company of native cavalry,
about 100 strong, which, although they did not reach the field of most active
fighting, did excellent service on escort and scout duty on the frontier, their
expert horsemanship eminently fitting them for work in the rough country where
they served.

  In this year the oil interests attracted much interest and immigration, of
which account will be given elsewhere, under the respective captions.

  The assessment roll of 1865 showed many changes, old names disappearing, and
being replaced by new. The total assessments on real estate were $520,591; on
personal property, $227,594; total, $748,185, this being nearly $300,000 more
than in 1860.

  In 1866, the supervisors deliberated upon the practicability of building a new
jail, as recommended by a report of the grand jury, which condemned that in use;
the decision was that the state of the exchequer did not admit of the requisite
expenditure. It is a noticeable feature that the record of this deliberation was
spread upon the minutes in the Spanish language. The tax rate established this
year was $2.43 on the $100.

  Up to this time, the irregularities practiced at elections were the source of
much dissatisfaction and inconvenience, admitting as they did, of great fraud in
voting. In one instance, a whole tribe of Indians was voted; in another, a
Panama steamer list was copied entire, and a precinct known to contain but
twenty voters was made to give returns of 160. The new law, which went into
operation this year, provided for the inscription upon the great register of the
name of every/ voter, together with particulars of his birth, or naturalization,
age, residence, and business, such as to identify him fully; and it was further
provided that each should be restricted to voting in his own precinct. Most of
the smaller precincts were abolished, this measure also tending to obviate many
sources of fraud and error.

  The supervisors here at this time were seldom in touch with the other county
officials, now one and now another of whom fell under the supervisorial
displeasure. This year it was the district attorney who fell under the ban of
their displeasure, and his office was by them declared vacant, after some
previous differences of opinion had been followed by the demand that he file new
bonds for an additional $10,000 for the collection of the delinquent taxes, and
his refusal to comply. The contest was somewhat long as well as acrimonious,
ending in the district attorney's continuance in office. Yet the board of
supervisors, which, by the way, contained a majority of native Californians,
would appear, reviewing the events, to have had right and reason on their side.

  The total tax rate for 1867 was $3.08 on the $100; the proportion of school
tax, 35 cents, shows that provision was being made for the public schools. The
whole county vote at this years election was 624, being a considerable increase
on the last vote. At this time Thomas R. Bard was elected to the board of
supervisors, a circumstance notable in that it marks the entrance into public
official position of men trained to business habits, who would give personal
attention to official matters instead of referring them to a commission.

  It may be said that the ensuing year of 1868 marked a new era in the history
of Santa Barbara, a revolution in all its conditions. The drouth of 1863-'64,
and its consequent financial disasters, caused the breaking up of many of the
great ranchos, whose land was now put on the market, at prices sometimes as low
as 25 cents per acre; this attracted a large immigration, whose members
instituted many industries hitherto unknown here. It was found that much of the
land was highly appropriate to the cultivation of wheat, under proper care and
attention; and this staple, which had been produced in but small quantities, for
the manufacture of a little dour of inferior grade for home consumption, was now
raised in great quantities, sufficient for heavy exportation. Here arose the
need for a new development; to ship it, there was need to lighter the wheat to
the vessels, at risk of great loss in the surf. Hence, wharves were projected
and constructed to facilitate commerce in this product.

  Up to this time, all ships touching at Santa Barbara anchored a mile or two
from the shore, whence their freight was transferred by surf-boats. Thus the
goods, as well as the mails, were liable to injury or loss. The passengers, too,
were carried ashore from the boats on the backs of sailors. This method of
landing was considerably modified when, in the summer of 1868, the Santa Barbara
wharf was constructed by a company of citizens. This structure extended beyond
the surf only under the ordinary conditions of winds and tides, and only
lighters could approach it with safety, no vessel of more than 100 tons making
fast to it. The stairs were unrailed, and the surf sometimes broke upon them,
and this cause and seasickness often occasioned considerable difficulty and even
danger to the passengers landing, one lady falling into the water, whence she
was rescued with much exertion. As the towns along the southern coast were
already competing for immigration, a Los Angeles newspaper took occasion to
remark of this that passengers for Santa Barbara were dumped into the sea, to
swim ashore or drown! The Santa Barbara Post, just established in this year,
took the statement au serieux, and denied it with much acrimony!

  With the utterances of the newspaper, politics, whose fire for some time had
lain dormant, kindled anew, and a Republican meeting, held in September of this
year, was called the largest assemblage which had as yet met in Santa Barbara.

  The total vote of this year was 729, having almost doubled since the breaking
up of the cattle ranchos.

  The grand jury of June, 1868, reported $2,490 in the city treasury, and a
total county debt of $37,006.24; this body had gone somewhat deeply into
official matters, and they reported finding systematic fraud practiced in the
city government; that the records were kept in Spanish; that but one of the five
trustees spoke English; that within the past two years 7,000 acres of the public
lands had been granted away for less than $6,000; that these lands had not been
granted for settlement or improvement, but for speculation; and that some of the
members of the council were implicated. The recorder's books showed conveyance
to one man of 900 acres for $888, when lands of a similar class were selling for
$6 per acre. At least one-third of the members of this honest and energetic jury
were native Californians.

  The road fund now amounted to a respectable sum, and its disbursement was
generally judicious and proper. Road districts were formed, and competent
road-masters appointed. Private road enterprises also were undertaken. Among
these were the Santa Ynes turnpike road, organized August6,1868, and the Tulare
Turnpike Road Company, organized December 15, 1868.

  A number of Protestant churches were organized this year, as will be set forth
under the respective headings.

  The Ranchos Zaca and Corral de Cuati, containing 17,760 acres, were sold for
$26,700, and 900 acres of the Santa Paula tract were sold for $13,000.

  Eighty new buildings were erected this year; $70,000 worth of lumber was used,
and 600,000 brick. The estimated increase of property in the county was
$1,000,000. The acres assessed were 1,154,106 3/4; real estate and improvements,
$695,565.48; personal property, $478,229.72; total value, $1,137,795.10.

  In 1869 the assessed value of real estate was $755,864; personal property,
$626,267; total, $1,482,131. Of live-stock, there were 5,057 horses, mules and
asses; 11,094 cattle; and a great quantity of small stock. The estimated
population was 8,600, of which 700 was subject to road tax. In September of this
year, William H. Seward visited Santa Barbara and addressed the people. This
year was stigmatized by an unseemly newspaper war between local editors,
calculated to convey but a poor impression of the refinement and discretion of
the citizens. The whole vote of this year numbered 1,172. The rates of
assessment, provided by law to be based on a cash value, this year gave rise to
a vast deal of complaint, land being assessed so low that the great rancheros
paid but nominal taxes, while the levies on land improvements and stock, being
the largest items on the roll, carried rates that bore heavily on their owners,
thus virtually laying a penalty on the industry which created these
improvements. Land was sold in hundreds of instances for five, ten, or twenty
times its assessed value, and in at least one case, a tract which had paid taxes
on a valuation of $275 per acre sold for $100 per acre. Such was the resistance
offered to this abuse, and such the stir created through the press, that in 1870
assessments on large tracts were nearly double what they had been.

  During these years, from 1868 on, there was an almost continual agitation over
the question of securing a railroad for Santa Barbara; and editorials, railroad
meetings, and applications for charters were rife. As a concession to symmetry,
the facts and details necessary to a proper exposition of this subject will be
given in another chapter.

  In 1870, the census report gave as 7,987 the population of Santa Barbara,
which then included Ventura.

  On September 25, 1871, was held a special election for State Senator from the
Second District, to fill the vacancy caused when Pacheco resigned, he having
been elected Lieutenant Governor.

  The total tax rate for 1871 was $2.08 1/2; road poll tax, $2.

  The First National Gold Bank was organized in March, 1872; prior to this,
Mortimer Cook, the president of this new bank, had been conducting a private
banking house, the pioneer estbalishment in the county, of that character.

  The election of November, 1872, was the last held previous to the division of
the county, Ventura being set off, January 1, 1873. The town of Santa Barbara
now registered more votes than had existed in the whole county twenty years
earlier. At that time there had been but one school district, with some sixty
pupils, as against some twenty at this period; while against the one little
store kept by Lewis T. Burton in those earlier days, there were now many
flourishing commercial houses.

  The law creating Ventura County went into effect January 1, 1873; thus from
this date on the history of the two counties requires separate treatment. Some
little confusion in the board of supervisors arose from this division, but the
matter was adjusted. From the same cause arose the need to redistrict Santa
Barbara County, and three townships were accordingly determined.

  The elections this year were the occasion of a good deal of enthusiam,
"smashing the machine" being the active principle to a large degree.

  The tax rate was $1.47; the assessment roll bore: real estate and
improvements, $3,637,364; personal property, $1,415,200; money, $33,000. This
total of $5,085,564, the board of equalization augmented by a sum which raised
the figures to $5,223,094. The increase in valuations from the preceding year
was $626,014.

  In the days of the discovery of gold, and the consequent mining fever, not
only had the newcomers passed by the southern portion of the State to the rich
mining districts beyond, but also many dwellers here were drawn there, to settle
and remain in the larger centers of wealth and population to the northward; and
this section was left comparatively deserted. Thus Santa Barbara had lain
slumbering peacefully in her balmy golden sunshine, remote, unheralded,
difficult of access, until a whisper began to float beyond, of the delights and
virtues of her climate. Then came now and again a weary seeker after health,
that greatest of boons and blessings, and each one spread the fame of the land
to others. And with some of these wayfarers in 1872 came that prince and pioneer
of boomers, "California" Nordhoff, whose rapturous articles on the charms of
this country awoke to interest myriads of readers all over the United States,
and even Europe. Then, with the great influx of newcomers, the prices of
property were run up to fabulous prices, and the climate and other attributes of
the country, were "puffed" beyond all truth and reason, ad nauseam. Once the
tide of immigration set in, the hotel accommodations were entirely inadequate
for the visitors who came pouring in by scores from every steamer, and, although
the citizens endeavored to prevent extortion, overcharges and abuses were very
common. From this cause arose various rival schemes for hotel buildings. "The
Seaside Hotel Company," formed in 1874, proposed to purchase the Burton Mound
property, comprising about eighteen acres, and there erect a hotel which should
eclipse all others on the coast. During the agitation of this project the
citizens in the rival, upper portion of the town, also started a hotel project,
which they pushed with so much vigor that the Arlington is the present visible
result, while the "Seaside Hotel" is still on paper only.

  Nearly all the wharves were erected within a few years after the first great
immigration. The Santa Barbara wharf was the first built. The franchise for the
San Buenaventura wharf was granted to J. Wolfson, January 1, 1871; the Hueneme
wharf to Thomas R. Bard, C. L. Bard and R. G. Surdam, August 4, 1871; the
Gaviota to W.W. Hoilister, Albert Dibblee and Thomas B. Dibblee, November 6,
1871; and Point Sal to G. W. Foster, August 4, 1872.

  The summer of 1874 witnessed a novel kind of political canvass. The
Legislature had passed a law authorizing each municipality to determine for
itself whether saloons should be licensed in the towns. By an apparently
concerted movement, the ladies of the State undertook to secure the prohibition
of license, and they organized entertainments, dinners, etc., and carried on a
spirited canvass, inducing thousands of drinking men, even, to vote against
license. The ladies of Santa Barbara displayed quite as much energy as those of
other sections, and giant meetings were held in the county-seat and elsewhere.
The city election resulted in a majority of 119 in favor of no license. At
Montecito the meeting was characterized by great feeling on both sides; the
liquor dealers sent thither a great quantity of liquors, which were given away
freely and openly, notwithstanding the law prohibiting the sale or other
disposal of liquors on election day. The "no license" party carried the day by a
majority of one. At the Patera, 97 out of 128 voters were in favor of no
license. The business of liquor selling went on much as before; various persons
were tried for illegally selling liquors, but they were dismissed. At last a
case from another county was appealed to a higher court, and the law was
declared unconstitutional, on the ground that the Legislature had no right to
delegate its powers to another body or municipality. When the news of the
decision reached Santa Barbara the saloon-keepers held a jollification with
bonfires, speeches, and other demonstrations.

  Santa Barbara was full of enterprising and brilliant plans at this period. The
movement to form a new county from the third township, the wise and wholesome
effort to secure the construction of a sewer system, and attempts to build a
woolen factory, and foster various manufacturing institutions, were among the
chief plans.

  The year 1874 witnessed the building of the Arlington Hotel, at a cost of
about $80,000; the three-story Odd-Fellows' Hall, cost $20,000; City Hall, cost
$8,000; Presbyterian Church, cost $15,000; new St. Vincent's School on the ruins
of the old building, cost $15,000; Tebbetts' three-story building, cost $13,000;
John Edwards' dwelling, cost $8,000; Charles Pierce's two-story store, $8,000;
Russel Heath's stores, $8,000; and T. Henry Stevens' two-story brick dwelling,
which cost, $4,000.

  The assessment roll for this year showed values of $6,010,309, with sixteen
taxpayers on $16,000 and upwards.

  In the winter of 1874-'75 there were severe storms, one of which flooded a
part of the city-2.75 inches of water fell within seven hours-while Stearns'
wharf was somewhat injured.

  In August, 1875, Santa Barbara had six wholesale and retail grocery stores;
nine retail; four dry goods stores, one clothier; three wholesale and retail
boot and shoe stores; two manufacturing boot and shoe stores; ten fruit, candy
and vegetable stores; three of hardware; thirteen saloons; one ten-pin alley;
five billiard rooms; two banks; two auction and commission merchants; five real
estate and house agencies; two warehouses; seven hotels; three restaurants,
various private boarding and lodging houses; four barber shops; three bathing
houses; sixteen laundries; two paint shops; four furniture stores; eight
meat-markets; four drug stores; four tobacco and cigar stores; five livery
stables; four wholesale sugar stores; one ice cream and oyster saloon; three
saddle and harness shops; four jewelry shops; three grocery and liquor stores;
three book stores; two crockery and glass stores; six millinery and dressmaking
establishments; three tailor shops; two sewing-machine agencies; two clothing,
boot and hat stores; two brick yards; three lumber yards; three sash and door
factories; three planing mills; one flouring mill; one candy factory; one cigar
factory; three carriage and wagon shops; four blacksmith shops; two architects
and builders; one marble-worker; three daily and four weekly newspapers.

  The Santa Barbara County Bank was opened in November of this year.

  In 1875, all Santa Barbara mourned over the death of Father Jose Maria
Gonzales, the superior of the Franciscans on this coast, whose missionary career
had lasted two generations. He was a saintly man, beloved by all denominations.

  In 1876, the county jail was built. The Centennial celebration drew forth much
enthusiasm. The political campaign of this year was a very closely contested one.

  In 1876 the city of Santa Barbara alone cast a total of 789 votes, whereas in
1850 the whole vote of the county, which then included Ventura, had been only
about 300. During this year, a remarkable enthusiasm over Spiritualistic
doctrines existed among many citizens.

  During 1876 the western portion of the county began to agitate the project of
forming a new county, to be called Santa Maria, the scheme coming to naught,
however.

  The season of 1876-'77 was termed a dry season, although the drouth was far
less disastrous than that of 1863-'64. Grain hardly sprouted, and most of the
fields thus sown remained brown all winter. Many sheep died, and more were
driven away and never brought back; it is estimated that the flocks diminished
one-half at this time.

  Because of the dry season, for want of railways, or by reason of the general
hard times, real estate here depreciated vastly-some good judges say as much as
$2,000,000, and lands of every description were placed on the market at one-half
the figures of two years earlier. The improvements of 1877 were estimated at
$192,000.

  On January 1, 1877, a violent storm of wind and rain prevailed for about an
hour, during which a house was blown down, and a portion of the debris fell upon
and killed a son of W. F. M. Goss, an estimable youth of eighteen or twenty years.

  The total tax rate for 1877 was $1.85 on the $100. The assessment roll for
this year held $4,187,175.

  On January 19, 1878, occurred a very severe storm, which destroyed nearly all
the light shipping in the harbor, driving some of it through the wharf. This
storm injured nearly all the wharves on the coast. The old wharf at Santa
Barbara was demolished, and some 155 feet of Stearns' wharf destroyed. The
debris from these wharves destroyed all but about 100 feet of Smith's wharf at
Carpenteria. The Bennett Bath Houses, built some six years before, were carried
away, causing a loss of some $1,300. Much damage was done in the district by
freshets, cloudbursts, etc. The steamers could not land during the storm, and
for some time thereafter, whilst the wharves were under repairs, passengers and
freight were landed by recourse to the old system of lighters.

  About this period there was some little agitation over the tax keeping of the
county records, and investigations were ordered, and made, showing great
disorder and confusion in the keeping of the accounts.

  The total tax rate for 1878 was $1.65 on the $100.

  This year was marked by J. C. Benton's offer to exterminate the squirrel pest
by means of a wholesale an inexpensive poisoning; in this Mr. Benton succeeded
far beyond the general expectation, and the board of supervisors carried on the
work.

  At this time, communication north and south from Santa Barbara was had only by
way of the Rincon and along the shore, where the water, at high tide dashing
against the cliffs, often cut off connection. It had been found difficult to
secure the opening of other roads in the county. The Sycamore Canon road had
been located for some time, but some parties whose lands were crossed by it,
positively refused to have the road opened.

  In September, 1878, a public demonstration was held in honor of the opening of
the Casitas Pass road, which, while it was in Ventura County, and built by the
sale of Ventura bonds, was greatly to the benefit of Santa Barbara County.
Indeed, complaint was made later that Santa Barbara profited more than Ventura.

  In 1879, there were inscribed in the great register of this county 2,384 voters.

  In the tax list of 1880 appeared 128 names of citizens paying taxes on $5,000
or upwards. It was remarkable that among these there were hardly a dozen of the
old families who, twenty-five years before, had practically owned the county.

  The summaries for this year showed valuations as follows: value of city and
town lots, $489,350; improvements on same, $515,580; real estate other than city
and town lots, $$,785,554; improvements on same, $339,920; money, $38,634;
personal property, $1,306,834; total, $5,507,727; deductions on account of
mortgages, $769,668. The total tax rate for this year was $2 on the $100. About
50,000 acres were cultivated, yielding 214,937 bushels of barley; 198,293
bushels of wheat; 60,000 bushels of corn; 20,000 of potatoes; 80,931 of beans;
714,700 pounds of wool; 125,000 pounds of butter; 256,000 of honey; besides a
multitude of other products. The population, by the census of this year, was 9,522.

  There were three parties in the field at this year's election, Republicans,
Democrats, and Workingmen; the last never gained much foothold in Santa Barbara.
The road fund this year amounted to $10,000. Official mileage was now established.

  In March, 1881, was held an art loan exhibition to raise money for public
purposes, and many rare and valuable treasures were presented for exhibition.
This enterprise was not only pleasing, but profitable, netting $500. A floral
and citrus fruit fair was also held this spring. About this time was opened a
cannery, to furnish a market for fruits which otherwise would decay and waste.

  The bean crop of Santa Barbara County, which in 1880 had been 85,273 bushels,
in 1881 amounted to 87,000 bushels, and the following year to 146,700 bushels.

  The tax rate for 1883 was $1.69 1/4 on the $100 for State and county; the city
tax eighty-five cents. The board of equalization this year raised Santa
Barbara's assessment roll twenty per cent., the increase aggregating $1,134,300.

  In 1884 the county had outstanding bonds amounting to $46,500; cash in the
treasury, $34,318.75; county property, about $85,000. The county clerk's
estimate gave the county this year at least 2,600 voters, this, by the usual
process of rating, giving a county population of about 13,000 people. By 1886 it
was estimated at 16,529, a gain in six years of 7,007, or seventy-three per
cent. It must be remembered, too, that this increase was prior to the presence
of the railroad, which subsequently brought a vast immigration with the opening
up of the extensive tracts of farming country. Of the population perhaps
one-fifth is of Spanish descent, the rest Americans, largely from the middle
western States.

  The school census of June, 1885, reported 3,777 children of school age, and
1,294 under five years old; total, 5,071. There were forty-four school districts.

  The State and county taxes collected in Santa Barbara in 1885 were
$140,967.96-a decrease of some $800 from the preceding year. The total valuation
of Santa Barbara, after the addition of the fifteen per cent., was $9,635,803.

  Santa Barbara carried off the first premium for county exhibits at the State
fair at Sacramento, in 1885.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 
OF THE COUNTIES OF
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California

Illustrated

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Prospective Future; with Profuse illustrations of its Beautiful Scenery,
Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and
Biographical Mention of  many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of
to-day,

BY MRS. YDA ADDIS STORKE.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors -will
never achieve anything worthy to he remembered with pride by remote
descendants."—Macaulay.

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1891.

Barlow-Sinclair Printing Co., Chicago.


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