The labor organizations of Oakland and vicinity held a big reunion or celebration early in September, 1891. It was one of the first observances here of Labor Day. Trades unionism began in Alameda county about 1888 at which time four organizations were already in existence, viz.: Carpenters' Protective Union, Cigarmakers' Union, Typographical Union and Clerks' Association. On May 1, 1888, the first meeting of the Alameda county federation was held and O. A. Smith became first president. Later organizations of the bakers, plumbers, painters, mill machine men, tailors, plasterers, carpenters, horseshoers, musicians, bricklayers, lumber and longshoremen, farmers' alliance, citizens' alliance, and others joined the movement. The parade of September 6, 1891, was one of the largest ever seen in this city. All business was temporarily suspended while the cheering and bedecorated clubs and lodges marched through the packed streets. The mayor and city officials reviewed the parade from a stand at the city hall. The day closed with a ball at Germania hall.

The members of the Oakland Baseball Club in 1892 were as follows in batting order: Smith, left; O'Brien, second; Hardie, center; Carrall, first; Wilson, catcher; Bushman, third; Hutchinson, short; Lohman, right; German, pitcher. Enthusiasm for baseball was never more tense and preponderating than in 1892. Col. T. P. Robinson owned the franchise of the Oakland Baseball Club. The new grounds were at Piedmont. The Cook stock farm became the Oakland park stock farm. It sold twenty-four high bred colts-all registered. Many were by Steinway, the famous thoroughbred. The Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club gave a series of races on their grounds in July.

The Charity Club consisted of young men who distinguished themselves in legitimate drama, modern society drama and minstrelsy and young ladies who supplemented their literary attainments by post graduate courses in Delsarte, oratory and the art of physical expression. Both men and women were among the most talented, charming and beautiful in the city. They had no desire to embrace the drama or the stage as a profession, but mastered "Lady Macbeth," "Hamlet," and other plays and historic stage characters. In 1891-92 they presented "Damon and Pythias," "Darkest Oakland," "Held by the Enemy," "A Russian Honeymoon," "Rosedale" and other difficult plays to large houses with great success. Louis Imhaus was director. Among the actors were the following: J. C. Wilson, Jr., H. A. Melvin, Lester Herrick, J. F. J. Archibald, A. J. Rosborough, P. H. Remillard, Marion Albright, Minnie G. Campbell, Mrs. Elizabeth Beck, Maud Morrill, Lucy D. Novan and Mary Hanlon. Wilson was leading man and began his career many years before in San Francisco. In their earlier presentations they styled themselves the Jackson Street Minstrels, were assisted by the Alice Street Quartette Club and held forth at the Oakland. theatre. Late in 1892 they appeared in the fine new Macdonough theatre.

Among the assets left by Court Ginlio Valensin on his famous Pleasanton stock ranch was the stallion Sidney. This horse was sold at auction in Cleveland, Ohio, for $27,000. His value had been placed by experienced horsemen at $75,000. The animal had been under lease for $20,000 a year. His colts sold for several years at over $25,000 annually. Late in October, 1896, the new Oakland race track was opened and the winter racing meeting was inaugurated. The new track was located on the old site, but many additions and improvements

appeared. In all there were ninety-three acres under lease. Thomas H. Williams, Jr., was president of the California Jockey Club at this time.

In April, 1898, Joe Lavique and Mike McCormick fought eight rounds before the Oakland Athletic Club. De Witt Van Court refereed the fight; McCormick won the battle.

The racing at Pleasanton in the spring of 1898 was unusually good and attracted a large crowd. Pacing, trotting and running were the leading events, but the harness road races attracted great interest. At this time high grade roadsters were in great demand. The principal stakes at this meeting were called Hop, Merrira and Mercantile. The Pleasanton race track was well known to horsemen all over the United States and Canada. The stables of high grade and thoroughbred animals there were famous almost from the start. Many of the fastest horses and most skillful drivers of the country hailed from that unpretentious place. Among the fast and famous horses reared there were Coney 2:012, Anaconda 2:022, Alix 2:034, Directly 2:0334, Azate 2:04, Searchlight 2:04, Klatasch 2:0434, Directum 2:054, Dally Dillon 2:071⁄2, Diablo 2:094, and Jamie 2:092. Among the distinguished drivers who received their first valuable experiences at this track were Budd Doble, Andrew McDowell, Thomas Keating, George Staars, William Geers, J. Kelly and Messrs. McHenry, Durfee, Murry and Sanders.

In the '90s as never before all kinds of athletics came into existence and into great popularity and favor, cycling, baseball, football, hunting, rowing, boxing, racing and mountain climbing seemed all at once to take possession of every class and sex here. Never before had women come into such dazzling light in the field of outdoor sports as at this eventful and changeful era. In fact the tendency to put women forward at this time, was one of the chief factors which contributed a little later to her success at the polls.

Athletics in the most modern form is imparted by the Reliance and Acme Clubs. The equipment of both supplies every facility needed for the complete development of the human system, and the instruction is not surpassed in any city on the coast. Exercises and exhibitions showing what they can do and have accomplished are given at stated periods. Already the athletes of this club have distinguished themselves in many fields.

The Athenian Club was modeled on the same plan as a similar one in San Francisco. It is Bohemian in the broadest sense, devoted to sociability, and its members are among the best men of the community. The Nile Club is also social in its objects and operations. Both the Nile and the Athenian Clubs, while in the main brotherly and fraternal, nevertheless informally consider many subjects which outside eventuate into public movements for the betterment of the community.

The old Shell Mound park where racing took place as early as the '60s and where the shooting clubs usually practiced and gave exhibitions, was later called the Oakland race track, which was in reality an extension of the old grounds. Judge Mee finally purchased the property, leased it, and it passed to a syndicate which carried matters farther than the people desired and an act of the Legislature checked its operations.

In September, 1907, the Orpheum theatre was first opened to the public. During the first year over 800,000 persons were patrons. Oakland had become

the second leading theatrical center of the Pacific coast. In September, 1908, Leonard Lane of Berkeley, in an air ship of his own invention and construction, secretly sailed in a successful flight over that city. S. S. Baley, the millionaire horseman of Pleasanton, leased the pacing mare Leata J, to W. Jones of Sacramento for the season of 1913; her record in 1913 was 2:03 and she earned for the lessee about $25,000.

On February 22, 1911, occurred the automobile races over the scenic boulevard; it was estimated that 100,000 persons witnessed the races. An Amplex car ran down and seriously injured several persons. An Apperson car, skidded, turned turtle and was destroyed by fire, both occupants escaping. The throng was not properly policed and crowded the tracks in many places. The Mercer won the light car race, the National, the heavy car race and the Pope-Hartford the free-for-all race. In recent years baseball, rugby and soccer football, yachting, rowing, shooting, hunting, coursing, racing, boxing, golfing, tennis, swimming, athletics, track meetings, motoring, bowling, cricket, etc., are the leading sports.

The scientific development of athletics at the university in the '80s and '90s was one of the most important recreation and health forward movements in the state and in the country. The games of baseball there have ever been interesting; but football soon led all other outdoor manly sports. The great games between the two universities-Stanford and California-are invariably attended by immense and enthusiastic audiences. The following is the result of their contests year by year.

CHAPTER XVI

EDUCATION

The first schoolhouse in Oakland was built in July, 1853, on a lot deeded to the town by H. W. Carpentier at Fourth and Clay streets. It was subsequently moved to the corner of West and Seventh streets and was still later used by the colored people as a church. It was the only schoolhouse the town had for nine years. When erected it was referred to as "a substantial, elegant and commodious schoolhouse." In 1862 a large one-story schoolhouse was erected at the corner of Eleventh and Grove streets. Two years later a third building was erected at Fifth and Alice streets. Miss Hannah Jayne opened the first school in 1853 and continued to teach-was the only teacher-until January, 1855, when, two teachers being required, Franklin Warner became principal and Miss Jayne assistant. At first there was but one room and one teacher, but there were ninety pupils enrolled. They continued until February 21, 1856, in a building with two rooms at Fifth and Broadway. They received no pay until later, because Mr. Hogan, the city marshal, decamped with the school funds. In February, 1856, Mr. Warner secured a position in the Oakland College school and there remained until 1860. In 1856 R. A. Morse was employed as a teacher and held forth in the Carpentier schoolhouse. Mr. Goble taught both in 1856 and 1857. In 1860 the pupils became so numerous that a new and larger building was necessary, whereupon the high school block was bought for $900 and at two-room building was erected thereon and was called the Lafayette school. Afterward when the first high school building was erected the old building was called "Little Lafayette." Soon afterward came the Lincoln, Prescott, Cole, Durant, Tompkins and other schools. By 1867 Oakland schools had six teachers who were paid $510 a month. In 1868 school bonds to the amount of $62,000 were issued and much of the money was invested in school sites, a very wise measure. In 1868 there were 547 pupils and in 1873 there were 2,011. In 1878, 4,695 pupils attended the public schools; in 1883, 6,040; in 1888, 6,329; in 1891, 8,071.

On November 8, 1858, the Oakland Seminary was commenced by Mrs. G. M. Blake in a private parlor on Broadway and Sixth streets, with a class of four young ladies. April 1, 1859, the school required a larger room and was removed to the corner of Broadway and Eighth streets. It remained there until March 1, 1860, when it changed its locality to the corner of Fifth and Jackson streets, where it remained four years. A new building known as the Blake House was commenced on Washington street between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, in June, 1863, and completed on the 24th of October, where the school was permanently established.

As early as the year 1855 the attention of Alameda was called to the necessity of providing means of education for the children. In 1864 the school district,

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