In October the committee engaged in framing a revision for the Berkeley city charter recommended that women be allowed to vote on all school matters and should be eligible to places on the board of education. This act met the approval of nearly every other town and city in the county. In January, 1907, the Realty Syndicate sold to the North Berkeley Development Company and the Berkeley Land Company 600 acres for $1,450,000; the land was located in North Berkeley at Spruce and Josephine streets.

In 1908 after the board of freeholders of Berkeley had labored a long time on its new charter it was learned that, owing to a misunderstanding of the law, all the ground would have to be gone over again. There was also a comparatively small element that advocated the postponement of definite action on the charter and the consideration of a consolidated government embracing Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Piedmont, Fruitvale, Melrose and Elmhurst. A new board. of freeholders with President Wheeler of the university at the head was proposed and supported by a strong contingent in East Berkeley. To this movement there was spirited opposition from the Citizens and Taxpayers League and the West End Protective Association, both of which fought the commission plan of government, which was the distinguishing feature of the rejected charter, and provided that a mayor and four commissioners should administer city affairs. It was at this time that a scheme to divide East and West Berkeley was hatched and given considerable support, and that numerous factions struggled for supremacy. Thus far the clan that favored an independent existence for Berkeley had dominated public affairs and with that object in view had bonded the city for $120,000 for a new city hall. The project to unite the east bay cities to form a Greater San Francisco had its advocates. The Citizens and Taxpayers League favored consolidation with Oakland under the new county project. The real estate men opposed this measure as damaging to property values.

On the proposition to issue in bonds the sum of $1,340,000 the voters of Berkeley defeated every measure-fire houses, police alarm, civic center park, central playgrounds, Acton Street park, school playgrounds, garbage incinerator. storm and sanitary sewers, lower schools, kindergartens and high school. The building permits of Berkeley in 1908 were 1,017 at an estimated value of $2,264,000. This did not include new schoolhouses, the town hall, nor the new Doe library building on the campus.

In 1910, with a population of 40,434, Berkeley was the scene of wonderful material growth, exceptional civic virtue, and gratifying intellectual and moral progress. There was an immense development of manufacturing enterprises in the western part. The new form of municipal government was successful and popular and was in a large degree adopted by Oakland. The distinctive feature of the charter was the one which originated the majority requirement for election of officers with the provision for possible choice at the first election. In the fall there was strong feeling in Berkeley both for and against the proposed annexation to Oakland. Those who favored annexation were also the advocates of the consolidation of city and county governments. Professor Jones said: "It is absurd to call this annexation a step toward city and county government. It does not mean that. Instead it simply means the absorption of Berkeley by Oakland. If we wish to keep the schools of which we are so proud running under the same

conditions as they are now and reflecting the same degree of credit on the city, we must not combine with the larger city." Mr. Robinson did not think the time. ripe for consolidation and rather preferred the San Francisco consolidation plan. Mr. Barnett favored annexation for many reasons, one of which was to change unsatisfactory conditions in the courthouse and another to secure greater economy in the administration of municipal affairs. The annexation question was determined by the following vote: Oakland-for, 2914, against, 333; Berkeleyfor, 1,401, against, 4,010.

Theodore Roosevelt attended the charter day celebration at the Greek theater, in March, 1911. He made a strong speech in favor of higher education. The scene at the theater was impressive in the extreme with the lofty inspiration of noble motives and with higher ideals and aspirations.

During the fiscal year 1912-13 the following municipal improvements were carried into execution: I, Municipal incinerator; 2, municipal garage and ambulance; 3, municipal bacteriological and chemical laboratory; 4, municipal employment bureau; 5, perfection of the police telegraph and flashlight system; 6, additional fire apparatus; 7, new heating apparatus; 8, extensive street improvements; 9, spotless town campaign; 10, new corporation yards.

In 1913 the Roosevelt Hospital of Berkeley bought the equipment and business of the Abbott Hospital of Richmond. In December the West Berkeley Improvement Club passed resolutions asking the city council to call an election, not only to vote on the bond question for the public school, but also on the question of bonding the city for harbor improvement at the same time and on the same ballot. Late in 1913 Berkeley planned to bond the city for about one million dollars to promote the following improvements: (1) A ship channel for large vessels; (2) a harbor one mile wide; (3) a stone bulkhead with wharves along the proposed water front; (4) a municipal electric belt line railway; (5) a channel for the development of the inner harbor; (6) reclamation of 800 acres of state tide lands and over one thousand acres outside thereof for various uses.

For the year 1913-14 Mayor Wilson made the following recommendations: 1, Taxation of land values; 2, four-year terms for mayor and auditor; 3, abolish the commissions and the board of health; 4, increase the salaries of stenographers, secretaries, clerks, etc.; 5, extension of auditor's services; 6, improvement of San Pablo park; 7, addition to public library; 8, street improvement; 9, public convenience stations; 10, new system of garbage collection; II, abolish business. license; 12, motor-cycles for policemen; 13, motor-trucks in street department; 14, real estate purchase.

In January, 1914, the West Berkeley Improvement Club endorsed the proposed bonds for harbor improvement and for the local schools. Among the important recent movements in Berkeley are the following: Vast increases in population; growth of business enterprises; the commencement of a new sewer system to cost $475,000; improvement of the fire department to cost $95,000; plans to greatly increase the schoolroom capacity; plans to improve the water front; extension of street pavements and cement work; electric lighting of the whole city; municipal ownership of the street car service considered; the water problem considered; a tremendous impulse in the direction of a city beautiful. Berkeley's population in 1900 was 13,445, and in 1910 was 40,434.

CHAPTER XX

OAKLAND

Oakland was settled by the Americans under the assumption that it was Government land, the squatters refusing to accept the claims of the grantees under Spain or Mexico. They doubted the validity of these claims, but later when they reached the courts and when the claims were pronounced just and legal, they made the most of the situation and took as much as they could get.

Moses Chase is given the distinction of having been the first settler on the present site of Oakland. When the Pattens came over from San Francisco early in 1850 they found him encamped in a tent at Clinton or what soon became Clinton. He was ill and intended to leave, but was persuaded by them to remain and join them in the settlement at that place. Soon afterward, also early in 1850, H. W. Carpentier, Edson Adams and A. J. Moon arrived and squatted at the foot of what is now Broadway. When warned off by the Peraltas they affected, or at least expressed, great surprise and after negotiation finally secured the lease that gave them color of title and enabled them to remain and outpoint the many squatters who began to arrive immediately afterward.

H. W. Carpentier and his associates assumed that the Oakland site was United States Government land and hence refused to deal with the Peraltas. In his investigations Carpentier no doubt discovered that the claim of Luis Peralta had not yet been approved by the United States, possibly might never be, whereupon he and his associates took possession of the land and when opposed by the Peraltas secured a lease which gave them color of title and enabled them to retain possession in spite of the squatters who did not have as good a claim. Carpentier was a crafty and unscrupulous lawyer and at all times had a better legal standing than those who opposed him, because he was far-sighted and knew how to protect his interests when it came to the final tests in the courts. On the face of affairs his lease from the Peraltas was better than the squatter rights of his opponents, but, of course, his assumption that the claim of the Peraltas from the Mexican Government was not good under United States laws contradicted the validity and efficiency of his lease. But the majority of the squatters did not or could not see the matter in this light. However, there were several who apparently did. In March, 1852, John Clar, B. de la Barra, J. R. Irving, Col. John C. Hays, John Caperton and Jacob A. Cost, for the sum of $10,000, bought out the rights of the Peraltas in the Oakland site. proper and thus as a matter of fact had a better title than the lease of Carpentier and associates. The sale contract was first made out in the name of John Clar, and the others later joined him, and on August 15, 1853, a deed of partition was executed for their several benefits.

Doctor Mabin came here in 1850 in an open boat on Sunday with a party of ladies and gentlemen with lunch baskets; they went to Lake Merritt, which

was full of ducks. All there was of Oakland then were a few buildings near the foot of Broadway, where a small pier had been built. Four other young men came to Oakland early: George M. Blake, F. K. Shattuck, William Hillegass and James Leonard. They came over at first as a pastime, liked the surroundings and prospects and concluded to remain. They selected a square mile of land above Vicente Peralta's residence. Levi R. Bixby arrived in 1852 when there were only from six to ten houses. A. Harper was already here when Bixby arrived. Thomas Gallagher's saloon on Broadway was established very early. Carpentier, Adams and Moon claimed their rights principally under a lease from the Peraltas. All the others who settled here and did not secure their rights from those three men, were squatters and their location here and improvements were opposed. All the squatters found it necessary to organize against those men to prevent their improvements from being destroyed. Numerous altercations and several hand to hand contests occurred. The squatters went so far as to secure an old cannon, which was fired as a signal to assemble prepared to repulse attacks upon their improvements. Fences were torn down and the erection of buildings was forcibly opposed. The squatters were armed with six-shooters and made a formidable appearance when engaged in repelling an attack on their property, but the others owned the lease and possessed the legal right to control the settlement.

In 1851 the Pattens and Chase were in Clinton, James B. Larue at San Antonio, Henry C. Smith at the mission, John M. Horner near Irving, S. Castro at Haywards, Estudillo at San Leandro. Augustine Bernal and the families of Amador, Alviso, Noriego and Livermore owned much of the county. The Yankees were already whipsawing the redwoods of San Antonio. Indians were sleeping in the San Lorenzo ranchino and priests were shipping produce from the embarcadero at the mouth of Alameda creek.

In 1852, the Americans of Oakland joined in giving a grand Christmas dinner, on which occasion there were present Rev. and Mrs. Samuel B. Bell, Horace W. and Edward Carpentier, Frank K. Shattuck, John Hays, John Potter, Judge S. B. McKee, Sabin Harris, Colonel Coffey, John Watson, Harper Glascock, Judge Black, General Howard, Captain Daily, Major Kirkham and Doctor Davis. They clubbed together and provided the feast. Preceding the dinner— really a supper about 8:30 P. M., the night before Christmas-the children's presents were marked, placed on a table and left for them to take at their pleasure. There were served wild duck, wild goose and venison in any quantities desired. Wine and brandy flowed like water and big bowls of egg-nog made from wild duck eggs graced the center of the table. The majority of the diners were Southerners, though several Spaniards were present-notably young Mr. Castro and his sister. The feast was held in an abandoned Spanish dance hall at Fourth and Broadway. After the feast all who cared to do so joined in the dance.

In February, 1852, Oakland was a beautiful plain about four miles wide from the bay to the base of the hills and about ten leagues long from north to south. The trees were in clusters and in full foilage and clover covered the ground. The trees were the resort of countless birds throughout the year. The hills and plains were covered with numerous herds of wild cattle. All this was called Contra Costa at that time-opposite shore. William Watts ran a small

schooner to the landing at Watts' creek, near Temescal, where he had built a small shanty and lived, though his wife kept a boarding house on Mission street in San Francisco. Along San Antonio creek was a substantial grove of evergreen oaks. At Broadway and First streets was the shanty occupied by Horace W. Carpentier, Edson Adams and Andrew Moon, who had staked off streets and laid out lots for a town. Near them toward the Point was another shanty occupied by Lowell J. Hardy. The first hotel was erected in 1851, after the last heavy fire in San Francisco, by Albert W. Burrell. At that time grants were made in this portion of the state by the Mexican Government. Castro's grant was in Contra Costa county, but he later claimed, though unjustly, that his grant extended over the present site of Oakland and it was partly upon this claim that Carpentier and his associates took possession and set Peralta at defiance.

In 1852 there were here about fifty squatters in tents and shanties each holding 160 acres as homesharers. There was no regular ferry. Sloops and skiffs were used to cross the bay. There was a variable population-here today and gone tomorrow. Malachi Fallon came here in 1852 and bought of Harper a contract for a tract of land from the Peraltas, but Carpentier and his associates. burned the Harper tent in his absence and squatted on the tract. Fallon bought ten acres at Oak and Seventh streets on which he built a house and remained though the land was claimed by the others. Harper's land was subsequently held by Colonel Heath and Ned Cohee. Fallon built in the style of a Long Island farm house and when the floor was laid went for his family, but during his absence the belligerent squatters jumped his property and compelled him in the end to pay $1,000 for a release; one piece of native woods here was called Hardy's Woods. Malachi Fallon had the first lath and plaster house in Oakland.

Mr. Burrell came over here on a hunting excursion in 1852 and found Carpentier, Adams and Moon engaged in laying out the town. They offered him two lots if he would erect a hotel. Mr. Burrell considered the matter for a while and at last accepted their proposition. It was made, he thought, because he was a builder by occupation. He was told that such a house was needed here to accommodate travelers, hunting parties, picnics and others who came over from San Francisco in small boats. The hotel was the first built in the town and was leased to Ames and Kelly, who conducted it for a while, but finally sold their lease. This hotel stood at the northwest corner of First and Broadway. Before the house was fully completed a large party of young men came over from San Francisco on the small steamboat Hector-about one hundred and fifty of them— as many as could be crowded into the little craft, and held a “house warming" in the unfurnished building. The young men had plenty of money and enjoyed themselves in sports of various kinds, one of which was kicking ten-dollar silk hats about the grounds. Native oysters and edible birds formed the basis of their Sunday dinner at the hotel, which received about $500 from its guests on that occasion. The weather was fine and the surroundings beautiful. At that time Carpentier and associates were laying off streets parallel to Broadway, which had previously been located, and laterally from east to west. At Mr. Burrell's insistence they increased the width of the streets, though objecting that it was giving too much land to the public that was needed for stores and increased the cost of street improvement. Samuel Robinson opened the first store at Second and Broadway. Doctor Yard was the first postmaster and held the office about