the bonds or of compelling the citizens to refund them. The vote on the question of refunding the bonds (1895) was as follows: For refunding, 3,153; against refunding, 931. The populists let the movement against the bonds, though Mayor Davie, a populist, favored them. In July the county board went en masse to Sacramento to show why Alameda county assessments should not be increased from $91,000,000 to $100,000,000. The Merchants' Exchange held its first open. meeting on October 29th. About two hundred invited guests-prominent business men of the city-were present. The subjects discussed were the needs of Oakland. The speakers were Arper, Hilborn, Davis, Irish, Fish and Mayor Davie. All advocated energetic action to place the city at the head of the progressive centers of the coast.

The boulevard tract east of Lake Merritt was put on the market in September. It was sold in lots at auction and brought from $1,000 to $3,400 per lot. A comparison of down town real estate value between 1885 and 1895 showed that they had risen from 200 to 400 per cent. A further comparison showed that values in Alameda, Berkeley and all of the suburban towns had advanced at a proportionate rate. In September the realty syndicate was organized with a large capital. The syndicate included many of the leading men of the city who had previously operated along private lines. By the last of September the company had acquired real estate valued at $1,500,000. This betokened a new and reformed movement in real estate and was an expression of confidence in the future growth and magnitude of the city.

Again in the fall and winter of 1896 the subject of "Greater Oakland" was discussed and agitated and viewed from all angles and elevations. George P. Morrow was particularly active in the movement at this time. He desired the annexation of a large tract to the northward. In 1896 the Spring Valley Water Company brought suit against many individuals for an infringement of its riparian rights; the farmers used the creek water for irrigation. A test suit was brought against John Beard of Niles.

The group of small frame houses which became known as the "House of Blazes" stood in the mud on the south side of Twelfth street just west of the dam. It was the resort of vice of all descriptions-drinking, gambling and scandal. The whole concern was sold out at auction in 1896 and became a scar of the past. It stood near where the auditorium now stands. In August seven Indian skeletons were dug out of Shell Mound at the park of the same name. Prof. John Merriam unearthed them after they were first discovered by workmen. All the skulls were flattened. Over the bones were a layer of ashes and then a layer of shells. He decided they were the skeletons of Flathead Indians. The establishment of the Oakland Water Company was made a notable event in the history of this community. When the people were clamoring for better water, when it seemed out of the question for them to secure any improvement, and when the old company refused to purify the supply or reduce the price, the Oakland Water Company was organized by William J. Dingee, largely through accident. When his intentions became known he was at first hailed by many as a public benefactor. He not only planned to secure the supply from the Piedmont foothills, but the immense outflow of the artesian wells at Alvarado. Promptly many people rallied to his support. So great was the rush of patronage that his company soon threatened to outstrip its rival both in support and

public esteem and prestige. The board of trade, the Merchants' Exchange, the board of supervisors and the town and city trustees and councils promptly favored the new company. Soon the gigantic pumps and big pipes brought all the water needed- fresh and pure from the subterranean reservoirs at Alvarado. At once the old rates were cut and recut until in a short time it was declared that the new company saved Oakland alone annually $250,000.

In 1896 Emeryville and Temescal called for separate existence as municipal centers and bodies. The tax levy of $1.14 was opposed by the mayor and at last was cut down to $1.10 and passed by the council. In August committees of the Merchants' Exchange, the board of trade and the good roads association appeared before the council to advocate better roads at once. The latter association numbered about four hundred members who were greatly interested in the subject. In September Oakland had only two methods of street construction, macadam and bitumen-97.2 miles of the former and 4.57 miles of the latter, and 67.6 miles of unimproved streets. Late in 1896 a movement was begun to secure about five hundred acres as near the heart of the city as practicable for a public park. A committee of the board of trade composed of E. C. Sessions, J. P. Taylor, M. J. Keller, D. E. Collins and A. D. Pryal called for proposals from property owners. Attention was called to the fact that bonds would have to be issued to pay for the land.

An earthquake shock lasting about five seconds was felt here on January 17, 1897, while many of the churches were holding services. At the Tenth Avenue Baptist church the whole edifice was violently shaken. Many of the congregation stood up, several ran out of the building, and a few women turned pale or shed tears. Ejaculations or screams were heard in all parts of the auditorium. At the First Presbyterian church the children's orchestra members dropped their instruments in fright. During all the time the southern cities were moving along, growing in population and increasing in wealth and attractiveness, Oakland, in a large degree slept on its oars. It did little or nothing of much effect in a cooperative way. It trusted too much to its natural attractions and its important location. In 1894 W. J. Dingee, A. H. Breed & Co., and others began. a movement to collect a general fund to be used for the express purpose of advertising the city, of providing accommodations for visitors, of accumulating valuable information about the county for dissemination in pamphlets and circulars, and of providing the public representatives with data concerning the desirability of the city and county as a home and business point. (1880 to 1897.)

Early in 1897 the citizens of Oakland, more than ever before, came out openly for a "Greater Oakland." That was the slogan of the highlands and lowlands of the time. All leading citizens except the customary and hereditary grouchy class joined the advancing army. More than a dozen industrial, social and improvement organizations enlisted and worked for a broader policy of civic betterment. Mass meetings were held, eloquent speakers addressed large audiences, and means were forthcoming to aid the cause; but all to no avail, because the masses were not yet ready-had not passed the stage of wildness in the West-could see yet no merit in the movement where they were required to pay extra tax for improvements that were to be enjoyed mainly by their descendants. 'The movement for a greater Oakland grew in importance rapidly and called into

New Orpheum Theater

Scene in New Shopping District Intersection of Broadway, Fourteenth and San Pablo Avenue OAKLAND SCENES

action for its support hundreds of the best men of the city. One step early in 1897 was to annex at the earliest practicable date Piedmont, Golden Gate and Temescal. A few years before this date the latter had defeated the project at the polls so far as it was concerned. In the annexation scheme of March, 1897, the following suburbs were included: Golden Gate, Peralta, Temescal, Claremont, Piedmont and Linda Vista.

The Citizens' Municipal Improvement Association in 1897 considered three important subjects: (1) Consolidation of the city and county governments; (2) street improvement; (3) acquisition of land for a public park. The objects of the association were to direct public attention to municipal improvements. At a meeting held October 22d, it was the consensus of opinion that the park project should be pushed and that a tract of land in the foothills and a portion of the Adams property in Lake Merritt should be purchased. W. R. Davis favored the measures. John P. Irish said he was authorized to state for the West Oakland Improvement Club that the people west of Market street would not support any proposition to purchase outside land by inside taxation. E. C. Sessions, John T. Bell, Frank K. Mott, D. E. Collins and others favored the park improve

ments.

At an early date Oakland wanted a mammoth hotel for the benefit it would lend the city as an advertisement, and many seemed willing to sell the City Hall park to secure it. The next hobby was an intercepting sewer which, many declared, was an absolute necessity in order to conserve the health of the inhabitants. The third scheme was a magnificent boulevard around Lake Merritt which was commenced, but another council with malice aforethought and in cold blood paid the contractors a large bonus to give up the contract. A fourth feverish impulse was to open all the streets to the water front-Grove street was so opened and a wharf was built perhaps illegally, but the step amounted to nothing. Then came the spasm over the water front and about $75,000 was spent to learn that the city had been doing right for forty years in collecting taxes from individuals and corporations. In 1897 came the scheme for a beautiful park that would require the issuance of $300,000 in municipal bonds and was so far in the country that no one would go there as there was no suitable conveyance. The park committee of the council met similar committees from the board of trade, Merchants' Exchange and the real estate dealers with a view of reaching definite conclusions that would meet the approval of all. The Sather tract was north of Lake Merritt and a little distance from its border. Another tract inspected was 320 acres near Leona Heights and Mills College. The price was $100,000. The Livermore tract and the Rock Ridge park were also considered. The estimated price of the Sather tract which included Indian gulch was $750 per acre, but the owners wanted over two thousand dollars an acre. In February, 1898, six councilmen were openly charged with the betrayal of their trusts to corporations—particularly to the water company in fixing water rates. There was much excitement and on one occasion one of them was pursued by the populace who shouted "lynch him." At a big mass meeting called. by the Oakland Board of Trade in April, to consider the question of town and city consolidation, Alameda opposed it, Berkeley was lukewarm, but Oakland warmly favored the project. The question of county division was also dis