Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 713  

156 HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. affair. About this time also many ambitious land schemes were put on foot, looking chiefly to the building up of a rival city to San Francisco. One of them was Marion City, occupying — on paper — the entire surface of Point San Quentin. The only tangible result of this was the location there of the California State Prison. Sansalito was another gigantic city; California City and Corte Madera City were likewise. However, several quite extensive settlements in the timber-cutting days, as Lagunitas and Corte Madera, have disappeared altogether. In 1863, San Rafael began to come into notice as a place for suburban residence for business men of San Francisco, although communication was made at first by stage line to San Quentin and thence by ferry. With that year really began the growth of San Rafael. In 1870 began the coming to the county of experienced Swiss dairymen, in whose hands that business is now largely conducted. To show the progress made, it may be mentioned that according to the census returns of 1880, Marin leads all other counties in the Union in the amount of butter manufactured. The scene of these dairying operations is chiefly along the coast, Puint Reyes butter being the standard of excellence in California. RESOURCES AND PRESENT CONDITION. Marin County is now admirably served with railroads. The North Pacific Coast Road, a narrow gauge, which runs from Sansalito throngh the redwood region into Sonoma County, was the first to be built. It was begun in 1872 and completed in 1875. The San Francisco & North Pacific, or “ Donahue” line, was extended from Petaluma to Tiburon in 1884. Both from Sansalito and Tiburon a splendid system of ferry-boats make frequent trips to San Francisco. The system of wagon roads of Marin County is unexcelled. Dairying is par excellence the industry of Marin, although it is rapidly developing into a great fruit county, and some fine stock is raised in the county. The apple orchard belonging to Hon. F. C. De Long, of over 300 acres, is said to be the largest in the State. It yields «a princely revenue of about $75,000 a year to its owner, the product being entirely shipped to Australia. Several fine vineyards have been planted, a good quality of claret wine being manutactured. The fisheries off the coast are of great value. Off Point San Pedro, on the eastern shore, about 400 Chinese are engaged in shrimp taking and in sturgeon and small fish capture. On Tomales Bay, on the west shore, also, are valuable fisheries. In manufactures there are, besides Taylor’s paper mill, already mentioned, several large brick concerns. The California Patent Brick Company, located near Las Gallinas, has the largest establishment on the coast. Prunty and the Remillard Bros. are also large brick-makers. Shaver’s planing-mill, some hop yards, etc., about exhanst the list. At San Quentin is the State Penitentiary, with about 1,200 inmates, whu are largely employed in making jute bags, bricks, etc., but they ought hardly to count. The prison was begun in 1858, prior to which the State’s convicts had been kept on board an old hulk anchored at Angel Island. Since 1853 the prison, which stands in the front rank of like institutions in the country, has cost the Government over $2,500,000 in buildings, ete. At Novato some fine basalt quarries are being worked. San Rafael was incorporated first in 1874, and in 1889 was re-incorporated as a city of the sixth class. It is a beantiful city, favored of wealthy San Franciscans, and both it and vicinity possess many magnificent residences. Its drives are unsurpasred. The Hotel Rafael, completed in 1888, at a cost of $200,000, is one of the most fashionable and elegant of the State, being headquarters for tennis players, etc. In 1872 the handsome court-honse was erected, at a cost of $55,000. The school system is good, the churches active and prosperous. It has splendid water-works, and is well sewered. In 1889 was opened a new $100,000 college tor young ladies, the San Rafael College,