The Indian population exists by fishing, hunting, and working for the whites.Out of three hundred and fifty-three in the county eighty-two live on the Klamath reservation.About fifty-seven of them live in the neighborhood of Happy Camp-the balance near Crescent City.Their habits and superstitions are an interesting study.They have their own laws, currency (a rare shell), and preserve many of their aboriginal customs.With this tribe, as with most of our Indian populations, contact with the whites only had the effect of merging into their character most of the vices and none of the virtues of the dominant Caucasian race.A mere fragment of the tribe still exists; it is decreasing rapidly, and a few years more will see their extinction as a tribe.
The following statistics will be of interest:-
Population (census of 1880)- Whites, 1700; Indians, 353; Negroes, 7; Chinese, 409- total, 2669.Number of school children, 478; teachers, 11.Number of voters, 690.In area the county has 1,024,000 acres, of which only 74,749 are carried on the assessment rolls.In available timber lands there are 258,700 acres, which, at the most conservative estimate, will furnish material for hundreds of years to come.At present there are six saw mills, with an average capacity of 130,000 feet per day.The amount of manufactured lumber shipped from Del Norte is estimated at 18,000,000 feet per annum.The value of real estate other than the city and town lots was $378,823; improvements on same $163,842; city and town lots, $36,700; improvements, $137,860.Total value of all property assessed, $1,067,093.
The Land Office for this district is located at Eureka, Humboldt County, Cal.
The
government of the county, as at present constituted, is as follows:
SUPERIOR
JUDGE - James E. Murphy.
CLERK
AND EX-OFFICIO AUDITOR AND RECORDER - Peter H. Peveler
SHERIFF
- Charles E. Hughes
TREASURER
- George W. Tack
ASSESSOR
- William H. Woodbury
SURVEYOR
- Albert H. Cleveland
SUPERINTENDENT
OF SCHOOLS - William H. Jeter
DISTRICT
ATTORNEY - L. F. Coburn
CORONER
AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR - J. E. Eldredge
SUPERVISORS
- First District, Ewald Vorlander; Second District, Samuel Crandell; Third
District, John N. Mc Vay; Fourth District, John R. Nickel; Fifth District,
Horace Gasquet
JUSTICES
OF THE PEACE - Crescent Township, Dougald S. Sartwell and Thomas Duffey;
Smith River Township, James Brooking and Peter Costello; Happy Camp Township,
Cornelius Gordon and Stephen S. Colby
CONSTABLES
- Crescent Township, Fred. A. Freund and Robert J. Jenkins (Deputy Sheriff);
Smith River Township, Silas A. Moore and Frank Frame (Deputy Sheriff);
Happy Camp Township, De Witt C. Barney and Isaac E. Cade (Deputy Sheriff).
In
the present undeveloped condition of the county a large majority of its
business interest are centered in Crescent City, the county seat, which
is situated on an open bay, just south of Point St. George, tow hundred
and eighty miles north of San Francisco, by sea.Connected by trail with
Trinidad - distance, sixty miles southeast, and by wagon road with Jacksonville,
Oregon, with which place it has tri-weekly stage connection - distance,
one hundred and twenty-eight miles.The steamers Crescent City and Mary
D. Hume are regularly engaged in the trade between this port and San Francisco
- the latter touching at several way ports, and making the trip about every
twelve days in good weather, and the former going direct, and making the
round trip in from seven to eight days.in
the summer time, when northerly winds prevail, this harbor affords fair
shelter, but during the southerly winds of winter it gives hardly any protection
to vessels, and a great deal of time is wasted waiting for opportunities,
between storms, to land and receive cargoes.A
very good harbor for all seasons might be made out of this by constructing
a breakwater or seawall from Battery Point to a large rock lying south
of it.Attempts have been made to secure an appropriation for this purpose
from the Government, but they have resulted in nothing more than a survey.An
estimate has been made that the cost would be about $3,000,000.The advantage
to the coast, besides its value to this productive county, would be very
great.A harbor of refuge would be created, where very much needed, in a
long line of shelterless ocean front.The underwriters are well aware of
the importance of this improvement, and have figures to show that the work
should be seriously considered in Congress.While a much less amount would
render the harbor comparatively safe, the above mentioned sum would secure
a permanent and perfect haven of large capacity.The population of the town
in about one thousand.It possesses two churches - Roman Catholic and Methodist
Episcopal - a new Court House, costing $12,000; a large school house, with
an average attendance of one hundred and forty children, four hotels, a
weekly newspaper - Del Norte Record, edited by Mr. J. E. Eldredge - a saw
mill of 50,000 feet per day capacity, owned by Messrs, Hobbs, Wall &
Co., and one of 40,000 feet, owned by the Lake Earl Mill Co., a tannery,
brewery, shipwright's shop, a wagon shop and several extensive general
business houses.
The
business of Messrs, Hobbs, Wall & Co. employ two hundred men.Their
property embraces the mill, a shingle and box factory, four and a half
miles of substantial railroad to the woods, a large general store and a
controlling interest in the principal wharf and steamship business.In 1883
their mill turned out 8,250,000 feet of lumber and 8,000,000 is about the
average output.
The
mill of the Lake Earl Mill Co. produced about 6,000,000 feet of lumber
in the past year.
The
hotels are the Del Norte, American, Bay and the Crescent City.The Del Norte
Hotel is conducted by Mr. Ed. Yates, a gentleman of long experience as
a caterer, and ever alive to the requirements of his guests.The
Del Norte contains a large number of rooms well furnished and comfortable,
and its table fare is really good.
Crescent
City was first settled in the spring of 1853, and was incorporated as a
city in 1854.In a year it grew from a place of one house to a city of three
hundred houses, and over one thousand inhabitants.Through decline in the
mining industry Crescent City wasted steadily from about 1859 until the
manufacture of lumber commenced, some years later.That
industry with what little mining is still carried on, and the dairying,
agricultural and stockraising interests, sustain a solid and steady business
in the town - not fluctuating much, but steadily enriching that portion
of the community which is thrifty, intelligent and alive.The
old spirit that prevailed in 1853 still exists, and the trade of a great
county of immense resources will always be attracted to Crescent City by
the element that represents it.
A trip to Del Norte
includes much experience that is enjoyable and healthful, and can be made
in the season in twelve days, giving the visitor about nine days in the
county.The sea trip by the steamer Crescent City is just about of the right
duration for those who are not expert sailors, and then the steamship people
are very solicitous about the comfort of passengers.The nine days is amply
sufficient time to "square" one self at Crescent City and see all that
is interesting in the county.There is much that is beautiful among the
towering redwood forests along the rock-bound coast and in the mountains.the
climate is all that could be desired, and the delights of a camping trip
can be imagined.The spoils of the average hunting party is very large,
while the prolific streams afford a substantial reward to the gentle fisherman.But
best of all comes the glow of health from recreation in the mountain wilds,
and the recuperation which a sojourn in wooded solitudes brings to the
active worker.
SOCIETIES
FREE
AND ACCEPTED MASONS - Crescent City Lodge, No. 45, meets Monday on or before
each full moon.
INDEPENDENT
ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS - Klamath Lodge, No. 41, meets every Wednesday evening.
ANCIENT
ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN - Del Norte Lodge, No. 183, meets every Friday
evening.
KNIGHTS
OF PYTHIAS - Perseverance Lodge, No. 77, meets every Friday evening.
INDEPENDENT
ORDER GOOD TEMPLARS - Crescent City Lodge, No. 398, meets every Saturday
evening.
CHOSEN
FRIENDS - Crescent Lodge, No. 93, meets second and fourth Monday of each
month.
ELITE
THEATRE ASSEMBLY ROOMS AND SKATING RINK - This establishment is due to
the enterprise of Messrs. Endert & Capprise.The theatre possesses a
full set of scenery, with footlights and stage appurtenances, and the floor,
when cleared, is very well suited to dancing assemblies.The Rink, in the
same building, affords enjoyment to large numbers of those who delight
in mimic skating.
ALTAVILLE
(see Smith's River)
BELL'S
BAR
Bissell,
Edward L.- miner
BIG
FLAT (see Crescent City)
CLEAR
CREEK
Bussell,
Christian - miner
-------
CRESCENT
CITY
Acly,
George M. - druggist
Ahrens,
Albert - laborer Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Alden,
K. - logger Lake Earl Mill Co.
Alexander,
Henry - farmer/dairyman 349 acres
Alford,
Charles - lumberman
Alkern,
Lawrence - teamster Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Allen,
Coonrod S. - miner
Allen,
David T. - brickmason
Alpaugh,
James L. - farmer 120 acres
American
Hotel - Nicholas McNamara proprietor
Anderson,
James - laborer
Antone,
Frank - miner 20 acres
Archer,
William A. - lumberman / stockraiser
Armand
Gold & Silver Mining Co. - Ed Yates Superintendent
Ashley,
William V. - dairyman
Babcock,
Charles W. - barber, Del Norte Hotel
Baine,
Josiah T. - livery stable & stage line
Baker,
Hilton - stockraiser137 acres
Balch,
A. G. - cigars, fruits, & varieties
Banister,
L. - laborer with Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Barnard,
Alex. B. - trader
Barth,
Christina Mrs.
Basey,
Theodore - millman
Baumgartner,
B.- laborer with Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Bay
Hotel - Franis Burtschellproprietor
Bennett,
William - laborer Lake Earl Mill Co.
Bense,
Henry - stockraiser80 acres
Bernell,
Antone - dairyman
Berry,
Edward C. - laborer
Bertsch,
Frederick - farmer, millman 160 acres
Bertsch,
Jacob - stockraiser160 acres
Bertsch,
Joseph - dairyman 480 acres
Bertsch,
William H. - farmer
Big
Flat Gravel Mining Co. - O.M. Paris & Co.proprietor500 acres
Bishop,
John - logger with Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Bomhoff,
Frederick W. - butcher
Bomhoff,
John - printer
Bomhoff,
William F. - McCreesh & Bomhoff,
Bosch,
George E. - farmer 160 acres
Bosch,
John G. - farmer 195 acres
Bosch,
Leonard A. - farmer 160 acres
Bowie,
Joseph - laborer
Boyes,
Richard - farmer
Boyet,
Andrew J. - millman
Boyet,
Christopher C. - laborer3 acres
Boyet,
R. P. - millman 160 acres
Brady,
Gustavus - bartender with D. E. Shipman
Brannan,
Terrence - bartender with Wm. A. Fleming
Bray,
Richard D. - engineer with Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Breen,
John - laborer Lake Earl Mill Co.
Brock,
Edward - logger Lake Earl Mill Co.
Brookfield,
James - sawyer with Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Brown,
Charles - miner
Brown,
William C. - wagonmaker
Brown,
William F. - saddler, harness maker
Bryhan,
John H. - laborer
Burches,
William- laborer
Burgbacher,
Philip - laborer
Burgett,
Philip S. - miner
Burkhart,
R. Mrs.- widow, realestate
Burns,
Jas. - logger with Hobbs, Wall & Co.
Burns,
John - foreman with Hobbs, Wall & Co.