Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 55

Jt 'r cr crx 3 ci rzi -a ATTtU E'S i VOL CXLVII OAKLAN CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, JU LY 20, 1 947 NO. 20 in effect, while other sections of the bill do not Pumyear's fashion stable, near Washington, and to be spent for a new piano and in three years become operative until later. In view of the how he prided himself on fashionable turnouts, of my experience that new piano failed to. ma-conflict it. appeared certain that, in the event, In those days every 'hack, as "we called them, terialke.

The wisp of hay at the end of a "stick sufficient signatures are secured on referendum was accompanied by a couple of spotted coach fastened to the collar of the mule and so held petitions. a taxpayers suit will be instituted to dogs running beside the horses.Here is a little always a foot ahead of the animaTs nose kept test legality of the referendum. tale which always tickled Pumyear and Oak- him going. That new piano was very like the landers. President Harrison (or Hays?) was' wisp of hay and it kept the dances going, much LaX riegUlatlOn here May Day, 1891, for a short visit and review to the satisfaction of those who came, year after Since the Knave mentioned earlier.

this month of Oakland's scJl001 children. They left their year, to the camping grounds in what ii now the Situation relative to lobbyists in Sacra-. train at Berkeley and entered the carriages to 'known as Baltimore Park. The land was owned-inento, several members of that prof ession have the university campus. As they by the William T.

Coleman Estate and a Mr. had occasion to comment on conditions and to ere late at Pla2a' where 5011001 chfl" ose was charSe rented the wherc suggest that there is laxity in enforcement of- hrenwaited, the President, in a. hurry, told tents were put up among the trees and poison what little regulation exists. The Knave's state- Pumyear to drive on t6 the ferry and San Fran- oak shrubbery. In June and July, an area of ment that lobbyists are presently required to Pumyear realiied.the disappoint- perhaps five or six acres of the valley became list only one of the organizations they represent ment of those cnUdren most whm would a colony under canvas, and a most agreeable was based on the actual practice as reflected not even see President he gy peaceful settiement it was.

Brave souls in the list of "business representatives" in the him a ride he'U remember as were th group. After dancing till mid- Assembly history. Various lobbyists call atten- lives'V of flew "to the ferry. Tamr night; not infrequently 10 or more would re- tion to the fact that the standing rules of both could not have surpassed'the speed turn to the tents, doff the city clothes and, houses require a statement of "person or per- of cavalcade and the pounding of hoofs putting on appropriate integuments, hike by the sons, corporaUon or corporations" represented' down Street We flew to the window, light of the moon over the several intervening and thev take excention to those amon thP, expecting a bad runaway, and aU we saw were ridges and to the top of Tamalpais. After danc- numbers who sign up as the representative of" one' interest and then spend considerable time on legislative affairs of other interests.

Immediately to mind comes the multifarious activities of Arthur Samish, who is listed as representing the California State Brewers Institute, and his lieutenants, some of whom are listed as repre- sentin the Southern California Sniribt Fotmrla- Known Acme Ainieuc viud was iounaea, nor tion. But various other lobbyists are cited in- of the accomplishments of many df its mem-cludmg one who is listed as representative of a bers. It was foimded 1882 the barn major veterans organization but speaks more at Second and Harrison streets. The enthusiasm frequency for a brewmg contfim, and another of its organers was contagious and increasing who though not listed because he is a former legator and not required to register, is gen- eraiiy unaerstooa to represent a major con- tractors organization butW said to be much in evidence when a particularly controversial particularly divorce bill was tip for discussion. Cowpath Days In the family memories of Mrs.

Laura Bassett we are privileged to go back almost a hundred years-, and look upon our community as it then wasi Mrs. Bassett tells me: "In the early 50's, when father came here, there was nothing above Seventh Street but cowpaths and homes scattered amid the large oaks whic'h have now almost disappeared. Broadway, a wide and sandy ended at" the Creek or Estuary, where ferryboats made a few daily trips to San Francisco. ater an excursion boat, 'Shinda Juan' (as pronounced) came and made trips around the bay. A steam piano, like the good old circus days, made loud music.

I remember mother, some friends and the children, went for a trip to what might have been Sausalito, where sevcral carriages with occupants-holding their hats' 111118 we we had 3ust en the Acme Athletic Clllb There are few of today who remember when and where the onee-snlendirl ant? national! r. orced it to to Eighth Harrison, Ln to Dexter Hall, where Jack Kitchen, Eddie Wilcox, Frank Leavett, Frank, Cooley others mad'e their presence' -f elt at' .1 u- the annual amateur boxing tournament But it was at the Hook Building (rehabilitated burned synagogue), 14th at Harrison, where real activities in all branches of athletics began. At one Pacific Coast championship eight entries, were made and seven medals were brought back firsts and seconds. Bob Leando devel- oped gymnasts who later toured the world with their acts. Ted Cotton, Robert Starkey with Jack Stack on the triple bars Starkey was the first man ever to turn a triple somersault Jack Kitchen fought his way up to succeed Jim Cor- bett as national amateur champion when Corbett decided he was going to lick John L.

Sullivan; some day and did. Willis Sharpe captained the first 100-mile relay team, six of whom are expected at the dinner to be held this noon at Broadway and Fourth. Cliff McCleand, lowered the pole vault record at the Midwinter Fair, with Harry Germain second. With new but there misfortune overtook the club, not withstanding the whole-hearted co-operation of the "Old Guard" who had retired from active participation, Jim Corbett, Peter Jackson, John- nie Herguet and other famous champions, the dub folded up. But the spirit of fellowship, and After a I ZZZZ VJ Ew Gri -vt vw TILLING and hauling by rival factions within the Democratic party got under--way in earnest the past week as plans progressed for the Wallace for President fence, and the meeting of the Central Committee.

As this vritten-ttfe Wallace meeting at Fresno hadn't gotten underway so it was impossible to tell v. j. who would participate, but there, were many clear indications as to who would not be -on -hand. By mid-week officials -of the-Young "Democratic Clubs in both Northern Southern California had issued an official snub of the rally Robert W. Kenny was whipping up tn behalf of the former vice-president, saying 'they were "not in sympathy" with Wallace's 'program and philosophies" and were backing President Truman "100 per cent" And James Roosevelt, state chairman of the party, was not due for an appearance despite invitation from Kenny to "get off the fence" and head up Jhe draft Wallace movement Young Rcevelt busy with other matters, but person close to him indicated he would decline and.

that he ielt discussion of candidates is premature at this -time, the Knave hears! The asserted fence straddling; by the state chairman resulted in She formation of two Truman re-election committees in the south. Thomas P. Scully, former state treasurer "of the party jvho lost the state chairmanship to Roosevelt last year, headed up one group with the observation that they were "impatient and critical of Jimmy Roosevelt's failure to declare himself." One of his associates, we are told, elaborated on that statement to declare that there were "many Democrats strong orj Truman who didn't know where to hang their hats." The Scully forces indicated a policy Statement would forthcoming shortly and it was expected to be sharply counter to thehow sjiuch-debated" policy statement proposed by Roosevelt and due for an airing at the state jcentral committee conclave he will hold next week-end. in Los Angeles. Because of the furore created by the statement drafted by Roosevelt and George Outland, former congressman, it is highly probable, the Knave is informed, that several sections, particularly those critical of PresidentTruman's foreign policy, will be revised before being submitted to the committee as a whole.

Even so, observers say, the docu-rneht will not win. approval considerable' debate. The second Truman committee formed in the south apparently is under the "aegis of Will Rogers who, although formerly a warm adherent of young Roosevelt, has been strongly critical, of the proposed policy statement as "ill-advised." Whether the Rogers group will come up with a policy statement of its own has not been indicated. Over in Contra Costa County, the Democratic Central Committee jumped into the fray with a resolution repudiating Edwin Pauley, national committee-rian for Calif ornia, for asserted unfair en Roosevelt, and calling for Pauley's resignation. Another resolution adopted unanimously i by that group vigorously condemns James Earley, erstwhile national chairman of the party for what it terms a series of "spiteful and rnagazine articles tending to smear the 1 program and personality of the late President Roosevelt.

By the time the 1948 campaign really, gits rolling, some observers believe, the Democrats, if they continue the present internal trend, may have almost as many casualties as co-workers. At least, cjuite a few sore knuckle and bruised heads are already in evidence. I puzzle 1 "Just who is behind the move for a referen-dam on the long-range highway development program remained a mystery as groups throughout the state prepared to combat the move, ground the capitolspeculation on that question shared interest with discussions as to whether the referendum could stand a court test and ijhether pie 127,920 signatures necessary to place it on the ballot could be secured by I Sleptember 18 what cost In requesting a title for the referendum Boren R. Benton, of I the "Initiative -and Referendum Bureau of Los I hgelesr declmed 'to name those behind the iftovement'A representative of the independent ojl producers association immediately declared ir Los. Angeles that while "his organization jinight like to see a referendum and might con- tribute financial support it was not backing -4fie campaign.

The truckers, he guessed, were responsible. That brought from a spokesman fort the for-hire carriers a disclaimer of support and no comment" as to whether the larger truck operators favored referendum. Although there had been reports that the attorney general's office would rule on legality of the referendum, it was pointed out that under the constitution that agency merely has the man-, i ministerial duty of drafting the title, Governor Warreiv the legislative counsel and legislative backers of the bill have all expressed belief the measure is not subject to referendum, but, Boren maintained he had contrary legal advice. The question revolves around the fact that tax features of the highway measure were voted as urgency, legislation, and hence already coniei exploring expedition to Cahto, better known as Laytonville (the postoffice, however still remains Cahto, but I understand the nabe is seldom used)." says. the.

younger settled by my father, Frank B. Kton, in the year 1875. He went there from Cahto and purchased 320 acres from one Rufus Ward. He opened a blacksmith shop and a thriving little community came into being, which eventually spelled the doom or. Cahto, Cahto was'never known as Laytonville.

Itwas located some four miles in a westerly direction from there in a little valley, through which the present road from Laytonville to Westport now runs. My great uncle; John P. Simpson, and Robert White, uncle by marriage to my aunt, were the first settlers. They located there In 1856, when the valley was for most part a lake, and which was afterwards drained, leaving rich, fertile soil. The first building, a was built by Simpson and White in 1861, and was soon followed by.

other establishments. There is, today, very little evidence to 'indicate; that the town ever existed. Indians as Vassals 'The Laytonville postoffice became February 22, 1880. There has been no postoffic in Cahto since that time. I have often heard my parents mention Fort Bragg before it became a town, as both Simpson and White, above mentioned, once employed there.

It was said to be one of the most beautiful; locations in the county, being located on a gentle slope which offered a natural drainage, and was fringed by a forest of pines. The fort boasted a hospital, located on a small knoll, andjhad spacious stables, commissary and quartermaster's storehouse, a circular carriage way and raised walks. The parade ground was smooth as a floor and all the buildings were kept painted and whitewashed. The chief business of the soldiers located there, was to go into the surrounding country and round up the Indians, then in a wild state, for the reservation. The Indians, I have been told, received harsh treatment and the Whole system of reservations in the county in those early days was a vast scheme of vassalage and afforded a place for political favorites.

Employees and soldiers were given the best the fort afforded, but the Indians received little consideration and were servedjwlth odds and ends. It might be inter-' "eiting toiow that Thomas J. Henley, the superintendent of Indian Affairs in California, at that time, was postmaster of San Francisco before his appointment Cahto, itself, had a ran-cheria on which some 75 Indians were kept the supervision of John P. Simpson, and they were used to transport supplies! on their backs from the coast, also performed other menial tasks for which they received but little remuneration," A Trip in Trinity Again we travel an old stage line, this time with Mrs. Mettie M.Wilke, who recently re-traveled a route to find beauties anci memories she would pass along.

Says Mrs. Wilke: "You told othe old horse stage, from Redding via Shasta Oak Bottom, and the change to the first auto. Shasta Oak Bottom was a delightfully cool, grassy meadow. The Whiskeytown Tower House in Its heyday was a lovely classic clapboard building on the bustling mining site, close to the covered bridge over Clear Creek. The bridge is now replac-ed by a modern one.

Three miles farther on French Gulch is one of the few mining towns that has not settled itself down- into a ghost town, and this is due to the continuous operations of many of Jits early mines. On over Trinity Mountains and! through Deadwood and Lewiston to Weaverville, a distance of 50 miles, can be covered in two hours, in contrast to the two days with the horse stage which went through deep dust in summer and mud as deep in the winter. A party of four of us took that trip over the Fourth, of July weekend and retraced early-day tripi on a freight wagon and carry-all with two horses, as well as a mule team. When on more than one occasion my uncle stopped the horses, to get down from the high seat to kill a rattler, or at other times to shoot a bear or deer. We were to late to enjoy the fragrance of the wild lilac (blue at that elevation) but not too late to get the glory of the new leaves and the red of thole warm banks at the: hillsides.

The road takes you l- 11 1 1 vll uuuugu ieauwuuu, 50 wen juidwh to us au as the Comstock and the Mother Lode of the south-em mines, the east belt of the Mother Lode, and our well-known Brown Bear Mine, the -Mammoth, American, 'Gladstone, and ffiagara, as well as many others, are there. Nostalgia al- -most overcame me when I saw the complete devastation of the gardens and orchards along ClearCreek. Recent dredging operations are responsible. There also was a covered bridge and much blue clay on our way and we passed a successful reclamation project where trees had been planted on early day Tock piles heaped there by hydraulic operators. THE KNAVE.

ing for four hours, this was a respectworthy feat That was a braw generation. There were no auiomoDues tnen. ine rare indulgence in luxury was being driven to and from the dance fey the Strawride Wagon, to which two horses were hitched and for which of the Rice stabie, charged 10 cents a head each way. Some "vorea lew were occasionally inviiea 10 V1S1I the Pixley home far up the gulch, where Aris-tine Pixley welcomed the visitors and perhaps served glasses of cold lemonade. It was a picturesque home in picturesque surroundings.

Z. Outside presented a rough log cabin of generous ain red- attested the i' th. inhabitants Owl's NtM, a rra SSSIt SSS C10US Pleasant memory. Days of Pixley "At the dances there were two brothers and a sister named Morse. One of the boys was very livelv as was the sister the other was ouieL never indulged in the dancing and sat on the sidelines buried in thought.

He has made his Yearns come true, and those thoughts have matured into great good for the world. Dr. Morse is famous as the inventor of the super- charger. The name Pixley may mean little to present generation, but it has no small place the history of these parts. The Pixley was the owner and editor of The Argonaut, anct -pg Argonaut was very nearly the intellectual weekly publication of all America in its halcyon days "Whatever other policies of the paper jgt excite criticism, no criticism could be made 0f tne literary quality.

To appear on its pages was distinction. It was a place only for the best of thinking couched in the best of English. The text always suggested a paradox: What appeared might be wrong but never sounded wrong. From whatever premise Pixley started, he never missed the correct sequences and the syllogisms were always perfect In the year with which this narrative deals, the first row of houses opposite the Larkspur. station of the railway was erected.

A young couple by the name of Marvin envisioned a coming city and had the enterprise to put up a block of one or two-story houses with stores that were to sell those commodities which "should supply not only the summer vacationists but a coming settlement of permanent residents. The consummation of that hope was too long delayed for the patience, or perhaps the means, of Marvin, and he sold out and vanished from the scene. The present aspect of Larkspur will serve as a monument to his prescience, though he profited so little thereby. Much that was local color then has faded to a memory. Escalles, a mile or so up the old highway; the swimming.

place down by the stream over the marshes, Ross Valley states where nrettv eiris could seen dimity and picture hats walking along wooded paths at dusk and the yellow une roae DUggies men ana Demna a uuu houses. The now gives us Packards and Chev-rolets, atom bombs and flying discs, a house with Frigidaires ahd Bendixes, fancy plumbing and all that But, alas and alack, where are the homes among the trees, the well and pump, the old horse and buggy, the intimate little dances in the ancient schoolhouse? Old stuff. Not to he classed with modem luxury, but the golden mists of memory, old stuff is fine stuff, Fme, at any rate, to an old-timer, VOLi-. rwfriTlvlllW ni QI1U loUYUlc Referring to the very interesting account about Fort Bragg, appearing in the Knave on June 29, this year, and in the 'issue following," the son of the oundei of Laytonville would like to correct a statement which read as-follows: T. J.

Henley, then superintendent of Indian Affairs in Calif ornia, with headquarters at San Tranrisco; sent Lieut H. on an they took lunch baskets ashore to a picnic successes added to its giory tne ciud removea ground and dance pavilion. On the east side of to 12th Street, Broadway, where more Broadway, about First Street, was Hotel de champions were developed. Jim Drew, ex-chief France, I think our first hotel. Nearby toward of police; Joe Fields, George Simpson, Billie Franklin was the private boarding school of Hughes, Bert Brown, Jed Hanifin, Eddie Smith, Madame Boulet, whose daughter Edmere taught Dr.

Walter Smythe, Jimmy Fox and others led painting and drawing. An older daughter, Ma- in boxing, while Charlie Andrews won and held rie, was wife of William Hillegass of the firm of the wrestling championship in his weight, as Shattuck and Hillegass of Berkeley, and af ter did Gus Lareu, Jack Williamson, Jim Clark whom two of 'Berkeley's streets are named, and others. With the opening of the Piedmont There was a sonj Dri George Hillegass and three rwirnrning champions were developed daughters, all gone. Prof essor Dohrman, musi- which created a desire for a clubhouse with a dan, had his home down there 'on Fourth Street tank and a turn toward aquatic sports. The and there was Hempel's bakery, and later a first venture being entry into the Pacific Coast French bakery, Dr.Xemon had a little store on four-oared barge championship and; without a th east "side with shelves filled with bottles boat The South Ends provided one and Jimmie and potted plants everywhere between the bot- Shanly was in charge of training the four men ties.

Perhaps-r don't know he was a herb who "stood up" in the tryouts, three of whom specialist On the northwest corner there was had never been in a racing boat and one could the grocery of Octave Lamarche. The family not swim. Second place was the win. Even-lived at 11th and Franklin, but the family re- tually a clubhouse with a tank was made possi-turned to Canada and genial Peter Baker, so ble by the Abrahamson brothers, 13th at Clay, undertooK ine tasK oi reuuuuig uF horse that ambled so leisurely that these revivors for a reunion. That was 27 years ago.

mantjc gUmpsesregistered. Try and recall any-The response was so genuine and the desire so tniQg 0f the sorVnow when your automobile great to meet each other again these reunions turtles past places that are no longer estates have been' held every year since. This year's is but real. estate projects of preymanufactured well liked, bought the" place. President's Wild Ride courthouse and jail were on the block which at present holds the old buildings.

On ttt v. i Ti rum ua nawimgion was me umt -u. x. Ferris, tot president of a new bank (I think the First National), on side of Broad- way below Sixth. The Hall of Records came later.

As San Leandro was the first county seat, most of the records must have been out there where father so often had to drive on business. The postoffice was below Seventh, somewhere on the west side, and old Dr. Yard, of whom I have written before, was a familiar figure on the streets, our first Riley's drug store was on the west side of the street, oppo- site Barman's restaurant, which vas on the northeast corner, and was Oakland's first brick TwiMinff Tho Vvat wa tViat Tin earthnnflte had ever touched it, and, it was a place for mar- velous meals, particularly beefsteaks. J. J.

Ca-. dogan's grocery (so the family told me) was the first tenant, later moving to a fine store at the southeast borner of 12th and Broadway, Then-there were Jerry Hannifin's place and cigar store at the northwest corner of 12th and' Broadway, Nick Williams' oyster grotto (famous for foods) opposite the tracks on the south side, andf the Southern Pacific depot on the north side. I remember much earlier it was out in the middle of the street beside the tracks and had abagage room attached. Recalled are 'Peter being held today, Dancing at Larkspur A recent Sunday supplement story concern- ing the Larkspur Hose Bowl and the Firemen dances happily succeeded in bringing the fol- Innrinrt -fi-nm Sftricrrmnri "Rltimann: who not lon ago favored The Knave with some rare stories of long ago: "That story brought back a period 0f half a' century ago and vivid memories of Larkspur and Saturday night dances in the old schoolhouse there. It bred ajtemptation to rein- inisce that defied resolution, to the contrary.

If memory fails not, the Brown sisters were the teachers in the old schoolhouse among the fine, tall trees, and in the summer vacation time campers in Baltimore Gulch could be depended upon to patronize a weekly dance in the ass em- bly hall of that school. The admission was nom- inal, perhaps a mere two-bits. The income was.