CASANFRA-L Archives

From: Su Jacobsen <>
Subject: [CASANFRA-L] San Francisco to Sacramento 1859
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 13:48:04 -0800

>The following is extracted from the July 1859 edition of Hutchings'
>California Magazine:
>
>The great navigable highway for at least 3/4 of the inland commerce and
>passenger transit of the State, lies through the northern end of the bay of
>San Francisco, thence past the southern shore of the bays of San Pablo and
>Suisun, and up the Sacramento river to Sacramento city. Steamboats
>generally make the 123 mile trip within 10 hours, about 7 of which are at
night.
>
>Nothing can be more exciting than Jackson wharf in San Francisco almost on
>any day, except Sunday a few minutes before 4 o'clockpm. It is a wonder
>than, amongst the chaos, limbs are not broken and carriages reduced to
>mincemeat. Such is the time prior to the departure of the steamers.
>
>The ships are always punctual and latecomers are left on the wharf.
>
>Put on your overcoat, as it is always cool, and take a cosy seat, while
>black volumes of smoke roll from the tops of the funnels.
>
>The first sailing ship that made the voyage from San Francisco to where
>Sacramento city now stands, was the schooner Isabella, chartered by Capt.
>John A. Sutter, about August 5, 1839. IT took 8 days to find the main
>channel and when about 10 miles below what is now Sacramento, was met by 200
>armed and hostile Indians.
>
>He was able to negotiate a peace, and was allowed to proceed accompanied by
>two natives.
>
>The first steamboat that ever plowed the waters of the Sacramento, was the
>Sitka, a Russian built stern wheel vessel, about 60' in length by 17' in
>breadth, owned by Capt. Leidesdorff, the former owner of much of the Folsom
>property and she reached what was then known as Sutter's Embarcadero, now
>Sacramento City, in the summer of 1847.
>
>The next was a stern wheel steam scow named the Lady Washington, built at
>Sutter's Embarcaderoi, in Sept, 1849, owned by Simmons, Hutchinson & Co.,
>and Smith, Bensley & Co., of that place. It was run upon the upper rivers
>and the pioneer steamer above the mouth of the American River. The first
>trip was to where Coloma now stands. Unfortunately, on her return trip, she
>struck a snag and sunk. It was raised and refitted, and renamed the Ohio.
>
>The next was a side-wheeler sent out on board ships from New York, assembled
>in Sacramento, there named the Sacramento and run between that town and New
>York on the Pacific (a city of great pretentions that was located on the
>mouth of the San Joaquin River but long defunct) and there connected with a
>line of schooners from San Francisco. This was owned and commanded by Capt.
>Van Pelt.
>
>A small craft called the Mint was the next steamboat, and ran on this route
>through from San Francisco to Sacramento.
>
>The large propeller McKim of about 400 tons, was next in rotation, and made
>her trip from New Orleans through the Straits of Magellan to San Francisco
>in 1849 and took her first trip the Sacramento in the latter part of that year.
>
>The most beautiful and successful that ever ran on the Sacramento was the
>Senator of about 500 tons. She made the voyage around Cape Horn and arrived
>Oct 27, 1849 and made her first trip to Sacramento Nov 5. Her rates were
>$25.00 per passenger up, $30.00 down. Meals were $2.00 each, Staterooms
>were $10.00. Freight per ton was from $40.00 to $50.00. During her first
>year, she profitted over $60,000 per month.
>
>The next steamer, a stern-wheeler, was the Lawrence, 108' long by 18' wide.
>She was brought out by a New Bedford company and put up at New York on the
>Pacific, and when finished she was sent to Stockton about the latter part of
>Nov, 1849, and was the first steamboat that ever sailed for or arrived in
>that city. In December, she was sent to Sacramento and sold, when her new
>owners sent her up the Feather river to Marysville, in command of Capt.
>Chadwick. She was the first steamboat to ascend that river.
>
>The Linda, a stern-wheeler, was the next owned by a company of which Mark
>Burmmagem was one of the principals. She ran between Sacramento and
>Marysville. Freight was 8-10 cents a pound and drinks 50 cents.
>
>The first steamboat that ever ascended the Sacramento river as far as Tehama
>was the Jack Hayes, commanded by Capt. Mosely, in May 1850. She was first
>named the Commodore Jones, but being lengthened and changed, she lost her
>identity.
>
>The Gold Hunter, commanded by Capt. Branham, now the U.S. Surveying
>Schooner, Active, was put on about this time, but soon withdrawn.
>
>The Capt. Sutter, a small stern wheel steamer, although only the second boat
>to Stockton, was the first to make regular trips from San Francisco to that
>city and succeeded the Lawrence. She was put up by Capt. James Blair of the
>US Navy and was more successful in the proportion to her size than the
>Senator and cleared at least $200,000 her first year.
>
>As for profits, the Lawrence made the trip from Sacramento to Lassen's
>Ranch, and charged 30 cents per pound on freight!
>
>The following is a list of primary carriers on the river:
>
>STERN WHEEL (high pressure)
>Young America
>Goodman's Castle
>Gov. Dana
>Shasta
>Plumas
>Gazelle
>Cleopatra
>Belle, Gem
>Capt Sutter
>Pike
>Orient
>Fashion
>Nevada
>Daniel Moir
>Kennebec
>Marysville
>Clara
>Medea
>James Blair
>Enterprise
>Lawrence
>Latona
>Maria
>Pearl
>Etna
>Sam Soule
>Swan
>San Joaquin
>Tehama
>Fire Fly
>Kangaroo
>
>SIDE WHEEL (high pressure)
>Urilda
>Camanche
>J Bragdon
>H J Clay
>American Eagle
>Helen Hensley
>Anna Abernethy
>Willamette
>Eclipse
>Queen City
>Kate Kearny
>Express
>Caleb Cope
>Sagamore
>Mariposa
>W E Robinson
>Gov Dana No. 2
>Sophia
>Union (an iron vessel)
>Cornelia
>
>SIDE WHEEL (low pressure)
>Senator
>New World
>Confidence
>W G Hunt
>Antelope
>Thomas Hunt
>Surprize
>Goliah
>El Dorado
>Gold Hunter
>
>PROPELLERS
>McKim
>Gen. Warren
>Commodore Preble
>Chesapeake
>Hartford
>Eudora
>Major Tompkins.
>
>As the article gossips, the party has arrived off Alcatraces or Pelican
>Island (Alcatraz). It is halfway between San Francisco and Angel Island, 3
>1/2 miles from FOrt Point. This island is 140' high above low tide, 450'
>wide and 1650 long. There is a defensive barrack on the top of the island
>that will accomodate, in times of war at least 600 men. Fortification
>includes a series of Barbette batteries, mounting altogether 94 guns, 24,
>42, 68, and 132 pounders. Landing on the wharf is a massive brick and stone
>guard house, shot and shell proof, guarded by a heavy gate and drawbridge.
>There are 3 embrasures for 24 pound howitzers. There are similar
>guardhouses at various points. The flat roofs can mount the heaviest guns
>of between 9000 and 10,000 pounds. On the SE side of the island is a large
>furnace for heating cannon balls. All water for the island must be brought
>from Saucelito. In the basement of the barracks is a cistern capable of
>holding 50,000 gallons. On the SE side of the island is a fog bell like
>that at Fort Point that rings every 15 seconds. The whole of the works on
>the island are under the skillful superintendance of Lieut. McPherson.
>
>The party passes Angel Island. It was originally granted by Gov. Alvarado
>to Antonio M. Asio by order of the Government of Mexico in 1837. IT was
>sold in 1853. It contains some 800 acres of excellent land. The green wild
>olts grow to its summit, providing excellent pasturage while natural springs
>afforde abundance of water at all seasons. At the time,about 500 sheep were
>roaming the hills. Grain and vegetables are raised. Inexhaustible quarries
>of hard blue and brown sandstone provide for the foundations of numerous San
>Francisco buildings. The fortifications at Alcatraces Island, Fort Point
>and others have been faced with it, and the extensive works at Mare Island
>have been built with it. Clay is also found in abundance of excellent
>quality for bricks.
>
>In 1856 the island was surveyed by US Engineers for the purpose of locating
>sites for 2 24 gun batteries. The most important will be on the NW point of
>the Island and will command Raccoon Straits. Until completed the Navy Yard
>and Mare Island and the City of San Francisco cannot be considered safe.
>
>The party passes to Red Rock. IT was formerly called Treasure or Golden
>Rock. Rumor was that Spanish treasure was carried there. Now it is
>sometimes called Molate Island. Its locator and owner, Mr. Selim E
>Woodworth, took about 6 tame rabbits there from San Francisco. Now there
>are several thousand.
>
>The ship passes Maria Island and two low rocks called Two Sisters, and after
>shooting by Point San Pablo, enter the large bay of that name. On the right
>are is the foot of the Contra Costa range of hills.
>
>Just before entering the Straits of Carquinez, that connects San Pablo and
>Suisun Bay, on the left is the government works at Mare Island and the town
>of Vallejo. Soon the craft is approaching Benicia. Passengers disembark.
>
>Benicia was founded in the fall of 1847 by Thomas O. Larkin adn Roland
>Semple,( who was originator and editor of the first California newspaper
>published at Monterey, Aug 15, 1846, entitled "The Californian") upon land
>donated them by Gen. M G Vallejo, named for his estimable lady. In 1848 a
>number of families took up residence. During the fall of that year, a
>public school was established. Next spring a Presbyterian church wa
>sorganized. It became the center of the general military hardquarters of
>the US upon the Pacific. There are barracks for soldiers, officers'
>quarters, two magazines capable of holding 6-7000 barrels of gunpowder of
>100 pounds each. About 100 men are working there under Capt. F.D. Calender,
>in the construction of an arsenal 200 by 60 feet, three stories high. Here
>can be found 10 ornamented bronze cannon, six 8 pounders and four 4 pounders
>broght originally from old Spain, taken at Fort Point during the Mexican
>War. The following are inscribed on some of them:
> San Martin, Ano D 1684
> Poder, Ano D. 1693
> San Francisco, Ano D. 1673
> San Domengo, Ano D. 1679
> San Pegro Ano D 1628
>At Benicia is the Pacifil Mail Steamship Co.
>In 1853, Benicia was chosen as the capital of the State, which it held for
>one year.
>Most notable at Benicia is the boarding school for young ladies, the Benicia
>seminary, under the charge of Miss Mary Atkins, founded in 1852. Next to
>this is the collegiate school for young gentlemen under Mr. Flatt which was
>established in 1853. Next to this is the College of Notre Dame for Catholic
>children.
>
>Nearly opposite Benicia and distant only 3 miles is the pretty agricultural
>village of Martinez, county seat of Contra Costa. There are few more
>beautiful spots in the State. A steam ferry runs between it and Benicia
hourly.
>
>The ship now passes the following islands in Suisun bay: Preston, Simmons,
>King's, Davis' , Washington, Knox's and Jones' Islands, and passing New York
>on the Pacific, arrive at the west end of a large low tule flat between the
>San Joaquin and Sacramento, named Sherman's Island. It is here that the
>ship enters the Sacramento river. The Montezuma hills are on the right.
>The boat passes through tule swamp to Rio Vista, about half way betwen
>Benicia and Sacramento. Plans are made to open a road past here between
>Suisuin and Vacca Valeys and Stockton. From C. A. Kirkpatrick, the
>postmaster there, the following distances are provided:
>
>San Francisco to Benicia, 30 miles
>to New York on the Pacific, 20 miles
>to the mouth of the San Joaquin, 21 miles
>to mouth of Sacramento, 26 miles
>to Montezuma, 27 miles
>to Lone Tree Island, 29 miles
>to Twin Houses, 32 miles
>to Seven Mile Slough, 39 miles
>to Wood Island, 40 miles
>to Rio Vista, 41 miles
>to moth of old Sac. river, 42 miles
>to mouth of Cache creek slough, 46 miles,
>to Hog's Back, 48 miles
>to Beaver Slough, 52 miles
>to mouth Steamboat slough, 54 miles
>tomouthn Sutter slough, 54 miles
>to head Sutter slough, 55 miles
>to head Steamboat slough and junction main Sacramento river, 59 miles
>to Randall's Island, 61 miles
>to Sacramento city, 90 miles
>
>About 6 miles above the mouth of the old river, is the far famed Hog's Back.
>It was formed by the settling of the sediment. It is about 300 yards long.
>and between 5' and 11;6" high. The mast of the wrecked Charleston can
>sometimes be seen. There is a little steam scow called Gipsey that plies
>between the various ranches and gardens on the river and Sacramento City,
>taking vegetables, grain, flour etc up to the city and returning with
>groceries, dry goods, papers, etc.
>
>Sacramento city is in view and the trip is soon over.
>
>Extraced by Su Jacobsen
>
>

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• [CASANFRA-L] San Francisco to Sacramento 1859 by Su Jacobsen <>