Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-11-07
H0BOKEN.
THE RISE AND FALL OF A CALI
FORNIA CITY.
How the American was Navigated in
Earl, Days-Reminiscenc
of the Flood of 1858.

During the time that Sacramento city
was flooded in January, 1858, all communi-
cation with the mining counties that re-
ceived their supplies from this city was cut
off. That was anterior to hydraulic min
ing, and the placer mining of the four pre-
ceding wears had not damaged in the least
the channels of the rivers Of the State in
fact. it is stated by all who lived here in
those days that the waters of both the
American and Sacramento at this point
were SO clear that their pebbly bottoms
could be seen at their deepest points. Sac
ramento being thus cut off from interior
communication by wagons and pack-trains,
the only means of transportation in the early
days, her enterprising merchants began
to look for site on higher ground, where
freight could be landed from vessels and be
secure from floods. The place selected
was on the south bank of the American,
nearly due north of the present town of
Brighton, and was named Eoboken. The
American river at that time was navigable
to that point, and even beyond. for the
smaller class of steamers that piled the
Sacramento. A large town was laid out,
with wide streets, a steamboat landing
erected, and within ten days a town sprang
up, which at that time looked as though it
was to rival Sacramento. Three small stern
wheel steamers made daily trips between
Sacramento and the new town. Adams & Co.
established an express office in the flourish
ing villal and every firm of any conse-
quence in this city had branch IN Hobo
ken. Under head of " Commercial" jan
uary II, 1853, the Daily Union said: To-
day our merchants still continue busy for
warding goods to Hoboken, where they are
Immediately sent off to the interior by the
teams. The prices of goods in Hoboken
are shade above the city rates. The mar
kets to-day exhibit no change of note.
Flour remains firm at lSc for Chile Amer
lean in Dbl. at $40. Potatoes, of best quality
meet quick sale at lie" On the following
day the same journal had the following ::
" Capt. Pendergast, of the steamer Oak
land, which has been chartered expressly
for the trade, made an experimental run TO
Hoboken on Tuesday, and accomplished
the upward trip in one hour and ten min
utes. Returning, he accomplished itin forty
seven and a half minutes. The Oakland
is capable of carrying forty tons of freight
and performs her voyages to charm. In
addition to Adams Express Company, the
banking house Of Page, Bacon q Co. have
established branches there. Lots have been
staked off for nearly half a mile along the
vacant grounds business is brisk, and
money plenty; in addition to which forty
five temporary structures have been erected,
principally occupied as places for the trans
action of business and sale of goods by mer-
chants of this city. Two or three black
smith-shoTs are in operation, and Todd's
Express has for some days past been arriv-
ing from the interior with letters. The
eating houses are doing a smashing bust
ness, and find it difficult to supply the de-
mands of their numerous customers. A
portion Of the cart-men have deserted their
scows and gone TO the high grounds, while
pack trains from the interior are receiving
their cargoes, and bearing them off to
glad the hearts of furnishing miners. In
addition to the several small steamers run
ming daily between this hourishing village
and Sacramento flatboats are used to
furnish its merchants with goods, and do
prOportiOnate share Of the carrying bust
ness. The Oakland Will make her second
trio TO Hoboken this morning at o'clock,
and one or two other steamers later in the
day when those who desire to crafty their
curiosity by gazing upon the wond rful
town, Will have an opportunity of visiting
it to do So Further information concern
ing its trade may be obtained by glancing
at the names OF the firms already located
and doing business there as follows: Nc
Call & Co., Bar, Griggs & Co., Maddux,
Weatherwax & Co, Foard & Co., Peck &
Co, Loyeand & Co.. Cothrin g. Potter,
Cady & Co, Bushnell & Co., S. C. FOCUS,
Holbrook & Miller, Pitts & Co., C. G. Will
Jams & Co, S. o. Perry & Co, ]. B. Starr,
Lewis Lewis, Stanford s. Brother r. H |
Mcdonald drug store), Anderson & Ken
dali, Hull Lehman, Greenhaum &
Brother"
At this time the draw in Isles bridge |
across the American worked so badly that |
the Board of Supervisors, Messrs. Watson |
Waddiloye and Lewis, were petitioned to |
have it remain closed. The proceedings of |
January s, 1853 read as follows
Your committee would respectfully re- |
port to this Board that they went up to the /
slough near Lisle's bridge yesterday, on |
board the steamer r. K Page, and the |
slough they found in the shallOwest parl |
four feet six inches of water, it being some |
two feet deeper than the r. K Page draws. |
Your committee would further report that |
on examining the bridge they found the |
south end Of it had sunk from its level |
some five or six feet, so that if the draw
were raised 1t would place the south end of
the &rldgc III great danger of being carried /
away either by The current or drift; all of
=. - mos nac,--+f"ilv submitted"
THE following preamble I'D resolution
relating to this report were then adopted
Resolred. That the draw in said bridge be per
mitted to remain closed until such time as in
the opinion Of this Board it may be necessary to
be raised for the purpose Of the public conTe-
nience. |
On Saturday, January IS. 1858, the fol
lowing advertisement appeared in the
Daily Union:
EXCURSION TO HOBOKEN |
1+sEs And the ElysiaB Fields
<c5f-el fF3fnThe New and Splendid Fast |
- SF.ss-=assyy Steamer
OAKLAND,
CAPTAIN 4. HALLET,
VIII leave from alongside the storeship CRES-
CENT, on
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10TH,
At 10 O'Clock A. NJ, on an Excursion. to HOBO-
KEN and BRIGHTON, and return at 8 P NJ,
thus aAording the public a fine opportunity of
viewing the new city, and the scenery on the
American river.
tI,.-- ,ro-s ~ 20