The San Francisco call., 1896-03-30

California, is the county seat of Yolo
county, which has a population of over
1000. 1t is the wealthiest city of its size in
the State, and excels in the number and
cost of handsome residences. There are
four banking institutions OF almost I'M
limited resources and credit, that represent
in wealth more than the six banking
houses of Stockton, city three times its
size
TheIstreets are wide and clean, the busi-
ness thoroughfares are paved with bitumi
nous rock, and the residence streets and
avenues are adorned with shade and orna-
mental trees, affording many miles of ex-
cellent driveway The city is illuminated
by splendid electric light. incandescent
and gas systems. The water and sewer
age systems are first class and are both
controlled by the city. The business
blocks are of imposing masonry and OF a
substantial character.
Woodland Is Justly proud of its volun-
teer fire department, and insurance COM
panies credit it with being remarkably ef-
fcient.
Journalism is represen ted by the Daily
Evening Democrat, first-class newspaper,
owned and edited by Ed E. Leake. The
Democrat is the city and county official
paper. The Home Alliance is a bright
little eight-page weekly, ably and success
fully edited by Mrs. S. A. Huston. The
Mail is morning paper, edited by J. H.
DUNCAN, and is a good local journal.
Woodland is noted as city of schools,
churches, conventions and literary socie-
lies. Its free public library affords large,
airy and comfortable reading-rooms and
is replete with standard and wholesome
literature. The public schools and the
high school are well organized and are in
charge of an efficient corps of instructors.
The High School. which is now in its
first year, already shows results of graft
flying nature, and is an excellent addition
to the school system of this city. The
closing of Hesperian College, which for
many years was the leading educational
institution Of the Sacramento Valley,
made a public High School necessity.
The school draws pupils from all parts of
the county and has constant attendance
of eighty or more. This is remarkable
when one considers that three -fourths of
the pupils are in the first or junior class,
educational matters on the part of the citi-
zens of the town.
The Holy Rosary Academy ranks among
the best educational institutions in the
State and affords thorough discipline and
educational opportunities.
The leading denominations possess fine
and well-ordered houses of worship. AL
together Woodlands advantages from
social, religious, educational and literary
point of view are OF superior quality.
Any account of Woodland, either as to
her business or social life, would not be
complete without reference to Major +. S.
Freeman, the founder of the city. His
career, dating from the earliest history of
the city, is an open book to our citizens,
and one on which his many friends dwell
with pride.
In 1852 Major Freeman purchased from
the Government the land upon which
Woo dland now stands, and IN the same
year purchased from n. Wyckoff the
country store and stock Of merchandise
then Just esta b.ished on the site of our
beautiful city. This was the first store
house ever built in Woodland.
In 1857 Maj jor Freeman was married to
Miss Gertrude g. Swain, niece of Mrs
Charles W. Crocker now of San Francisco
The Crockers and Demmings were then
residents of this county.
The town site of Woodland was laid ont
in 1860 ana christened Woodland by Mrs
Freeman, from the abundance of oak tree s
which then extended for miles in all di-
rections.
In 1872 Major Freeman was chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee of the
General Assembly The gallant fight he
made in advocacy of the Freeman fare
and freight bill' made him for time one
of the most conspicuous figures in the
State. The measure was carried through
the lower house, but through the strenu-
GUS efforts OF the railroad lobbyists was de-
feated in the Senate by only one vote. At
that time he had the support Of all the
live journals in the State except perhaps
the railroad contingent, whose advocacy
of railroad interests was grounded on most
substantial considerations.
The kindly, genial nature of the major,
his broad and generous humanity, are
proudly remembered by hundreds who
knew him in those early days. Friend ships
cemented there we're of the lasting kind,
and when recountIng his many good