24. FERRIES AND BRIDGES.

The returns from twenty-five counties, show that there are one hundred and thirty bridges erected in different parts of the State. Cost of erection estimated at eight hundred thousand dollars. In Sacramento County there are eleven bridges, six of which cost, to erect, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The Sacramento and Yolo Bridge is eight hundred feet in length, and cost to construct, sixty thousand dollars.

The returns from twenty-five counties give the number of ferries in operation, at one hundred and thirty-four, of which three are steam. Amount of capital employed is estimated at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

25. SHIP BUILDING.

This branch of trade, although in its infancy in California, has already become quite an important feature of the business of San Francisco. During the past year there were several steamers and sailing vessels constructed, and at the present time there are three steamers and six sail vessels on the stocks intended for the bay and river trade. The side-wheel steamer authorized to be constructed by the Thirty-fifth Congress, is now being built at the Navy Yard, Mare Island.

The doubts hitherto expressed as to the capacity of this State to furnish a quality of timber suitable for the construction of large vessels, have been entirely removed by the explorations recently made by the authority of the Government officers. The timber selected for the construction of the U. S. Steamer, now in progress at Mare Island, is of the laurel variety and was obtained from the vicinity of Petaluma. It is represented to be well adapted for the purpose. A large quantity of oak timber was secured at the same place, where it exists in great abundance. A Sloop of War will shortly be built at this yard as "the Government is fully satisfied that California can produce material equal, if not superior, to any State in the Union, for the purpose. The oak furnished from Santa Cruz, has thus far been used, though there are hundreds of acres in other localities, covered with as good an article."

26. U. S. DRY DOCK AT MARE ISLAND.

These extensive Government works, attached to the United States Navy Yard, Mare Island, are by the authority of the Navy Department placed at the disposal of the Merchant Marine of the Pacific, at such rates of dockage as will defray the expenses of repairs, etc. The capacity of these works is sufficient to accommodate the largest vessels of the United States Navy. Cost of construction, one million four hundred thousand dollars.

THERE are numerous other branches of industrial enterprises established in different parts of the State, which are entitled to a particular reference in this department of the REGISTER; but the limits of the work will not permit that attention which, under other circumstances, it would be pleasing to

bestow.

THE

STATE REGISTER,

FOR

1859.

PART SEVENTH.

COUNTIES OF THE STATE.*

The term of office of the District Judge is six years; of the County Judge four years, and of the different county officers, two years each.

The County Judge is ex officio Judge of the Court of Sessions and Court of Probate. The County Clerk is Clerk of all the courts in the county, except those created by municipal authority. He is also ex officio County Recorder and County Auditor, except in those counties which have, by special enactment, a County Recorder; in such cases, (except San Francisco County, where provision exists for that office being distinct and separate,) the County Recorder is ex officio County Auditor. In several counties of the State he is also, by special enactment, ex officio Superintendent of Common Schools.

The District Attorney, in addition to a salary, receives certain fees provided by law. The compensation of the Superintendent of Common Schools is established by the Board of Supervisors.

The terms of the County Court, commence on the first Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November, unless otherwise fixed by law; of the Court of Sessions, first Monday of February, April, June, August, October and December, unless otherwise fixed by law; of the Probate Court, fourth Monday of each month, unless otherwise fixed by law. The terms, as provided by special enactments, will be found arranged under the different counties to which they apply.†

I. ALAMEDA COUNTY.

COUNTY SEAT-SAN LEANDRO.

Alameda County, organized 1853. Boundaries: North by Contra Costa, east by San Joaquin, south by Santa Clara and bay of San Francisco, and west by bay of San Francisco.

Topography. This county is one of the most extensive and flourishing agricultural districts of the State. Area of the county, eight hundred square miles; swamp and overflowed lands, twenty thousand acres; under cultivation, fifty-six thousand acres.

Legal Distances.-From Sacramento, one hundred and thirty-five miles; from Stockton, one hundred and forty-five miles, and from San Quentin, twenty miles.

In the preparation of the preceding pages of the REGISTER, it has been deemed expedient to arrange, in tabular form, a variety of information connected with the different counties in order to exhibit the condition of the State in many respects, and to present certain facts connected therewith. Such data will not be repeated in this portion of the work.

+ For election returns of the different counties, see pp. 184-88; Notaries, Public, pp. 94-96; Postoffices, 58-62.

Third Judicial District.-Hon. Sam. Bell McKee, Judge District Court;

Sessions, first Monday in January, April, July and October.

County Courts.-The terms of the County Court, Court of Sessions and Probate Court, are held at the same time, commencing on the third Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November.

Fourth Senatorial District.-Senator: Hon. R. A. Redman; term expires, January, 1861.

Member of Assembly.-Hon. William P. Rodgers.

Agricultural Products.-Wheat, 12,803 acres, 256,060 bushels; barley, 24,044 acres, 721,320 bushels; oats, 5,412 acres, 324,720 bushels; rye, 43 acres, 860 bushels; corn, 291 acres; buckwheat, 140 acres, 1,400 bushels; peas, 57 acres, 1,700 bushels; beans, 800 acres, 16,000 bushels; potatoes, 2,100 acres, 85,000 bushels; onions, 35 acres, 1,400 bushels; hay, 1,108 acres, 1,200 tuns; broom corn, 5 acres; canary seed, 1 acre; butter, 75,150 pounds; cheese, 8,250 pounds; eggs, 450,000 dozen; wool, 32,000 pounds. Small quantities of flax, cotton and sugar-cane have been cultivated with considerable success.

Fruit Trees, (1857).-Apple, 196,150; peach, 162,430; pear, 7,000; plum, 9,300; cherry, 8,160; nectarine, 855; quince, 2,100; apricot, 2,200; fig, 600; olive, 350; almond, 500; walnut, 300; filbert, 150. Vines: Gooseberry, 2,500; raspberry, 950; strawberry, 190 acres; grape-vines, (1858,) 175,000.

Live Stock. Horses, American, 1,178; Spanish, 2,469; total number of horses, 3,647; mules, 275; asses, 101; cows, 13,968; calves, 13,400; stock cattle, 16,400; beef cattle, 3,000; oxen, 240; total number of cattle, 51,031; sheep, 13,595; goats, 150; hogs, 1,306; chickens, 19,140; turkeys, 1,233; ducks, 1,106; geese, 60.

Manufactures.-Grist mills, 6: steam, 2; water, 4; total run of stones, * Appointed to vacancy in place of S. Bell McKee, elected District Judge.