Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/37



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superiority of  the  site  for  a  metropolis  is  unequalled  on the  Pacific  seaboard,  and  unsurpassed  by  any  spot  in the  world,  lying  as  it  does  at  the  junction  of  the  valley outlet with  the  head  of  ocean  navigation,  with  fine anchorage and  land-locked  harbor,  easv  ferriage across the  bay,  fine  climate,  smooth  and  slightly  ris- ing ground, with  a  magnificent  view  over  bays  and isles, and  the  lovely  valley  of  the  contra  costa  nestling at the  foot  of  Mount  JDiablo. And Benicia,  as  it was  finally  called,  prospered  under  the  energetic  man- agement. Although less  than  a  year  old,  it  now boasted nearly  a  score  of  buildings,  with  two  hundred lots sold,  a  serviceable  ferry,  and  with  prospects  that, utterly eclipsing  those  of  adjoining  aspirants,  were creating a  flutter  of  alarm  in  the  city  at  the  Gate.*^ Passing on  the  extreme  right  the  Arraijo  rancho, and proceeding  up  the  Napa  Valley,  now  famed  alike for its  scenery  and  vineyards,  we  find  a  large  number of settlers. Foremost among  them  is  the  veteran trapper, George  Yount,  who  in  1836  built  here  the first American  block-house  of  the  country,  as  well  as the  first  flour  and  saw  mill,  and  extended  warm  hos- pitality to subsequent  comers. North of  him  entered soon afterward  J.  B.  Chiles  and  William  Pope  into the small  valleys  bearing  their  names,  and  E.  T. Bale  and  John  York."  The  Berreyesa  brothers  oc- cupy their  large  valley  across  the  range,  on  the  head- waters of  Putah  Creek;  and  on  the  site  of  the  present Napa  City,  just  about  to  be  laid  out,  stand  the  two houses  of  Cayetano  Juarez  and  Nicolds  Higuera,  who had  settled  on  this  spot  in  1840,  followed  by  Salvador Vallejo,  and  later  by  Joel  P.   Walker  and  Nathan

^ Stephen  Cooper  was  alcalde. For other  names,  see  preceding  volume,  v. 672  et  seq.

also the  grants  of  Snisun  and  Suscol,  the  latter  claimed  by  Valleio,  but  which claim was  rejected. Mare Island  was  used  as  a  stock-range  by  V.  Castro, its (grantee.
 * • Properly  in  Soisun  Valley,  near  the  present  Fairfield,  where  Iwrdered

C Hopper;  with  Pope. Bamett; and  with  Chiles,  Haldridge. Below extended the Chimiles  grant  of  J.  L  Berrey
 * ^ At  the  present  St  Helena  and  Calistoga,  respectively.  With  Yount  was