70 RESOURCES OF CALIFORNIA. 



was swept away by a flood, and in 1781 a new church was 

 commenced, half a league distant from the river, in a grove 

 of oak-trees, the Indian name of which, " Gerguensen," was 

 given to the vicinity. This church was destroyed by an 

 earthquake in 1818. The population in 1870 was 3,469. 



47. Stockton. Stockton had a population of 10,066 in 

 1870, and was inferior to Oakland in that respect, and in 1872 

 cast 1397 votes (less than the number cast in Vallejo, Oak- 

 land, or San Jose); but it may still fairly claim to be the third 

 town in the State as a business center, and it may continue to 

 improve in the future, being the main river port of the great 

 San Joaquin Valley. The town is situated on Stockton 

 Slough, ten miles from the San Joaquin River, and 125 

 miles from San Francisco by the steamboat route. Boats 

 drawing five feet can reach the town at ordinary stages of low 

 water, but the channels are narrow and crooked. The tide 

 rises about a foot. The town has a pleasant appearance. 

 Many of the dwellings are neatly built, and are surrounded 

 by elegant gardens. Shade-trees are abundant. Fresh water 

 is supplied to the city, for domestic purposes and for irriga- 

 ting the gardens, by one hundred and fifty windmills, which 

 pump it up through lead pipes, thrust down twenty feet deep 

 into auger holes two inches wide. So abundant is the water 

 in the soil at that depth, that there is no difficulty in obtain- 

 ing it in this manner. Stockton is nick-named " The City of 

 Windmills," and indeed the name appears very appropriate 

 to the traveler who approaches the town on a windy day, and 

 at a distance sees little save a multitude of great arms revolv- 

 ing furiously above and among the trees and house-tops. 



The first settlement on the place was made in 1844 by 

 Charles M. Weber and Mr. Gulnac, the latter of whom ob- 

 tained a grant of the land from the Mexican government in that 

 year. They had some trouble with the Indians, and Gulnac 

 sold out to his partner, who would not give the rancho up ; 

 and afterwards, when the place became important for its com- 



