*** Source: Thompson, Robert A., Historical and descriptive sketch of Sonoma County, California. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1877, 122 pgs. Notice: This data is donated to the Public Domain by TAG, 2004, and may be copied freely by anyone to anywhere. *** ---page 57--- The taxable property of the city for the years named was as follows: 1858..............................$496,285 1867...............................925,215 1877...............................965,451 The municipal tax this year is eighty cents on each one hundred dollars valuation of property. The money raised by the city tax has been in the main well and judiciously expended. The excellent condition of the streets and the perfect sewerage may be cited in proof of this assertion. More than this, the city and township have expended $60,000 in improving the roads and highways leading to the surrounding country. No more judicious investment could have been made. The approaches to the town from every direction are in perfect order winter and summer, and along these main arteries trade flows into the city and through all its business channels. The result of this healthy circulation is visible in the growth and improvement of the city. Another attractive feature of the place is the highly improved small farms by which it is surrounded. There are a number of these places on the low foot-hills just west of the plain, which may be seen from the cars. The well-tilled orchards and vineyards, comfortable barns and neat homesteads afford the best possible evidence that not only the city, but the country that surrounds it, is prosperous. Much of the hill-land in the neighborhood of Petaluma, once considered val- uable only for the wood which grew upon it, has proven, now that the wood is cut, extremely fertile, and commands the highest price when put upon the market. There are also many very handsomely improved farms on the plain opposite the town, extending back from the creek to the foot-hills on the east, and, in fact, to the top of the range, which is rather an elevated plateau than a ridge, as it appears in the distance. LAND TITLES. The settlement of the town of Petaluma led to protracted complication and costly litigation in the matter of land titles. The are some curious features in this legal controversy, and we give herewith a condensed statement of the conflicting claims and the final issue of all the suits. That portion of Petaluma township bounded by the Petaluma creek, the San Antonio creek, the Rancho Laguna de San Antonio, and the Rancho Roblar de la Miseria, was formerly known as the Rancho Arroyo de San Antonio. Juan Miranda first settled there about the year 1838, with his family, horses, and cattle, and built a small house, about two miles distant from the present city of Petaluma. In 1844 he applied for a grant of this land. Jacob P. Leese, then alcalde of the district of Sonoma, certified that he was the only occupant, and an order was made October 8, 1844, by Governor Micheltorena, that the usual title be issued to him. A formal grant of the land to Miranda was drawn up pursuant to this order, and was subsequently found in the archives, but was never exe- cuted by the governor in consequence of the political disturbances which ended in Micheltorena’s overthrow. *** end ***