1912, Purisima: “Antique” document–John F. Johnston


(This following document relates to the 1931 consideration of the Cassinelli Ranch, south of Half Moon Bay, as a site for the San Francisco County Jail.)

Notice of Appropriation

John F. Johnston

Dated June 14, 1912

Vol. 1, Water Rights, 62.

RECITES; Notice is hereby given by the undersigned John F. Johnston, that under and pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Code of the State of California, and as provided by law, he intends to, and does hereby,

I. Appropriate and claim the waters flowing, and to flow in that certain creek situated in the County of San Mateo, State of California, and commonly known as and called the “Arroyo Leon”, extending and flowing through the lands of the undersigned hereinafter mentioned, to the extent of 60 miners inches measured under a 4 inch pressure.

II That the purposes for which he so appropriates and claims said water are, for domestic use, the watering of livestock and animals and irrigating the lands hereinafter mentioned, and by and through such irrigation to promote the better raising and increased production of vegetables, grain and fruits.

III That the place of intended use of said water so appropriated and claimed is on those certain pieces or parcels of land situate in the County of San Mateo, State of California, and bounded as follows, to-wit:

1st. Lots Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6k, 7, 8, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 of the Johnston Ranch, San Mateo Co., survey by J.J. Cloud Co., Surveyor, April, 1879, and which said map was filed in the office of the recorder of said county of San Mateo, January 25, 1885, and to which reference is hereby made a part hereof for greater certainty.

2nd. And after such use, first, and on said first described parcel of land, then any remainder of said water to be so used on that certain tract of land bounded on the north by the lands of Antone S. Cardoza; on the east by the said Arroyo Leon and the lands of the undersigned John F. Johnston, on the South by the County road from Higgins to the main county road from Half Moon Bay to Purissima, and on the West by said main county raid from Half Moon Bay to Purissima.

IV. That the means by which he intends to divert and appropriate said water of and from said creek is by a dam made, placed and maintained across said creek and a flume extending into the water above such dam, and thence through and across said dam and down the course of said creek on to the lands where said water is to be used as hereinbefore set forth, and that the size of such flume is and will be 12 inches in width and 11 inches in height or depth, and that said dam will be so made and placed across said creek at a point 960 feet distant, running and measured down and along the center of the channel of said creek, from that certain point where the dividing line between lots Nos. 28 and 29 as laid down and delineated on said map, intersects the center line of said creek (said lot No. 28 being known as the Pimental Tract and said lot No. 29 being the property of the undersigned.

Signed John F. Johnston

Acknowledged at the County of San Mateo, State of California, June 14, 1912 by John F. Johnston, before Lee T. Rose, Notary Public in and for the County of San Mateo, State of California.