Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-09

who wag placed by ecu. Keany in charge OF the Mis-.
sons OF Santa Clara and San Jose has lately been guilty
OF amcre gross violation OF the trust reposed in him..
complaints were first made in July last that the nte-
rests OF our Government as owner of the property were
neglected The citizens OF San Jose addressed pc
tlton to Gov. Riley, stating that several buildings had
been torn down. and that the property belonging to this
MISSION was last gong TO destruction Soon aterward
apublIc meeting called by the citizens of Santa
Glara an address enanating from which, stating that
Padre del Rae had aienated in favor certain specu-
atlon all the lands connected with the Mission Of Santa
Cruz, San Juan San Jose aud Santa Clara, likewise
forwarded to the Governor who lhereupon dispatched
Capt. Wescotto ascertain the facts of the 1t
appeared from the investigation which this officer made
that lease was actually granted on the 18th of July
by Padre Real and Padre Anzar, President of the Mis-
sons OF the North, to MIR John B. Stenberger Of San
nraneseG gyng him possession for fye years OF all the
San Jose. For this privilege, Mr.. Stenberger bound
hmsef to pay the of $22 000 in three instruments,
the rst OF which waste be paid on the LIST of September.
Under the lease, possession had already been given to
Mr. Stenberger of the orchards and vineyards and his
agents had sold large quantities of fruit and vegetables
lhls gentleman DIETER known by the soubrquet of
Baron Steinberger is one of the half monaires of San
FRANCISCO, who has made immense sums by bold spe-
cuatlons in town lots. He is also known by some ex-
tenslve cotton operations in New Orleans, where he
that the produce of the Mission gardens this year alone
IS worth 0O00 the advantages he would have derived
from the lease very evident Ofcourse is totally
illegal and will not be allowed to go into effect
have endeavofed to obtain statistics of the
land cattle and other property belonging to the various
missions The data record however, partake of the
same indefinite character the descriptions of land for
which grants asked. Ihave read it true an ac
count OF the boundaries of most of the missions with the
quality OF the land embraced by them but the particu
lars, Notwithstanding they were given by the resident
padres themselves, very unsatisfactory The lands
are described as lying between certain hills and rivers or
embracing certain plains. Sometimes they are spoken
OF as canadaS Uanos only. Some are of great ex-
tent; the mission lands OF San Antonio contain 1926
square leagues, and those of San Miguel 532 The
others from 30 to 100 square leagues At arough
guess, should compute the original mission lands at
about 100000 acres probably four to five millions of
which have since been disposed ofby sales and grants
The remaining three millions of acres comprising some
OF the finest lands in California, the property of the
United States As much of it has been cultivated or
is capable OF immediate adaptation for the planting of
orchards gardens and vineyards the sale or DISPOSAL of
would seem to require different regulations from those
which govern other portions Of the public domain The
whole subject OF land titles and public lands will doubt
less be provided for by action Of Congress- and the
Ell it is done the better for the interest of this State
The mission buildings are but wrecks of their for
mer condition. The broken walls, deserted couals
and root1ess dwellings which surround them are but
melancholy evidences of their ancient prosperity Their
character for wealth and hospitality has passed away
with the rule Of the padres and the vassalage of the In
dams They have had their day. They have fulfilled
land nobly too, be it acknowledged the purpose Of
their creation. | see no cause for Iamentino as manv
do, their downfall The spirit of enterprise which
has now taken firm in this SOIL will make their ne
elected gardens blossom again. and deck their waste
fields with abundant harvests B T,