The New York herald., 1850-04-29

It appears from documents which Gen. Vallejo
caused to be published in the newspapers of Cali
fomia in 1877, that he was deputed ia the year 1885,
BY Gen. Figueroa, to found settlement in the val,
ley Of Sonoma, with the object of arresting the
progress OF the Russian settlements of Bodega and
Ross" Gen. Vallejo was, at that time (lsS5)
military commander of the northern frontier.
He afterwards, Tin 1867 by virtue of re-
volution which occurred in that year in California,
became military c0mmandant Of the department.
the civil and military government being by the
same act divided-tO which office he was confirm
ed in 1888 by the supreme government.
The following extract from Governor Figueroa's
instructions TO him, will show the extent of Gene
raj NaleJo's powers, as agent for coonizing the
norih
''You are empowered to solicit families in all the
territory and other States of the Mexican Republic,
in order to colonze the norhrn frontiers, granting
lands to all persons who may wish to establish
themselves there, and those grants shall be con-
hrmed 70 them by the territorial government,
whenever the grantees shall apply therefor; the
title which they obtain from you serving them In
the mean time as a sufficient guarantee, as you are
the only individual authorized by the superior au-
thory to concede lands in the frontier under your
charge. The supreme government OF the territory
is convinced that you are the only officer to whom
80 great an enterprise can he entrusted; and in
der that il may be accomplished in a certain man.
ner, it is willing to defray the necessary expenses
TO that end"
An official letter to General Vallejo from the De-
partment Of War and Marine, dated at Mexico, 5th
August, 1859, expresses appreciation of what had
hitherto been done in establishing the colony, and
the desire that the settlements should continue to
increase s'until they should he 80 strong to be
respected not only by the lnd IN tribes, but also by
the establishments of the foreigners who should at
tempt to invade that valuable region"
l did not find any trace of these documents, or Of
anything concerning Gen Vallejo's appointment or
operations, in the government archives. But there
Is no reason 10 doubt the genuineness of the pa
pers. They do not, however, convey any title to
Qndc hAtn dsrryn fha ftf1n
his appointment continued to actual colonizers.-
The appointment Of Gen. V. seems TO have been
made by direction Of the Supreme (Nationa) Gov
eminent | had no means of asceraining how long
the appointment lasted, nor TO what extent its pow
ers were used but infer, from Vallejo himself Ia
king grant of his rancho of Peteluma in lS43 that
his own authority in that respect, had thea ceased.
AS there are other grants, also, OF considerable ex-
tent in the same neighborhood, embraced in the
government archives, apprs hend that most, if not
all, Of the grants made by him, exclusive of what
may be embraced IN the town privileges of Sonoma,
&and which will be noticed herafter,) Were con-
trmed, OF re-granted to the plrtes by the depart
mental government. In this view, however, may
be mistaken. And desire TO be distinctly UNDER
stood as not intending TO throw any doubt dis
credit the titles claims of either of the gen.
1lemen1 have mentioned had no opportunity of
inspecting any grants they may possess, beyond
what have stated and imagine their lands can
only be separated from the domain by the process
universally requisite-the registration of outsand-
ing grants, and their survey.
Ill. " GIANTS OF ISLANDS, KEYS, AND PRoMoNTo-
RIEs, POINTS OF IMPORTANCE To THE PUBLIC" &c.
The only points OF special public importance
which | learned were granted prior to the cessation
of the ioimer government, are the site of the old
fort of San Joaquin, near the outlet of the bay of
tan Francisco, and Alcatras (or Bird) Island COM
manding its cntrance-the Key TO the Golden Gates.
The date of the first named grant is 25h June,
1916 il was made to Benito Diaz, and by him
transferred to Mr.. T. o. Larkin, of Monterey.
understand portion of the land embraced in the
grant is in occupation of the United States troops,
or has property Of the United States upon it, and a
part in possession of MIR. Larkin.
Alcatras Island was granted in June, 1916, to
Mr.. Francis p. Temple, of Los Angelas. The in
dispensableness OF this point TO the government,
both for the purpose of fertilization and as proper
position for lighthouse, induced Lieut.. Colonel
Fremont when governor of California, To contract
for the purchase of it behalf of the United States
The government il is believed, has never con-
frmed the purchase, or paid the consideration.
This island is solid rock OF about half a mile in
circumference, rising out of the just in front OF
the inner extremity Of the throat narrows, which
forms the entrance TO the bay, and perfectly COM
mands both front and sides. IL is also in the line
of the sailing directions for entering the bay,' and
con- cqueaily lighthouse upon II - Indispensable.
The local government had special authority and
instructions from the general government, under
date oil i2ih July, 1888, to grant and distribute
lands ia the - the desert islands adjacent to that
department"
Whether The grants "pwyorf to be incioate or
perfect ?' The grants made in that department
der the Mexican law, all, believe, purport to be
perfect, except in the respect Of requiring confr
maiion ty the departmental assembly" The
difficulties of determining what grants have not
received this confirmation have been above ex-
planned.
n. ..IF THERE ne ANY ALLEGED GRANTS OF
LANDS COVERING PORTION OF THE GOLD MINES,
AND WHETHER ~ ALL GRANTS IN GENERAL, UNDER
THE MKxicaN GOVERNMENT OR IN CALIFORNIA IN
PARTICULAR. THERE ARE NOT CONDITIONS AND L1sI-
TATioNs, AND WHETHER TaERE Is NOT a EEsEEvA-
TIoS or MINES OF GOLD AND SILVER, AND SIMILAR
RESERVATION A. TO QUICKSILVER AND OTHER NINE
RAILS ]"
which covers any portion of the gold mines. Pre-
vous TO the occupation OF the country 10y the Ame-
Ticans, the parts now known as The Gotd Region
were infested with the wild Indians, and no at
tempt made to settle there. The grant that refer
10 was made by Governor Micheltorena, TO Don
Juan T. Alyarado, in February, lSti, and is called
the NIdrSpes0s, being situated on the Marposas
creek, and between the Sierra Nevada and the river
Joaquin and comprises ten 0tios or leagues square,
conceded. us The grant expresses in consideration
of the public services Of the grantee IL was pur-
chased from the grantee (Alyarado) in February
1877, by Thomas y. Larkn ESD, for Mr.. j. e..
Fremont, and is now owned by that gentleman.
The only conditions Limitations contained
in the grants in California, which could afiec, the
validity of the title, are, that in the grants made 10y
some of the governors period Of time Zone year,
was fixed within which the grantee should com
mence improvements on the grant. In case OF fail
ure, however. the grant was not thereby void, but
open 10 CtnOuuctnntHt ny otntI ptlcpnss inlr hii-
tation was not contained in such of the grants made
in the time of Mchcltorena as | have examined
nor IL IL prescribed in the law. No doubt, how
ever, the condition was fulfilled IN most instances
where IL was inserted. unless in a few cases where
the lands conceded were in parts Of the country
infested by the wild Indians, and iis fulhlmen
consequently impossible. In fact, as Tar as ] I'M
slersiood. u more customary TO occupy the
land in anticipation Of the grant. The grants were
generally Tor actual timmediaie) occupation and
use,
fcanno, fnd in the Mexican laws or regulations
for colonization, or for the granting Of lands. any
thing that looks 10 a reservation OF the mines Of
gold or silver, quicksilver, other metal or mine-
raj and there - not any such thing expressed in
any of the many grants that came under my inspec-
tion. | inquired and examined, also, while in
Mexico To this POINT, and could not learn that such
reservations the practice, either in general, or
In California in particular.
v. SIS All. LARGE GRANTS, OR GRANTS OF M
roRTANr on VALUABLE SIZES, OR or MINES, WHETHER
OR NOT TnY WE'RE SURVEYED AND ocCurrED UNDER
THE GOVERNMENT or SPAIN or Mexico, AND WHEN
MN SfCu GRANTS