The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-10
MIA, Don Juan n. A,varado. Don Juan and family


Larkin and family, Tor many years On the arrival
IN Monterey, of the Governor and Commandante
General, Manuel Mieholtorena, from Mexico, with
full powers from Santa Anna, Alyarado resigned his
govcrnorship, and gave up to she new Governor his
mansion house and gardens from 1897, when the
Calitorrians rose against tho Mexican authorities,
until tho raising OF our flag in Monterey. Mr. l..
was on intimate terms with every Mexican Governor,
Commandane General, and their officers in Califor-
MIA, and became acquainted with their laws, their
manners and customs, and internal affairs and be-
aware, also, that General kchetorena had
given to Senior Alyarado deed and title Of the
tract Of lands called the Mariposls; Also commits
sion Of Colonel Of the native or auxiliary troore of
the Department OF California, in 1916 or lSn.
When the Ex-Governor offered this purchase, he had
but little knowledge Of the tract or it's advantages
and no knowledge Of the gold. He was aware it was
the best Of the San joaquin Valley, and n favorite
encampment OF California troops Mr.. Lirkn, who
had at the time a large extent Of town and
country lands, by purchase from Mexican citi-
sens, had but little desire to purchase the Marapcsa
but bearing in mind that his friend Fremont with
whom he had been connected in peace and war, had
a wish to land in California, and that the par
chase could be effected at nominal price, and
q good Mexican grant obtained, with guarantee
deed and title. from Senior Avarado and his sonora
Donna Martina Castro dc Alvarado, he pur-
chased the whole tract or grant for COL Fremont,
who now claims il as second owner under the Mexi-
can government General Micheltorena, in granting
this beautiful country to his predecessor, was
partly guided by the well known popularity Al
yarado enjoyed in California, in which department
hn bnl f,yo, j,,,;Y
brought out many advantages in commerce and
agriculture, before unknown.
II wiz appear unaceoun.able to many Of our read
crs, that tract Of land for which cool million is
refused, should be purchased for few thousand dol
lars, by gentleman for q friend when he could
have retained the possession himself. Mr.. Larkin,
however, had seen Col F. for years a co-laborer in
his adopted country, and thought he, too ought to
have real interest there. Besides this, Mr..
Larkin was the owner Of over twenty leagues 1.-TWO
hundred square miles) fcountry land and hundreds
of city and town lots in different locations lie
could, therefore, afford to make q purchase for
friend; and he is none the worse of in finding now
that he has sover miles Of rich plGcers on the Fea
Their river, where ore thousand people, or more,
digging his aurirerous land without let or hinder
ance." We believe the Micheltorena grant to Alya-
RADIO was in February, 1874; Alvarado TO Fremont
February, 1917; and the first PRONUNCIATION of the
gold discoveries was made by Mr. Larkin to the New
YORK HERALD, in the summer Of 1913.
The California Land Commissioners have yet to
determine upon the titles Of all the landed estates
Of California; but we doubt not all bona fde Spanish
or Mexican grants, sales, conveyRnces viii be
religiousy respected The brilliant offer made and
finally refused by Colonel Fremont, for his Marposa
tract, is evidence Of the validity of his title
The gold discoveries and products of California
have astonished the world, and given new impe-
tus to the prosperity Of country, the currents of
emigration, and the magnificent operations Of our
mighty commerce. We see the benefits which Ca
Gfornia gold has conferred upon New York. in its
unexampled growth and expansion of business; in
word, the gold Of California has saved this country
from financial rcyulsion, England from the same
disaster. and the European continent from the anar
chy of universal bankruptcy. Such are some of tho
splendid results Of the timely discoveries of the in
exhaustble mineral wealth Of California. Such are
the GROWING glorics Of that proyidcntial stroke
policy-the annexation ofrcxas.
But California has other resources than her iney-
haustiblc mines of gold Upon her vast plains
thousands Of wild HOSES and cattle roam at large
subssting. and naturally increasing from the spon-
taneous oats and grasses of the soil. The country
seems TO be as remarkable for its agricultural capa
cities as for its mineral products. Wheat, barley,
and other species of grain, yield from sixty to a
hundred fold. AL the fruits and vegetables of the
Atlantic States REPRODUCED in California, of
superior quality, aud Of the largest size. Game
abounds III the mountains and valleys, and the
rivers are stocked with fish. among them the sal
mon, often of forty pounds weight. The San Fran
cisco and Sacramento markets, and the mining
towns, make all these profitable objects Of
industry. The prosperity Of such country is only
TO tc measured by the extent Of the deyelopemcnt
Of its vast and varied, aud uameasured resources