The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-18
Our Sam Francisco Correspondence.


s.
Our Sam Francisco Correspondents.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 81, 1855.
Sale Of a Portion of the Folsom Estate-Price Of
the Lots- History of the Immense Estate-Con-
tinued Yieid Of the Gold Afines-Deaths Of Emf
neat Citixens-Politica Difficulties in the Legis
latxre--Netc Bank-Peace 10Th the Indians.
The events Of the past fortnight are sufficiently
interesting to warrant special letter to the NEW
YORK HERALD.
Not the least important matter has been the sale
by auction of portion Of the estate of the late Jo-
seph L. Folsom The whole number Of lots disposed
of was three hunered and sixty, and the aggregate
bids $6O7 900, which amount considerably exceeded
the estimates by property holders made before the
sale was announced. Most Of the lots were I'M
improved, and as they have now passed into the
hands of bona Jids citizens, San Francisco will be
an immense gamer by the change. Captain Folsom
was Quartermaster in the United States army, and
came here with Colonel Stevenson's regiment of
New York Volunteers. For a considerable time he
filled the Office Of Collector of this port Since 1850
California and two years ago his property in San
Francisco would have sold under the hammer for at
beast two millions of dollars. Folsom acquired this
immense property under the following circumstan-
eminent in California there had been living here
man by the name of William A. Leidesdorff,
Mexican citizen, but foreigner by birth. AT that
time any person who would pay the price Of making
grants to land within the present limits Of the city,
these lots being some fifty and some one hundred
yarus (yards) square. Leidesdorf, who seems to
have been man Of some foresight, obtained large
number of these grants, and when he died, which
was early in l848, he was considered the largest
landowner in this place. And yet 50 valueless was
this land then held, Leidesdorh, who was owing
Immediately after his death the gold mines " broke
out" and town lands rose rapidly in value. An ef-
fort was made to seek out the heirs Of Leidesdorf
in order to make some arrangement" for the ad
annstratorship; but no one not even his most init
mate friends, could tell where he came from, no
where his relatives resided. By some means or
other, however, Folsom obtained an inkling that
West India Islands, and thther he posted, returning
in few months with full power from Anna Maria
Sparks to administer upon the estate of her de-
ceased son. The courts gave him the administra
Sparks interest. Capt. Folsom had hard struggle
however. Squatters came upon his lands, and these
he had to fight of The State, too, set up claim
and the courts were called upon to declare the
Folsom was struggling in the meshes Of the law, and
he found relief only in death. Since his death
another suit has been commenced, and this BY the
United States government. In the great fire Of
among them all his quartermaster's vouchers. In
consequence Of the loss of these papers, he appears
as defauter to the amount Of s275 000 and for this
sum the government has brought suit. Should this
suit go against Capt Folsom there will still be left
q very handsome sum for the heirs, as the property
cold here the 10th and 18th insts only about
one-half the bulk Of his estate.
The sale have alluded to is more noticeable from
the fact that it il the first great sale Of real estate
since the bank suspensions in February last. We
have not yet recovered from the shock which these
bank failures produced but the high prices bid for
the Folsom property proves that confidence is
taking the place of distrust, and our citizens are
once more smiling in anticipation Of the "good
time " coming.
than ever, and hesitate not to say that the year
1866 will furnish one-f0urth more gold than any
year since the discovery Of the California placers.
Our obituary list furnishes two well known
.names-Captain VIM. y. NJ. Howard and Hon.
Roderick N. Morrison. Captain Howard was among
the earliest Of the California pioneers and certainly
no man bore larger share of the esteem of his fel-
Judge Morrison was at one time member of the
New York bar, and W. prominent RS the counsel OF
Polly Bodine--a name conspicuous IN y0nr criminal
calendar. He was also ut one time member Of the
New York Legislature. He came to California in
1s49, and was elected the first Judge Of San Fran
cisco county For the last two years of his life he
was wholly devoted to the investigation of the
science of epirituasm, and at two different times
was an inmate Of the State Lunatic Asylum
Our Legislature, now in session, exhibits no sign
Of making choice Of successor OF DR.. Gwin in the
United States Senate. The Know Nothings, who
have large majority of the Assembly. are so
divided into clques-Foote, Marshall and Crabbe
.ciiques-that it Is found impossible to make nomi
nation in caucus, and 1t is more than pro-
bable that the election will be put over
when, as two vacancies will be created, some
compromise may be effected. The democrats
Gwin democrats, and Broderick democrats, are all
united in their endeavors to stavc of the election
in the hope that next year will give them majority
of the Legislature.
A new banking house been recently opened
here. Messrs. c. X. Garrison Of this city, and G.
w. Morgan Of New York, being prominent partners
1t is SAID TO have large cash capital.
Quiet ia rapidly being restored in the Indian
country. The Indians are prepared to treat for
peace, and no wonder, for they have been terrible
sufferers in this Whether peace will be last
ing or not, remains to be seen. believe there is nc
peace for the red man until he Is in his grave. He
must be exterminated. This is not humanity bu
1t Is destiny. holland.
The PASSENGERS BY THE SHIP PARLIAMENT
CHARACTER OF FOREIGN IMMIGR ALTON TO BOSTON,
nt,s<, Ior ox,l skn M