Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-03-28
Gen. Geary In California.

HOrD1a, ana lest the unln1OrmeQ Sn0ulQ COm-
NIT the error of supposing that his military
record Is his sole recommendation as a can
dlddte, we ask attention to the facts of his
life in the El Dorado State. 1t was upon
his return from Mexico and as a reward for
his brilliant services during the war, that he
was appointed by President Polk to the Of
fee of Postmaster Of San francisco, in the
year lS49, when the rush of gold hunters
had made that city wonderful emporium
Things were in such a chaotic condition that
the President empowered Gen. Geary to es-
tablish postofices and appoint postmasters
all over the territory; to create mail routes,
and contract for carrying the mails: In fact
the entire postal service in California was
given In his charge, and he was a sort of
sub postmaster general for the Pacific colo
nies. In pursuance of this he organized the
mail service on that coast, and carried TO the
new regions of the interior the blessings of
regular communication with the rest of the
world at
1t was on the 22d of January, 1S49, that
he was appointed to this office, and so influ-
cntial did he at once become in California,
that when in the ensuing August, the mu-
nicipal election in San Francisco took place,
he was elected without opposition First Al
calde, the chief officer of the city, notwith-
standing that there was an animated con-
test, and ten different tickets for the other
offices.
1t is difficult at this day to appreciate the
formidable task thus assigned to Gen. Gea-
,ry. Few can now be made to understand
the condition of city whose only system
Of law was Spanish and colonial, and whose
population, gathered as by whirlwind from
all the ends of the earth, comprised so much
of the very dregs of society. But General
Geary, with his accustomed energy, attempt
ed this undertaking boldly. He raised a po-
lice force, infused American principles into
the municipal system, introduced the COM
mon law, and, As judge, tried over twenty
five hundred civil and criminal cases, and
from his decisions not more than dozen
appeals were ever made, not one of which
were successful His Office made him May
or, Sheriff, Recorder, Register, Notary Pub
lie, Coroner, Marshal and Judge and he
held police court, an alcalde's court for mi
nor cases, a court of first instance, and a
court of admiralty. Indeed. this Office gave
him SO much power that the municipal or
ganization was entirely made by his excr-
tions. At the expiration of his first term
he was re elected with little opposition, and
his second term was signaliZad 10y an act
that deserves special commemoration.
This'was a refusal to grant away city lots
at the old Mexican price of twelve dollars
for fifty vara lots, as provided for by the
Mexican laws. Geary maintained that this
rate, fixed for period anterior to the gold
discoveries, was an outrage on the public IN
terests at a time when the rush of gold seek
city so valuable The cupidity of the poll
ticians led them to try to force continuance
of this, but Geary urged that tire whole of
the public lands of the city at this rate
would bring only $50, 900, whereas they
should be worth an immensely greater sum.
To sett'e the matter, small portion of the
lands were put up at auction and sold Tor
half million of dollars, at which rate the
whole would be worth several millions. By
this means the attempt to sWIndle the city
out of its lands was ended
On May lst, 1850, the city adopted its
new charter, and under it Geary was elected
Mayor, which office he filed to the end of
his term with eminent ability, as is shown
by his messages and other public papers.
He was also President of the Board of Com
missioners of the funded debt of San Fran
cisco, and President Of the Board of Health,
in both of which positions he rendered very
valuable services so that he was thorough
ly identified with the organization of the
city under the American system He took
a very active part in securing California as
free State from the pernlclous influences
of slavery, at the time when the formation
of State Constitution was on foot, his
Pennsylvania instincts being as strong there
as subsequently were those OF Reeder III
Kansas.
As Gen. Geary left San Francisco in Feb
ruary, 1852, and returned to his farm IN
Westmoreland county, Pa, his public ca
reer lasted about three years. Yet IN that
brief space was compressed SO much actiyI-
ty and usefulness as to prove him man OF
first-rate capacity for any public business.
The exact habits of thought consequent up
on his life as a civil engineer, and the
promptitude in action inculcated by re-
sponsible command as soldier in success
ful foreign war, made him just the man for
the needs of a turbulent and lawless COM
munity like San Francisco in the days of
the gold excitement Gen. Geary had ev
er shrewd knowledge of what to do and
when to do it, so that he has never yet made
mistake in his calculations We have
shown this by his early life, and we now
point to his California record as furnishing
the most triumphant proof of his ability,
and of that peculiar kind too. that is need
ed for the executive duties of the guberna-
torial office in Pennsylvania. His career as
a soldier was In keeping with his public
record in civil life, and both alike in the
highest degree honorable to him and TO his
native State.
The Circleville (Ohio) Union says that
in one school district in that country az a
rat hunt 8. .20S rates were killed IN ten days.
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