Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-08-21
GREAT ESTATE, AND IT'S OWNER.

ESTATE, AND ITS OWNER.
Our readers will all recollect having
read, a few days ago, of the sale Of a
portion Of an estate in San Francisco,
for the aggregate sum of S5oe,oO Tho
property was known as the "Beidsman
estate," and was situated on aud CON-
posed Of what for years has been rather
contemporary called, 10 San Fran
cisco, the "western Addition sand
hills" The history, or a sketch Of the
~"rscord," literally the record, Of this
estate will not prove uuiu,eresting to
our readers. Indeed, very many Of our
citizens now own or have been largely
in this same class and section OF prop
er,y, aud all the people of San Fran
cisco have been most deeply concerned
in the decision Of cases that have arisen
over il in the Courts Of California.
The lately sold estate wal gathered
and protected and successfully vindi-
Gated in title, through q long and tedi-
Gus process Of litigation, By q man
named Jacob c. Beideman-a most re-
markable person, of whose life we pro-
pose to give some notes. Mr.. Beidsman
was, we believe, q native of Philadel-
phia. HIS pareuts were people Of mod
crate means, aud soon after attaining
pubsrty, this son a "thrown upon
his W resources" for a livelihood
aud principally as a clerk and agent in
business Of a mercantile character be
supported and educated himself until
the breaking out Of she Mexican wsr
He then Joined a company of cavalry
and went down TO Mexico and partici-
pa,ed in several engagements. For
bravery be was promoted from the ranks
to a Lieptsuancy, and when be left the
service such were the strong, voluntary
credits to his soldierly skill and cour-
age that he was offered a Captaincy in
the regular army, which be declined.
His eyes, which were hereditarily weak,
had been much injured by an accidental
fash of powder from a cauteen in which
the explosive compound had been placed
and carelessly left by a comrade. Mr..
Beidemsn then came to California, and
At once commenced mapping out his for
tune on q Real estate basis. He had
for capital about $500. He immedi-
ately or very soou after his ARRIVAL
opened . brokers' Office. In 1852 the
western Addition Of San Francisco, So
called, was " way, way out of town."
The particular portion since known al
the " Bsidsmsn tract" was posse'sorily
held as hog ranches. Mr.. Beidemsn
saw tha. this "a a goodly part Of the
prospective city Of the west, and grad
ually within two years he procured the
possessory title to about ten acres of the
"Trsct." But now came the tug Of
wsr,-so hold this property against the
conflicting aud fraudulent claims. We
will state the record as briefly as posi-
BILE; indicating its Importance BY saying,
that 10 Jacob c. Brakeman every home
stead or land holder 10 San Francisco,
to-day, i, indebted for the security of
title. Jacob G. Beideman was the
creates. public beuefactor that has ever
blessed San Francisco with his presence.
Beidemsn held the possessory title,
himself claiming as a pre-emptor under
the Land Laws of the Uuited States.
Blu, the doctrine Of the Pueblo title wal
raised against those who held possesso-
~ titles mersly,-this pueblo pre-
text being 6rst brought up in the inter-
est Of the Peter Smith claims-of which
more anon. Then, in justice to all the
real estate holders within the old corpo-
rate limits of the city, but mainly
through the influence and e%xertions Of
Bidsmsu, the Van Ness 0ordinauce was
passed By the city legislature; which
ordinance confirmed, al from the city
or Pueblo,-if there was any Pueblo
claim-,he holders Of the settlers deeds,
10 all their assumed rights Of proprie-
torsbip. In other words, the Van Ness
Ordinance said: IF the city Of San Fran
cisco, as the successor of the Mexican
Pueblo, has any claim to the land with
in the corporate limits Of .,54, then, the
city, does hereby deed and quit claim unto
the parties 10 possession all right, title
and interest, etc. This ordinance the
State Legislature subsequently, Qu 1852
confirmed by re-euactmeut, and after
wards, in the celebrated Hart and Bur-
nett case, the Supreme Court, though
holding to the Pueblo theory, approved.
We push this sketch on this line direct,
without stopping to note the Diff
eulties surmouuted to secure this grand
eonsumatiou. Now We go back to con-
slider the main obstacle in the way Of a
clear title TO land 10 San Francisco for
the period Of Ave or six years.
"Ths Peter Smith Title" You must
have heard Of it2 Perhaps not. In
early days ~swipdling contracts with city
authorities were shaped, through judg-
mepts procured out Of the Court Of Ses-
.ions and elsewhere, through attach
msu.s on city (alleged Pueblo proper
ty, through Sheriff sales aud deeds, unto
"Pe,er Smith titles" eve condsnse
the statement as much as p~ossible.)
Let is illustrate among many; Sam.
scrippy has a Contract for planking
A street, from Sd street, to 10th street.
where there is no planking and paving
unto this day. He hauls two thousand
fee. Of plsnkiug on the corner Of A n
Sd streets, aud bsuls them of again on
ne aud the same day. Contract fn-
ishsd; city sued for pay; judgment
~ 0L-- r.