Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-08-21


ers of vennl newspapers, had it "made
10 their interest" to favor the infamous
claim. Mr.. Beideman was approached,
and offered a large share in the specula-
ton, if he would "come in" with Peter
Smithites. But he Indignantly rejected
the offer, and de6ed the soliciting cabal.
He did, adroi,ly, procure a large share
in the claim, but only to enable him the
more effectively to work against their
m%achiuations. For a period of over six
wears, Jacob G. Beideman could have
had three millions of dollars in coin, if
be would but agree to leone in" as
the Peter Smith phrase was. But Beide-
man never swersed, and reused the
opposition to the swindle to such a
force that the Peter Smithites never
could actually get and hold possession
of any considerable portion of the COW
e,ed land. Meanwhile, the value of real
estate, outside Of the city proper, and
to a considerable figure within the city
proper, vas kept at a very low figure.
A fifty var lot, at the corner Of Van
Ness and Bush street, (splendid
situatiou), in 1858, just before the Hart
L Buraett decision, would not have
brought J.. @. Beideman or John Q.
Piper Eve hundred dollars. For the
same property, to-day we do not sup
pose ten thousand dollars would be
looked at. Aud Beideman's entire
"outside property" would not have
uet,ed SIS, 900, if he had then attempted
to sell il.
A dark, lingering curse, hanging like
a pail over San Francisco, was the
" Peter Smith title" It was supposed
| that the Hart & Bruuett decision, rem
dered by Judges Baldwin & Field, in
the face of enormous brides iusolently
pushed at the deceased Justice, had set
tied the case. But no. Another, and
if possible, a greater struggle was to
come.
The indefstigsble Manipulation, who
had himself secured a fortune out of
"Peter Smith," and a couple Of Eng
lish aliens, father and urchin, projected
and nursed up an arrogant society OF
sour -four merchants aud veual journal
lists into a Taxpayers. protective
Union," and by this organization was
Matched what was known as the Shafter
land bill. Mr.. Beidemsn furnished by
far the largest share of the means re-
quired 10 inform the public generally as
to the true nature Of this organization
aud its bill. John Q. Piper, H. G. But
Ter, VIM. Sharon, Harvey Brown, VIM.
j. Shaw and others contributed in the
same direction, and after a bitter strug-
gle, aud in spite OF the most earnest ef-
forts Of the Bulletin and Call conductors
to deceive, and mislead and mob-incite
the people, and overbear the Legisla-
,ure, in spite of the brides offered by
the Peter Smithites, who were at the
bottom Of this scheme, truth and justice
finally triumphed,-the Shafter land
bill was killed, the Taxpayers Union
went TO pieces, and the people who had
bought homesteads in the old city limits
were secured in their landed property.
And for this, thanks, in high honor,
from all the people of San Francisco,
10 Jacob c. Beideman.
This most excellent mar IA hardly
be said to have lived to enjoy the fruits
of his labors, which are above indica-
ted. Faiu would we here speak Of his
many merits in the eulogy they deserve.
But his biography, in full, is being pre-
pared for publication an announcement
which many citizens of San Francisco
will DO very glad to read.