The union Democrat., 1869-04-03
LRTrRn FROM RICHMOND.
DovER, Mefced Co., March "a. 1869.

EplToR DENocRAr:-We tarried at Tuol
umne City several days longer than we antiei
pated, when we penned cur last, and become
m uch better acquainted with the citizens Of
this pleasant burg. During our ramhles
through the principle thoroughfares, we came
across oar friend Barnes-Barnes the little
dapper. goodlooking, goodnatured and mirth-
making printer, who once upon time did
run the Thsaderer-C Columbia Citizen. He is
as fat as q pig, and rosy checked as young
Tuolumne damsel. The delightful climate
down here agrees with him. He gave us an
introduction to Mr.. j. u. Spencer, editor of
the Meas, who is a gentleman of pleasing
manners, an able writer, and unflinchiug dem
ocrat of the Jeffersouian school. At his sane
tum we met Hon. James III. Lawrence, Sen
otar of this district. He too is courteous
gentleman. and makes an able representative.
He is at present peregrinating around among
his constitaents, ascsrtaining their wants
and views upon points of interest to them.
Barnes informed us that the Tuommne City
| Netcs is a "paying institution that each
week he has to leave out items of news and
other interesting reading matter, to crowd in
advertisements. Guess the Democrat would
| like to be similarly afflicted for few months
| at least: eh?
DR.. w c. Sanders. formerly of Montezu-
ma, and DR.. Samuel NJ. Mclean seem to have
their hands full attending the sick; although
there are not a great many at present IN
town. Dr. Mclean is the Post Master, and
has in connection with it fine Drug Store,
book and news depot Robinson is getting
well of the small pox, but his wife and daugh-
ter are down with it, the latter not expect
ed to recover. No other cases in town. We
noticed a Columbia cottage down here, Ed.
Durgan is the owner. He hought II some
years ago. and moved it down to Poverty Hill
and last Jure moved it down here. 1t stands
convenient to his blacksmith shop. He and
VIM. Aldrieh of Tuolumne, are partners
Mr.. Miller, who once kept the Garrett House
at Chinese Camp, and Mr.. Willmot formerly
of San Andreas, have fine Brewery near
town. Before we left Tuolumne City, the
steamboat Fresno arrived, she had a large
barge. loaded with freight for that place and
Paradise.
Leaving Tuolumne City, we came up to
Paradise City, where we remained six days.
Business has improved considerable since the
day we first saw the place. Young Houston,
the Post Master, Wells, Fargo's agent, and
merchant, has an immense stock of goods
dry goods, groceries, hardware and statione-
ry. All the stores down in this section of the
country are rather "mixed." If you want a
pound of butter, Just step into dry goods
establishment. and you can be accommodate
ed. Above Houstons huge brick store. is a
mammoth hall, and below. in the basement.
a fine billiard saloon. The huge -four mill
and immense brick warehouse stand nearly
opposite. These are the only buildings al
lowed to stand on that side of the street fac
ing the river. The citizens of this burg in
ted not to allow any obstruction of the mag
ni6ceut view of the Tuolumne river, the Coast
Range and snow-capred Sierras, which loom
up in the distance. Pious idea.
Steamboats, arrive and depart daily during
our stay here. They generally run up to
Empire City. eight miles higher up the river,
and load with wheat stored up there,
The "Tuolumne City," new boat built by
twelve citizens of that city came up on her
trial trip the day beforel left Paradise The
citizens of that village assembled en- mass to
welcome her. She makes the finest appear
ance of any boat on the river There now
four independent steamboats, plying up and
down the Tuolumre, Stanislaus and Joaquin
rivers. Circulars are posted all over the coun
dependent lines of steamb ,ats. The Calfor-
mia Navigation Co. have had the sway long
enough.
On our way to this place we called at J. j.
Stevenson's formerly of Jamestown) place.
which is on the Merced river seven miles from
here. He has beautiful farm of 1000 acres
of land, and palatial residence upon it.
Magnificent oaks surround his place. He has
a fine wine-cellar, the first we have come
across outside of Tuolumne County. lie has
great many horses and cattle. His father
looks as young as a boy. Mr.. S. is getting
rich. Just above his place we met Mr..
Sproul, who once resided in Columbia. He
has nice farm. /.
Three miles further up the river, Mr.. W.
c. Turner has ferry, and large tract of land
1900 acres in wheat. He has very large
new brick residence. an interesting family,
and lives like a prince. His place is just
four miles from Dover.
Dover is new town, only one year old but
it is the busiest little place we have seen
since 80. There are n dozen new buildings
going up-one very large two-story hotel
which is being added on to the old one. Mr.
Soper is the proprietor. He has great rush
of boarders at present There is also neat
little restaurant in the place. Also one store
well stocked, owned by Mr.. Richard Smp-
scp, who is doing a splendid business. He
deserves it too, for be is true gentleman.
Mr.. H. Wilkinson, the gentlemanly clerk has
the only Livery and Feed Stable in the town.
Two more stores will be started as soon as
the goods arrive on the steamboats, now due.
There are two blacksmith shops, three sa-
looms. Zone billiard one butcher shop, one
carpenter and one paint shop, one physician,
a Justice and a constable, but no lawyers.
Lucky village. r. II. Ward. Esq, District
Attorney, was here, but he belongs at Smell
lings. the County seat. We found two CO.
lumbians here, Old Harmon and Jim Stubbs.
The latter has Just bought half interest in a
saloon with Mr. John r. Fla1igan, and is
now on the ROAD to fortune. He is also en-
gagged boring for fresh water. The water
here is bracksh. He is down with one we'll
thirty feet. The village of Dover is situated
on the north bank of the San Joaquin river.
: thirty miles as the crow flies, but seventy-fve
by water from Tuolumne City. 1t is destin-
ed TO be quite large city. Steamboats, can