Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-21

The LOWER CALIFORNIA COMPANY.-For
some months past there have been occasional
kilograms from San Francisco announcing the
return of American emigrants from Lower Cal
ifornia in circumstances of pitiabIe restitution
These dispatches have sometimes included CON-
ments not at all flattering to the leaders of the
emigration to that country. There has also
been published a contradiction of some of the
statements of these dispatches signed by one
Drake De Kay. These people, whose depiorabe
condition has provoked much sympathy, are
the victims of Washington speculation, known
as the Lower California company, of which Drake
De Kay, whose signature, attached to permits to
pass the guards near Washington, was familiar
in the early months of the rebellion was the
the agent or secretary. The company was or
ganiZed under charter obtained from the lepis-
lature of New Jersey, and was industriously
pulled by subsidized newspapers. 1t was repre-
scented that the company had bought the whole
of Lower California, which would eventually be-
come part of the United States. The Wash
ington correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette
further explains the nature of this speculation
as follows:
The contract made with Juarez was greatly
misrepreSented and belief created that the
company would soon really own the land, and
be able eventually to control il independent of
the Mexican government. But by the bargain
with Juarez the company were allowed to pur-
chase only the unoccupied, unsold or unclaimed
lands in Lower California. For the period of
i've years the Mexican government agreed that
agricultural implements and stores should be
admitted free of duty; and at the end of that
time the enlgrants, which the company bound
themselves to introduce, were to be enrolled in
the Mexican national guard, and then the
| peninsula was to be erected into a Mexican
state Inc company agreed to introduce fixed
number OF emigrants, and to keep at least that
| number there. BY glowing representations this
| latter stipulation was fulfilled, and several hun
dred deluded Americans were landed in Lower
| California. Instead of the fertile and frnitful
lands they had heard so much about, they found
for the most part barren, arid and inhospita-
bic region nearly destitute of water and hence
useless for agricultural purposes.
But the prOprietors of the scheme were from
the START in high feather with their comfortable
speculation at home. At first there was DELAY.
caused by failure to pay the stipulated price
TO MeXico-either one or two hundred thousand
dollars in coin-but finally enough was placed
ia the hands of Mr.. Romero to justify the latter
in delivering the contract. Quite a Juror was
| created over the shares here in Washington BY
the ring which held them About twenty gem
tlemen, chief among them being Ben. Butler,
manipulated the matter, and gave it constantly
most attractive coloring for the lobby. Those
VINO ned the stock were looked upon as fortunate
moItals; and all of them who let in others, even
at a great advance were regarded az clever
whOie-Souled men. The emigrants were easily
secured ana started for the new Eldorado, and
the maps showing streams, and mines,
ana attractive surveys for towns were privately
eirra,ateu a me SHARES went up, up, up The
company's lands began to starve; the second
shareholders at home began to see the scheme
in new light, and TO change their notions oS
the whole-souled gentlemen who had favored
are making their way to San Francisco as fss,
as they can beg or buy deck passage; and those
who have already arrived report poverty and
actual suffering among those who remain.