Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-07-31


tor Conness introduced q bill, and the
same day. it was passed, directing the
Survcyor-General to proceed and sur
vey the lands in accordance with the
original title papers on file in his Of
flee. The bill thus confirmed the
grant to Dominguez and his assigns
forever. The matter hung fire in the
House, and there was an evident dis
inclination to back up what the Sen
ate had done. To reassure the doubt
ing minds Levi Parsons sat down and
wrote q pathetic letter to q member,
of which the following is an extract:
a GRAPEVINE APPEAL.
n q g s.
was in the county Of Santa Barbara last
September, and visited the rancho in ques-
ton, as a matter of curiosity, to see a large
grapevine growing on IL, and said to be the
second largest in the world measured il
myself, and found IL covered a superficial
area of over 5000 feet. This single vine is
about the sole product of the entire rancho,
the lands being very hily and senli-moun-
famous in their character. found the mother
OF the petitioner and the entire family of chill
drcn, grandchildren and great grand-chil-
dTen, most OF them lying idly under this cele-
brated vine, the sale of grapes from it being
about Iheir only, support; last year the pro-
of grapes, as they told me. The old lady died
last tall upon the property, at the age of l09
years, she and her husband having lived un-
disturbed on this property for upward of sixty
years The vine was planted by the old lady
some fifty years ago. | found the familyvery
poor and enjoying the respect of all parties in
the county. visited the family in company
with Mr.. Sparks, an American, who had
lived in the county since 1882. He verified the
correctness ofall the statements of the fam
lily, ana from what saw myself and what was
told me by very respectable citizens of the
county, have no doubt Of the trut hfulness of
all of the statements of Jose Dominguez in
N fhnpn t,nf
be presented case calling more for the equi-
table interposition of the Government to pro-
the family than this, and earnestly ask that
you will examine the papers and make an
effort in their behalf
LEVI PARSONS
THE BILL BECOMES A LAW.
Upon the strength Of this and other
representations, the House of Repre-
sentatives passed the Senate bill, and
on the 18th of June, 1866, it became
law. The next thing to be done was
to have the tract surveyed. Upson
was then Surveyor-General. On the
25th Of April, 1867, he sent George II.
Thompson, deputy surveyor, for the
survey of the DomingueZ claim. What
was accomplished is best explained
by an extract from his report, dated
September Is, 1868. He says:
I furnished Mr. Thompson with a traced
copy of the original papers on file in the Mex
lean archives, as his guide in executing said
survey Deputy Thompson reported that the
calls We're SO uncertain and vague that he
found 1t difficult TO make a survey.
The grantees of the claim, through their at
torney, f. j. Pringle, then offered to prove ju-
dicial possession by affidavits covering the ex-
tent OF the present survey: but / declined to
receive any evidence except that mentioned
IN the Act OF Congress as governing my action
in the matter.
They then requested that n survey should
be made according to their views and at their
own risk. In order to bring the matter before
this office for examination, so instructed the
deputy. Mr.. Thompson returned a survey
comprising an exent of 2OS, ,72i 33-l0O0 acres, as
the tract claimed by the grantees of Domin-
guez under saiu Act of Congress.
The location and area of this survey did not
meet my views as to the construction OF said
Act, for the following reasons:
l. The original evidence OF title shows that
the grant was one UNDER the colonization laws
OF Mexico, and could not therefore exceed the
quantity OF eleven square leagues.
2. The extent of said tract under said title,
as far as am able to judge was simply q long
narrow valley, situate between two ranges of
mountains, and bounded by the Arroya de la
Prietos in the west and about three leagues
in extent, according to the scale on the map
l.. UPsoN,
L. :. SurveyOr-General.
This survey, made at the instance of
the claimants, it will be seen, took in
over 20S,000 acres, nearly ten times as
much as poor old Dominguez ever
thought of asking the Mexican Gov
ernment for; and not only this, but
changed it's location so as to take in
some of the choicest improved lands
on the outskirts of Santa Barbara.
,.nl 70