The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-15
GRANTS CALIFORNIA FRIENDS.
Particularly, Their Plan to Provide Him with
Magnificent Vineyard.

Magnificent Vineyard.
San Francisco Call.
The malady that aflcts General Grant has
deprived a number of philanthropic gentlemen
of this city of the privilege of doing noble work
of regard. The plan was proposed by wine
merchant in this city. who served under Grant
in the civil war. 1t was cordially approved by a
number of the Generals friends ard the neces
sary money to carry it out was pledged. It was
decided that anything that should be offered to
General Grant should be rendered in such way
that he could accept it without loss of dignity
and without being made the subject of criticism.
1t was also desired that the preparations for his
prosperity should be made equal to his military
record and his place in history. A novel plan to
accomplish both these ends was devised. It-was
proposed to purchase for the0eneral one of the
most magnificent vineyards in the State; large
enough to be regarded as an estate and profitable
enough to provide for ell OF his and his family's
wants
A number of the finest vineyards in the State
have been inspected with this purpose in mind,
and it is said that two of the largest were offered
for sale. There numerous other things be-
sides lands planted in vines that are needed to
make successful vineyard. Rare management
and great skill are needed to produce an annual
vintage that will prove remunerative. The gen.
tlemen who had the matter in hand are practical
men, who looked ahead few years, and pro-
vided against another disaster in the Generals
financial life. They had secured one of the most
skillful managers in the State to take charge of
this vineyard while General Grant might select
from among those submitted to his choice. They
had gone further, and arranged to take his
nual vintage at the market price. In this way
the gentlemen supposed they had arranged
delightful occupation for the declining years Of
the hero of Vicksburg and the James that would
at once give him handsome income, present
him with delightful home, and enable him to
leave to his family family estate. The gentle-.
men were so confident that well-cutivated
vineyard would soon pay for itself that they
proposed to buy it for the General, and allow
him to repay them, with nteresta
AS was anticipated, this plan proved most ac-
ceptable to General Grant; much more accept
able than any offer of pure gift In talking of
it General Grant said that he liked California,
and since the days when he was young lieuten-
ant in the regular army stationed on this coast
he desired to make his home IN this State. The
plan, with all its details, was submitted to him,
and he had signifed his desire to accept it. The
Central Pacific railroad had offered to bring the
General and his family with their household
goods, to California in special car Prepara-
tions had been made for the General to come to
the State in the spring and select the vineyard
he most preferred.
Saturday asking General Grant whether he could
not be moved to California at once. A reply
received yesterday from him, in which he
said that his physician forbade his leaving New
York. Thus for the present this effort to aid
General Grant has failed