Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-12
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INVESTIGATION

The Assembly Committee on Yosemite Valley
ana Man osa Grove OF Big Trees met at
0 clock last evening in Room II, 10 continue
their investigation OF the charges against the
management of the valley heretofore pub
hshed. There were present of the committee
MesslS RnnGeil, Gardner, Hook, Tulloch Craw
ford and fully.
George Barnes, of Tuolumne county. was
cross examined by Senator Goueher on the tes-
timony given at the last meeting. Witness re-
membered that in June, 1887, Goucher had in
troduced a resolution in the Board of Commits
sionerS providing an increase of pay for the
workmen employed in the valley. The amount
due witness was s "a, which he was not paid
until June, 1888. Goucher had expressed sur
prise that 1t had not been paid. At the meeting
OF the Commissioners in June, 1883, they again
ordered it paid Witness did not know why ii
had not been paid sooner.
The next witness was Fred Brightman, OF
Mariposa. who had first gone into the valley in 81
names he remembered, were MesSerS. RAYMOND
Ames, Madden, Ashburner and Governor
Halght. Had a talk at one time about the lease
of barn of Washburn's. Did not know
whether the proprietors of saddle-trains were
paying for leases in 1870, when witness went
out OF the business. When Hutchings and
others turned out their horses they ran at large
as did all other stock in the valley. Washburn
had forty head. They all had to buy some hay
ct times.
An inelosed meadow was taken away from
Leidig four yeaN ago Some one tore down the
fences and the stock got in. Mrs Ieidig had
said If she leased it To Coifman & Kinney it
Tenants
iessees were not allowed to slb-let. Ii looked
as if Coffman & Kinney and Washburn had
formed ring with the Commissioners Ieidig
mad had TO close his hotel, and Bernard would
Goucher asked for names of those who as
serted there was ring"
Witness said ii was common talk but that he
was unable to name anybody. However he
thought il looked as il the Commissioners
favored the saddle-train propTietOrs leidig
had 10 close up because the Commissioners
Qft1 OIL IL. !
him. Did not know whether Leidig sold ont
voluntarily or not.
In answer to questions by Mr. TuIIoch, wit
ness said he had been in the valley taking
items, and felt as if he had been pretty nearly
run out of the valley on that account He
had put in two applications for leases, but rot
neither. This was previous to 1880 The
leidigs felt as if they had been kicked out
They could get no privileges, and could not
make living in the valley. Thought their
loss OF business wGs due to favoIs shown by the
Commissioners to Others and denied to them.
Angelo Cayagnero, storekeeper i'll the valley
testified, through an interpreter that last year
, , the commissioners trled 10 drive h1m out of
there and give his business to ar. Cook His
business had been with campers but the trade
had lately gone to the new hotel
In answer to Mr.. Crawiords. witness stated
that he he had been driven ont by loss of ade
He could not sell out his property and improve
ments Did not know whether settlers ex-
pected to be bought out or kicked ont Did rot
have lease. Was told it was not necessary to
have one He had paid $50 year rent to the
Guardian. If the bridges had not been put
across the river. his trade would have been as
good as before, but now the campers found 1t
better to go to Cocks.
Ex-Ass- -mblyman VIII am g. Long, of Jack
sonyille, Tuolumne county, ha not been in the
valley since 1S70 Did not know sni Thing
about the charges against the Commissioners
except that one OF them, Rev. MIR. Briggs, had
been aceured of taking team Of mules.
In reply to quest n by Rundell, witness said
he had not heard that Goucher had carried off
mill
Charles Anderson testified that his brother.
now deceased, had worked 222 days building
trail, st IS day, but il had not been paid yet.
Did not know whether his brother ever tried 10
collect ii or nor. the claim was put in the
hands Of Goucher, but he did not know if it
had been collected or not. In answer to dueS-
tions by Tully witness said eoueher told him
he had not been able to collect the clam from
the Commissioners. bat had said that if he was
elected to the Legislature he would try to get it
there
Goucher TOOK the stand and explained that
when he took the claim Se was not a u ember
of the Commission, but acting as private indi-
yidual
George Z. Sprague, OF Groyeland, had seen
considerable timber cut in the valley and some
, houses torn down. Some valuable trees hal
been destroyed about the Stonemen House and
also at the falls. He thought the cutting OF
jury to the valley. Some were cut down because
they were unsightly. II the fences were re
moved from around the meadows there would
be plenty OF feed during the season, and camp
ers W I'D not be compelled 70 pay two cents a
pound for hay.
before the committee, but was excused for the
rest OF the week.
AT il o. clock the committee adjourned until
7;30 this evening.