Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-18
HIS OLD HOME.
Ex-United States senator Cole on Visit
to Sacramento.

Exhibited States Senator Cole on Visit
! to Sacramento.
A dignified bnt pleasant-faced gentleman
of apparently 60 years of age sat alone in
the reading room of the Golden Eagle
Hotel last evening. quietly perusing the
newspapers of the day. He was dressed in
black, and looked as il. he might be re-
tired lawyer, or doctor, or merchant. He
was apparently stranger to those seated
about him, as we'll as to those passing in
and out of the hotel.
The hotel register bore the modest sig.
nature, &c. Cole. Los Angeles" but it
aroused suspicion in the reporters mind
that the digni6ed gentleman in black
might possibly be Cornelius Cole, who
MANY years ago represented California IN
the United States Senate.
And so he proved to be. In the course
of pleasant interview which followed,
Mr.. Cole said he had for about eight years
lived Just outside the city of Los Angeles,
where he is enjoying lite in quiet way
He has law Office in the city, and bis
son is United States Attorney for the
Southern District. He still retains owner
ship of tract of land on Tyler Island,
in this county, and has been spending
few days there. The Sacramento river
islands he regards as the most fertile land
in the State, and hes faith in their ulti-
mate thorough reclamation.
Thirty years ago Mr.. Cole was District
Attorney of this county, and afterward rose
to prominence in State politics and served
a term in the upper branch of the National
Congress. He was a contemporary of w.
R. Ferguson, J. W. Denver, ]. w. Coffroth,
Era,1I uaraford ond otbor rroyoipopf 10 M
yers who have since passed away. Of the
Old Guard who practiced with him in those
days, few are still living here N. Greene
Curtis, A. P. Catlin, H. o. Beatty, Henry
Starr and S. s. Holl. Mr.. Cole inquired
after all of them. and seemed glad to know
that at least a few of his old friends and
acquaintance had been spared.
The few hours that he had been in the
city Mr.. Cole said he had improved by riding
out on the street cars to Oak Park. ewas
pleased to see Sacramento spreading out so
wide and improving.
There has been great change in the
appearance of things" he said, 'since l
first came to Sacramento. That was in 40,
and l camped under big oak tree down
somewhere on what is now Seventh street.
There were only few canvas houses here
then. The line of ] street had been
blocked out through the trees and brush,
and the whole site of the city was almost
forest"
Then he spoke of his experiences during
the flood of '62-how he had lived with his
family for weeks in the second story of
their house, and of the hardships that
many Sacramentans underwent during
that memorable winter. 1t was the flood,
he said. that caused so many of the early
residents to remove to San Franciaco and
other places.
When the reporter suggested that it
would probably be a difficult matter to
prevail upon anyone who had lived in the
southern part of the State the last few
years to remove to this section, Mr.. Cole
smiled and said:
"Oh, l don't know about that There is
really very little difference, after all, be-
tween the two sections-not nearly so
much as some interested and uniformed
persons have tried to make it appear.
Both have good climate and soil. and under
like conditions can be made equally at
traciive"
Mr.. Cole said he expected to remain in
the city couple of days before returning
to his Los Angeles home.