New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-07
THE STORY OF 1.-THE ALTA.a
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN CALIFORNIA.

THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN CALIFORNIA.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your Issue Of yesterday notice an item
stating that "The Alta California OF San Francisco,
was about 10 suspend publication. am acquainted
with facts conhected with the origin Of that
paper and have recollcctions Of that time which
think may interest your readers. The paper was
first issued In Monterey under the title OF The
Californian" and was edited by my brother the Rev.
Walter Cotton, chaplain In the United states Navy,
II was the first newspaper printed In California.
In my brothers Journal Of Three Years IN Cali
fornls he gives tbs following interesting account
Of its origin.
saturday. July is, 1916 To-day the frs. newspaper
eyer Sa b pSS'nia such Il be- Of writing is 5ropsctSs
fell 10 me. 1t is to be issued every SATURDAY, aid
Sb enO rsInaushns Tic edtorsHp Of "e North
American" in Philadelphia, that my next feat IN tals
Line an WSnS Ss G from Hc Keutucky who stands I'll
eight inches f. his stockings ,b re ia yss ra oscss vim
MS ne created the materials Of ONCE out Of the
fS S%sO Of cStS s% %Smf in ~ pans few
tracts The press was ola enough i1 IN The balls there
in pI. II was only by securing that the letters soga
be mode to show Their faces asESnfe were cut
into rules and leads. Luckily we founa' WIN s. NO
greater Of es S e eh os sns
except what is used to envelop the tobacco 81 e
s smSSd Of se this OS on Soad which we
shee.s little larger than the sized foolsap
ThonsS small in dimensions first number IS as
received by courers during the week intelligence irom
ali the t,G % u THIS as ran nspGTsn ne
t tssesy the V1 public hsG for the first through
onr sheet We have also, the declaration OF vas'
stract OF the debate in the Senate. A crowd was
waiting when the first sheet was thrown nom the press
hank run upon harder not however by people WITH
paper to get specie but exactly the reverse ~,
half Of the paper Is IN E yssr 1 s the price for
single sheet is IL 1-2 cents, and Is cohsdered ch"p
at that.
II will be remembered that In anticipation Of the war
with Mexico. the Government sent squadron Of war
vessels and took possession OF California. Commhore
stockton commanded the squadron. Ny brother was
sent as chaplain On arriving at Monterey, the COM
modoe appointed him chief alcade, or civil Governor.
When the little Californian was printed, ne as
civil MAGISTRATE issued his orders through IL. ono
order forbade all gambling. He would take DIS
officers. enter a gambling house and fine every one
present 800 and the owner Of the house 300. Tnia
money. as it accumulated used 10 build the frsb
schoolhouse in California; also the large Cotton Hall.
In which the Constitution adopted. According to
the rules Of the Navy, my brother was
allowed no salary as alcalde. but ONLY
his salary chaplain. Cheap administration This
Office he filed for three years He became quite popu-
lar with the native Cafornians by introducing thS
trial by Jury something entirely new TO them.
NV brother,s letters to "The Journal OF Commerce,
in this city. and "The Philadelphia North American "
made the first announcement OF the discovery OF eos
An incident connected with this discovery Is worh re-
coriIng When the gold was discovered all tne
marines and officers Of the war vessels ran away
10 the mines The provisions In these vessels "ouia
snol II not used Commodore Stockton ordered them
invested each 81 500 in these provisions ana employs
to Young men 10 take them to the mines and TO sell
them at the best lay they could AT that time tner
was nothing cheap but gold in the mines The young
men were to have one-half they made out OF VI"
sneculatlon. do not remember how long they weFe
oone. nerbaps two months. But on their return
my brothers share, onequarter amounted 10 SeooVo'
On my way to California in 1s49 met him at S anna
on his way home. He had the 100000 In goid ouS'
III In hS the fail of 1s4e Horace Hawes Project Of tie
District Of san Fs0csc9 cr s sap FSncscS
commission had to be sent to s MS9sTSyd m nTs
spRI0ya OE c5%e back With Approved BY the
ernoT. II. W. Haock, Sec. Of state" knew n i,tls
or nothing about law though probably ABOUT ss n INV
Indce HYDE. a former alcalde, told me there Nere
no Statute laws in california, and only had % ma
deon only extended to 300. and there no appeal
from my Judgment unless felt II dlnDt IN seg sa ~
sette-parties charged with cneatlng al caFn
The only satisfaction could give either party was 10
summon old gamblers 10 give testimony IN sga.i 10
tbe rr,Ies of The game. had an appeal taken
stoo cras Int drop in the bucket In th3Se eays
bcver knew an old Californian charged WIN cIea,ns
~ yas always those Mississippi fellows Anl Hm i,i,
dispensed Justice for time. or dlspensea n Mc'
IT, as Mrs PartIngton said OF oerL shh wpn5
"yheIo the Gospel dispensed VIII ,, VIZ
tba LAWYERS add cssed me as -" f0nr Hon i.m.
+ suppose had something OF me meonS
Of the mock duke in the play OF Inc hOnss'hh Ma ~,
who after an important trial, and inc crown na' ~
begin to find By the strength OF my nerses
tho steadincss OF my counensnce THAT was certshR
Intended for great For what more Goes ~
renuire 10 he a great than barely 20 put on w.
annearanre OF iti How MANY sage politicians t,erS
ara who cannot comprehend the mysteries OF =
monse trap valiant generals, who Woulu NOT 49, ma
a bnlwark unless the wind were In their favor; ~.
fonnd LAWYERS who world make excellent Wig pioohs
skfnI pyysicans whose knowledge extchos ~
further than writing death warrants IN LATIN an9 az
shining examples that a man never VIII want goa ~
his nocket so long he carries plenty OF Drass III s
face m will be rather awkward TO be sure 20 reVo
AZ The end Of montl-but like every otrer git Insn
T mist make the best OF my time ard retire Wiln
good grace as a well-bred dog always walks COW,
stairs when he sees preparations for Kicking III" i"'
am inclined to think that Thoughts IKE tns,ss
must run through the brain Of some OF our i nghs
onponted justices. Certainly your item tnat ~. ine
Ala California about 10 suspend punncaJIonn
must have recalled memories 81 the early Calforan
DAYS N The many veterans Of 40 I have a copy on '
tbe old "Californian' There being no w 10 tns
Spanish alphabet they had to put two vy Tvs, TON
w.