Year: 1859

I have already stated that / spent most Of
Wednesday in al examination under Col. FremOnes
guidance, of the mines he is working in Bear Val.
ley and of the mills in which he reduces the rock
aud separates the gold. usually observe carefully
the rule which e1joins reserve when addressing the
public respecting matters of purely personal and
private concern; but there are circumstances in
the case of Col +. which seem to justify a de-
parture from the general usage Chosen three or
four years since the stsndsrd-bearer Of new pol
itical organization in an exciting contest and ex-
posed, because of that choice, to torrent OF per-
ssnal defam.ton which not merely impesched his
integrity as man and bis fidelity as public ser
want. bnt songht To dvest him at once Of bis name.
his lgous faith and even of bis native land,
believe there are many thousands of Republicans
who cherish for Col. Fremont personal regard
and affection which render them profoundly solicit
ous with respect to his good or evil fortune 1t is
for this class only that write the following:


The public are generally aware that Col. +. pur-
chased from Mexican at an early day a large tract
or grant of wild mountain land lying among the foot
hills of the Sierra Nevsds, called by the Mexicans
Los Msriposas (the Butterfly, after wild flower
known to abound here. 1t is known also that this
tract was some years after discovered or presumed
to be rich in gold-the first piece Of rich venstone
having been taken out by the proprietor's own
hand. 1t is further known that all manner of diff
cuties and Obstructions were interpOsed to defeat
the confirmation of the grant under which Col. F.
holds his title, and that protracted and most ex-
pensiye litigation was thus forced upon him.
Meantime the property was wholly unproductive-
that s to its Owner-and the most inviting portions
of it were clutched by sguatters, who claimed, as
they still claim, right to dig its soil into utterly
worthless chasms and heaps in quest of Gold, to
cut down its timber and feed off its grass at their
own discretion, leaving to the fortunate owner
only the privilege of paying the taxes, which,
under the management of public affairs by officers
politically and personally hostile to him, have been
swelled to no less than $4,000 per annum-his
taxes, remember, on an estate which every body
used or wasted as they saw fit, and which was
yielding him no income whatever. For the feeble
efforts at QuartZ-mining made in his behalf in his
years of absence-in the absence, too, of all sue
cessful experience in such mining only served TO
involve him still more deeply in debt, which was
further swelled by unfortunate agencies and busi-
ness connections, until the aggregate of his abil
tiles on account Of this property can hardly have
fallen short of half million dollars.


Such were the crcu instances under which be de-
termned in 1857 to return TO his Cslfornia estate
and here, surrounded by his family, devote all his
time and energies to its Improvement and reDOvs-
ton. In the spirit Of that determination he his
suce lived and labored, rising with the lark, and
striving to obtain complete knowledge and mas.
tery Of the entire business, taking more and more
labor and responsibility or his own shoulders as be
felt himself able to bear it, until he is now Man
ager, Chief Engineer, Cashier, Accountant, and
ST the head Of every other department but tha. Of
Law, for which he finds it necessary still TO rely
on professional aid. And bis mines are st length
becoming productive and profitable. His first
(stesm) mill, near his dwelling, runs eight stslnps
night and day; bis second (water, mill, three
miles distant, on the Merced, at the north end Of
bis estate, runs twelve stamps, also constantly;
and the two are producing gold at the rate Of at
least S250,0O0 per annum, at an absolute cost, l
am confident, Of not more than Sl50o00 OF
course he needs oil the profits, if not more, to ex
tend and perfect his works having already much
larger water-mill nearly ready to 60 into operation
beside that on the Merced in which he expecta
believe, to run fftysiI stamps, and he hopes to
have one hundred in all running before the close Of
1850. With that number, believe he would be
able, by giving his constant personal attention to
the business, aided by faithful and capable assist
ants, to realize net profit of at least $4,000 per
week, which would very soon clear him Of debt and