A FOURTEEN-YEAR PERIOD 317 



In December, 1864, I had to vacate, to make room for 

 the county clerk's brother, Stephen Mott, which gave me 

 a welcome and much desired rest. I needed open air 

 exercise and obtained from Geo. Hansen an appointment 

 as deputy county surveyor. About the same time I 

 entered Los Angeles Lodge, No. 42. 



The court, after nearly six years of waiting, gives 

 judgment in favor of my claim for wages from Deputy 

 Surveyor Wm. Moore; the amount of $383 was finally 

 paid by him in paper money (greenbacks), from which 

 I realized $180 in gold. 



Again we are at the end of another year. What has 

 the next in store for me? 



July, 1865. 



The discovery of coal oil in these regions has brought 

 crowds of fortune hunters to the city, and the location of 

 wells naturally puts money into the hands of the sur- 

 veyors. Thus it happens that I have been in clover since 

 new year, even my old friend Goller— and many a wordy 

 war we have had— has grown oily and paid me hand- 

 somely for plans I have drawn for him. 



Main, New High, San Pedro and Alameda streets have 

 also been surveyed anew. 



Harris Newmark and Isaiah Hellman are among my 

 steady patrons; both substantial people. Harris New- 

 mark offered me a lucrative position which I accepted 

 about the middle of last month. I also changed my 

 boarding place, which circumstance I consider quite an 

 event, as I dislike changes. Having tried a French table 

 I have now decided to let Mrs. M. Goldstein administer 

 to my gastronomic tastes. 



December, 1865. 

 Though everything seemed to come my way, and the 

 pleasant relations with my employer, who never ob- 

 jected when I had a chance to earn a few dollars extra, 

 grew stronger, I felt the slow but certain approach of a 

 perhaps severe illness. As the only way to get well, my 

 physician suggested a change of air. Being from the 



