ELDORADO 155 



Mark Hopkins were running a hardware store on "K" 

 street, and Leland Stanford was selling mining sup- 

 plies in the mountains. 



The difficulties arising from conflicting land inter- 

 ests induced the government, as early as 1852 to ap- 

 point a commission comprised of three members, of 

 which the distinguished Governor Fitch of Michigan 

 was at the head. This commission was empowered to 

 examine and pass upon the JMexican land grant titles, 

 subject to appeal to the United States Supreme Court 

 at Washington. It met that same year at San Fran- 

 cisco and entered at once upon the discharge of its 

 duties. The government appointed General Volney 

 E. Howard, late District Judge at Los Angeles, as 

 I'nited States Land Agent. All claimants were re- 

 quired to appear and present their proof of title. Such 

 grants as were shown to have been confirmed b}- the 

 Central Government of Mexico and the conditions ful- 

 filled were passed, and where the necessary proof was 

 lacking were rejected. There were many of the latter, 

 all of which were added to the public domain. 



It was with the view of maintaining what they re- 

 garded as their right to settle on public lands that party 

 political lines were ignored and instead of Whig and 

 Democrat, "settlers' and miners' associations" were or- 

 ganized to oppose the grasping and remorseless land 

 speculators. Sacramento county had such an orgam- 

 zation, and for the two years or so of its existence I 

 acted as its secretary. Among other duties devolving 

 upon the secretary was that of appearing in the inter- 

 ests of the association before the Land Commission in 

 San Francisco, and there presenting such evidence In 

 its behalf as could be obtained, to aid the land agent in 



