518 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK, 



For his private apartments Sutter obtained from 

 the Russians a clumsy set of California laurel furniture. 



In front of his house, yet within the stockade, was 

 a tiny square containing one brass gun, by which, day 

 and night, paced a sentry, stopping only at the belfry 

 post to chime the hours. 



The Fort was a business centre. In it was located a 

 blacksmith, a carpenter, and a general variety and 

 liquor store. Prices were booming. Four dollars 

 w^ere charged for shoeing a horse. Wheat sold for 

 one dollar per bushel, peas for a dollar and a half 

 per bushel. 



A sort of gravel road led to the spot, over which 

 kerses galloped, and heavy wagons rolled. 



Sutter owned twelve thousand cattle, two thousand 

 horses and mules, from one thousand to fifteen hun- 

 dred sheep, and two thousand hogs. 



This unique Fort was " the capital of the vast in- 

 terior valley, pregnant with approaching importance." 



In 1846, Sutter staked out the town of Sutterville, 

 three miles below the Fort on the Sacramento, and built 

 the first house there. His example was shortly fol- 

 lowed by a man named Zims, who erected the first 

 real brick structure in the State. 



The Fort and town kept up regular communication 

 with San Francisco by means of a twenty-ton sloop 

 owned by Sutter, and manned by a few savages in his 

 employ. 



There was a ferry at the Fort, which consisted of a 

 single canoe handled by an Indian. 



The strangest of populations gathered about the set- 

 tlement. Emigrants were there, many Mormons 

 among them. Native Californians were there, wear- 



