Lost Journals of a Pioneer.—III [pp. 276-287]

The Lost Journals of a Pioneer.
et by putting B. E. S. Ely on it for mayor,
and George L. Prentice for marshal, so it
now stands: B. E. S. Ely, mayor; N.
Greene Curtis, recorder-nominated after wards by the Whigs, and who will be trium phantly elected; G. E. Montgomery, cityat torney; G. L. Prentice, marshal; E. L. Bar ber, treasurer; E. C. Windell, assessor-nom inated by the Whigs also, and likely to be
elected; Th. Wm. Moore, harbor-master.
Friday, 7th Apri/.-The Temperance vote
is reported at fifty-three. This is probably
true as to the ticket itself; but I am well
satisfied by the statements of persons who
voted for me that I received at least twenty five more votes. Captain Moore's vote is
fixed at eighty-three.
Tuesday, i6th May.- I dedicated the Hall
of Excelsior Division, Sons of Temperance,
this evening. The meeting was large, quite
a number of ladies being present.
Thulrsday, 3ith buily. —A fire broke out
about eleven o'clock, and [burned] until three
o'clock, destroying about [one hundred] and
fifty houses, mostly of wood, and the Court
House.
Wednesday, 26th 7uly.-Held a Temper ance State Convention this evening at Stoc [kton] City, the object being to consider the
propriety of political action by the Tem perance men at this time.... Pending a
pledge to sustain Temperance men alone for
office, the convention adjourned.... All
the speakers except Rheese, who is a law yer, were Methodist preachers.
Friday, 4th Augu st. -Instituted Mountain
Gem Temple, No. 7, at Placerville, E1 Dorado County, this evening, with twenty-four
charter members. This is the third established in this county.
Wednesday, 9thi A4ugust.- Instituted the
Grand Temple of Honor of the State of
California today. The order now numbers
about two hundred and thirty-seven connected with Temples in the State, and there
is a large number of non-affiliated members.
The first Temple in California-Golden Horizon Temple, No. I-was opened by me on
the x7th day of May, x853, with seven
members, a bare quorum, and as one of these,
being ambitious of office and failing in his
aspirations, failed to attend the second meet ing, I had to obligate two additional petition ers before I could open the second meeting.
... The next annual session will, I am con fident, exhibit a number much exceeding
one thousand members.
Monday, 28/th August. -Instituted Nevada
Temp)le, No. 8, with seventeen charter mem bers.
Friday, 22d Sep/ember. Alviso by steam boat "Sophie," San Jos6 by stage. Insti tuted Eden Temple, No. 9, thirty charter
members. This was one of the most enthu siastic meetings I have had.
Wednesday, r/ith October.-Came in the
stage to Mud Springs, and established E1
Dorado Temple, No. io, being the fourth
established in this county.
Monday, 23d October.-Came down to the
bay upon the "Helen [Hensley] " this after noon, to attend the annual [meeting of]
Grand Division of Sons of Temperance.
Tuesday, 24th Oclober.-Recommended
political organization in my report today.
Wednesday, 25/h Oclober.-The Methodist
preachers have complete control of the Grand
DI)ivision, and in the elections this afternoon
selected the officers by their mutual vote, all
from their own body.
Friday, 27th Oc/ober.-My recommenda tions, to my surprise, were adopted without
a dissenting voice, and a convention called
for May next, in Sacramento City, to nominate State officers.
Friday, 29th December.-Much may be
learned of the progress of a country in comfort by the prices of board and lodging; and
the gradual diminution of the charges in
these matters is a good index of the improvement of the condition of things in California. When I arrived in Sacramento, in
July, I85o, the price of lodging in the best
house in town, the Columbia Hotel, was two
and one-half dollars, for breakfast and tea,
each, one and one-half dollars; for dinner,
two and one-half dollars, making eight dollars a day; and the lodging rooms had from
two to four rough cots or bedsteads in them,
single rooms being an unknown luxury;
1886.]
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