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Volume 3 (1858-1859) (592 pages)
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Page: of 592
PROFESSOR C. C. SHELTON. 173
variety of plant, though the handiwork
of Nature has only been employed; nor
are flowers the only spontaneous production of this wonderful soil; hundreds of
leagues together are covered with a luxurious growth of oats, which, though
wild, are excellent food for the numerous
animals that roam at liberty among
them.
Shelton’s researches in California were
attended with much toil and many hardships, and frequently with imminent danger from hostile Indians or wild beasts,
and they were prosecuted without the
powerful incentive which prompted some
to brave as much for pecuniary gain.
Beauties of nature and the welfare of the
State were the nobler motives which inspired him to labor and endure... Though
Shelton was among the first to visit that
far-famed land, and had peculiar opportunities for gathering the gold which lay
hidden at his feet, this attraction was
quite eclipsed by those more congenial
to his nature, and which, by most persons, were wholly overlooked; consequently, he was poor.
When San Francisco had become a
populous city he founded a museum of
natural curiosities, gathered from that
and neighboring counties, which ought
to have been considered an invaluable
acquisition to the State; but gold, gold,
gold was the engrossing thought of the
people then; they could appreciate nothing else, and Shelton’s museum did not
attract sufficient patronage to pay expenses; his sordid landlord seizéd the
collection and sold it for the rent, recklessly scattering to the winds the treasures he had so laboriously obtained ; this
ended his principal, perhaps his only
money-making operation in California.
While in this city also his sanguine
hopes were doomed to serious delay; he
was introduced to many individuals who
fayored his plans, but who were not
ready at once to aid them; and thus the
weeks passed on in fruitless efforts to interest persons who could, had they been
so disposed, have assisted him, until the
time fixed for his return was near at
hand. His funds were exhausted, and
most men would have been discouraged ;
but undying hope sustained him still.
Fortune at length smiled auspiciously ;
by advice of friends he visited a gentleman in the vicinity of Philadelphia, and
submitted his views to him in detail.
This gentleman owned a large tract of
land in California, and had himself noted
the peculiar fertility of the soil. He regarded Shelton’s plans favorably, and
having had some personal knowledge of
him in California, had full confidence in
his ability to execute them, if properly
assisted; he corresponded on the subject
with another large California landholder,
living in New York city, and they, together, entered into a very liberal arrangement with Shelton, allowing him
unrestricted permission to cultivate their
land for five years, in the manner he
judged best. They advanced means for
the purchase of large quantities of seeds,
roots and trees to carry there; paid his
expenses back, and those of an experienced farmer to assist him, and were to
defray all subsequent expenses incurred
for labor and other incidental items, and
Shelton was to have haif the profits.
This arrangement promised much for
Shelton, and was so much better than he
had expected to effect, that he was greatly
elated by it. ‘The necessary purchases
were soon made, and all preliminary
matters adjusted, and a few days were
still on his hands before the sailing of
the steamer; then he just awoke to the
fact that two favorite objects which he
had in anticipation in coming to the
States, were unattended to: the one, to
visit a dear sister in Texas, and the
other, to get a good wife. The first he
must now abandon, for he must take the
steamer to be in time for the Spring