National Finance and Public Money Settling the Money Question Government Ownership of Railroads and Telegraphs BY J. M. HORNER AND PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE AUTHOR. HONOLULU, H. I. HAWAIIAN GAZETTE Co. PRINT Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1898, by J. M. HORNER In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. THE AUTHOR AT 76 YEARS OF AGE. THE AUTHOR AT 31 YEARS OF AGE. PREFACE TO PERSONAL HISTORY. The following item was part of the testimony given by a young Hawaiian, who had been sent abroad, educated and brought back at the expense of the Government, which he had joined, with a party, to destroy, when being tried for his treasonable act stated under oath, "I was sent abroad, educated, returned and set down on the streets of Honolulu a pauper." After reading the above testimony, I felt sad, as I could realize the hopeless out-look, the heart-sinking of a man thus viewing himself in his youth, being possessed at the same time with the wealth of youth, health, strength and education, those particular qualifications that should, if coupled with energy and honesty, make a man more valuable to his country than his physical weight in gold. There was plenty of work, but he did not want work at the salary offered and hoped to do better by overturning the Government. No doubt as Horace Greeley said, "The darkest hour in the history of any young man is when he sits down to study how to get money without honestly earning it," which appeared to be this young man's situation. I thought when reading the above testimony of trying to counteract this feeling of hopeless despondency in some young men, by pointing to the acts of some noted Americans and other foreigners, who arose to distinction, and who were no better endowed when starting in life's battle than this young man confesses himself to have been ; but never as yet having tried to counteract such hopeless despondency, I will now attempt it in the way indicated ; but as few can ever expect to reach the pinacle of fame as statesmen, that Gladstone, Webster, Lincoln and others of that class have reached, or the eminence that Napoleon, Grant, Sherman and others attained as soldiers, or as Astor, Rothchilds, Vanderbilt, Gould and others attained as money getters. As it seems unwise to point to such as these for young men to pattern after, as it required opportunities as well as sterling qualities to raise men to such eminence, I conclude to refer to another and more numerous class of successful men who raised themselves by shear force of brain, brawn and honest industry from poverty to wealth and influence. To this, almost any ordinary American boy with health and industry may attain by pursuing a studious, diligent, honest and straightforward course. In looking around for an example to point to and not being satisfied as to whom to refer to by name, although I knew many, one suggested "take yourself you know more about him than any one else." So after some reflection I said "all right," so I pen this. THE STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS OF A BUSY LIFE. I was born on a New Jersey farm in Monmouth County, June 1 5th, 1821, where I continued to live until the end of my 2 ist year, when I was expected to shift for myself without money and. with but little business experience. I had good health, was industrious and ambitious, which impelled me to strive to be the best workman on the farm, to run faster, jump further, be the best ball-player, and always strove to be at the head of my class at school, (did not always succeed, but was awarded a premium by my teacher for "trying harder to learn than any scholar in school"). My star of hope arose early and promised me many things and time to acquire them. My early hopes have been more than realized, I never thought myself a pauper, but fully realized that I must rely upon myself and the "Great Father" for success, that I must take my chances among thirty million others, and await my opportunity. Industry, honesty and good judgment was to be my guide star, for success. I found them always in demand wherever I went, as I had never thought of success coming to me from any other source, it never did. After becoming my own boss, which all young men were supposed to be in New Jersey at the age of 21, and looking around and nothing better presenting itself, I hired to a farmer to work during the summer and fall, for nine dollars per month and board and washing. In the winter I taught a district school. Thus passed my twenty-second year, as happy a year as has ever fallen to my lot to enjoy. I was just as content working for thirty-five cents per day, as I was in after years, when my time for overseeing my business netted me thirty dollars per day, or when my net income exceeded thirty thousand dollars per year. Not seeing in New Jersey such opportunities as my heart craved, I went west prospecting in the spring of my twenty-third year, as far as Iowa, on the Mississippi river, returned in the fall and taught school again in the winter, went west again the following spring, returned early and again taught school. Nothing in the west seemed to suit, plenty of land, corn worth from seven to ten cents per bushel, a full grown ox, ten dollars, and other things there produced proportionally cheap. Many of the travelers and people living along the river, were shaking with the ague, farmer's living on bacon and "corn dodgers;" no flouring mill within forty miles of where I stopped in Illinois and Iowa, no money except what was left by travelers and immigrants, this soon left, being sent East by merchants to pay for supplies, business was mostly done by barter. So having no inclination to settle there I returned East as before stated, and in January, 1846, I married a neighbor's daughter, she is yet with me hale and hearty, daily superintending her household, her flowers, shrubs and lawn, and has proved a worthy help-meet for a pioneer, and now being surrounded by husband, children and grandchildren, she seems to enjoy life. We left my father's house next morning after marriage on what I may be permitted to call our wedding tour, for California, by the way of New York, Cape Horn, Juan Fernandez Island and the Sandwich Islands, having previously engaged passage on an emigrant ship, bound for that far off and almost unknown region, where we arrived in about six months, which, with the eighteen thousand miles traveled, renders this both in time and distance a rather uncommon wedding tour. Our journey was rather prosperous and upon the Whole pleasant, although we encountered a severe storm, as we approached the Gulf stream, another in the latitude of Chili in the Pacific Ocean, and a three days' calm as we approached California in July. War was raging in California when we arrived there between Mexico and the United States. The upper part of the territory was already in possession of the United States forces, which we were pleased to hear, and the lower part soon followed. Some of our company volunteered and went down with Col. Fremont, to help finish up the work, all of the male members of our company took turns standing guard for about one month in what is now San Francisco. The number of inhabitants of Yerba Buena (now San Francisco) when we arrived there, was said to be forty, our company of 168 persons made an addition to their number of about 400 per cent. After this digression, I will proceed. A small unproductive village like Yerba Buena, was no -place for an ambitious farmer, and as farming was my profession and I had brought some farming tools with me, I was anxious to get to work. So after about thirty days, James Light and myself with our families left the town to fill a contract we had made with Dr. John Marsh, to put in a crop of wheat on shares, on his ranch situated on the lower San Joaquin. We succeeded in getting in some 40 acres, which grew finely, as the land was good, and the rains were early and abundant that year. We used one span of oxen at a time, Mr. Light led them by a rope, while walking, at the same time scattered the seed wheat in the bottom of the last furrow, I held the plow and urged forward the team. The grain was covered about four inches deep. There being no further service for us at the Doctor's after the wheat was sown, Mr. Light returned to town and in March 1847 I moved over to the Mission de San Jose, about thirty miles distant, where I found farming prospects more favorable, and in its vicinity my large farming operations were afterwards prosecuted. Upon my arrival at the Mission I plowed in the Mission field and elsewhere, planted and sowed wheat, barley, peas, potatoes and made a nice garden planted with different kinds of truck. All of this sowing and planting was destroyed by grasshoppers, an affliction from which I never after suffered, although I farmed in that neighborhood thirty odd years. Later in the season I planted some late potatoes, they grew nicely; but before they matured, they were destroyed by cattle. The wheat sown at the Doctor's was harvested and stored in his granary, but when we called for our share the Doctor gravely informed us: "You have no wheat here, your share was destroyed by elk, antelope and other wild animals, my share alone was harvested." So we got nothing for our labor. Thus ended my first year's farming in California. Although I got no dollars out of it, I did get experience, which I profited by in after years. I had tested the soil in different places with several different kinds of farm products, and learned the most suitable seasons for sowing and planting. I supported myself from the proceeds of a small dairy, which I worked on shares for the owner, and from the labor I performed for others. Nearby I rented a piece of land from an Indian, and built a small house upon it and moved into it in the Spring of 1848, with a determination of making another farming venture that year. There being no fences or fence material for miles, I went to the Redwoods twenty-five miles distant, for fence material, I made a pen to hold animals, fenced a small garden plot and sowed it with various kinds of garden seed, intending to transplant them into the open ground later on, but human plans not being infallible, the plants were never transplanted, for the reason, that gold was discovered about this time, and, taking the gold fever, which broke out with epidemic violence, and took nearly all the people (ourselves included) off to the mines. We did not get much gold, but we got the argue without much exertion, and did considerable shaking. The gold fever having left us entirely, we returned home in the fall and in the healthy coast climate, the argue soon left us. We were a happy couple when we got back to the farm, although our garden was destroyed, our hogs had gone wild, our house was only walls, roof and outer and inner doors made of rough slabs, hung with raw hide hinges, our windows were muslin and we had "ground for the floor;" but it was our mansion, we enjoyed and improved it as time rolled on. There were two rooms in the house and a chimney went up from the division wall which accommodated a fire place in each room. One dark, blustry, rainy night a company of Indians (bucks and squaws) had got caught from home in the storm, and knocked at our door for shelter, we welcomed them in, and let them occupy the outer room during the night. No, we did not fear them more than we should so many children, we knew only one or two of them, but that with the happy indications of the rest of the company, on admittance convinced us, all was well. We closed, but did not fasten the door between us. During the night an ox with long wide spreading horns, with others of his race, was getting what comfort they could by sheltering themselves on the lee side of our house, there being no trees, no rocks, no fences or anything else behind which they could get for shelter; but this particular ox not being able to get close enough to the wall on account of his long horns, stood with the side of his head at the window, and by slipping his horn through between the wall of the house and the muslin window into the house a foot or two, he could then stand close to the wall and thus be better sheltered. We could not see him nor he us, but we gently felt of his horn; and did not molest him, as we were pleased to know, that even dumb animals as well as Indians could get comfort from our surroundings. We had had our experiences in the mines and had bid them farewell forever, fully determined, if we could not die without going to the mines to do it, we would not die at all. Our first born was now about one year old. Thus ended our second year's experience in California, and with but small accumulations. My mind of course turned to the farm, farming was my profession. I had a good piece of land, was living on it, and my experience gave me confidence in the soil and, as if the fates had decreed it, farm I must, and farm I did. My farm had no wood or timber upon it, fencing could only be obtained at the Redwoods, twenty-five miles distant. My 1847 experience had taught me that no success could be attained without fencing the land, as cattle and horses existed on the plains by thousands and on account of the water and green feed on and around my farm, made it their stamping ground, in the fall of the year. So I prepared seed with a determination of fencing, and farming all I could fence during the planting season of 1849, and on the loth of March, I started for the Redwoods to make rails and posts for my intended fence; taking with me three Indians (the best help I could get), four yoke of oxen, our tools and one wagon. Night overtook us about ten miles from our destination, where we camped, and during the night an unusual and unexpected snow fell completely covering the ground from the bay shore to the top of the mountains. The grass being completely hidden by the snow, from the horses and cattle, the latter came out of the hills, walked around through the valley bellowing and seeking food, but fortunately in two days the grass began to show on the plain, and in a few days longer, all was right again in the hills where we had to work. We kept ahead and reached camp in the woods before the next night. We worked some three or four days, preparing fence material, loaded up and reached home within the week. The Indians suffered some working in the snow, with bare feet, fortunately the sun came out bright and warmed the bare logs, posts and rails; the Indians would work a while in the snow, then step quickly upon some stick to warm their feet. We continued making trips to the woods at short intervals for fence material until the latter part of summer, when we erected our material into a fence. Meanwhile, we had plowed, planted and cared for our young crop. Thus we fenced and planted about sixteen acres. Potatoes was our principal crop, we had also onions, turnips, cabbages, watermelons and muskmelons. The crop grew well, one part of the fence was weak, and in the fall, the only green feed in the neighborhood, was within my fence, which proved an almost irresistible temptation to the hungry cattle, and that fact was a source of many anxious fears on my part, lest my promising crop should be destroyed by them, and I have to struggle on another year before I should make a success of my farming venture. The cattle having broken into the field a few times aroused my combativeness to such a pitch, as to cause me to abandon my bed in the house, and with blankets and gun, spend my nights in my field, by that means, I guarded and saved my crop. I did not injure the cattle, only aimed to scare them by the report of the gun, and sting the worst of them with small shot. I kept up this watchfulness, until rains came late in the fall, and started up green feed, after which the stock scattered and annoyed me no more that year. My first realization from my three years' farming venture, was two dollars paid me for watermelons in September of this year. Fortunately October and November brought to California a large number of gold hunters, coming both by sea and land; nothing seemed to be craved by the appetites of these people, so much as vegetables, many of them had, or were rapidly approaching the scurvy. They would eat a raw onion or potatoe with as great, and apparent relish, as though it was a nice flavored apple. The result, as I was the only farmer in the territory that had vegetables for sale, I was much sought after by customers from all sides, two wagons came to the farm several times, from the mines, two hundred miles distant and bought loads of vegetables from me, at fair prices. This crop proved to be worth about eight thousand dollars; but as an early heavy rain sent a flood of water over my field, from a brook near by, and continued so long, that nearly one-half of my potatoes were destroyed before I could secure them, help being scarce. However, what I did gather was a partial compensation for my long struggle, besides my success was gratifying and I put it down on the credit side of my ledger, as a further sum. Thus ended my farming venture of 1849. ^n the beginning of January, 1850, my brother William came to me by the way of Panama, arriving after a long and perilous journey. He went from New York to the isthmus in. a steamer, from the isthmus to Acapulco in a sailing vessel, and from there to San Francisco in a steamer, consuming six months' time on the journey. By the blessing of heaven he escaped the cholera on the isthmus, while his shipmates died by dozens. And he escaped starvation and perhaps a violent death by a fair wind springing up and wafting them safely into Acapulco, at the critical moment when the ship's company were about to turn cannibals and cast lots to decide who should be first eaten. My brother afterwards heard, that as he was more fleshy then others of the company, they were going to make the lot fall on him. My brother had also been bred to the farm, and was young (about 21) ambitious and very industrious. I received him as partner in my business, we worked and flourished together the next four years, perhaps as no other farmers ever flourished before in America, in so short a time. My experience, my location, my established business, our skill and industry, together with the property I had acquired, all became capital in our hands, and we worked them to the utmost of our ability, knowing we were almost the only farmers in the territory that year, there would be sale for all we could raise. Fortune is said to knock at least once at every man's door. We looked upon this time an opportunity, as fortunes knocking at our door, she found us at home, we opened the door and bid her welcome, and thankfully accepted her offer. We extended our fence, inclosing about 500 acres, we farmed what we could, and let out to two tenants a part of our land to be worked on shares, we supplying the teams, tools and seed. Our crop this year was comparatively large, and the soil being virgin, the product was of good quality, we bought out our two tenants at harvest time, paying them near twenty thousand dollars each for their share of the crops they had raised. Our gr.oss sales this year approximated $150,000, our onions sold for forty dollars per cental, tomatoes three hundred dollars per ton, potatoes one hundred and fifty dollars per ton, and other things in proportion. This crop was not raised and cared for on flowery beds of ease; help was scarce, until harvest time, the fencing had to be obtained at great expense and labor, in proportion, the same as in 1849, and as it was that year, so it was this, some part of the fence was weak, and had to be guarded, myself and brother done the guarding. Help getting plenty in the fall, this crop was gathered without loss. We established a commission house in San Francisco under the firm name of J. M. Horner & Co., for selling our own and others produce: which served us a good purpose in this and other vears. Thus ended our farming venture of 1850, we bought this year one hundred acres of land at- the landing on the Alameda river and laid out the town of Union City upon it. An historical fact, I mav be permitted to mention here. Sometimes after the mines opened in California, people were so taken with the mines and merchandising, that agriculture attracted but little attention ; which is not to be wondered at, as so many reports had gone out to the world that "California was hopelessly barren, purely a mining country." Besides reports had also gone forth of large and sure profit made by mining, and large fortunes by merchandising, besides the overland immigrants arriving in California at the close of the dry season, could hardly be blamed for considering the country barren as everything was then dry, and certainly looked barren. Those arriving by sea. landing at San Francisco, going up the Sacramento river and crossing the uncultivated plain between the river and the mines, and returning by the same route where no farming or gardening was to be seen. No wonder California's barrenness was reported by these. So extensive did the idea of barrenness spread ; that a company was formed in New York, to run a steamship line between San Francisco and the Sandwich Islands for the express purpose of supplying California with vegetables, they sent out a Captain Brown to look for a suitable place somewhere around the bay of San Francisco to construct their landings and depots. On his inspection tour around the bay he stopped at my farm, looked at the crops, then about ready for marketing, he also saw the Agricultural Fair held that year. He returned to New York and reported 'to his company; but I heard no more about the steamship company that was to supply the people of California with vegetables. In about three years from that time, California supplied not only her own vegetable wants; but all required for export and for ships, besides millions of pounds perished on the farms and in warehouses, no market for them. Since that year, general farming in California has not been very remunerative, as its resources were great and markets too far away. So thoroughly was the barrenness of California soils believed abroad, that a gentleman who had seen a report in the Eastern papers of my 1850 crop, was fully convinced that I had the only piece of fertile soil in the State, without it might be a few acres just on the outside of my fence, he thought if he could reach my place before anyone else thought of it, he possibly could secure it. He came overland, drove direct to my house, did not stop at the mines, although he passed them two hundred miles back. So bent was he in reaching my place and at once secure the few imaginary fruitful acres close to and on the outside of my fence. He came with team and prepared to farm. After looking around over the many thousands fruitful acres in Santa Clara Valley, he concluded not to farm, I bought his team, he left, and I saw him no more. We made extensive preparations for increasing our business in 1851. We bought some excellent farming land near Union City, fenced, built on and farmed it in addition to our home farm. We bought teams (horses, mules and oxen that had crossed the plains), imported agricultural implements from the Eastern States, iron fence and wire for fencing from England. By so doing miles of fencing was quickly, but not cheaply constructed; as each mile cost us over one thousand dollars. This year our crops were large and a ready market was found for all we raised, though at reduced prices from former years, as other farmers had got to work in different parts of the State, and thus the market was better supplied. We bought a steamboat (The Union) to carry our produce to market. This year our gross sales approximated two hundred and seventy thousand dollars. During the fall of this year, Professor Shelton, botanist held in San Francisco the first Agricultural Fair ever held in California, to which I was the largest contributor, and some months after I received the following letter and a silver goblet (the largest premium) from the Professor. John M. Horner, Esquire. Although you were recently presented with the accompanying testimonial of the public appreciation of your efforts to develop the agricultural resources of California. Yet I cannot refrain from adding my individual congratulations to those so universally accorded by our fellow citizens, if it be but to assure you that I heartly participate in them and fully recognize your right to the title of pioneer in this branch of public industry. Sir, it is true that the premium was not awarded by me personally nor by those who could be influenced by any preferences I may have indicated. But I have the consciousness of knowing that Messrs. Fremont, King, Snydcr and Saunders whose pleasing duty it was to select the most worthy of the candidates for the honor, did nothing more than echo the public voice in presenting you with this goblet. Take it then sir, no less as the evidence of the public esteem, than as proof of my individual regard, keep it, as a memento of successful enterprise and as a pledge of private friendship, and believe that no member of your family, however remote may be his generation from our own but will recognize it as an honorable token of the worth of his ancestor with more pride and pleasure. Sir, very truly, Your friend and obedient servent, C. A. SHELTON, San Francisco, 3Oth March, 1852." This letter is copied here, as a partial confirmation of my own statements. We extended our agricultural operations in 1852 by purchasing more farming land, fencing and placing tenants upon such as we did not wish to use ourselves, they working it on shares. After planting was over, I sent my brother back to New Jersey on business and he brought out with him my father and mother and all their children and children's children, two of my wife's sisters, and a brother, and some other young people, some twenty-two souls. He arrived home in the fall all safe, and in time to take the place he had left in the firm of J. M. Horner & Co. for selling our large crop now ready for market. We continued our prosperous career, buying more lands and farming them ourselves or letting them out to tenants until our potato crop reached the enormous quantity of twenty-two million (22,000,000) pounds in 1853. We also had this year fifteen hundred acres of wheat and barley, besides cabbages, tomatoes and onions in quantities. California had not only supplied herself with vegetables this year for the first time; but produced a large surplus which could not be used or sold and was never sent to market. There being no mill in the State to convert wheat into flour, we built one at Union City with eight run of burrs, at a cost of eighty-five thousand dollars, and ground ours and others grain. The following is the award of the committee on the first flour ever exhibited at an Agricultural Fair in California. Committee's report on California flour 1853. The undersigned, committee on flour, assembled at the store of Colt and Beals to investigate the eight samples of California made flour exhibited at your (Coin. Warren's) Agricultural Fair in competition for the award of a fifty dollar cup. The committee of three are old New York flour merchants, and have given each of the samples submitted to us their full share of attention. We would premise, that three of the samples were inferior in quality, two defective in color, and for the credit of the mills, should never have been sent to the fair, evidently being made of unsound and inferior wheat. One sample badly bolted, five samples were all of choice quality, and deserving of special commendation, and each worthy of the brand of Extra Family Flour. The committee reduced by careful comparisons and tests, the five samples marked A. C. E. F. G. down to three C. E. F. and after comparing them for a half-hour finely decided to mix up the three samples into dough, which test reduced us to two samples E. and F. and though unanimous in our judgment that E. was in all respects the best flour, and accordingly decided that that was the premium sample, and entitled fully to the award of a silver cup. We feel convinced that the three are worthy of special mention. After declaring the award, we proceeded to open the key to the initial, and found that "Horner's Mills" of Union City was represented by "E;" that the "Bernice Mills," J. F. Houghton agent, was "F;" and that "C" represented the "Washington Mills," W. Van Court, of San Francisco; "G" represented the "Happy Valley Mills," Fitch & Co.; and "last though not least, "A" represented the "San Joaquin Steam Mills," Calvin Page Si Co. proprietors. Since making our award, we have called in a fourth New York flour dealer, and to whom the eight samples were submitted; and we are happy to say that the gentleman without hesitation threw out the three inferior samples as unworthy a place in the exhibition, and of the remaining five samples, his opinion, in all respects, corresponded with our own, which, to himself was a surprise, though to the committee a very satisfactory test, that we had decided righteously. All of which is respectfully submitted. H. CHANING BEALS. E. T. PEAS. WM. S. ALTON. Committee.- We equipped and run a stage line in connection with our steamer, as far up the valley as San Jose, opened sixteen miles of public road, mostly through our own lands, and fenced the larger part on both sides. These roads have never been changed, save to narrow them to sixty-six feet, we had fenced them one hundred feet wide. Money and other values increased rapidly in our hands, and having more confidence in banks of earth, than in commercial money banks, we seldom permitted our deposits in the latter to exceed, at any one time, thirty thousand dollars, before we started some enterprise or invested it in real estate, mostly the latter. However, the unsettled state of land titles rendered investments in land almost as hazardous as depositing in commercial banks, as we found to our cost. Under the administration of Mexican laws, but little trouble would have arisen; but the United States, claimed the right and did oppose all land titles, and required proof of their genuineness to be made before its land commission, reserving the right of appeal to its District Court, in the event, the commissioners decided against the Government, and to appeal again to its Supreme Court, should the District Court decide against it. Thus years of costly law suits, and in some cases ruin to owners of land titles before final settlement. We suffered from the laws delay in settling titles, and from squatters keeping from us by force, a goodly portion of our lands, being encouraged by the Government, to do so; for as long as the Government withheld final confirmation the squatter continued to hold possession, however good the title, no court or jury would oust them from your land. We suffered more mentally and financially during these years from the above named causes, than from all floods and four-footed animals in former years. When I arrived first at the Mission all the mission lands, outside of the buildings and a small vineyard, was believed to belong to the Government, and it was placed temporarily in the hands of Padra Real, a Catholic Priest, as agent, to him I applied for and did rent a certain piece of land; but when I commenced work upon it, 1 was met by an Indian, who claimed the right to occupy that land. Upon enquiry of those supposed to know I was satisfied he held a right there; but had no papers. So after that I dealt with him instead of with the priest. I finely bought his claim for six hundred dollars and raised my first paying crop upon this land. Before my second crop was harvested one James F. Reed, a merchant living near me, brought to me a map of this land, and what was claimed to be a provisional grant by Mexico to another civilized Indian. This annoyed me, but as there was no record writhin reach and rather then risk a law suit, I acknowledged his claim and paid him seven thousand dollars for it. The Indian however when selling to him had reserved to himself a life time right of occupancy; but as he only wished to use a small piece of the land, there was no conflict between us, we lived very friendly, although his house was just across a small brook about one hundred feet distant from mine. After a few years he wished to leave, and I bought his life right to the land for six hundred dollars. I must testify, according to my belief, that if there ever was a Christian Indian this was one. He naturally seemed to scorn all wrong acts and always tried to do good, anyone wishing to do the fair thing could always get along with him. He was quiet and intelligent much above the ordinary Indian, spoke readily the Spanish language and aped as far as he was able the Spanish people. These qualifications no doubt had their effect upon the Mexican officials when they condescended to make him a grant for four hundred acres of land. After the immigration of 1849 there began to be some hard characters in the country, and acts of violence was frequently reported. He proposed to me one day, "that as there was so many bad men in the country, and as we were friends and neighbors and each had a wife and family to care for, we should each protect the other's family, when either was from home, if I was from home he would look after mine, if he was away I was to look after his," to which I agreed. Upon my return soon after, from a night's absence, he came to me and stated "he had got up three times during the night, and each time went quietly around my house and all being still within, believed all was right, and went back to his own house." He was more honest than I, for I never done so much as that when he was away, though nothing happened to them. While engaged planting our 1850 crop one Juan B. Alvarado and Andrew Pico, both ex-Governors of California under Mexico, sent an agent who presented to me a title or grant from the Mexican Government to these gentlemen, of the whole ex-mission tract containing thirty thousand acres, including my farm, which I had bought twice already, and wanted to sell me the whole tract. In submitting these papers to lawyers for their examination, their opinion was the grant was a good one. So there was no alternative for us, but to leave, rent or buy, after considerable hesitancy on our part, enquiry and negotiation we in connection with George B. Tingly, a lawyer, and E. L. Beard, a farmer on this same ex-mission land, bought their claim for which we gave our joint notes for forty-nine thousand dollars ($49,000), to be paid at some future time. When the notes matured neither Mr. Tingly nor Mr. Beard were able to meet their share of these obligations. I reluctently paid the money. Mr. Tingly deeded to me his share of the property, Mr. Beard also offered to deed to me his third interest, but I permitted him to retain it, and he afterwards repaid to me the money I advanced to him. Soon after this grant was confirmed by United States Land Commission and an appeal taken to the United States District Court. While this title was being adjudicated the squatters took possession of much of these lands, particularly those inside our fences, which we were not cultivating. We paid taxes upon the property and built some twenty-five miles of fencing, yet realizing nothing from them, except from those parts we had under cultivation, the squatters alone prevented. Confirmed grants in the lower courts, with good fences, did not constitute either ownership, or possession, according to the squatter's creed of justice and law. Their creed appeared to be "the good old plan," "let those take who have the power, and those keep who can." We purchased nineteen hundred and fifty acres of a confirmed grant of excellent land, bording on the north-western boundary of the Mission tract, and paid for the same, fifty-eight thousand five hundred dollars, we raised our heaviest crops on these lands, fenced and farmed all of them, either direct or by tenants; with the exception of some small pieces envolving only a few hundred acres, the above comprised all our purchase of real estate in what is now Alameda County. California. Some San Jose City lots and a hotel involving an outlay of nine thousand dollars comprised the extent of our possessions in Santa Clara County. In 1851-2 we in connection with others purchased what was known as "Potrero Nuevo," comprising 2,100 acres (a SpanishMexican grant), now a part of the city of San Francisco. Our undivided share of the property was four hundred and fifty acres, we joined in the expense of surveying and staking out streets and lots upon it. This property was well fenced by the bay, by creeks and a stone wall, the former owner used it for a pasture. This land was soon covered with squatters, contrary to our rights, under our grant and our right of possession as indicated by our fence. They run their lines around large pieces and commenced selling at cheap rates to innocent parties, in small lots and blocks according to the plan we had surveyed and staked them; by which means the squatters and those purchasing from them soon became so numerous, that no jury empanelled to try the case would ever decide the case, however clear the proof. Soon after this purchase we bought a confirmed grant containing near five- thousand acres, and paid for it two hundred thousand dollars. This land is situated just above the last purchase (the Potrero) and it is now a part of the city of San Francisco. We spent considerable money on this land in surveys, fencing and improvements. Some six hundred acres adjoining the city, as it then existed, we laid out in lots, blocks and streets, and made them conform to those already laid out by the city. We named the streets, which names are still retained, and the property is assessed as situated in "Horner's Addition," and in a separate set of books from other city property. The above includes about all of our real estate purchased in California up to 1854. These lands with our personal effects comprised our property at this time. Our personal property consisted of steamer "Union," costing $18,000; flouring mill, costing $85,000; stage line, warehouse, farm houses, out houses, 30 miles of fencing, costing $900 per mile, farming tools and livestock of good quality and sufficient in number to enable us to plant and harvest our large crops in good season. From the above showing it may readily be conjectured, that I was a man of note at that time, or at least a man of liberal means, in so young a State as California then was, and among so few people as it then contained. And inasmuch as we had produced this wealth from the soil of a new and untried country, and no charge was ever made, that we had acquired any part of it by speculation, or by overreaching our neighbors in trade. So the credit due us was readily granted by all acquainted with the circumstances. The present facilities for working in California would render the work done by us, the first years of our farming there, too insignificant by comparison to refer to: but when the situation, the material, tools, animals, and the class of labor we had to use, is considered, it may not look so easy. The country was in a wild state, not a tree or bush upon the land to be used, fencing to be hauled 25 miles over a natural road bed, bridges, none except what we made ourselves over brooks, rivers and slough. Indians were our first workmen. Thirty miles had to be traveled to get either blacksmithing or milling done, and seventy-five miles to reach a market. The walls of houses were made of sundried brick, joists and rafters were (in some cases) dragged 25 miles over rocks and gravel part of the way, which wore away much of the stick before reaching their destination; no nails, spikes or hinges were to be had, raw hide must answer instead, sheeting was fastened to the rafters with raw hide and the doors were hung with raw hide hinges in some cases. A cart, even such as high-toned ladies (Spanish) often rode in (and there was no dispute about their being ladies, educated, and with the manners and politeness of a Chesterfield), were made entirely of wood and raw hide, no nails, spikes, rivets or bolts were to be had for the purpose. The wheels were hewn out of solid logs, the spokes, hubs, felloes and tire were one piece, the wheel left a track on the ground when in motion, six or eight inches wide, and was from two and one-half to three and one-half feet high, the frame of the body was made of hewn timber, as was the axle-tree, the stakes were round poles about six feet high with other poles lashed horizontally to the stakes with raw hide strings, a bullock hide laid on the bottom, answered for bottom boards to the cart and another stretched tightly across the top of the stakes served as a sunshade, sometimes the inside was lined temporally with costly red blankets, which made the inside look nice and cosy. The ox yokes were without bows, made of a straight stick three by six inches square, five and one-half feet long, straight with the exception of a small curve near each end to fit the upper part of the oxe's neck near the horns. This stick was lashed to the head and horns of the ox, just back of the horns, by a long strip of raw hide one and one-half inches wide. A substitute for ox chains was raw hide. Fences were made of stakes set in the ground and poles lashed to them horizontally with raw hide. The usual way of driving two or more yoke of oxen was, one man on horseback to lead and stop the team when required, two more men on horses, one on each side equipped with a long sharp stick to punch up the oxen, and make them follow their leader, and one in the cart, also armed with a sharp stick to prick up the rear span, should they require it. To turn the team to the right prick or scare the left hand ox to make him step ahead of his mate, this turns their heads to the right, as the yokes being tightly fastened to their heads, when one's head turns, both heads turn. The rich, although worth many thousands of dollars could not, or at least did not, ride in carriages, there was no carriages or horses broken to draw in harness in those primitive times in the territory. The Indians were the principle mechanics, they made the carts, saddles, shoes, houses and did most of the agricultural labor. We did not only produce the wealth above referred to from the elements ; but at least double that amount had been produced by us, which we had paid away for labor, material and other expenses. After 1849 g°°d farm laborers commanded seventy dollars per month and board, mechanics were proportionally high. We employed many of all classes, some employed by us were saving of their earnings, and thus laid a foundation for the fortunes they afterwards acquired. The position I held in the community at this time made me much sought after as an endorser of notes, a signer of bonds and a leaner of money to the impecunious. As I had been raised in a purely rural District of New Jersey and unacquainted even in theory with the "tricks of trade,'' the evil effects of note endorsement or loaning money without adequate security, I loaned and endorsed freely, hoping to do good thereby. I have no recollection of refusing anyone who asked for an accommodation or requested to have their note endorsed up to and including 1853. Our prospects at this time were bright and our property ample to gratify every wish, and yearly increasing, and as I nor my brother either ever drank, smoked, gambled or dissipated in any way, no cloud of doubt ever crossed our mental visions, that our property should not always continue to increase, as we attended strictly to business. Our crops were large this year, we viewed them as ample to pay every endorsement and every obligation we had out, as well as to pay the expense of harvesting and marketing them. Our property was unincumbered, our business large and in full operation. Such was our possessions, prospects and position when the first wave of money panic struck California, and swept over America with such disastrous results from 1853 to 1859. It is said that during two months in 1857 in New York, discounts at the bank fell off $24,000,000, deposits $40,000,000, interest went up to 36 per cent, per annum, and six thousand failures, involving an indebtedness of $300,000,000. Yet how small is this large sum, when compared to the direct and indirect loss endured by the whole people during these years of panic. The breaking up of business, the depreciation of property, the enforced idleness of labor and machinery and the check to enterprise, all combined to make up a loss impossible to compute; besides the above, the heartache and mental anguish arising from loss of business and property. Men of families, wealth and enterprise driven from their homes and reduced to poverty, and in consequence on the Pacific Coast, self destruction was resorted too, to end their misery; some poisoned themselves, some shot themselves, some went crazy, etc. The sum of this suffering was great and should be reckoned with the pecuniary losses; all of which were brought on the people by our imperfect currency laws, which caused the panic. This loss cannot be measured by dollars and cents, no power but the supreme can take account of the sufferings of the human heart. Upon the first appearance of the panic on the Pacific Coast, business began to shrink, property decreased rapidly in value, money gradually withdrew from circulation, business failures were frequent, larger interest was exacted for the use of money, more property was demanded as security for a given sum, laborers were turned adrift by thousands (some becoming tramps, families of the less fortunate) doubled up, that is, two or more were compelled to occupy one house in the towns, which before was hardly thought ample for one, and squeezed along with scant clothing and still scantier food. At the same time thousands of tons of farm products were never sent to market, no sale, good potatoes ten cents per bushel, but there was no ten cents, all this happened in the Golden State where millions of gold and silver were dug from the mines every month, and tons of it were hoarded in banks and treasury vaults, gloated over and worshipped, a man with a few hundred dollars in gold coin was independent, while the owner of property that cost thousands of gold dollars, was hard up and in many cases let it be sold for taxes, and never redeemed it, so worthless was property considered during the pinching part of the panic, many with ready money, held it for purchasing properties at these depreciated rates. Later money could not be borrowed on real estate, but real estate could be bought under the sheriff's hammer for one-fourth, one-sixth, etc., of what the property was worth a few months before. These are facts, brought upon the country by its imperfect, cruel currency laws. I am writing from memory but these things are indelibly engraved upon my mind. I was an active participant, I may say an acute sufferer in those scenes. The large endorsements above referred to, now came on to be paid by us, and as endorsement creditors were exacting, money must be had, products yielded no surplus in these panicy times from which we could draw; we for the first time commenced mortgaging our property and at this time money was not to be borrowed in San Francisco on our San Francisco real estate. We did however succeed in mortgaging it to C. K. Garrison for $50,000, interest 4% per month, compounded monthly and payable in advance. He drew on New York, we received the money there. This $50,000 was about one-sixth of the amount we had paid for the property and the improvements, but it was enough, as it swept away the entire property. Thus slipped from us $250,000 Our $18,000 steamer went for $7,000 to pay an endorsement creditor. In parting with our $85,000 flouring mill we did a little better but the panic continued so long and was so heavy upon property the purchaser sold it for $5,000, this property had been depreciated $80,000 by the panic. The San Jose Mission lands that had cost us $70,000 including improvements .went from us for an endorsement debt of $10,000. However the squatters had done as much to render this property of little value as the panic. Our home farm of 1000 acres which we had purchased four times went off for an endorsement of $7,000. How our other property went I am not clear, only on one point, that is, it left, houses and lands, horses and cattle, and farm products at the depreciated rates, effected but little in paying endorsement or other debts running at a high rate of interest, compounded monthly, with the addition of sheriff's and lawyer's fees and court expenses. Property was so seemingly valueless no creditor wanted it, it was money, money and nothing but money was wanted, and money was not to be had. It had ceased to circulate except to a limited extent. Although my endorsements did not exceed $40,000 the high rate of interest compounded monthly and other expenses forced from us over $70,000 before they were fully satisfied, and that was paid by the sacrifice of property sold at one-sixth of what it had been worth the previous four years. Property costing us $280,000 in gold coin was swept away to pay a forty thousand dollar endorsement. If the payment of the endorsed notes had been exacted before the panic, we could have paid them without embarrassment, in fact, had the panic not come the endorsed notes would have been paid by their maker, as he had ample means before his property was rendered almost valueless by the panic. The above briefly shows how the property referred to was produced and approximately how it was rendered almost valueless by that curse to enterprise and industry, a money panic. We had no fears nor thougths that the laws and customs of our country, that forces all business done with money, all taxes, tariffs, debts and dues to be paid in money had not provided amply the money necessary for doing the business of the country, even should private parties hoard theirs ; but by bitter experience we have learned different. Our comparatively large property was swept from us so quickly as to be bewildering. Had we been caught in the stock market or been spendthrifts gamblers, idle and dissipated, our property would not have left us more surely and more quickly. Yet the difference is wide in principle between the way ours left us and the way property may leave the gambler; while the latter brings the evil upon themselves, they are brought upon the industrious and enterprising, by the government shirking a confided duty, and thus opens the way and renders possible money panics. A hint of its evils may be seen in the foregoing pages. Had I not been burdened by endorsements I should still suffer, by the breaking up of my large business, and I was only one of a class, numerous all over the country. How cruel! Oh, how cruel! in our Government to leave the country subject to the curse of money panics, when a simple law would prevent it. The money system outlined in this book if adopted would render money panics impossible. The above losses and suffering stimulate the production of this book, had I a good cause to labor for. Incidently I will remark that as afflictions seldom come single, it did not in my case, as aside from the loss of my property I was otherwise afflicted. My only daughter sickened and died while my property was being confiscated. I was personally afflicted, a lock-jaw set in with a heavy fever, which lasted for a long time, my life was despaired of by my physicians and friends. An unexpected favorable change took place; but my recovery was slow and my sickness left me with but little use of my legs; and for weeks I used a crutch whe,n moving around, I stated in the commencement of this narrative that "my star of hope rose early and had never set beneath the horizon." At this time it nearly went down, I finally regained my strength after months of mental and physical suffering and with it came slowly back my ambition, for all of which I am humbly thankful to my Heavenly Father, not for these only am I thankful, but as in the case of Job I have been blessed again with health, wealth and an influence beyond my most ambitious anticipations and last though not least have been blessed with more sons and daughters. I have lived longer since my loss and suffering than I had before those troublesome times. I was granted a new lease of life by the Great One, and for a purpose not known to me. However, in the absence of any other more worthy visible object, I have thought perhaps it was required of me to show many of the evils resulting from our present money systems, and invent, work out and make known a more perfect way. Whether this is a correct surmise or only a welcome thought, the endeavor to perform it has a been delightful labor. Inventions of various kinds, improvements of machinery, plantation cares, schools, temperance, politics, my duty as a legislator in the formulation of what I consider good laws, and preventing the enactment of bad ones, and other objects have in turn occupied my mind, but none was ever clamoring for consideration so persistently as this money system. It has been impressed upon my mind with a persistence not to be ignored and I have willingly accepted the charge and expended some money, and much time and labor upon it. It is well, perhaps, that a part of the burden of the great question of money supply should rest upon one that had suffered, thereby qualifying him more perfectly for the work. So my property and business leaving me at the same time, gave me opportunity for reflection as to why and how my property had left me without my consent. I learned by studying the question that it was our imperfect money system that had caused the trouble, that money panics were of frequent occurrence in times past, that their evil effects were wide spread and very disastrous, that I was onlv one of a numerous class that had suffered in this particular panic, which in connection with the 1873 panic, caused me to think long and deep as to the cause and cure of money panics. I readily satisfied myself as to the cause, but the remedy was not so easily arrived at. This book is the result of my labors. I verily believe the system herein outlined is constitutional, that no money panic can ever occur in any country where this system is in operation and we think all must believe the same who reads and mentally digests its contents. The loss of my property placed me financially where I had commenced seven years before, as nothing of much value was saved from the wreck, except my experience, my prospects even were dark, cloudy and discouraging. I gave up my carriage team and my watch from my pocket, and commenced physical labor again to support my family. I did the best I could, the panic ceased, and its evil effects wore gradually away from the country. I rented my old homestead and after a time bought it again, this making the fifth time I had purchased it, the paying for it was slow work. One of my first ventures after recovery from my sickness was the building of a bridge over the Alameda river, under a contract with the county. I saved over three hundred dollars out of the job. I contracted to drain a small lake in the neighborhood, got well paid for my labor, as in both cases I personally did much of the labor. The owners of a piece of land in San Francisco not having a clear idea as to their title to it, offered us (my brother and myself) a share of what we could get out of it, if we would work it up; we got several thousand dollars for this labor. About this time we had an extra dry year in California, not enough rain fell to mature a crop, and believing vegetables would be a paying crop in the Fall, we looked around for an opportunity of producing one and finding Alameda River Mill was idle and likely to remain so for sometime, having no grain to grind, and in consequence the water rolled into the bay unmolested. We rented the use of the water and some land near by, made our ditches and in June commenced to wet, plow and plant a crop of vegetables, mostly potatoes. From this venture we (my brother and myself) realized some seven thousand dollars. So by little we regained our feet; but meeting with loses in other farming ventures from rust, drought, unsaleable crops and other causes, our progress was slow, in fact rather backward the last few years we remained in California. In 1879 my brother and I made a contract with Mr. Claus Spreckels to go to the Sandwich Islands and cultivate sugar cane for him on shares. In fulfillment of this contract we sold our farms, chartered a schooner and placed therein our families,. 18 souls; our household effects, our horses and farming tools, and started for the Islands, where we arrived on the 25th of December, 1879. We landed on Maui this time, it being a different Island from, the one we had stopped at on our wedding tour thirty years before. The schooner quickly discharged and we commenced hauling our lumber which we had brought with us for building our houses on the land we were to use, about six miles distant. We erected our houses and soon commenced our plantation work. We had 500 hundred acres of land alotted to us. My brother and sons worked the western half, I and my sons the eastern half, under the firm name of "J. M. Homer & Sons." My boys did all our plowing and team work in preparing for planting and growing our first crop of 240 acres. From the time we commenced preparing for planting until we got returns from the sale of our sugars two full years rolled away. In consequence of our planting a much larger area than we contracted to plant the first year J. M. Horner & Sons borrowed $40,000. Our crop did well, exceeded our expectations in both yield and the price for which it sold. We returned the borrowed money with the interest and had a net profit from our venture of $25,000. Mr. Spreckles could not let us have any more land to cultivate, and as 250 acres was rather a small plantation for five able men to superintend, seeing it only required replanting once in four years, and further, Mr. Spreckels' superintendent did not want any planters on the plantation, he preferred doing the planting as well as the milling. So I and one of my boys went prospecting around the Island of Maui, finding nothing encouraging there I and another boy went prospecting on the Island of Kauai, openings for cane planting such as we were looking for we did not find on that Island. We also prospected the cane belt on the large Island of Hawaii. Here we contracted with owners of the Pacific Sugar Mill Co. to do one-half of the planting for their mill, and one of my boys took charge of the business. Here we made considerable sugar, increasing the yield on our half of the plantation from 500 tons per year to 2,000. We had accumulated there a property we valued at $150,000, but the "McKinley Bill" so effected sugar property here we sold it willingly for one-half of that sum. On this same prospecting tour we rented 1,250 acres (since increased to 2,000) of good wild cane land, with a view of starting a new plantation. This was rather a discouraging work to undertake, as the land, though rich, was covered with a jungle of tress and brush and had all to be grubed and cleared before it could be used, at an expense of $33 per acre. Besides habitations for superintendents, quarters for 150 or 200 laborers and accommodations for more than half of that number of horses had to be provided, as well as the horses themselves, and plantation tools, roads, bridges, (a wagon wheel had never yet turned upon the land), fencing and mill had all to be built, as well as raising the cane. The building of the mill and bringing the plantation up to a paying point would involve an expenditure of over $300,000, to provide this sum was no small concern, as our own means were small when compared to this sum. However, our unprecedented success in making our first crop gave confidence to people of means that whatever we undertook in the way of cultivation would be a success. So we readily found means to carry on the planting department of the plantation. A gentleman contracted with me to build the mill, he to own one-half when built and we the other half provided we repaid to him one-half the cost of its construction, with the interest within a specified time. The mill was accordingly built at a cost of over $180,000 and we returned his money as agreed, and thereby became the owners of one-half of the sugar works and all the planting interest, which gave us three-fourths of all the sugar manufactured at the works. With the exception of four half dry years our crops have been good and sometimes excellent. Not wishing to carry all our eggs in one basket we have running in connection with the plantation a cattle and horse ranch, where we raise all the horses required on the plantation and some for sale. There are 400 head of horses and mules on the ranch, besides those used on the plantation, over 2,000 horned stock and 200 dairy cows. So the plantation and neighborhood is supplied with butter and beef from the ranch, and we dispose of the surplus fat stock elsewhere. The past few years we have invested a few thousand dollars in the cultivation of coffee, which is already a paying venture. I served as a member of the Board of Supervisors in Alameda County, California, and two sessions as Noble in the Hawaiian Legislature. RETROSPECTION. Had my crop .of 1849 failed, California no doubt would have been at least one year longer supplying itself with vegetables, particularly potatoes, as I had all the potatoes that were raised in the State that year, and if my farming venture had failed this year, as it had the two previous years, there would have been no seed for planting in 1850, or had I not been in the State how long it would have been before some one would have produced the first crop, is a question difficult to answer. Yet a first crop seemed necessary to give confidence in the business. A few people came to look at my first crop; but it was too small to attract much attention. After my second was produced others began to take hold of the business in a small way. Our third crop wrought wonderful changes in the minds of some mechanics, sea captains, lawyers, college professors and other classes, went into the farming business, but unfortunately for them, by the time they got fairly under way the bottom dropped out of the market and most, if not, all, lost their money and labor. Despise not the day of small things. I may truthfully state I never looked back with regret over my California losses. I did for a time harbor resentful feelings against some that had aided in my financial ruin, and seemed to gloat over the fact that I had been brought down from what they thought my high position. No one that must depend solely upon himself for success should despise or shun the day of small things, but "strike out unaided, depend on no other." "Strike and keep striking, till you hit the right spot." "Perserverance captures the game." I never looked upon myself as a pauper, I always endeavored to keep myself employed, when I could not do so I worked for others. One time out West in order to find some thing to do I worked for nothing for a short time and found myself. (It was however, a donation to a church.) I did this partly to get acquainted with the contractors and those who had work to do; that I could get acquainted with them and they with me, we were all unacquainted with each other. I wanted to show them that I was on the work. I had some money with me, but preferred to work and keep it than do nothing and get short. I soon found all the work I wanted, my last work there paid me four dollars per day. To show the importance of looking after and husbanding small things I will relate an item. In the summer of 1845 I was boarding with my father and teaching a district school. In his corn field were sharp corners and crooks in his fence, leaving a few square feet of land here and there, which he could not cultivate with his teams and consented that myself and brother could dig it up and plant potatoes in it for ourselves, which work we did mornings and evenings so as not to trench upon our daily duties. Little did we think that seven years from that time we would have raised and sold for gold coin one million dollars' worth of potatoes in a strange country three thousand miles away. We did not anticipate much of an income from what we were then doing; but it was exercise and a lesson for us, as it was the first time we had ever attempted to produce wealth from the elements, working under our own dictation. Producing wealth from the elements has been our occupation since, and several millions besides the one referred to above has been produced under our superintendence. 150 men was about the extreme number employed by us at any one time in California, here the average has been nearly double that number. The point I wish to make is, we raised some potatoes, dug and buried them to protect them from the winter's frost. They were yet under the frozen ground in January, when I was ready to start for California, I sold my share of them for five dollars. When I got to New York I added two dollars to the five and bought a Colt's six shooter pistol. I was told "you are going to a country occupied by savage beasts, and still more savage men, and you must go armed to protect yourself." When I got to California it was in the throes of a revolution, a war was raging between the United States and Mexico. I carried my rifle and pistol wherever I went prospecting, but seeing no one I wanted to shoot and no one wanting to shoot me, I concluded my pistol was useless and traded it to a Spaniard for a yoke of oxen, (the first animals I ever owned) and with them I plowed for and planted my first crop of vegetables in California. From this small beginning grew the large business referred to. Five dollars' worth of potatoes in New Jersey was a small capital for starting a large farming business in California, but it had its effect in helping me to a yoke of oxen. If I had idled away my mornings and evenings I would have had no potatoes; no potatoes, no five dollars; no five dollars, no pistol; no pistol, no oxen; no oxen, no plowing and experimenting in 1847 and '48, and perhaps the foundation would never have been laid for the large business I afterwards built up. A young man starting out to hew for himself a character and a fortune without assistance must not despise the day of small things, for small renumeration he must be willing to accept, or even no remuneration at all until better opportunities present themselves; he should be humble enough to pick up, earn and save the pennies. It is his school days, the doing things in a small way may be the means of qualifying him for handling a large business if it ever presented itself. The valuable superintendent is the one who understands and works up the. details of the business, and if the details are neglected success is uncertain. Had I not saved my small earnings it is doubtful of my ever having been able to prospect in the West or pay my way to California, and after I got to California had I been unwilling, or from lack of the necessary qualifications unable to handle the plow and guide the team myself, and work on alone under disadvantages and discouragements, I may then have been from home when fortune knocked; but I was there ready when she knocked, took hold at her bidding and went my way rejoicing. After my first success others followed my plows, worked my teams, planted, harvested and marketed my crops, made my irrigating and draining ditches, built my buildings, fences, etc., as I directed. My business was large, but I never employed a superintendent. I kept hold of my business, bossed it and, in fact, was absolute monarch. My first year's struggles I worked with my head and hands against great odds; but it was the struggle that made possible my after achievements, which as elsewhere stated, proved perhaps, the most prosperous farming venture from so small a beginning, in so short a time ever recorded in America up to that time. It must be remembered that the wealth referred to above was all produced from the elements, by subduing the earth and making it yield up its treasures to us. This may encourage some young men who are compelled to work their own way in the world, not to get discouraged, wilt down and think themselves paupers, as did the young educated Hawaiian referred to in the beginning of this narrative. If you have health, strength and youth at command, you are in possession of the most valuable earthly blessing possessed by man. They are blessings that scores of people would willingly pay you a million dollars for if you could deliver the goods. But fortuately this kind of wealth cannot be bought, or sold; and if you properly use it, every earthly comfort is within your reach. Don't be afraid of working yourself to death, "Rust consumes faster than labor wears." If hard work of head and hands was killing, I should have been dead at least twenty years ago, instead of now being hale and hearty at the age of seventy-seven. Young man husband your present wealth, don't destroy or waste it by smoking, chewing, drinking, gambling or other dissipations as these all consume your wealth of time, health and strength and your acquired wealth to gratify them, when you gratify them long enough you then may in truth be a self made pauper. Senator William Y. Horner who died in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaiian Islands, on the 2ist February, 1898, is the brother named all through this brief biography. He was born October 2ist, 1827. He was one of the most industrious, level-headed, trusty and honest men that has ever been my lot to know. His word was as good as his bond. JOHN MEIRS HORNER. Kukaiau, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands, March 12, 1898.