seemed disposed to know or care who or what I was, or anything about my mission, openly discussing the ruling prices for making these timber entries pretty much in the same manner that Wall street brokers would talk about the rise and fall of the stock market.
One man was particularly jubilant over the fact that he had secured the top figure—$300 bonus—not only for himself and wife, but for his two daughters as well, and was returning to his Wisconsin home $1200 better off than when he came out. in addition to having the expenses of a three weeks' vacation trip paid by the syndicate that had corrupted himself and those supposed to be dear to him.
Another person, of the Hebrew persuasion from San Francisco, was bemoaning his ill-luck in having got caught in the President's order of suspension before having a chance to locate his entire family on timber claims. It was amusing to hear him carry on about the matter, and in the bitterness of his heart, every branch of the Government, from the Chief Executive down, came in for a share of condemnation in having deprived him of the divine privileges of earning a few dishonest dollars.
It was apparent after my investigation of the records of the Susanville Land Office, as well as from what I already knew about the affairs of the Marysville Land Office, and from what I afterwards found out in connection with the situation at the Redding Land Office, that the timber lands of Northern California were being systematically absorbed, principally in the interest of Thomas B. Walker, of Minneapolis. Minnesota; D. G. Curtis, E. S. Collins and Charles H. Holbrook, of San Francisco, comprising the firm of Curtis. Collins & Holbrook Company; W. E. Wheeler, of Wheeler Brothers. New York capitalists, and the Diamond Match Company, which holds a complete monopoly upon its special production. The latter concern has since erected an immense plant in ButtePage 426
