all along both
sides. Here we saw thousands of acres of land covered by growing
wheat without a fence to protect it.

Arriving at Oakland we crossed the bay to San Francisco on the 18th
of May, stopping at the Palace hotel. There I was called upon by
reporters of the several papers and was asked to tell them where
I came from, where I was going, and my opinions upon various
subjects. All manner of questions were asked and answered about
matters of no present interest. Our party visited many places of
interest in and about San Francisco. I visited General Pope, at
his residence at Black Point, the fort at the entrance of the Golden
Gate, the seal rocks and park. While here I met a great number of
very agreeable gentlemen and ladies, some of whom were from Lancaster,
Ohio. The letters given me by General Sherman introduced me to
prominent men, who were very kind and courteous. On the 25th, a
public reception was tendered me at the rooms of the Chamber of
Commerce, by the members of that body, the Board of Trade and the
Manufacturers' Association. This was an act of courtesy that I
did not expect, but greatly appreciated. The usual speech making
occurred. I was introduced by Henry L. Dodge, president of the
chamber, in flattering terms, and responded in a brief speech. I
recalled to them my visit to California with Colonel Scott in
connection with the Texas Pacific railroad, and the early connection
of General Sherman with the history of California. I expressed my
appreciation of the importance of California, and its enormous
development and influence upon the country since it became part of
the United States. I stated my views in respect to the silver
question, and the importance of maintaining all forms of money at
parity with each other, so that coins of both silver and gold might
"travel all over the world equal to each other in every land and
in every part." I insert two passages from this speech, which,
though it did not conform to their opinions and interests, was
kindly received by the intelligent body of merchants present. I
said:

"It is due to frankness and manhood for me to say that in the
country there is a feeling now, that if the present system should
be continued unchanged, the result would be that gold would be
demonetized, being worth more than silver as coined by the government
of the United States. The opinion prevails that the only thing to
remedy this is to buy the silver and gol