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Show A PROSPEROUS FARMER. Captain Codman, in a letter from S.mla Barbara, Cal., gives the following follow-ing sketch of a prominent man: "Colonel W. W. Hollister, who is well known on this coast as a political economist us well as a wealthy ranch ero. invited us to nass a dav at hia little farm of 3 600 acres, a small but favorite part of his estate of nearly 100,000 acres. Beside these, I may add, he owns 157,000 acres in partnership part-nership with Mr. Dibblee. In 1870 these gentlemen sold 20,000 acres for 370,000, beiug part of a Mexican grant purchased by them far almost nothing. Iu 1S74 the crops of this 20,000 acres cold for 1, 500, 000. As we picnicked in a dell siiaded by a forest of live oaka which arched their branches otffr our heads and formed an immense harbor, the colonel sat on a stump and related the story of his early life." THKi STORY OF A PROSPEROUS CAREER. 'T started with 8,000 sheep from Ooio," he said, "in 1853. By loss land robbery in various ways they were reduced to 800 when I arrived here. We came by the way of Salt Lake, and had it not been for the kindness of the Mormons we should never have got through. We were fourteen momhe on tbe way. When I struck the place where my home stands yonder, I sat down to rest while the 'Bheep were graiiny, and looking around at the beaulilul prospect I resolved to settle here. I look up a section, aud as my sheep increased and I got money I bought out Mexican grants. Well, I don't know," he continued thoughtfully, thought-fully, twirling his walking slick, "somehow I grew rich; -I couldn't help it. The nheep and the cattle would have young ones; I couldn't help that, could .1? The greasers wanted to sell out cheap; I couldn't help buying, could 1? Whose fault is it? They say I'm a land grabber. Weil, wouldn't they grab if they could? I bought the land at market prices, and I'll sell it at market prices now, in lots, small or large, to suit purchasers. Well, well," he added, after another thoughtful twirl, as his eye brightened with satisfaction, "my cattle and my sheep are dying off lor want of grass this year; Dobody offers to pay me for my loss, but I'm glad it will make some people happy." |