San Mateo County Gazette Redwood City, San Mateo County, California Saturday Morning, September 24, 1859, Vol. 1 No.25 OUR COUNTY The tax roll of our county has been completed, and is now in the hands of the Tax Collector for collection. From it we learn that the whole number of acres of land assessed this year is 148,408 acres. This does not include the land assessed by the lot, in village plats. Total valuation of real estate in the county, $618,666. Total valuation of improvements upon real estate $240,845. Total valuation of personal property $630,896. Making an aggregate of $1,490,407. Tax levied thereon, $1.55 on each $100 - making $23,101 in all. Of this there is, for State purposes, $8,942.44 1/4; county fund $7,452.3 ½; Court House fund $3,726. 1 ¼; Road fund $745.20 ½; indigent sick fund, $745.20 ¼; School fund, $1490.40 ¾ There are upon the assessment book the names of five hundred and twenty-three persons, of whom two hundred and thirteen as assessed with real estate. We shall at some future time endeavor to give some further statistics of the county as they appear from this book, but this week we have not had time to compile them. The last mail bad of the last contract between the United State Government and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company was carried on board the John L. Stephens by Postmaster, C.L. WELLER. It will be understood from this fact that our usual mail facilities are now at an end, and that we must henceforth depend principally upon the Butterfield Overland Mail. BRODERICK IS DEAD On Friday morning of last week, Senator D.C. BRODERICK breathed his last. However much or little we may have thought of the man in life, we can but regret his fall. Of the manner of that fall, it is unnecessary to say anything at this time. We gave the facts connected with it last week. …… He was essentially and truly the architect of his own fortunes. Born and reared in comparative obscurity, by his own energy he has marched onward and upward, until at a very early period in life (for he died at less than forty) we find him occupying one of the highest positions which the ambition of man could as aspire to, or the American people could give. … He came here in 1849, with no reputation, except that of being a ninth ward New York politician - very soon become a State Senator - from that, by appointment, President of the Senate, and eventually, by reason of the resignation of Governor Mc DOUGALL, for a short period, acting Governor of the State. He aspired to the United States Senate, and for four years, we think it was, he labored for that position with a power and an energy which has seldom been exhibited, and which was at length crowned with success. Since he has held that high position, his course has been antagonistic to the party which elected him, but it has nevertheless been fearless and independent. And for this very independent, and the energy with which he advocated the cause of his espousal, he is entitled to the respect even of his enemies. Cast off by his political party, he soon gathered around him another, of the leadership of which none had the right to dispute with him, and at the late election his course was endorsed by a very considerable proportion of the people of California. It is said by those who knew him best, that as a man he possessed many excellent qualities of head and heart - that even those who opposed him as a politician, loved him as a neighbor and a friend. He is also said to have been very successful in whatever business he undertook - that which he has expended thousands to accomplish a political end, he has never lost a dollar in any regular business transaction in California. He was a man of regular and temperate habits, of an iron constitution and a vigorous physical frame. He has fallen in the prime of life, and in all the strength of manhood. He is said to have been the last of his race, leaving no kindred behind to mourn his loss. But his untimely end will be deplored, to a greater or less extent, by a whole people; for it is characteristic of us as a nation, when one like him has fallen, to draw the veil of obscurity over all his faults and remember only his virtues. So should it ever be - in the grave with his body, let all animosities be buried. If he possessed any good qualities, let them be remembered and emulated. OBSEQUIES TO BRODERICK As soon as the death of Senator BRODERICK was known in San Francisco, all the flags were placed at half-mast - all the public and many of the private building trimmed in mourning, and throughout that and the following day the streets were full of men discussing the sad event. On Friday evening, the remains of BRODERICK, in full dress, were placed in a bronze sarcophagus and removed to the Union Hotel, where the body was laid in state until Sunday morning. On Saturday morning the spacious hall of that building was thrown open and throughout that day there was one living mass of humanity moving thither to take a last look at the dead. On Sunday afternoon, an immense throng gathered in the Plaza, where a funeral oration was delivered by Col. E.D. BAKER, after which a procession was formed and proceeded to Lone Mountain Cemetery, where appropriate religious services were held, and the body was interred. We have not space to give a detailed description of the proceedings and scene, but altogether it was a funeral pageant which perhaps has never but once been equaled in California. To see other old newspapers, visit http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/index.php