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Description

Highly detailed regional map of a part of the western Sierras, showing John C. Fremont's Las Mariposas Estate, extending from the Merced River near Benton Mills and Washington Flat to Bridgeport on Agua Fria Creek and Stockton, showing a large portion of California's Gold Country.

The map provides a marvelous topographical view of the region, and includes gold rush era towns, mills, mines, and creeks and other details. Several of the towns shown (including the locations of buildings), include Bear Valley, Mount Ophir, Princeton, Upper Agua Fria, Mariposas, Lower Agua Fria, Arkansas Flat, Guadalupe, Tannery and Bridgeport. Relief is shown by hachures and spot heights. Also shows a number of mineral veins.

John Fremont spent significant time in the 1850s attempting to develop a giant land grant in California. His development efforts wound up mired in litigation and was ultimately a financial disaster.

Streeter noted that:

Fremont . . . sailed to London in January 1861, to raise money 'to consolidate the debts incurred [by the estate] in the litigation of its title...and to increase its productive power. ' Fremont claimed the property 'is now producing from $60,000 to $100,000 per month, half of which, at least, is profit.' The money was not raised and Fremont never afterwards set foot on the property.

Rumsey notes as follows:

Fremont published the map and pamphlet (pamphlet not included here) to raise money for his estate. He failed and lost the estate to the creditors. Streeter: "It is the best map of the country about Mariposas I have yet seen." Peters mentions the map appearing in a book by The Mariposas Company in 1863.

Reference
Streeter 2865; Peters p 187.