Transcription:
Dr Benjamin Wash D.C. Dear Sir: Of all the Californians I know General Bidwell in my opinion best deserves a place in
Statuary Hall. From first to last of his long career he was our most conspicuous enthusiastic leader in the making of this
State. Taking part in commercial, political military affairs, establishing schools churches, building roads etc. In particular
he was a great farmer. The greatest of this West In the early days while others riddled the Sierra gulches in a wild storm
of energy the whole atmosphere peoples all seemed yellow with gold dust, he proved made known the far greater wealth of the
soil, plowing, sowing, planting, making innumerable experiments with all sorts of grains fruits for everybody's benefit.
That Bidwell was not the only man to strike roots grow high broad in the mighty work goes without saying but he has alwasy
been in sight as a patriarch of the old style, 03556 steadfast upright, towering in massive grandeur of character amid
his fellow pioneers like a Sequoia amid its companion firs pines. And so I think his name will stand in history - a benevolent
master builder - the Washington of California.