J. Ross Browne, Government Agent (Part 2)

In August, Browne headed up the Oregon coast. There were several small settlements there, but there wasn't enough trade or good ports to justify establishing more customs officials. He did eliminate the position at Pacific City since the official never left Oregon City to perform his duties.

From there he inspected the Puget Sound ports, as well as ports on the Cowlitz River and the Columbia River. It was the same there as in Oregon, just not much in the way of commerce, though there was somewhat more population. He officially established Port Townsend as the port of entry.

He returned to San Francisco in late September. He found that not all of his orders had been carried out. He also found that some agents were actually living in the customs house, and also politicians and job seekers were hanging out there, playing cards and drinking. He also found a new problem. Cattle and other livestock were being brought into southern California with no duty being collected. He later recommended that livestock be free of duty to encourage settlement in the area. There were so many problems and corrupt or incompetent officials that Browne recommended the Treasury Department create a permanent position in California, though he didn't want it himself. He also brought official attention to the shabby treatment of the Indians at the Tejon Indian Reservation. He was able to get the current agent replaced with someone more competent.

After the first of the year, Browne was back in San Francisco inspecting the mint. It was still short of supplies. He rectified this by finding American supplies rather than rely on imports. He also established a new force of security guards both at the mint and the customs house. He spent the rest of the spring and summer visiting ports in northern California to see if customs inspectors were needed, but there still was too little population to justify it.

In the fall he returned to San Francisco where he continued to ferret out improprieties. He was able to get the San Francisco customs inspectors fired and a new man appointed, Milton Latham, who he considered competent. He also had Cyril V. Grey fired for misappropriation of funds.

In 1856, his health began to trouble him. His boss offered a different post to him that would be less arduous, but he didn't accept it. What he did consider was investigation of Indian Affairs in Washington and Oregon as he knew there were many inefficiencies. It was a good thing, because by now he had made a lot of political enemies in California. He had carried out his

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