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Significant letter describing business transactions that drove the growth of California as much as the gold found in the hills. Taylor writes to Jonathan S. Harris, his senior partner or employer, about his efforts to sell a store, "...I tried to sell to Harris Fitch but he would only offer 23 per cent on cost of goods and building including freight & I thought that not enough... I soon after had an opportunity to sell the building for 1150 dollars and the goods at 22 percent advance except the pain killer that is out on commission with Mr. Palmer who is in company with a Dr. Angle in the Drug business. The tobacco that was consigned to Joel is left in the store to be sold as they would not take it as the sale is slow there is more in this country than will be used in ten years..." He later asks that a letter be forwarded to "Mrs. White mother of Nelson White... it bears the unwelcome news of his death, he died on the 4th October of a fever he was sick several weeks he was taken car of by the Odd Fellows..." And as for poor Joel, he too has apparently passed on, "If you wish Joel to have a set of Grave Stones you can have them cut and shipped to me and I will set them. He has... boards with his name and date but they will not last..."