,transcriber's note3 ,table of ,contents created by ,transcriber and placed into the ,public ,domain4 ,,contents ,preface #c ,the ,country and ,its ,resources #e ,the ,gold ,region #bd ,advice to the ,miner #cc ,towns of ,california1 and ,what ,relates to ,them #di ,the ,harbor of ,san ,francisco #ee ,directions for ,entering the ,harbor of ,san ,francisco #ee ,regulations for the ,harbor and ,port of ,san ,francisco #ef ,the ,towns of ,california 7continued7 #eg ,errata #fa ,,california ,,as ,,it ,,is1 ,,and ,,as ,,it ,,may ,,be1 ,,or1 ,a ,,guide ,,to ,,the ,,gold ,,region4 ,,by ,f4 ,p4 ,,wierzbicki1 ,m4 ,d4 ,,san ,,francisco1 ,,california4 ,,first ,,edition4 9999 ,,san ,,francisco3 ,,printed ,,by ,,washington ,,bartlett1 ,,no4 #h1 ,,clay ,,street4 #ahdi4 ,,copy ,,right ,,secured4 ,,preface4 ,the residence of several years in the country together with his familiarity with its whole extent1 not excluding the ,gold ,region in which he passed more than four months rambling over its mountains1 and even crossing the ,sierra ,nevada to the verge of the great ,western ,desert1 give the writer of these pages a degree of confidence in the belief that by presenting this work to the public1 notwithstanding the numerous books that have already appeared upon the subject1 he supplies the desideratum so much needed at this moment1 and renders justice to ,california that of late suffered a little in her reputation by the indiscretion of some of her friends4 ,,the ,,author4 ,,san ,,francisco1 ,,sept4 #cj1 #ahdi4 ,,california4 ,,the ,,country ,,and ,,its ,,resources4 ,the country lying between the ,sierra ,nevada and the ,pacific ,ocean1 and bounded at the north1 though somewhat indefinitely1 by the ,oregon ,territory1 and at the ,south by the ,lower ,california1 confined by the late treaty of the two neighboring ,republics to the line three miles south of ,san ,diego1 is known as ,upper ,california1 a country now engrossing the attention of the civilized world with its future importance4 ,there is no other instance known in history where a country just emerging so to say1 from obscurity1 immediately acquired such complicated and multifarious relations1 not only to the nation of whose territory it is only a small portion1 but to the whole civilized world1 as ,california has4 ,in view of these various relations1 we propose here to consider the subject of ,upper ,california4 ,before ,california can answer all those expectations1 the realization of which the world with good reason looks for1 an increase of population must be secured for her4 ,to effect which it will not be very difficult1 if to its natural advantages1 the government of the ,union will add its efforts to promote by every legislative and administrative measure the influx of new settlers4 ,but in all its proceedings1 liberality should be its motto1 and none of that miserly policy that is afraid of losing an acre from its lands or a dollar from its treasury4 ,california holds in its bosom resources that no other country can boast of comprised in so small a territory--its mineral wealth1 its agricultural capacity1 its geographical position1 conspire to make it in time one of the most favored lands4 ,and it will lie in the power of the government either to accelerate or retard the unfolding of its future importance4 ,when considered in point of mineral productions1 if allowed to be developed by capitalists1 ,california is capable of becoming an important centre of the commerce of the ,pacific4 ,here we find in the neighborhood of the ,clear ,lake1 about a hundred and twenty-five miles north of ,sonoma1 ,lead1 ,copper1 ,sulpher and ,saltpetre2 on the ,south side of ,san ,francisco ,bay1 ,silver-mines have been found in the vicinity of ,pueblo de ,san ,jose2 ,quicksilver mines which are pronounced to be richer than those of ,spain1 are already being worked to a great profit in the same region2 ,coal strata have been also found in the coast range of mountains near ,santa ,cruz1 in the neighborhood of the ,mission of ,san ,luis ,obispo1 and near ,san ,diego4 ,california ,coal seems to be in the intermediate state between the anthracite and the bituminous2 it is not as hard as the former nor so soft as the latter2 it burns more easily than the first1 and does not give out so smoky and unpleasant a flame as the second2 it ignites easily and burns with a very pleasant flame without much smoke4 ,iron is scattered through the mountains of the country1 and we have no doubt that a workable mine of it will before long be discovered4 ,we mention not the gold washings that are being worked so successfully at present1 for as respects their duration and the developement of the industry of the country1 they scarcely deserve the attention of the economist be they ever so rich2 as all other mines are more beneficent in their influence to the progress of a country than gold mines4 ,these will become the means of advancing the prosperity of the country only when a regular system of mining by sinking shafts into the rocks shall commence1 which it is to be hoped will be done ere long4 ,the labor expended in working these various mines would give a firm support to the agriculture of the country1 which at this day is totally neglected4 ,there is no country1 probably1 where the soil is so grateful to the hand that cultivates it4 ,there is almost no plant1 grain1 or fruit that cannot be raised here4 ,rye grows wild on the skirts of the gold region towards the ,sierra ,nevada2 oats cover completely the coast range of the mountains2 wheat and corn grow luxuriantly on all the plains1 notwithstanding it rains only in the winter season2 potatoes1 onions and every other kind of garden vegetables with very little care grow to a very large size and of excellent flavor4 ,some of these vegetables can be kept growing all the year round1 such as onions1 peas1 and some others4 ,every description of fruit trees seem to be natural to the soil1 for they attain here a great perfection4 ,the apple1 the peach1 the pear1 the apricot1 the fig1 the cherry1 the plum1 the grape1 the pomegranate1 the citron1 the orange1 the olive1 the currant1 the gooseberry and various other berries are found here either cultivated or in a wild state4 ,the inhabitants of the country have not done much towards the culture of any fruit trees or shrubs2 and that is the reason the quantity of any fruit is very limited1 when compared with the wants of the population and the capacities of the soil4 ,knowledge and industry with very little exertion would increase the quantity not only to supply the wants of the country but even to a super-abundance4 ,the pear and the olive seem to have been the favorite fruit with the ,priests of the ,missions1 as they have raised them in large quantities and of excellent quality4 ,the ,california olive is among the largest known1 and in flavor surpasses that of ,france2 the varieties of the pear are numerous and delicious in quality4 ,the grape vine grows throughout the country1 from the extreme north down to ,san ,diego4 ,excellent grape is produced at ,sonoma1 at the ,mission of ,san ,jose1 and some other points4 ,the best however1 or where it was made the best use of1 is that of the ,pueblo de los ,angeles4 ,the wine produced there by several vine growers is of excellent quality2 in the opinion of many judges in the matter1 it is superior to any wine that ,spain or ,portugal can produce4 ,its color1 its flavor and its strength are sui generis2 it wants only to be known to be sought after by amateurs2 and there is no doubt but its culture and the exportation of it will extend rapidly with the increase of commerce on this coast4 ,the most celebrated wine at present is that made by ,m4 ,vignes1 a ,french gentleman who settled in the country some fifteen years ago and was the first to plant a vineyard in this region4 ,there are two qualities of it1 red and white2 the latter is more inviting than the former by the very beauty of its color4 ,the growing of the grape vine and of the olive may be made a very profitable branch of foreign commerce1 if there were men to attend to the business2 settlers from the ,south of ,europe could develope this branch of industry to great advantage1 and could not fail to make themselves opulent4 ,there are in the country appropriate spots for the culture of rice and the sugar cane3 the former could be easily raised on the overflowed lands of the ,san ,joaquin and on the creeks of ,san ,francisco ,bay4 ,cotton even might be raised here1 but we think one could employ his time more profitably in some other business1 as cotton is so cheap elsewhere4 ,hemp grows wild in different parts of the country4 ,there is yet another branch of industry at which we have not heretofore so much as hinted1 but which would prove for ,california one of the richest mines of which she could boast2 we mean the raising of sheep4 ,the climate of the country and much of its surface are admirably adapted for the purpose2 in fact1 as it proved a source of wealth to ,new ,south ,wales1 it would be equally so to ,california2 a great similarity of climate of the two countries guarantees the result4 ,in this way every portion of the country would be turned to advantage2 the mountains now lying barren would be a grazing ground for the sheep2 and the valleys now trodden exclusively by cattle and horses would be given up to the plough1 and there would be no more livestock raised than the actual wants of the country require4 ,merino rams could be easily procured from ,oregon1 ,peru1 or even ,new ,south ,wales1 to improve the native breed of the sheep4 ,he who enters upon this business the first will lay the foundation for a colossal fortune which he can realize in a few years4 ,the face of the country being broken up into mountains and having large valleys separating the two coast ranges of mountains into the sea coast range on the west1 and the spurs of the ,sierra ,nevada on the ,east1 offers an ample ground for the shepherd and agriculturalist4 ,the valleys south of ,san ,francisco ,bay lie almost parallel with the sea coast1 gradually receding with it in a ,south-east direction4 ,this gives an opportunity for the ,north-west winds1 which prevail on the coast1 to sweep over them1 and thus temper the heat of the sun1 renovate the air1 and carry away over the snowy mountains any miasmata that might be suspended in the atmosphere1 and which if left undisturbed might prove a prolific source of disease4 ,this accounts for the extreme healthiness of the sea coast of ,california4 ,the portion of the country that is less salubrious than the rest of it is confined between the ,sacramento and the ,san ,joaquin2 fevers seem to be dominant there1 yet even there people can get acclimated and enjoy good health for years4 ,in point of climate ,san ,francisco and ,san ,diego present a striking contrast4 ,the former being so much exposed to the ,north-west winds has a very disagreeable temperature2 but it is nothing more than disagreeable1 as fogs and winds have their periods there2 it is however1 far from being unhealthy2 with ordinary care and prudence1 one in a few months gets acclimated1 and cannot but enjoy perfect health4 ,its winter1 notwithstanding the rains1 is more agreeable than its summer1 when fog and chilling winds prevail4 ,this climate extends only the length of the bay2 it improves as we recede farther south4 ,on the contrary1 in ,san ,diego the climate is most delicious and equable2 neither enervating by excessive heat1 nor disagreeable on account of ,northern blasts4 ,rains are scanty1 yet vegetation is luxuriant wherever the soil is good4 ,we may observe here in regard to the climate of ,california in general1 that for the sake of health1 summer dress should be entirely dispensed with2 the nights throughout the coast are cold1 and every new comer is more liable to suffer through neglect of this precaution than even the natives4 ,woolen dress is never oppressive here1 but always beneficial4 ,strangers1 if they suffer1 owe their illness to the oversight of this fact1 together with the excesses that some of them commit4 ,the agriculture of a country should be made the basis of every branch of industry and trade2 these latter should1 so to say1 feed the springs of the former4 ,in ,california every facility is offered to the farmer4 ,the working of the various mines will guarantee him a profitable sale of all his productions4 ,the exterior commerce naturally following the working of mines1 will equally contribute its share in favor of the agriculturalist4 ,the ,american whalers scattered throughout the ,pacific ,ocean to the number of nearly #gjj1 will come to ,california for fresh provisions if they have the security that they will run no risk of losing their crews on their arrival there4 ,it will be the duty of the ,federal ,government1 as well as of the local authorities1 to devise measures that will give this security to all shipping4 ,the government squadron that will be constantly stationed in the ,pacific1 will also draw its provisions from ,california as soon as she shall be able to furnish them1 since it will be less expensive to the ,government1 and more beneficial for the service2 for much of the stores that are now shipped round ,cape ,horn at considerable expense1 become unfit for use by the time they are wanted by the ,navy4 ,such are the unfailing sources from which the labor of the farmer will be liberally paid2 but they are not the only ones4 ,every year will see them expand and always working for the advantage of the agriculturalist4 ,it is not necessary to be gifted with an extraordinary foresight to predict that as soon as the industry and enterprise of the ,americans take a fair footing on this soil1 the commerce of the country will grow daily2 the trade with ,china1 with the ,islands of the ,pacific1 and with the whole western coast of ,america will be ere many years1 in the hands of ,american citizens resident in ,california1 which will be made a depot of the industry of the whole ,union4 ,to swell this commercial tide beating against the shores of ,california comes the railroad that must inevitably be built across the territory of the ,union1 and whose terminus must be on the ,bay of ,san ,francisco4 ,it may take many years before this work will be accomplished1 but we have no doubt of its being sooner or later entered upon4 ,we have a particular right to express our faith in the accomplishment of the work1 as we were the first1 at least to our knowledge1 who1 five years ago1 prophesied on a public occasion1 the union of ,new ,york with ,san ,francisco by means of the iron bars laid across the continent4 ,at that time it was more difficult to foresee than it is now1 and probably those who then smiled at our enthusiastic visions of the future1 will now agree with us that the time is not far removed when the ,pacific shore railroad will pass into the facts of history4 ,the accomplishment of this work will appear less difficult when we consider that one half of the proposed railroad is already built--we mean the distance from ,new ,york to ,natchez4 ,now1 combining all the results of the different branches of industry above spoken of1 and which can and will be exercised in this territory whenever there shall be a sufficient number of inhabitants for the work1 is it difficult to foresee the part ,california is to perform in the civilized world8 ,and all this will ultimately turn to the especial benefit of the tiller of the soil4 ,the country can sustain several millions of inhabitants with the greatest ease possible4 ,the apparent drawback upon the agriculture of the country in the eyes of a farmer from the ,states is the comparative scarcity of timber and water2 and he is more disagreeably impressed1 if1 arriving by land1 he beholds1 first of all1 the extensive plains of the ,sacramento4--,should he come from ,oregon he feels home-sick1 and is willing almost immediately to turn upon his heels for his well wooded home4 ,but the ,sacramento plains are not the best representatives of the country2 they are good only for a scanty population2 the want of an abundant supply of wood and water is only apparent at first sight1 and particularly to those whose first idea of farming is to clear away the woods from the land they are to settle upon4 ,the same time which the farmer in ,oregon devotes to the clearing of land can be1 if necessary1 devoted to looking for and securing a lasting spring of water that may answer for all farming purposes--a thing very easily done1 if one possesses a little knowledge and industry4 ,we can say safely1 that there is hardly a spot in ,california on which water cannot be found if looked for2 although frequently on the surface there may be no signs of it1 yet the ground1 notwithstanding this1 is so percolated with it that it needs1 comparatively speaking1 but little labor to strike upon a lasting spring4 ,we doubt not that those who have means would find it profitable to sink an artesian well1 if the land require it1 which work would not be very expensive here1 because there is never an occasion to go very deep in search of water in ,california4 ,by what we have said we do not mean to imply that the necessity for these wells will be felt throughout the country2 far from it--there are not only numerous streams in the hills that never dry up1 offering fine mill sites1 but others that wash the plains can be turned to agricultural purposes with all ease4 ,at one time1 when ,california was under the direction of the ,spanish priests1 it was like a garden2 but the ,mexican misrule blasted it like the ,northern wind when it breathes upon a budding flower4 ,those who have not seen such things before1 would be surprised at finding wheat and corn1 the principal grains that are raised here1 growing luxuriantly in plains where there are but scanty rains4 ,we have seen excellent potatoes grow on a slope of a hill in the ,bay of ,monterey4 ,this is undoubtedly owing to the moisture brought from the sea by winds1 nightly dews1 and to the fact that the sub-soil is always more or less moist4 ,there is a remarkable advantage in the climate of ,california for the farmer2 the seasons and their peculiarities are so well known that he can count almost with certainty upon the results of his rural labors4 ,although timber cannot be found on every spot that is arable1 yet we may safely assert that there is a sufficient quantity of it through the country to satisfy all the wants of the inhabitants that are yet to settle here4 ,the coast range of mountains from ,oregon down1 is quite plentifully wooded2 particularly near ,botega on the ,north and ,santa ,cruz on the ,south side of the ,bay of ,san ,francisco4 ,there are already from six to eight saw-mills in the country1 and there is yet room for more4 ,in fact1 in our opinion1 if the ,american farmer get rid of his stereotyped notions of farming1 and using his intelligence1 adapts himself to the climate and the state of the country1 he will reap a golden harvest much more abundant than anywhere else2 and even we would go farther and assert that he will do so with much less labor than in any of the ,states4 ,in connexion with the farming interest we cannot overlook the excellent state of natural roads throughout the country4 ,a good road enables the farmer to dispose of his produce and greatly diminishes his rural labors4 ,there are but a few1 if any1 countries that can boast of so good natural roads as ,california4 ,from ,san ,francisco down to ,san ,diego1 a carriage may pass along the valleys almost upon a beaten track1 although everything in relation to roads is at present completely neglected4 ,in ,spanish times they were in a better state1 for the ,priests then used to make their journeys to ,san ,diego in carriages all along the coast4 ,a very little labor would make them even now all that roads need be4 ,not less important to the farming interest1 as to every interest in the country1 is a railroad uniting the ,states on the ,east side of the ,rocky ,mountains with the ,pacific shores4 ,the advantages of such a ,national work are numerous1 and if the people and the government of the ,union understand fully its importance1 they will lose no time in undertaking it4 ,the practicability of the work is not to be questioned2 the country through which it should pass1 and the energy and enterprise of the ,american citizens are sufficient guarantees for its feasibility4 ,the immense advantages in a commercial point of view to be derived from such an enterprise are indisputable4 ,the trade of ,china1 of the ,islands of the ,pacific and the whole ,western coast of ,america1 will be brought so much nearer the ,union that it will not fail to pour immense wealth into her lap4 ,she will become really a formidable commercial rival of ,great ,britain1 and a common carrier to the whole of ,europe4 ,it will bind the whole ,union with more indissoluble ties2 the sectional interests of each ,state will be mingled and merged in the common interest made fast to the ,pacific shore4 ,to ,california individually1 such a railroad will be of great consequence1 as it will make it a centre of an extensive commerce1 and will bring to her a sufficient population to develope all her internal resources4 ,once before we have indicated the route for such a railroad1 and we will take this opportunity to enforce it upon the public still more1 as farther reflection and information upon the subject enables us to do even with more reason than before4 ,the projected railroad across the continent should start from the ,mississippi near the mouth of the ,ohio1 or at such a point that the navigation will never be liable to be interrupted by ice2 thence to the vicinity of the ,arkansas2 thence along the prairie ridge which separates the waters that flow into the ,arkansas from those which flow into the ,mississippi and ,missouri1 to the point where the road passes from ,missouri to ,new ,mexico1 and by ,san ,miguel to ,santa ,fe2 thence up the valley of the ,rio del ,norte to the mouth of the ,abaca creek2 thence up the creek to the town of the same name1 and thence through a pine forest of low sandy hills ninety miles in length to the ,rio de la ,plata1 which is a tributary of the ,san ,juan4 ,the latter is a tributary of the ,colorado4 ,it should cross the ,colorado to the ,northwest side and proceed along the trail from ,santa ,fe to ,california to a point between the ,mahahve river and the ,san ,bernardino mountain2 thence through about ten miles of low hills to the great valley of the ,san ,joaquin2 thence down that magnificent and fertile valley1 about five hundred miles on a level1 to the tide water of the ,bay of ,san ,francisco4 ,by this route the road will pass over a dead level of about eight hundred miles at the eastern end1 and about five hundred miles at the western2 it will have no mountains to cross1 will be nearly free from snow in all parts1 will afford1 for ,new ,mexico1 an outlet to both ,oceans1 and terminate at the best part of the western coast of ,america4 ,the point of the terminus of the railroad is by an accident1 so to speak1 already selected with a good deal of discernment2 it is called the ,new ,york of the ,pacific1 situated at the upper part of the ,bay of ,san ,francisco1 known here as ,suisun ,bay4 ,an enterprising company1 at the head of which is ,col4 ,stevenson1 have bought a tract of land at the mouth of the ,san ,joaquin1 where it mingles its waters with those of the ,sacramento1 and are already building a town4 ,its situation for the terminus of the railroad is very advantageous2 it is level2 has abundance of land to expand upon2 it is in the neighborhood of grazing farms2 its climate is healthy1 as is the rest of the south bank of the ,san ,joaquin2 well-water can be found there within a few feet of the surface2 the river is deep enough to admit large vessels close to the shore1 and its water here is fresh and sweet2 ships can water here with the greatest facility4 ,the vessels going up the ,sacramento pass within sight of it4 ,it is a spot very judiciously selected for a town1 and we have no doubt it will grow1 as the proprietors spare no efforts to make it acceptable to new settlers4 ,but the railroad should not stop here2 it should branch away along the shore to the point where now the town of ,martinez is being laid out1--a very pretty site facing the straits of ,carquinez2 thence it should strike the valley of ,san ,jose--one of the richest spots in ,california and which would support1 a million of industrious inhabitants--and following along the coast terminate at ,san ,diego4 ,the advantages of uniting the two opposite points of the country by means of a railroad1 will not only help its speedy settlement--an important consideration in many respects--but will be equal to gaining a free port on the coast of ,mexico for the exclusive benefit of ,american citizens4 ,by the means of ,santa ,fe and ,san ,diego1 should the railroad be constructed as indicated above1 the ,union will have the command of the largest share of the ,mexican trade4 ,so far as we know1 and we have taken considerable pains to ascertain the fact1 we may assert that there is no better route for a railroad from the ,states to ,california4 ,no other passage through the ,sierra ,nevada can be found but the one we have indicated4 ,there is none to be found between the heads of the ,sacramento and ,san ,joaquin rivers4 ,we have rambled over that region1 and the conformation of the country gives us confidence in saying that it is not at all favorable to such a passage2 and besides1 supposing that such a passage could be found1 a single fact in relation to the subject will destroy all hopes of effecting the object2 we mean that from the line where the auriferous region terminates1 to the very ridge of the ,sierra ,nevada--the region of granite1 occasional limestone1 and ,masses of sand-stone--snow lies for six months1 accompanied with intense cold2 the depressions of the mountains are filled up with it to such a degree that the tops of the highest trees only peep through it as if they were but so many insignificant bushes4 ,in fine1 the snow levels the tops of the mountains into a continuous plain1 as it were1 through which the melting sun alone1 by degrees1 can effect a passage towards the end of ,june or the beginning of ,july4 ,this is the time when the ,snowy ,mountains can be traversed4 ,the government a few weeks ago sent an expedition in search of such a passage through the ,northern portion of the gold region about the head of the ,sacramento river4 ,we feel sure that the attempt will be fruitless4 ,it would be well1 on the part of the government1 to look for passages for military roads leading from the ,states to the ,pacific1 or to take advantage of those already discovered4 ,there ought to be at least three such roads2 one leading to ,oregon1 another to the north of ,california1 striking at the head of the ,bear ,creek1 and the third taking a southerly course to ,san ,diego4 ,these roads would offer great facilities to the emigrants from the ,states1 who never should take the same track in large companies1 on account of the scantiness of grass4 ,the military posts thus established would keep in check the roving tribes of ,indians1 offering security to the emigrants4 ,there is already1 considering the character of the country through which it passes1 a very good road made by the renowned mountaineer1 ,greenwood1 leading by the head of ,yuba and striking at the ,bear ,creek valley1 till it reaches ,johnson's farm on the confines of the plains4 ,this road may be made better and much shorter1 if it should follow from the ridge at the head of ,bear ,creek valley1 striking at the head of the north fork of the same creek1 and following it along a little towards the ,yuba side1 then again turning towards the ,bear ,creek1 and continuing so till the hills acquire a more confused outline1 and finally striking ,johnson's farm4 ,by this route the journey would be shortened several days1 and the difficult descent at the junction of the ,north ,fork of the ,bear ,creek with the same creek would be avoided4 ,the military roads thus disposed would give a security to the settlements from horse thieving ,indians1 who now frequently make incursions upon them1 carrying away herds of horses and mules1 and sometimes even pick up an unaware traveller on his journey4 ,the present disposition of the troops is of no real service to the country4 ,they are stationed in comfortable and quiet quarters in towns where they are the least wanted1 and the thieving ,indians are allowed to make nightly excursions into the settlements1 and to infest the roads4 ,under the ,spanish government there were different military posts established in the country1 and the troops in detachments were made constantly to traverse the country in different directions from post to post1 thus keeping always on the road1 they kept in check the predatory ,indians1 who1 by the way1 are neither very brave nor formidable in numbers4 ,according to our notions1 soldiers are not kept for the purpose of meddling with politics and living always in towns2 they should perform the service that the country may need at their hands1 although that service may lead them into camp life4 ,since the occupation of the country by the ,american forces1 the inhabitants complained bitterly of the frequent depredations of the horse thieving ,indians1 but the powers that be listened with indifference to them1 and offered no effective remedy for the evil1 and it does not seem probable that the present military authorities will do any better for the country1 judging from the disposition they have made of the forces4 ,the inhabitants1 if they can combine1 will have to take the subject into their own hands1 for it is even doubtful whether the highest authorities of the ,union will deign to look into the wants of the benighted ranchero of ,california4 ,however1 we will not lay the faults of the past government at the door of the present one2 we will hope still a while longer for the best at its hands4 ,it is of no small importance to those who wish to settle in ,california to know the state of landed property in the country2 it will be but following their wishes if we offer a few pertinent remarks upon the subject1 which we will do after a few preliminaries4 ,a line drawn from the coast eastward that would pass at the southern edge of the ,clear-lake valley2 then another that would go north and south1 intersecting the former1 touching the western side of the auriferous region1 and following it down to the frontier line south of ,san ,diego1 may be considered as enclosing the inhabited portions of the country4 ,there is very little public land within the above described lines1 as it is almost entirely occupied by proprietors or covered by titles4 ,the government1 therefore1 cannot expect to find much in the settled portion of the country that should come under its immediate control in the shape of public lands4 ,the land on the north and east sides of the imaginary lines we drew1 is either unoccupied or inhabited by rambling tribes of ,indians4 ,we may say that the whole auriferous region is occupied by ,indians in its whole extent1 and the oak is the frontier line of the ,indian dominions2 beyond that line the undisputed possessions of the pine and the bear commence4 ,the wild ,indians of ,california are probably the most inferior race of all the ,aborigines of the continent2 they lack energy and spirit2 they live on roots1 acorns1 pine-nuts1 insects1 and occasionally on game1 when they can catch it1 or on horse or mule flesh when they can steal it4 ,north of the ,bay of ,san ,francisco1 and between the ,sacramento and ,san ,joaquin rivers1 some of the ,indians live in the families of the settlers1 or near their farms1 working for their subsistence and an occasional blanket4 ,these are called in ,spanish1 very properly1 ,indios manzos--7tame ,indians47 ,the others live in the woods1 rambling frequently from spot to spot and sustaining themselves in the way we have already mentioned4 ,on the south side of the ,bay of ,san ,francisco and the ,san ,joaquin rivers1 the ,indians are more numerous1 and particularly as we go further south they are more spirited and enterprising in thieving than those of the north2 and those particularly on the southern frontier of ,california are brave and formidable4 ,the ,indios manzos are sufficiently numerous in the settlements here1 and some thousands of them were living at the ,missions4 ,the wild ,indians in this portion of the country occupy the mountains back of the settlements2 amongst them are now found in large numbers1 those who1 after the ,mexican government succeeded in ruining the ,missions1 fled into the mountains and resumed their former life4 ,in these mountains are found numerous beautiful valleys1 well watered and full of game of every description2 the climate is said to be very benign4 ,it would be very difficult to estimate accurately the number of ,indians1 both tame and wild1 in the country2 we therefore will not offer any supposition of our own on the subject4 ,the government at ,washington will find itself somewhat embarrassed in selecting a course of conduct with these ,indians2 they have been accustomed to a different system of management than that of the ,united ,states4 ,they cannot be removed1 in justice and humanity1 from the country1 for there is no place to remove them to where they could subsist2 it would be dooming them to destruction2 and it would be more humane to butcher them outright than expose them to a slow but sure extinction4 ,the system that the ,spanish government pursued with them seems to suit1 at least the ,indians of this country1 better than the ,american way4 ,it acknowledged no rights in them to the soil1 but it sends out missionaries to gather them into the folds of the church1 and to make settlements of them under the directions of the ,priests4 ,in our opinion1 the only safe and humane mode of bringing them within the pale of civilization1 would be by establishing ,protestant ,missions1 if you like1--but modeled somewhat after the ,spanish fashion1--in those mountains on the spots fit for agriculture and grazing1 where they could be brought to an industrious and peaceable life by persuasion1 which could be easily effected1 as they are sufficiently docile1 and in this manner their services might be secured for the country as heretofore2 they are1 when engaged with settlers1 those who generally perform the labors of the field or about the house1 without losing1 however1 their freedom4 ,in these occupations they seem quite contented1 if they have enough meat to eat1 which of course never fails in ,california4 ,there can be in ,california no other but free labor hereafter1 as it has been heretofore4 ,the new settlers1 as well as the old ones1 are extremely opposed to any other4 ,it is in vain that the gentlemen from the ,southern ,states of the ,union1 in their dreaming hours1 try1 or have tried1 to introduce their black institutions through the legal doors1 as they think1 of ,congress into the territory of ,california4 ,whether ,congress may please1 in its wisdom1 to think that it has a right to introduce slavery into its new territories or not1 it matters not for ,california2 she cares very little what ,congress may do in forgetfulness of its duty towards her1 but she is resolved to resist any such measure2 and whoever entertains the question for a moment1 either in the legislative halls or before the public1 shows his ignorance of the disposition and unanimous determination of the inhabitants of ,california4 ,the slave-holder who would come here with his legalized chattles1 would find his sojourn very uncomfortable1 and would lose completely on his speculation4 ,the inhabitants of this country feel already indignant at the intrigues of the ,southern gentlemen who prevented1 in the last ,congress1 the passage of necessary laws for ,california4 ,we may state here once for all1 that if ,congress wish to govern this country1 it must be just and paternal in its care of it2 if it pass any laws it must not pass them in ignorance of the state of things in ,california2 it must not imagine that this country is only inhabited by semi-barbarous tribes that can be co-erced into obedience4 ,the inhabitants are very easily governed by justice1 and there are no more loyal citizens in the whole ,union than the ,california settlers2 but they think they understand their rights1 and would not be downtrodden by any legislative bodies4 ,at this moment the larger portion of them are ,europeans and ,americans1 and the rest are ,mexicans either born in ,california or in other ,states of that ,republic4 ,it is the interest of the ,union to keep them in good humor1 and consolidate the new territories by just and liberal laws4 ,judging from the specimens of the laws proposed in ,congress for the benefit of ,california1 and which1 thanks to the knowledge1 wisdom and eloquence of ,hon4 ,t4 ,h4 ,benton1 ,senator from ,missouri1 failed to go into effect1 we fear that that honorable body is in danger of running on shoals in its legislative measures relating to this country1 and particularly in laws affecting landed property4 ,the gentlemen in ,congress apply their ,american ideas of the value of landed property to a country that has been1 so to say1 born and raised under ,spanish system of laws1 and is totally different from any of the ,states in its domestic and civil arrangements4 ,it would be impossible by any legislative act to change suddenly the character of former civil institutions of the country without committing outrageous injustice to its inhabitants1 and even running the risk of raising their opposition4 ,california1 as well as ,new ,mexico1 comes into the ,union as a full-grown man1 whose habits are already formed1 connects himself by ties of matrimony with another family2 his new relations1 if they be wise1 do not wish him to be like themselves in every particular1 but gradually by gentle influences1 try to assimilate him to themselves1 in which1 in the long run1 they will succeed4 ,this is precisely the position of the government of the ,union in regard to these newly acquired territories4 ,to assimilate them by degrees without doing violence or injustice to their habits and possessions1 should be the rule of a wise legislation4 ,they are not to be punished for what1 in the eyes of ,american legislators1 appears to be defective in the ,spanish or ,mexican laws2 if so1 it would be doing violence to justice1 to the laws of nations1 and to the very late treaty by which the ,american government bound itself to respect their rights of property precisely as the ,mexican government would have done or did do4 ,the plain meaning of this is that the government of the ,united ,states is bound to recognize and legalize after its fashion to suit its system of laws1 the present possessions of the ,californians as it finds them1 and has no right to go behind the fact of actual possession and scrutinize and invalidate them4 ,the ,mexican government has left them so1 as we find them1 and if it had continued its sway in these countries1 there is no possible doubt but it would not have disturbed them4 ,these people who were brought up to tend their cattle on a large surface of land1 as their grazing farms are1 without any knowledge of any other mode of getting a living1 if cut down to the ,american idea of a farm1 of a hundred and eighty acres1 or supposing even a section of #fdj acres1 would be reduced to beggary1 nay1 worse1 to servitude4 ,would such a step be creditable to an enlightened1 ,christian nation like the ,united ,states8 ,tending cattle is their only occupation and only knowledge2 it will take some time before they be trained to a different mode of life4 ,the ,spanish and ,mexican law does not know a fee-simple title1--in the meaning of the ,u4 ,s4 laws it is a grant of perpetual lease1 on some conditions4 ,to suit its own practice1 the ,american government should recognize the titles as it finds them in the country by giving the proprietors a fee-simple title1 after its own fashion1 on the top of the former one by which the land was held4 ,the ,spanish and ,mexican governments were liberal in giving facilities to acquire land1 particularly in ,california4 ,it was a common practice of the ,mexican government that when a foreigner married a native he was recognized as a citizen1 and by applying1 could obtain a grant of land for a grazing farm of from a league to four leagues1 or sometimes even more4 ,as a general rule1 the largest grazing farm that could have been granted under ,mexican government1 consisted of eleven leagues2 there are1 however1 individuals that possess as many as thirty and forty leagues of land4 ,such large possessions are open to suspicion in regard to their being legal possessions1 and into such the ,american government may inquire with more justice1 as they are larger than even the necessities of ,california farmer's life could require4 ,but small proprietors cannot have more than is absolutely necessary to their maintenance4 ,the landed possessions in ,california may be arranged into three categories1 which sprang very naturally from the system of the colonization of the country4 ,there are ,mission lands1 ,pueblo lands and ranchos1 as they are called here1 but in better ,spanish they would be called haciendas1 and in plain ,english1 grazing farmlands of private individuals4 ,the settlement of ,california was owing to the will of a pious ,countess in ,mexico1 who left an immense fortune to christianize the heathen inhabitants of this country4 ,about the year of #afgj1 an expedition1 led by a missionary priest1 and escorted by a company of soldiers and settlers1 landed on the shores of ,california4 ,the first attempts at colonizing the country were not successful1 but by perseverence in repeated efforts the ,spaniards at last succeeded in getting a foot-hold in this land4 ,they gathered ,indians about them1 christianized them after their fashion1 and made them manzos2 soon1 with their labor1 ,mission buildings were erected1 farms put in order1 cattle raised1 and the ,indians were instructed in various handicrafts4 ,finally1 in course of time1 through the whole length of the land1 ,missions were planted1 and flourished2 the ,priests grew fat and rich1 and the ,indians became tame and industrious1 and were well taken care of4 ,the country smiled with abundance and the people were happy4 ,soon1 settlers came into the country and planted themselves1 very naturally1 near the ,missions1 on which1 at first1 they depended for their worldly goods2 but by degrees they sprung into ,pueblos1 viz4 towns4 ,these towns had lands alloted to them by leagues1 which were to be used in common by all the inhabitants for their cattle2 or if any of them wished to till a piece of land1 by an application to the alcalde1 if there were no objections by the inhabitants1 he received a permit from the judge so to do1 and as long as he or his heirs occupied it1 no body had a right to disturb them4 ,in this way it followed that the inhabitants of towns acquired small portions of land for their houses and tillage1 while the rest of the town land was used in common for grazing4 ,under this arrangement of town property there was always enough land for all new settlers that might come to inhabit these ,pueblos4 ,this manner of disposing of town land1 sanctioned by ,mexican law1 served as a precedent to the town authorities of ,san ,francisco1 ,pueblo de ,san ,jose1 ,santa ,cruz and ,monterey1 when they1 in #ahdg1 disposed of a portion of the land belonging to those respective towns1 giving perpetual leases to their possessors4 ,this measure was particularly favorable to foreigners recently arrived in the country1 as thus they were enabled to buy the rights of the natives who were not disposed to put much value upon so small parcels of land1 and thereby the ,american interest was much promoted4 ,the land of the ranchos was always either a royal grant of ,spain or of the supreme government of ,mexico1 or latterly of the ,governor of ,california2 all these grants practically had the same effect2 the possessor of the tract of land thus granted was always in the full enjoyment of his rights and privileges1 and no authority could disturb him in his possessions4 ,as the country was frequently disturbed by revolutions1 when it was not uncommon for one of the contending parties to burn up or carry away or destroy the archives of a town or even of the country1 the land proprietors were not molested in their possessions1 although they could not show their property enregistered in the records4 ,besides the officers of the ,mexican government being proverbially negligent of their duties1 may not have paid sufficient attention to proper order in these matters4 ,under such circumstances it would not be surprising if some proprietors should find their property unregistered in the archives of the country4 ,whatever land is left that has not been disposed of in one of the ways aforesaid1 is public land at the disposal of the government4 ,such being the disposition of landed property in ,california1 the ,american government1 if it be just and does not wish to create a general disaffection among the people towards itself1 must recognize the actual possessors in their possessions by a summary act of legislation recognizing the rights they claim1 and to prevent all future difficulties1 giving them the fee-simple title to their possessions4 ,the ranchos must be acknowledged to be the property of private individuals2 the towns must have their rights to their town lands1 and the ,missions1 if they yet have any ,indians1 ought to retain their tracts of land2 or if these exist no longer1 the church and public education have the next and best right to them4 ,the lands of the ,missions were always considered as ,indian lands1 or lands devoted for the benefit of the ,indians living at the ,missions2 the priest was but a steward of the ,mission4 ,when the riches of the ,missions excited the envy of some high persons in office1 they set themselves to work to secularize them--and they succeeded under the ,mexican government4 ,the ,missions were secularized and circumscribed1 and received laymen for their administrators1 who superintended and administered them so well that the riches of the ,missions fled1 their buildings were ruined1 their ,indians scattered1 and at present scarcely their shadow is left2 yet they do exist just to remind the world of their former opulence4 ,with the exception of two or three1 on all of them there are yet some ,indians and a ,priest left shorn of their former glory4 ,in view of the state of landed property of the country1 there are three methods by the means of which ,california may receive an increase to its population without any violence to justice or law being committed4 ,supposing that the ,american government has recognized all titles to lands as it found them1 then those who have no means of buying land from private individuals should receive liberal donations from the government1 or settle in one of the towns where yet town lands exist1 and taking advantage of the ,mexican law by petitioning the alcalde1 the settler could get land for his house and tillage1 and being more industrious than the natives1 he could even grow rich soon and enjoy his possessions as if they were his in fee simple4 ,those who have means could find tracts of land to buy1 either enough only for themselves1 or larger than they actually need1 to be divided into farms of sufficient size and induce new settlers1 by offering them liberal terms1 to settle around them2 by this arrangement both parties would be gainers4 ,in our view of the subject1 we think the interest of the whole country would induce the government to use all means at its disposal to favor a prompt settlement of ,california1 since the sooner it will be densely settled the sooner its vast resources will be developed1 and the sooner the whole ,union will reap advantages resulting from such a developement4 ,,the ,,gold ,,region4 ,it is now nearly two years since the discovery of the gold mines in the country1 and yet it is for the first time1 we can say1 that we are able to give a correct account of them1 an account that can be relied upon4 ,heretofore we have heard nothing but ,arabian ,nights stories about the gold region1 drawn1 if possible1 with more vivid colors than even the ,asiatic fancy could conjure up4 ,the whole civilized world became electrified with these surprising stories and set in motion1 and every day brings strangers to our shore from the most distant regions of the earth4 ,so far so good2 but it may not be so1 much longer1 when crowds from ,europe will begin to pour upon these shores4 ,we feel it our duty1 in view of bad consequences that all exaggerations do produce1 to contribute our share towards rectifying the impressions that went abroad upon the subject of the mines of this country4 ,even our government at home had not received an official account from its subordinates here1 that represent the truth in its simple garb4 ,in a word1 there has been no thorough investigations of the subject2 but people on all sides1 simple citizens as well as government officers1 were content to seize upon a few remarkable cases1 that were made more so by passing through many lips1 and represent them abroad as of common occurrence4 ,hence much disappointment followed to hundreds who came here to shovel in1 as they thought1 the precious dust and be off for their respective homes in the twinkling of an eye4 ,it is not to be understood that we are going to decry the prunes2 no1 far from it2 we mean to divest them of the mantle which heated fancy cast about them2 and represent the simple truth without any poetic ornaments4 ,on the outset we wish it to be understood that we speak advisedly2 we have surveyed1 so to speak1 the length and breadth of the mines by personal inspection and observation1 at a great expense of our time1 money and labor1 and besides we claim the right to presume somewhat upon the authority of science4 ,the region which here is known as the gold mines1 is closed on the east by the ,sierra ,nevada1 or ,snowy ,mountains1 running nearly north and south4 ,two large streams descend from the ,sierra ,nevada1 one at the north called the ,sacramento river1 the other on the south known as ,san ,joaquin4 ,these two streams run1 as if purposely to the apex of the triangle they enclose1 there to meet and make a common and united irruption upon the waters of ,san ,francisco ,bay4 ,in this triangle thus formed by these two rivers with the ,snowy ,mountains are numerous streams2 but they all are tributaries either of one or the other of these two rivers2 the largest of them are at the north and empty themselves into the ,sacramento4 ,the surface of the country1 looking westward from the ridge of the ,snowy ,mountains1 which are more than seven thousand feet above the level of the sea1 is broken up into ridges1 giving direction to the streams that separate1 some west by north1 others west by south1 and gradually growing smaller1 they get confused into hills1 till finally soften into the plains enclosed by the two above mentioned rivers4 ,the plains1 generally speaking1 are covered with luxuriant grass skirted along the rivers with the oak4 ,as these hills rise1 vegetation becomes scantier4 ,the range of mountains in which gold is found is distinguished by a uniformity of its vegetable kingdom1 which is neither meagre nor very abundant4 ,the oak predominates here1 only now and then relieved by several varieties of the pine family4 ,as the gold disappears1 the reign of the pine and the granite extends4 ,the depositories of gold look universally more smiling to the beholder than their barren neighbors2 the former always have the figure described by the line of beauty1 viz3 the curved line1 be they ever so precipitous as they frequently are2 a distinction never to be lost sight of4 ,the extent of these auriferous hills is greater than the public know or imagine1 but not in the direction it is supposed4 ,they extend beyond the ,sacramento and even ,san ,joaquin1 northwest of the former and southwest of the latter1 bending round the sea coast4 ,nay1 the same formation1 with more or less difference1 runs along the whole ,pacific shores1 till it is lost in the southern portion of the ,chilean republic1 but gold has not been1 nor probably will be found anywhere in equal abundance1 as in ,upper ,california4 ,this abundance is much1 however1 exaggerated by the heated imagination of the public4 ,it is not in the nature of placer gold to be durable long4 ,a very few years when there will be many arms at work1 will exhaust it2 its origin will be the guarantee of this fact4 ,the breadth of this auriferous region limits itself within the lines running north and south from forty to sixty miles from the ridge of the ,sierra ,nevada2 and on the west1 as the hills begin to soften into the plains4 ,at some remote period in the history of the globe1 the same internal convulsions that heaved up the ,sierra ,nevada1 have also upheaved the auriferous hills1 which at first presented a naked surface to the atmospheric changes1 by the influences of which1 the quartz constantly breaking up1 left free the precious metal on its surface4 ,in the progress of time1 the same atmospheric influences caused to accumulate on these hills soil which grew deeper with every decay of vegetation till it grew strong enough to support the majestic oak4 ,the freed particles of gold thus became covered by the soil and mixed up with it1 and the process of the separation of the metal from the stone was arrested4 ,how gold was injected into the veins of quartz is more than we can say1 but the fact that it was so in a liquid state1 is beyond question1 as we see it adapt itself to the sides of the stone in all imaginable forms1 from the finest filament to the largest lump ever found1 with a most varied indented surface1 filling up1 completely1 the crack of the stone1 always tending to a rounded tear-like appearance1 as is the case with all melting substances4 ,when freed1 external friction of course modifies its appearance more or less2 hence we find it in rivers particularly1 in fine flakes1 but when it is in larger bulk1 it puts on plate-like appearance as if it were hammered out by the hands of an artisan--as really it is by the frequently enormous weight of stones under which it is deposited4 ,water1 that universal carrier1 washing the sides of the hills1 brought the gold from their surface into the ravines and rivers1 to which its own weight facilitated the process4 ,according to the strength of the current of water1 the weight of the particles of gold1 and the obstacles in the way1 it is deposited in one or another spot1 the lighter particles of course floating away the farthest from their original bed4 ,as this process of gold deposition has taken place in some remote period of the earth's existence1 hence we find all these deposites1 generally speaking1 covered with greater or smaller depth of soil1 sand1 gravel and stones4 ,strictly speaking1 gold does not belong to the rivers--it was washed into them from the hills2 hence it is useless to look for gold at the head of these streams1 when the neighboring hills are not of the auriferous nature2 and we find this fact corroborated by our personal examination of the heads of the streams of the gold region4 ,the same rule holds good1 for the same reasons1 in regard to the lower portion of a gold carrying stream1 except that it is limited by the fact that light particles of gold may be deposited a considerable distance below their original source4 ,the mode of deposit being made clear1 it will be equally clear that it is not on every spot in this very auriferous region that we must look for gold1 which fact experience proves to be true2 or at least it is not on every spot that we can find enough of it to make it an object to bestow our labor on it4 ,hence it equally follows1 the limitation of the quantity of gold to be expected from the mines as a general aggregate1 however rich they may prove4 ,the first comers had the best chances to hit upon rich deposits2 but as diggers multiply1 the chances of falling upon virgin deposits grow smaller1 and they will have to be content with what the others1 through imperfection of their labor have left2 consequently the work becomes more heavy and less profitable1 although it may be yet sufficiently compensatory if the expenses of living be not excessive4 ,this is precisely already the case1 the labor is much harder this year than it was last4 ,at present there are not so many of those happy hits as formerly1 although we yet hear now and then of a lucky haul1 which however1 when it reaches the ears of the public1 becomes extremely distorted1 and particularly so when companies that have dammed some spots of some of the rivers wish to dispose advantageously of their shares2 these easily find ready letter-writers who communicate the lucky event to the public through the press4 ,the accounts of successful digging in gold that went abroad never have been accompanied with statements of hardships attending the process2 yet we are free to confess that there is no harder labor than that of gold digging and washing2 this species of labor requires the strongest sinews enured to fatigue4 ,peculiar localities1 together with general discomfort attending upon the life in the mines1 may make gold digging particularly irksome4 ,yet all this can be borne1 and one's labor may sometimes be crowned with a brilliant success4 ,we have made the above statement with the view of laying the subject before those who may yet be novices in the matter1 that they may understand their own case2 we are far from discouraging the new aspirants after the favors of the dame fortune2 we tell them1 take your chance1 it may be a very good one1 but such and such circumstances are attending this courtship4 ,those from distant parts who on mere sound of the discovery of gold in ,california1 rush head-long1 sometimes leaving very good business and comfortable living1 cannot but rue the day1 if they put their sole dependence upon their success in the mines4 ,if they would come here with an intention of following some patient calling1 they could not but grow rich with time4 ,we have already plenty of miners2 a larger number of them only diminishes the profits of all4 ,however1 come they must1 for they are bent on it1 be the consequences what they may4 ,when this gold mania ceases to rage1 individuals will abandon the mines2 and then there will be a good opportunity for companies with heavy capital to step in2 there will be enough of profitable work for them2 and it is then that the country will enter on a career of real progress1 and not till then4 ,such companies1 with superior mechanical facilities to do much labor1 in a short space1 will be enabled to go over the whole mineral field1 although already dug over by individuals1 and reap yet a rich reward of their efforts4 ,and when there will be no more gold washing to be done1 then a new era in the mining of the country will commence--we mean a regular system of mining by sinking shafts into the very bowels of the rocks will be entered upon4 ,spots for this system of mining are to be found in the auriferous region4 7,since our return from the mountains our statement already is farther corroborated1 as we learn that ,col4 ,fremont1 who just arrived from ,stockton1 has also found a regular vein of gold in the rock on the river ,mariposa1 which he proposes to work in the regular mining fashion1 as it is a very promising one we understand47 ,if we had a voice in the ,legislative ,halls of the ,union1 with the knowledge of the whole country in general1 and the mineral region in particular1 we have--seeking to gratify no men nor set of men--we would say1 divide the whole elevated portion of the land enclosed by the ,sacramento and ,san ,joaquin into a set of lots to be sold to mining companies at a very moderate price4 ,the low lands or the plains of the same region should be divided into a separate set of lots1 to be sold to those only who wish to establish themselves as farmers4 ,to avoid all difficulty and confusion in giving boundaries to these lots1 we would adopt the following plan3 ,in the mining district proper1 the elevated portion of the land1 every lot should have for its centre the whole extent of one of the streams that fall either into the ,sacramento or ,san ,joaquin2 the lateral boundaries of these lots would be the ridges on both the north and south side1 that turn the minor streams and ravines into the principal ones selected as centres of the lots4 ,these lots1 unless they are as large as this division would make them1 would not be worth the having2 the land is worthless for any other purpose1 except mining2 and if this even should fail1 then the only means left for the unfortunate buyers to save themselves1 would be to turn their attention to the making of turpentine1 for which they would find an extensive field4 ,the other set of lots1 comprising the low lands1 should have for their bases the banks of the streams that run through the plains4 ,there should be but two lots between two neighboring streams1 so that they would have the same line for their common boundary while their respective bases1 would rest on their respective streams4 ,the reason for such a division is1 that the central portion of the plain lying between two streams1 generally is destitute of timber and water2 is exposed to the constant burning sun and scorching wind1 and consequently offering no spot for a farm house4 ,for the same reason this portion of the country admits only of a spare population1 whose principal occupation must be raising of livestock1 as there is plenty of grazing ground2 each farmer1 however1 must have a bank of a river to put his residence upon4 ,in view of these circumstances these lots should be made sufficiently large to enable the farmer to devote his attention particularly to the raising of the livestock4 ,by this arrangement the whole country will be benefited2 for the raising of livestock will be daily less attended to in the country south of ,san ,francisco ,bay1 as the land there admits of smaller subdivisions for agricultural purposes4 ,and it is there that farmers will crowd1 as its climate and fertility of the soil are favorable to the maintenance of a dense population4 ,by the above disposition of the mineral region1 we conceive the country will be greatly benefitted4 ,the mineral region being under the sole control of mining companies will exclude all private adventurers2 thus first benefiting the commerce by checking the now unavoidable desertion of the crews of its shipping1 which at this very moment amounts to more than sixty thousand tons1 of the finest ships in the world lying in the harbor1 and nearly all of them unable to proceed on an outward voyage for want of hands on board--and secondly1 preventing an influx of all sorts of adventurers into the country1 whose presence is more of a nuisance than benefit to any country4 ,then a farming population1 cured of the gold mania1 will seek to enrich itself by more sure means1 the product of the soil1 and will crowd to the ,pacific shores4 ,the arts will take a start--every species of industry will be called into existence2 the surplus capital of the commerce will be devoted to the developement of internal resources of the country2 nay1 even capital from abroad may find an employment here2 the commerce of the country will be put on a firm footing and will grow daily and steadily4 ,even the government itself1 thus rid of this bother of ,california gold1 will find more leisure to do its duty to this newly acquired territory4 ,in fine1 the country will grow steadily in a permanent population1 in strength of order and law2 and the business of life will unavoidably fall into its natural and proper channels4 ,we flatter ourselves we have said enough upon the subject in hand to clear up a little1 the vision of the public that suffered itself to be blinded by the brilliancy of the ,california gold4 ,as we have above referred to ,mr4 ,t4 ,h4 ,,benton',s speech1 delivered in the ,senate of the ,united ,states1 ,january #ae1 #ahdi1 on the subject of land titles and sale of gold mines in ,new ,mexico and ,california1 we give a place here to his substitute for the bill then before the ,senate1 supposing it may be interesting to those who have not seen it4 ,it is fortunate for ,california to have such a defender of her rights as the gifted ,senator from ,missouri4 ,this is the substitute that defeated the bill in question3 8,to recommit the bill to the ,committee on ,public ,lands1 with instruction to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for ascertaining the public and unappropriated lands in the territory of ,california1 and for surveying and selling the same1 and for granting donations to actual settlers1 and permits to work the gold mines2 and for that purpose to provide-- 8,,first4 ,for the appointment of a recorder of land titles1 who shall have the custody of all the public archives in relation to the disposition of the public lands1 and shall record all the grants and all claims that shall be discovered1 made known to him1 and shall make two abstracts of the same1 one to be sent to the ,general ,land ,office in ,washington city1 the other to be delivered to the ,surveyor ,general of ,california1 that he may lay down the grants and claims on a map to be retained in his office1 and of which map a copy to be transmitted to the ,general ,land ,office1 and another to be filed with the recorder of land titles in ,california4 8,,second4 ,to provide for the ascertainment of invalid grants or possessions1 by authorizing a scire facias to be issued from the ,united ,states ,district ,court against the party in possession to come in and hear the objections to his claim and to show cause why the grant should not be annulled1 or the possession vacated in every case in which the recorder of land titles1 upon consultation with the district attorney1 or by orders from the ,general ,land ,office1 shall be so instructed1 shall be of opinion that the same is not valid under the treaty with ,mexico1 the law of nations1 and the decisions of the ,supreme ,court of the ,united ,states--the decisions of the district court to be final1 if against the ,united ,stales1 in all cases where the land in question shall be worth less than five thousand dollars4 ,but no pueblo or rancheria ,indians to be disturbed in their possessions1 without special orders from the ,general ,government4 8,,third4 ,to provide for the appointment of a surveyor general1 and for the establishment of three land offices4 8,,fourth4 ,to provide for donations of land to actual settlers1 heads of families1 widows1 and single men over eighteen years of age1 and an allowance of land for children under eighteen years of age1 and for the wife in her own right1 according to the provisions of the bill proposing donations to the settles in ,oregon1 which passed the ,senate ,january #c1 #ahdc4 8,,fifth4 ,to provide for preserving order in working gold mines1 by appointing an agent to grant permits for working small lots1 and settling summarily1 and on the spot1 all questions of boundary or interference among the diggers4 ,the said permits to continue in force while the lot is worked by the person receiving it1 and to be limited to ---- feet square40 ,it is not necessary for us to offer here any comments upon this substitute for the bill above alluded to1 as we have already in anticipation expressed our opinion in relation to the measures to be adopted by the ,government of the ,union respecting land titles and gold mines in ,california4 ,,advice ,,to ,,the ,,miner4 ,on arriving in ,california1 the gold hunters1 if we may be pardoned the expression1 first touch the shore at ,san ,francisco4--,there they look for information how and what are the means to get the precious pelf in large quantities1 that they may not stay in the country too long2 if they happen to have a letter to some one in the place1 or if they meet an old friend1 they put a thousand questions to him faster than he is able to answer them1 evidently hurried by anxiety to lose no time and opportunity4 ,then they will tell him about their plans1 how they are going to proceed in the business1 what excellent machinery they bring from ,new ,york or some other place1 to work with1 and so forth4 ,the ,americans1 and particularly those that call themselves1 or are called1 ,yankees par excellence1 have the reputation of putting many questions to people they happen to fall in with2 but on this occasion1 they are more1 even than ,yankees1 in pouring upon the stranger they meet1 their interrogatories4 ,now1 we propose here to benefit both parties1 the annoying and annoyed--we use the expression not to disguise the truth in obscure words as it is really the plain fact--and anticipate all such questions by suitable information1 upon which they can put at least some reliance1 as we are neither a merchant1 a trader1 or speculator in land or mines4 ,neither ,san ,francisco1 the city of ,sacramento nor ,stockton are the places where reliable information is to be expected by one who proposes to go to the mines1 as these places may be compared to the famous ,dyonius' ear1 where the gentlest whisper is re-echoed a thousand times4 ,interest and ignorance frequently conspire in circulating extraordinary stories of success1 on very slender foundation1 for some never have been in the mines at all1 and have not the slightest idea of them1 crediting everything they hear2 others have their posts established on some particular spot1 where1 of course1 the mines must be very rich4 ,the trading portion of the inhabitants of these places see gold brought in in large quantities1 but they never trouble themselves with how much labor it is got out1 who has failed and who has succeeded2 in fine1 they hear only of constant success4 ,the fact is1 that while there are many who succeed1 there are others who scarcely pay their expenses4 ,this should not be withheld from the knowledge of a new comer1 since in case of failure in his mining expectations1 he will be somewhat prepared for such an event1 and will be able to make the best of it4 ,the new comer1 on preparing himself to start for the mines1 first should know what he wants for his expedition4 ,many start lumbered with baggage1 imagining that they cannot and must not forego the indispensable comforts of life4 ,all baggage is a burden and heavy expense to the miner2 the cost and sometimes the difficulty of transportation forbid any such commodities2 and besides1 it will always impede his free movement1 if he should want to go from place to place4 ,he should have absolutely nothing more than what he can carry on a beast1 if he be able to have one2 or if not1 what he can shoulder himself4 ,the less one brings to the mines1 the better prospects of success he may have1 and the more he is loaded with goods1 the more probably he will lose4 ,this is the secret why all hard working men who are inured to hard labor and strangers to enervating comforts1 such as sailors and mechanics1 generally do very well4 ,the miner needs good1 stout and warm clothing1 just enough in quantity for a change for the sake of cleanliness--a pair of stout boots or shoes1 or both1 two good blankets to sleep comfortable1 warm and dry2 his mining tools consisting of a pick-axe1 spade1 spade1 crowbar1 a tin pan to wash gold in1 a good sheath knife1 iron spoon and a trowel4 ,the pick-axe and crowbar should be of a convenient size for handling1 and well steeled on the ends4 ,a washing machine is used when there are two or more working in partnership4 ,all the machines that have been brought here from the ,states are absolutely useless2 they have proved profitable only to the venders there4 ,the simple machine which here is in common use consists of three light boards three feet long and about ten inches high1 put together in the shape of a cradle with two rockers underneath2 the bottom board is made a little narrower2 the sides on the upper edge from the middle backwards1 are bevelled off two or three inches1 and the same is done forwards so that the board1 when looked upon from the side1 presents an irregular hexagon2 at the head part of the machine1 on the upper edges of the boards1 rests a box of boards1 called a sieve or riddle1 from three to five inches high1 with a tin or sheet-iron perforated bottom2 it is fixed1 sometimes1 in a manner to be taken out when necessary1 sometimes on hinges to be thrown backwards when it is necessary to throw away the washed stones4 ,the head part of the machine is well boarded2 at the opposite extremity a board is likewise placed1 the upper half of which is cut out in the shape of a cresent1 leaving about three or four inches at the bottom of it2 this opening serves for a passage of dirt1 stones and water that are thrown in at the head into the sieve4 ,it has also one or two bars or cleets across the bottom board at the distance of a foot each1 and about three inches high4 ,the perforations of the sieve or riddle are sometimes triangular1 whose base and sides are about an inch1 sometimes they are circular1 of the diameter of about three-quarters of an inch4 ,under the riddle1 in the interior of the machine1 a board inclined diagonally and backwards is fixed1 leaving however a sufficient space at the lower edge of it for the passage of the stones1 dirt and water2 it is called by the miners an apron or screen2 the object of it is to throw back the water that it may cover the whole bottom equally and run an even current4 ,in the bottom board1 about the centre of it1 there is a hole an inch in diameter1 made back and close to the first and second cleet1 if there be but two of them1 which is well stopped and opened only when it becomes necessary to take out the residue1 dirt and gold1 to separate the latter from the former by washing it in a tin pan1 which should be of the size of milk pans used in the ,states4 ,the tin pans are to be got at ,san ,francisco at from three to four dollars1 or in the mines at the trading posts for the double amount4 ,the machines can be got at these posts by paying from two to four ounces2 but it is so easily made that any one himself can make it and save the money4 ,if put together by means of screws rather than nails1 it could be taken apart and conveniently carried about when necessary4 ,the machine requires also a piece of strong wood of from two to three feet long1 to be firmly fixed to both sides across the box to be used as a handle for rocking4 ,to work these machines1 in some places1 as on the banks of rivers1 two persons only are required2 while in dry diggings where water and gold dirt are not so conveniently situated1 it requires three or four persons to do the same work2 one to work the machine1 another to dip and throw water on it1 a third to carry dirt1 and the fourth to dig it2 or two to dig and carry1 and two to wash dirt4 ,however1 according to circumstances these partnerships are formed1 it can only be said that there is no occasion for more than four persons in a company1 and frequently three or two do better than four4 ,for protection and occasional service that one may require from another1 it is always better to be in partnership with a suitable person or persons3 in messing1 for instance1 it is better to have several in a mess for the sake of occupying the same tent1 and having less cooking to do1 as in such cases this is done by turns4 ,the small machines have thus far been the best machines in use1 and under the circumstances of pressing necessities of miners1 in which they had their origin1 nothing better or more convenient could have been got up2 but they cannot be said to be the result of a scientific investigation and extensive experience4 ,recently1 a very great improvement has been introduced into the method of washing placer gold4 ,this improvement is the 8,burke ,rocker10 as improved by ,jackson1 and which is now generally used in ,virginia for washing gold in similar deposites to those of ,california2 it is there no longer an experiment as it has been used in those mines for thirty years past1 after an examination of all the processes for washing gold both in ,europe and ,america4 ,this rocker has been found to be perfectly applicable to the soil here1 as two of them have been in a successful operation on ,mormon ,island for some time past under the immediate superintendence of ,mr4 ,jackson himself4 ,it is destined to effect great changes in the process of washing gold in this country1 and particularly when the miner that now works independently and alone will find his labor very hard and not paying him sufficiently1 since this machine being worked with mercury1 saves the most minute particles of gold that escape the eye1 and thus gives in aggregate a greater result than can be sometimes obtained by washing large pieces alone4 ,it requires five persons only to work one of these rockers2 their great excellence can be summed up in a very few words3 by the use of one about four times the quantity of earth may be washed by each man daily1 and probably from two-fifths to three-fifths more gold is obtained from any given quantity washed4 ,they will be doubtless ere long used with great success in going over the field already washed by the present imperfect method2 as the bars and banks of rivers and the earth in 8dry diggings10 for certain it is that the amount of fine gold dust inevitably lost by the smaller machines is greater than all that is saved ordinarily4 ,this machine is a simple trough about nine feet long with a bottom made of cast iron plates perforated throughout1 the size of the holes increasing gradually as they descend towards the lower end2 beneath these plates there are draws in which mercury is put2 the dirt1 as the machine keeps rocking slowly1 is carried along the plates by the water thrown from above by a pump and washed down1 gold together with finer particles of dirt descend into the draws to be amalgamated with mercury4 ,the produce of such a washing is then put into a retort to separate the gold from the mercury4 ,in the process of separation of the former from the latter1 about two per cent4 only of mercury is lost4 ,these two kinds of machines are the only ones which we can recommend from our own observation2 they are well adapted for these mines at least1 and they can be easily procured here4 ,numerous inventions for this purpose were brought from the ,states1 and none of them answered the sanguine expectations of their owners2 they are not worth here even the cost of the materials they are made of4 ,the provisions used by the miners consist of mess pork1 bacon1 hams1 jerked beef1 flour1 sugar1 tea1 coffee1 chocolate1 beans1 rice and dried apples1 fresh beef and mutton whenever they can get it1 which is sometimes the case1 and deer meat when they can kill it4 ,as much as one can1 for the sake of his health1 he should abstain from using much salted provisions in the mines1 and to counteract their bad effect on the system1 it is advisable to use vegetable acids1 like lemon juice1 which in the mines is sold bottled up2 citric acid1 which is more easy to carry1 or even tartaric acid1 dried apples1 and other dried fruit serve the same purpose4 ,in using these acids it is better to use them with water alone without sugar2 just making it acid enough to suit the individual taste4 ,dried apples made into apple sauce with sugar are agreeable to take1 and are calculated to keep the bowels open1 an important consideration for the miner4 ,if one should be attacked with diarrha or dysentery of course he should abstain from them4 ,one of the articles equally important as others we have not yet mentioned2 we mean saleratus4 ,in making camp bread it is necessary to use it to make the bread lighter4 ,the prices at which provisions can be bought at present in ,san ,francisco are the following3 ,mess ,pork1 per bbl4 #bh4jj ,bacon1 per lb4 #bh ,hams1 do4 #ce ,sausages1 do4 #dj ,flour1 per bbl4 #ab4jj ,sugar1 per lb4 #ae ,tea1 do4 #a4jj ,coffee1 do4 #ab #a-b ,chocolate1 do4 #dj ,beans1 per bu4 #a4ej ,rice1 per lb4 #aj ,dried ,apples1 do4 #be ,jerked ,beef1 do4 #be ,lemon ,juice1 per bottle1 #a1jj ,salratus1 per lb4 #a1jj ,vinegar1 per gal4 #a1jj ,as the miner proceeds on his route and farther from ,san ,francisco1 he will find1 as a general rule1 that traders expect to make each a hundred per cent4 profit upon the original price they paid4 ,in this way it happens that in the remotest points of the mines he will have to pay three or even four hundred per cent4 upon ,san ,francisco prices4 ,one of the chief reasons for this is the high charges for transportation of goods4 ,however1 competition has already effected some changes in these matters1 and ere long may effect more4 ,notwithstanding these high prices1 it may be sometimes more convenient for the miner to buy his provisions at the nearest point where he intends to work1 or is working1 than to carry them along with him all the way2 here we cannot give him any advice as to what would be the best course2 he must determine himself according to the circumstances he may be in1 and the means he may command4 ,the last1 although not of the least important articles for a miner1 are arms4 ,one need not be armed cap-a-pie in the mines1 but a good rifle may be frequently useful to keep the evil minded at a respectable distance2 or when in the woods1 or far away in the mountains1 an ,indian may be in his way1 or the grisly bear1 and then a fire-arm may be sometimes necessary4 ,colt's pistols are very convenient weapons4 ,it is hardly necessary to say that he needs a few cooking utensils1 with which he should be provided4 ,a small hatchet may be equally necessary4 ,in conclusion1 we would say to the miner in one word1 take no more with you than you absolutely need1 that you may move lightly2 as it may be sometimes necessary for you to go on foot4 ,thus equipped in all the necessaries1 the miner will start on board of a lanch1 where he has to pay from #ad to #af dollars passage money1 and if he have much baggage1 from #b to #c dollars per hundred weight freight1 bound to the city of ,sacramento1 or to ,stockton1 according to his fancy4 ,he is to provide himself with provisions for the trip1 which may last from three to seven or eight days4 ,taking the ,mokelamy river as dividing the gold region into the northern and southern portion1 the miner is to start accordingly--for the ,sacramento city when he wishes to go northward1 or for ,stockton on the ,san ,joaquin1 if he go southward4 ,it may be expected from us that we should give particular advice to the miner where it is best for him to go to dig4 ,now1 it is impossible so to do conscienciously2 the whole extent of the mining district is crowded with people1 consequently for the very crowd1 those spots that were good for a few1 now are not so when there are many1 as the subdivisions of the produce must be greater1 and less must fall to the share of each4 ,we may say in general terms1 that farther south from the ,touolomy to the ,san ,joaquin1 the diggers were not so numerous as elsewhere1 consequently there is yet a better chance there than on other points4 ,west of the ,sacramento1 some two hundred miles from the city of ,sacramento1 about the ,trinity river1 there are yet virgin ravines and streams1 as very few have ventured so far4 ,on the ,feather river and the ,yuba1 there were very good diggings2 crowds of people1 whites and ,indians1 have worked there for these two seasons2 however1 by going farther up these rivers some untouched spots may be found4 ,we will remark here once for all1 that the higher you go up the rivers the greater difficulties you will meet in getting over the ground1 as they are more inaccessible2 at the same time mules and horses are needed to carry you and your provisions1 and you may also lack grass for your animals4 ,but to know how far one may go up the rivers of the gold region1 he must exercise his judgment1 and he may depend on this fact1 that there is no gold at the heads of these rivers1 as we have examined them1 and they all spring in the ,sierra ,nevada2 as soon as you see the oak and red soil disappear from the hills surrounding them1 you need not go beyond this line farther than from five to ten miles to convince yourself there is no gold there4 ,the ,bear ,creek was not very rich in the precious metal1 and now may be less so as it has been worked4 ,on these rivers people generally were making an ounce per day1 some much more2 but how long it may continue so we are not able to say4 ,these rivers being accessible for a considerable distance to waggons1 diggers crowded there1 as provisions were cheaper there than anywhere else4 ,these rivers have their forks1 or in other words1 tributaries of more or less importance4 ,below the mouth of these forks it is well to look for deposits of gold in the main streams4 ,the ,bear ,creek has a tributary called the ,north ,fork1 in extent probably from forty to fifty miles4 ,the ,yuba has two forks on the north bank of some importance4 ,the distance from the ,bear ,creek to the ,yuba in some places hardly can be more than ten miles4 ,the general course of the ,bear ,creek is ,west by ,north nearly2 it meets the ,feather river about ten miles below the ,yuba1 which likewise mingles its waters with the latter4 ,the ,feather river1 which heads far at the ,north1 taking almost a parallel course with the ,sacramento1 runs on in a ,south-,westerly direction1 and having thus accumulated its waters is lost in the last mentioned majestic stream some distance below4 ,from the city of ,sacramento1 the miner has two routes before him1 from which to select--he may start for the upper tributaries of the ,sacramento1 viz3 for the town of ,vernon1 at the mouth of the ,feather river1 then up to the mouth of the ,bear ,creek1 and farther up to the mouth of the ,yuba1 or to any of these points1 direct from the city of ,sacramento4 ,another route is for the ,american river1 which has three tributaries1 known as the ,north ,fork1 ,middle ,fork and ,south ,fork4 ,waggons go up to the ,north ,fork for seventy miles4 ,the ,middle ,fork is inaccessible to waggons--it empties itself into the ,north ,fork about ten or twelve miles above the ,south ,fork1 and the latter joins the former at the distance of about thirty miles from ,sacramento ,city4 ,at this junction there is on the ,south ,fork an island called ,notoma1 or more commonly ,mormon island1 from the fact that a company of ,mormons were the first to dig here4 ,the diggings have proved very good2 one could average an ounce per day4 ,there is a company of miners who dammed or rather turned the current of the river for a short space1 and now are reaping abundant fruits of their labor2 they are getting out from #aejj to #b1jjj per week1 working with mercury in the ,virginia rocker4 ,it is a trading post1 where many traders are established2 a stage from ,sacramento ,city stops here on its way to ,sutter's ,mill4 ,going to the ,middle ,fork one must pass the ,south ,fork at the point where is now quite a settlement1 known as ,sutter's ,mill or ,columa1 a corruption1 probably1 of ,columba4 ,the distance from ,sacramento ,city to this town is #de miles of tolerably good waggon road4 ,there is no lack of traders2 there is a ,saw-,mill and a ,post-,office4 ,from this point the miner has to start with pack-animals if he wish to go up any of the rivers4 ,the points known on the ,middle ,fork where a good many miners have been engaged are the ,spanish ,bar1 higher up ,ford's or ,middle ,bar1 farther up the ,big ,bar1 and still farther up ,rector's ,bar2 the first #ae miles distant from ,columa1 and the last about thirty miles4 ,the hills bordering on all the streams in the gold region are difficult of descent generally speaking1 and they are so at these points also4 ,in our opinion1 the ,south ,fork1 is or was one of the richest portions of the gold region1 its dry diggings proved very profitable to almost all the miners that have been engaged in them4 ,every river has its dry diggings1 as it means washing in the ravines neighboring upon rivers1 and which have small streams that are sufficient to afford water for washing gold4 ,the dry diggings on the right bank of the ,south ,fork1 known as ,kelsey's ,diggings1 and on the left as the ,old ,dry ,diggings were very rich4 ,last winter a good many ,oregon people built log houses in both of those diggings1 and passed the winter digging1 when the weather permitted2 the fruits of their labor were abundant1 and most of them have left their places with bags full of the precious pelf4--,although they have done their work pretty thoroughly1 yet there may be some places found that may pay4 ,the ,south ,fork has a tributary known as ,weber's ,creek1 on which a good deal of gold has been dug out2 it has a small settlement of log houses in the neighborhood of the settlement just spoken of1 on the left bank of the ,fork4 ,the distance from these trading posts to ,sutter's ,mill is about twelve miles4 ,there is a direct waggon road from ,sacramento ,city to these diggings4 ,to go from ,sacramento ,city to the ,mokelamy1 the miner has to pass the ,consumnes at ,dailor's farm1 about eighteen miles from the above place1 and then farther south1 the ,dry ,creek1 from which the first trading post at the ,mokelamy diggings may be about #cj miles distant4 ,the ,mokelamy diggings are distant from ,sacramento ,city about from #ej to #fj miles--a waggon road leads to them4 ,the ,consumnes has not been dug much1 but the ,dry ,creek had a very good reputation among the miners4 ,the banks and dry diggings of the ,mokelamy have been rich in gold1 and may be so still2 some diggers passed last winter there1 and were not sorry for so doing4 ,this summer there have been many digging1 but their labors have been disturbed by hostile ,indians4 ,we think there may be yet rich diggings there4 ,supposing our miner to have arrived at ,stockton and he proposes to go to the ,mokelamy1 he would have to cross the ,calaveras at the distance of about #ae miles1 and strike the ,mokelamy diggings #gj miles distant from the above mentioned town4 ,if he should like to go ,south1 he would find diggings on the ,stanislaus1 about #dj miles distant from ,stockton2 then he might pass on to those of the ,touolomy1 #bj miles distant from the latter1 and farther on he would meet at the distance of #cj miles with those of the stream ,la ,merced1 then at the distance of about #bj miles he would come to the stream ,mariposa4 ,in a direct line from ,stockton to the ,mariposa it may be from #hj to #ij miles4 ,throughout the gold region waggon tracks and trails are well worn out at present2 at convenient distances on the roads1 there are trading posts established where can be had water and pasture for animals1 and where one can stop4 ,at ,sacramento ,city or ,stockton teamsters are to be found who know all those routes1 and take up miners' baggage to any place they like1 if it be accessible to waggons4 ,it would be impossible to describe the routes particularly1 considering that they go mostly through an uninhabited country2 the only sure way to learn the direction of the place one intends going to1 is to enquire at the place he starts from4 ,we can do here no more than give general directions on the subject4 ,in the ,southern portion of the mining district1 ,indians are somewhat numerous1 and it is well to be on one's guard1 as they1 if they do no other harm1 are apt to steal your horses4 ,there is a difficulty in keeping horses throughout the mining district1 on account of the trouble of taking care of them1 or of the danger of losing them1 and which difficulty increases as the season advances1 for then grass grows scanty4 ,in the neighborhood of nearly all the diggings there are men who make it their business to take charge of miners' animals1 at the rate of from twenty to thirty dollars per month4 ,whatever may be the trouble of keeping a horse in the mines1 yet it is a great convenience1 as one is enabled to move about freely whenever he wants4 ,the prices of horses and mules in the city of ,sacramento and ,stockton and throughout the mines1 are fluctuating2 they are according to season1 demand and supply of the animals4 ,in the commencement of the spring1 when miners were starting for the hills1 horses were selling at from two to three hundred dollars apiece2 towards the fall1 good horses could be got for one hundred and fifty1 and mules from fifty to one hundred and fifty dollars2 however1 next season we believe the animals will be cheaper than the last1 as there has been a large number of them introduced by the immigrants from the ,states and from ,mexico4 ,the rate of transportation by waggons varies1 of course1 according to distances2 but it ranges from twelve to twenty1 and sometimes even thirty dollars per hundred weight4 ,the season and quantity of teamsters regulate these matters somewhat4 ,in hireing a man to drive a team1 one must pay him from two to three hundred dollars per month1 as every one expects that in whatever business he engages1 his chances to make money should be as good as those of the miner1 and that is the principal reason why wages of all kinds are so high in this country2 but they are beginning to come down a little4 ,sometimes it is necessary to pay a man for his day's work an ounce per diem4 ,now1 we will suppose an inexperienced miner is arrived at the place of his selection in the mining district2 we will suppose him also to have started for the mines in company with one who has had already some experience in the handling of the pick-axe1 shovel and pan2 for he must have a week or so of apprenticeship in order to be au fait with the practical part of the business4 ,on arriving at any spot containing gold deposites1 the first step to be taken is to examine the general appearance of the country4 ,the hills should be covered with brick-red soil--this should be a prevailing feature in them1 although there may be now and then an exception to some portions of them2 slate rock should be found1 of whatever description1 if not on the surface1 at least on digging a few feet2 but a general rule1 when there is any below the surface1 some of it will be seen above it in one direction or another4 ,likewise quartz should be found scattered about on the ground2 quartz is a milk-white opaque stone1 of considerable hardness2 on these occasions it is generally veined with red streaks of more or less intensity of color4 ,the presence of these three signs jointly is sufficient to authorize one to look for gold by digging in some convenient spot1 but any of them singly is of no validity in this respect4 ,and if by digging and washing the dirt one finds as a residue black scaly sand--which is magnetic iron1 and which1 if one were not able to distinguish by the eye1 could prove it by the magnet--he can safely expect to find some gold there on some spot or other4 ,the absence of this sand as a residue after washing1 is a positive proof that it is vain to look for gold in that region4 ,in digging for gold1 besides studying the above mentioned signs1 it is necessary to observe and study the currents of water1 be it in ravines or dry diggings or along the banks of rivers4 ,water is perpetually changing its current1 consequently before striking a spot with a pick-axe1 it is well to consider whether the spot be an ancient bed of the river or brook1 or not2 whether there be any obstacle in the way of the current that would cause a deposite of gold to take place either before or behind it1 for it is only in such places that we can expect to meet with success4 ,examine also the rock over which1 at some season1 water passes1 and then by breaking it up you may discover a deposite of gold called1 by miners1 a pocket2 such deposites are frequently found on ledges of slate rock in rivers or small streams4 ,on opening a hole in search of gold1 the top dirt is thrown away1 and each successive layer of earth is examined to ascertain in which portion of it the gold is found1 and thus the careful miner proceeds till he comes to the rocky bottom2 he never should be satisfied with his work till he does come to a rock1 which he should nicely scrape1 sweep and collect1 then wash the dirt and decide accordingly2 if the rock be slate rock1 he should split it and break it up1 and then wash it1 as it is in the cracks and pockets of this rock that gold is frequently found in considerable pieces4 ,a layer of clay1 like a rock1 equally serves as a barrier to gold2 it arrests it on its surface4 ,this work1 particularly1 should be done carefully when the miner is1 as it is called technically1 prospecting1 when he looks for places where he would work1 as in so doing he at once gets familiar with the character of the earth in that region1 and will know in what portion of it he should look for gold4 ,it is considered by the miners at present1 that if from a panfull of dirt they are able to get a quantity of gold equal in value to fifty cents1 they are satisfied with the result1 and consider that they can make a little more than an ounce per day with a pan only4 ,however1 as the mines will be getting daily more and more worked out1 they will have to be content with much less4 ,but as yet1 if they get only twelve and a half cents of gold from a pan of dirt1 they do not think it is worth the trouble of getting it4 ,as a general rule1 it is a practice among the miners to leave each digger a sufficient space for a hole1 upon which nobody has a right to encroach2 from four to ten feet they allow among themselves to be sufficient for each1 according as they may be more or less numerous and as digging may be more or less rich4 ,a tool left in the hole in which a miner is working1 is a sign that it is not abandoned yet1 and that nobody has a right to intrude there1 and this regulation1 which is adopted by silent consent of all1 is generally complied with4 ,it is very seldom that any disputes about one's rights occur2 and if they do1 they are easily settled among themselves4 ,in fact1 as a general rule1 miners heretofore have been law-abiding people2 some excesses now and then may occur1 but seldom of much importance1 and if any of them should commit murder or theft1 justice is no where so prompt and efficacious as among them4 ,at different points of the mining district there have been persons executed for murder and robbery1 by the stringent code of ,judge ,lynch1 but under the superintendence of juries and judges selected for the occasion4 ,at present1 by order of the ,governor of ,california1 a sort of jurisdiction has been established at different mining points by elections held for the purpose2 but as the mining population is constantly fluctuating1 such arrangements cannot be permanent1 of course4 ,the time for mining in dry diggings commences about the end of ,march and lasts till ,july1 at which time water gets very scarce1 and consequently digging becomes unprofitable1 or even impossible4 ,some dig on the banks of rivers even in the spring when there is much water1 but it is not a very profitable operation4 ,the time when the rivers begin to fall by degrees is the month of ,june1 and they continue falling till the next spring1 when the melting snow again replenishes them2 ,in ,august the snow from the mountains where they head1 disappearing1 they do not receive any new supplies1 while the scorching sun keeps wasting them all the time1 and in winter where it snows but does not rain they continue rather low2 thus in winter time they are at their lowest ebb4--,from the middle of ,september till the end of ,november is the best season for mining on the banks of rivers1 as it is then that the lowest bars are uncovered1 and even sometimes one may work in the very bed of the river itself4 ,this is the time at which in many places1 the current of a river may be turned aside with great facility4 ,in so doing1 miners should not rush blindly into the work without examining attending circumstances2 dams have been made where there was not gold enough to pay one man's day's work4 ,it is first necessary to see whether the hills in the neighborhood warrant the supposition that there must be gold in the river in that particular spot2 then it is important to see where the current of the river would be most likely to make such a deposite2 this being investigated properly1 there will be a better chance for the company of miners to reap a plentiful harvest1 should they determine upon the work4 ,the months of ,july1 ,august and part of ,september are sickly in the mines1 and particularly on the ,feather river and the ,yuba4 ,the sickness is owing to the extreme heat and carelessness on the part of the miners2 some of them work in the hottest hours of the day1 and sometimes not protecting sufficiently their head and body from the scorching rays4 ,fevers1 diarrha and dysentery are the complaints commonly met with--occasionally scurvy shows itself2 it is more apt to happen in winter time4 ,but1 however1 whenever it occurs1 it is owing entirely to the carelessness of the patient2 a sufficient attention to the use of vegetable acids1 as we have already mentioned1 would prevent such occurrences4 ,to guard one's self against diarrha or dysentery1 in consequence of cold1 one should sleep under sufficient covering1 and if not under a tent1 he should wrap his head into a silk handkerchief on going to bed2 in this way he will do much to prevent it1 and particularly if he be of regular habits4 ,but should one be taken with it1 a very simple remedy1 at the command of every miner1 if resorted to without delay1 may cut it short at once2 if it be slight1 let him take a cupfull of lye1 which he can make from the ashes of his own fire by throwing a handfull of them into a tea cup of warm water1 let it settle and then take it2 this is to be repeated two or three times during the day2 at the same time he should be careful to be warmly clothed4 ,if this remedy should not check the disease the same day1 then next morning he may take a tea cupfull of rice and burn it as coffee is burnt1 after which it must be boiled with no more water than is necessary to make it very soft and of the consistency of a pudding4 ,this rice1 thus prepared1 is to be divided into three doses and taken morning1 noon and night4 ,at the same time1 an hour after taking the rice1 a good tea-cup full of oak bark tea1 without any sugar1 is to be taken twice a day4 ,we can assure our reader that this simple treatment in our hands never failed in either of the above complaints4 ,and to avoid constipation after this complaint1 which is apt to follow1 and which may equally become uncomfortable1 a small quantity of dry fruit1 such as prunes or dried apples1 taken along with some farinaceous substance1 may restore the bowels to their natural condition4 ,with these precautions1 and with ordinary prudence1 one is not in danger of being afflicted with any of those complaints very seriously ,it is frequently necessary to work in water2 for that purpose1 high legged water-proof boots are useful2 or if one works bare-foot he should avoid to feel much cold in them1 and on concluding his work1 he should dry them and put on shoes or boots4 ,some miners spend the winter in the mines1 and there is no doubt they are in the end better paid for their labor than the rest who work in the usual season1 for they work more at their leisure1 in a spot they have marked before for a rich one1 and their work is carried on with abundance of water1 and at a time when there are no people to crowd them4 ,oregon men have done so last winter at the old dry diggings on the ,south ,fork1 and they have not regretted it4 ,but there are inconveniences that but few will bear with4 ,he who proposes to spend the winter in the mines should start in the end of ,september1 and while waggon roads keep good1 provide himself with a log house and sufficient provisions to last him till the middle of ,april next1 as he must expect to be unable to move from his spot all that time1 as roads are impassable for beast or man4 ,that whole region almost becomes a mire--the soil is so loose and saturated with water4 ,at this season he should particularly guard himself against scurvy2 he should daily make use of some acid in some shape or other1 such as dried fruit1 lemon juice or citric acid2 tea made of fir leaves is very beneficial and far preferable1 for health's sake1 to common tea4 ,he should use pork rather as a lard necessary in his cooking than as a meat1 and depend more on good dried beef1 as commonly made in the country1 which may be rendered very palatable by soking it first and then pounding before cooking it4 ,towards the middle of ,november winter begins to set in1 and while it snows in the mountains it rains in the settlements2 the rains are less frequent1 and commence later as we go farther ,south2 they seem1 however1 to be sufficient for the necessities of the country as a general rule4 ,before we take leave of the miner1 we will give him one more piece of advice which is none the less important for being the last4 ,on his return from the mines1 should he be so fortunate as to have a large amount of gold to send over to the ,states by drafts1 he should enquire if the man who sells him the draft has the power of attorney from the man he draws upon1 which should be exhibited to him1 thus satisfied1 he can with greater security trust his money4 ,,towns ,,of ,,california1 ,,and ,,what ,,relates ,,to ,,them4 ,before the occupation of the country by the ,americans1 its population was considered to amount to from thirty to forty thousand inhabitants natives of the ,spanish race1 ,indians and foreigners included2 but since that time its growth appears to be magic1 and particularly since the discovery of the gold mines2 every corner of the world seems to contribute its share of inhabitants2 every tongue almost is spoken in the streets of ,san ,francisco4 ,but this new population does not spread through the country to benefit it2 it crowds only to the mines or the port of ,san ,francisco4 ,it consists chiefly of speculators and diggers1 and some mechanics2 of farmers we do not hear as yet4 ,the town has led the van in growth2 there is nothing similar on records2 one may say without exaggeration that it has been inaugurated in one moment by some superhuman power1 or sprung like one of those ambulating towns do spring the day before a fair4 ,in fact1 it looks very much like one of those cities only built for a day4 ,its houses built of planks and cotton sheetings cannot last but a day2 however1 whatever they lack in quality they make up in quantity4 ,four months ago the town hardly counted fifty houses1 and now it must have upwards of five hundred1 and these are daily increasing2 even a theatre is spoken of as being built4 ,from eight to ten thousand inhabitants may be afloat in the streets of ,san ,francisco1 and hundreds arrive daily2 many live in shanties1 many in tents1 and many the best way they can4 ,the magic power of gold marks every spot here2 vessels from different parts of the world press into the harbor1 and make already a large floating city in front of the terra firma2 goods of all descriptions are scattered on the shore in open streets that are too narrow for men1 animals and carts that pass up and down4 ,the freaks of fortune are equally as remarkable in this place as everything else connected with it2 some men who two years ago had not a cent in their pocket1 count by thousands now2 property that a year ago could have been bought for five or six thousand dollars1 now pays a rent of thirty thousand dollars per annum2 mechanics who formerly were glad to get a job at two dollars a day1 now get from six to twelve2 in fact1 mechanics1 and particularly carpenters1 are the most independent aristocracy of the place4 ,strange as it may appear1 yet in the midst of abundance of every kind1 women are very scarce2 the domestic circle does not exist here as yet2 domestic pleasures are wanting1 and house-hold duties are unfulfilled4 ,we touch here upon a subject which1 if we allowed ourself to speak feelingly as a bachelor1 we might be even eloquent1 but in the position we find ourself as a writer1 we are bound to speak philosophically only1 viz3 look upon the question before us with that cold eye of indifference or reserve which becomes an impartial judgment4 ,we will1 therefore1 say nothing of ourself--we will speak of the situation of others2 we will try to advocate the cause of poor and forlorn bachelors1 and persuade some respectable heads of families that have daughters to settle in life1 to come to ,california and build up the society1 which1 without woman1 is like an edifice built on sand4 ,woman1 to society1 is like a cement to the building of stone2 the society here has no such a cement2 its elements float to and fro on the excited1 turbulent1 hurried life of ,california immigrants1 or rather gold hunters1 of all colors and shapes1 without any affinity2 such an aggregate or mass of human bodies have no souls2 they are but a grand automaton1 whose springs ,mamon alone makes vibrate4 ,such is the society of ,san ,francisco4 ,but bring woman here1 and at once the process of cristalization1 if we may be permitted the expression1 will set in in the society1 by the natural affinities of the human heart4 ,there are here many worthy men who have had the good luck to make a respectable competency1 who would like to be married and settled in life1 as honest and sensible men should do2 but for want of the fair ones1 they think only of getting away from here as soon as possible4 ,now1 the country by this state of society1 loses much in many respects1 beside losing many valuable inhabitants2 and those who stay behind intend to do the same when their turn comes4 ,this would not be so if some pleasant families from the ,states1 rich in nothing else but in intelligent1 home educated daughters1 they could well provide for all their members here with much more ease1 as yet1 than in any portion of the ,union4 ,these families must be easy in their circumstances1 so that they may be able to buy farming lands where they could settle1 and by the natural growth of landed property they would1 in a few years1 find themselves wealthy4 ,this country is particularly fitted for that class of people who once knew what affluence was1 and who by a sudden turn of the wheel of fortune1 found their means reduced to mediocrity4 ,life in ,california1 although it must have its inconveniences belonging to a thinly inhabited country1 yet it cannot be compared to anything like life in new settlements in the ,western ,states or ,oregon4 ,if people only were willing to take it easy1 they would1 ninety-nine out of a hundred1 even like it4 ,the population here is much more ready to take at once1 or very soon1 a more agreeable and polished form than could be expected in any other new country4 ,there is something in the climate--we of course except ,san ,francisco and the ,valley of the ,sacramento1 which predisposes one to contentment4 ,the sunny skies for so long a portion of the year have an exiliarating influence upon the mind1 and so much so that we have known cases of ,americans who were in the habit of carrying care-worn visages in their own country1 acquire here smiling and contented countenances1 smoothed by placidity4 ,indeed1 we would recommend1 as a medicine1 to all vinegar-faced1 care-corroded gentry1 that are well to do in the world1 to come and settle in the rich valleys of ,california1 where good health and azure skies can be enjoyed2 where winter does not touch you with its freezing hand4 ,the people of the country1 of the ,spanish race1 possess a good deal of natural simplicity1 but without that boorishness and grossness which characterizes the lower order of some of the ,european nations2 they are ignorant for want of opportunities of learning1 but nature has not refused them capacities for acquiring knowledge2--they are obliging in their disposition and hospitable2 the latter virtue1 however1 already begins to undergo some changes since the arrival of so many foreigners2 yet among themselves1 or those upon whom they look favorably1 they preserve their good old custom4 ,their women are healthy1 robust1 good looking and hard working as a general rule2 kindness is a universal feature among them2 and if one had to choose between them and ordinary women of some civilized portions of the world1 we do not hesitate to say that the ,californian women would receive the preference1 although in point of information they are deficient4 ,their men are somewhat disposed to idleness1 but this may be owing partly to the facility with which they were in the habit of getting a living1 and which now will have to undergo some modification4 ,as a nation1 they are lively1 and cannot be said to be vicious2 in fine1 they have sufficient good qualities to make up for their deficiencies4 ,such as these good people are1 they do not offer much temptation to foreigners who have seen higher forms of civilization to become commingled with them1 but they have some good elements among them1 and if respectable families from the ,states and ,europe would come out here1 the different races would soon be mixed up1 and make before many years one of the most pleasant societies4 ,by such an immigration the country would gain vastly2 because then so many young men that have come here would form here their family ties1 and would bind their interests with the interests and welfare of the country4 ,but1 as it is1 ,california unavoidably must receive a check in its progress1 as it will be only inhabited by passers-by1 so to speak1 who will have no permanent interest in the country4 ,the greatest privations that a bachelor is in this country exposed to1 consist in not being able to furnish himself with clean linen when he desires1 as domestic service is so difficult to be kept up here for want of working women4 ,to induce some of the few women that are here to condescend to wash their linen for them1 they have to court them besides paying six dollars a dozen4 ,we know an instance of an inveterate bachelor who married a spinster because she refused to wash his clothes for him1 but he was determined she should do it at any price1 as he was a great lover of cleanliness2 in this dilema he resolved to pay her all he was worth1 rather than forego his habit of cleanliness4 ,he is in the habit of saying1 8he who goes without a clean shirt on1 keeps his conscience open to suspicion0--too severe a judgment upon us the inhabitants of this town4 ,when this uneven slope of the hill on which the town is situated shall be built up with fine and solid houses1 what now looks dreary and desolate will then look very picturesque and smiling2 so will it be with the society here2 when elements that are now daily accumulating get through their fermentation and become settled1 they also will present a smooth and transparent surface to the moral eye of the beholder1 but as yet1 one needs a little philosophy to bear him through the present that he may lean on the future4 ,in the moral aspect of the town1 save some occurrences1 there has been a good deal to wonder at--that in such a medley of races and tongues nothing very serious has happened to jeopardize its existence or to injure its prosperity1 under existing circumstances1 is very remarkable2 its order and quiet has been only once disturbed for a few days by a set of men1 chiefly from ,new ,york1 who called themselves1 very significantly1 the 8,hounds40 ,for a while they went parading the streets publicly1 by day light1 and breaking glass-ware in grog shops by night2 when they commenced to commit outrages upon property1 took the lives of some foreigners and violated the honor of some women1 the citizens rose like one man1 armed themselves and arrested them nearly all and put them in duress on board a man-of-war1 to wait for their trial1 after which they were disposed of according to their merits4 ,since that time order and quiet have prevailed1 and more active measures have been taken to prevent another necessity to chase after any other pack of 8hounds40 ,the state of society in ,california has not yet arrived to that point of organized life where its most important movements can be stated1 or represented in numbers for the especial satisfaction of the political economist4 ,we will not therefore attempt anything of the kind1 but we may however state in numbers a few facts in regard to the shipping in this port4 ,from the first of ,january1 #ahdi1 to the #cjth of ,september of the same year1 #eji vessels arrived in the harbor4 ,the sum total of passengers in the same space of time1 #ah1igb4 ,in the month of ,august1 ending on the #bith1 the number of women arrived by sea #hg1 among whom #f were married--#db ,american4 ,on the #cjth of ,august there were #fa1ehe tons of shipping in the harbor of ,san ,francisco1 exclusive of river craft1 which amounts to about #fj vessels plying up the rivers ,sacramento and ,san ,joaquin4 ,in one day1 on the #bith of ,august1 there arrived in ,san ,francisco by merchant vessels1 #fed male and #bg female passengers4 ,on the #bdth of ,september #aa1jjj tons of shipping came into the harbor4 ,on the #cjth of ,september there were #id1cdd tons of shipping in the harbor4 ,the directions for entering the port of ,san ,francisco that have been heretofore followed1 being found incorrect1 we give room to the correction of them1 with which ,capt4 ,e4 ,a4 ,,king politely furnished us1 together with regulations of the port3 ,,directions ,,for ,,entering ,,the ,,harbor ,,of ,,san ,,francisco4 ,in making the northern entrance1 called ,sausolito1 keep the ,fort and the island of ,yerba ,buena in one2 in coming from the south and making the southern entrance1 keep the island of ,alcatrazes or ,bird ,island1 touching the ,fort4 ,after the ,fort bear south per compass1 steer due east1 7true7 to avoid the flats which are making out from ,belona's beach4 ,no danger can be apprehended from ,blossom ,rock4 ,in running into this harbor after passing the ,fort1 and having it bearing 7true7 south1 good anchorage can be obtained from five and a half fathoms to three fathoms4 ,at present there are no buoys1 but in the latter part of next month there will be buoys on ,blossom ,rock1 ,anita ,rock1 on the shoals on the ,n4 ,n4 ,w4 part of the harbor1 and on the bank making out from ,belona's beach4 ,high water at ,yerba ,buena or ,san ,francisco full and change #aj hours #cd minutes4 ,rise of spring tides #i feet1 neap tides #c feet4 ,latitude of the ,fort #cg deg4 #dh min4 #cj sec4 ,n42 ,longitude #abb deg4 #bg min4 #bd sec4 ,w4 ,variation #ae deg4 #cf min4 ,e4 ,,edw4 ,a4 ,,king1 ,harbor ,master4 ,,september #bg1 #ahdi4 ,,regulations ,,for ,,the ,,harbor ,,and ,,port ,,of ,,san ,,francisco4 ,,art4 #ast4 ,on the arrival of ,merchant vessels at the port of ,san ,francisco1 a proper berth will be pointed out to the masters thereof1 by the ,harbor ,master1 when he boards them2 and no master of a ,merchant vessel shall shift his berth without permission from the ,harbor ,master1 unless in case of extreme emergency1 when he must report his having done so as early as possible at the office of the ,harbor ,master4 ,,art4 #b;d4 ,should it be the intention of a master of a vessel to discharge or receive on board any considerable quantity of merchandise1 a berth will be pointed out to him as close to the landing places as the safety of the vessel and other circumstances will permit4 ,,art4 #c;d4 ,after a proper berth has been pointed out1 the master will then moor his vessel with two bower anchors across the tide1 with thirty-five fathoms chain cable1 with buoys attached in summer months1 and fifty fathoms from the hawserhole in winter4 ,december1 ,january1 ,february and ,march to be considered the winter months4 ,,art4 #dth4 ,if any vessel properly moored in the harbor shall have her anchors or cables over-laid by any other vessel in anchoring or mooring1 the master or person having the care or direction of such last mentioned vessel1 shall immediately1 or as soon as may be after application made to him by the party aggrieved1 cause the said anchor or cable so overlaying to be taken up and cleared4 ,,art4 #eth4 ,when any ,merchant vessel may be lying in a berth convenient for discharging1 and she shall have completed her unlading or lading1 such vessel shall1 at the request of the ,harbor ,master1 remove to a place designated1 should her berth be required by any other vessel which may desire to load or discharge4 ,,art4 #fth4 ,merchant vessels arriving with powder on board1 must on arrival1 report the same to the ,harbor ,master1 in order that a secure berth may be pointed out4 ,,art4 #gth4 ,no ballast will be allowed to be thrown overboard4 ,any ballast which may be wanted to discharge1 by application to the ,harbor ,master1 a place of discharge will be designated1 and any vessel requiring ballast1 instructions will be furnished on application4 ,,art4 #hth4 ,all difficulties arising between ships relative to the foregoing rules1 shall be settled before the ,harbor ,master4 ,,art4 #ith4 ,disobedience to the orders of the ,harbor ,master1 in the discharge of his duty will subject the offender to a fine of fifty dollars1 to go towards the ,hospital ,fund1 of the town of ,san ,francisco4 ,,art4 #ajth4 ,after mooring1 ships must rig in jib and flying jib-booms4 ,,art4 #aath4 ,forty-eight hours notice to be given at the ,custom ,house before clearing4 ,,art4 #abth4 ,no fire arms to be discharged in the ,harbor under penalty of ,article #ith4 ,,approved3-- ,,thos4 ,,ap ,c4 ,,jones1 ,comdr4 ,u4 ,s4 ,n4 ,,edw4 ,a4 ,,king1 ,harbor ,master4 ,next to the port of ,san ,francisco1 in maritime importance1 we must put the ,bay of ,monterey1 with its two ancient towns of ,monterey and ,santa ,cruz lying on the opposite shores of the bay4 ,at present the mining operations being confined to the north of the ,bay of ,san ,francisco1 the whole commerce is concentrated in that port2 but ere long they will go farther south1 and then the town of ,monterey will be likewise benefitted by the trade with the mines1 as its facility of communicating by land with all the points south of ,san ,francisco promises it4 ,monterey was1 and is1 as yet1 the capital of the country1 contains about two thousand inhabitants1 principally natives and old established families of foreigners1 who have not neglected to improve opportunities of making themselves rich4 ,the soil in the neighborhood is good--the climate a hundred per cent4 better than that of ,san ,francisco4 ,the situation of the town is very picturesque4 ,on the ,north side of the ,bay lie the ,mission and town of ,santa ,cruz1 with a rich soil abounding in water and timber1 as in its neighborhood1 in the mountains1 there are six saw-mills in operation4 ,building timber is easily and cheaply obtained here2 land for building lots can be also procured at moderate prices4 ,it is an excellent spot for mechanics to settle upon1 as the sea offers them facilities for sending the produce of their hands into any portion of the country1 while at the same time living is cheap1 for everything in the way of provisions can be produced in the town4 ,pueblo de ,san ,jose is another old settlement1 and has more than a thousand inhabitants within its jurisdiction1 and is growing rapidly4 ,by its position1 in a magnificent valley1 seventy miles in length at the head of the ,bay of ,san ,francisco1 approachable by water to vessels as large as brigs1 being a thoroughfare between the ,north and ,south of the country1 possessing a rich soil1 a mild and salubrious climate1 beautiful landscape1 and every facility for cheap and comfortable living1 it cannot but grow rapidly2 and we have no doubt that in a few years1 when ,california shall be a little more settled and organized1 it will become the seat of the ,state ,government1 being a more central and accessible point from all parts of the country than ,monterey4 ,the town of ,south ,san ,francisco1 about three miles ,south of the city of ,san ,francisco1 possesses the same advantages of the harbor as the latter1 for all classes of vessels1 with the superiority of being more sheltered from the prevailing winds and of having an abundant supply of water1 not only for the use of its inhabitants1 but for the shipping4 ,the same depth of water extends along the shore from one town to the other4 ,the country is picturesque1 the site of the town is more regular than that of ,san ,francisco2 it commands a quarry of stone suitable for buildings1 and it lies on the road from ,san ,francisco to ,pueblo de ,san ,jose4 ,had the original settlers of ,san ,francisco exercised their judgment before settling on that windy spot1 they would have put their houses on the site of ,south ,san ,francisco4--,we have no doubt but it will soon have its share in the commerce of the ,bay4 ,benicia is a town situated on the north side of the strait of ,carquinez1 with great depth of water2 ships can discharge there close to the shore without the aid of wharves4 ,it met with the approbation of naval and military officers as a good spot for a naval and military depot2 and we understand that it has been recommended by the same to the government for the erection of government buildings1 upon its site4 ,it has a ferry boat which plies across the strait1 and thus keeps the two portions of the country in constant communication1 benefitting the public while it remunerates the efforts of the enterprising owners of the town4 ,martinez is a projected town on the opposite side to ,benicia1 and of which we have already spoken above4 ,suisun is a town just springing up into existence on the north side of the bay of ,suisun and right bank of the ,sacramento2 it is very advantageously situated for both commercial and agricultural purposes4 ,it is eighty-five miles distant from ,san ,francisco and fifty from ,benicia2 it has a rich soil and is well wooded2 it possesses good water in abundance1 and building stone is found in the neighborhood4 ,the depth of water is sufficient to admit barks to lie close to the shore4 ,its importance soon will be felt when the beautiful neighborhood of the ,clear ,lake shall be settled by enterprising farmers and miners4 ,its climate is mild and healthy4 ,sacramento ,city1 once the exclusive property of the well known and remembered by every stranger who appreciates hospitality1 ,capt4 ,j4 ,a4 ,,sutter1 is situated on the east bank of the ,sacramento river2 vessels of seven hundred tons are lying close to the shore in the stream4 ,to show its growth and importance we need only state that on the first of ,may last it contained about fifteen houses and tents1 the whole business with the mines being done at the ,fort1 which is about two miles distant from the city1 and on the first of ,august it had more than a hundred houses and numerous tents1 probably comprising about five thousand souls4 ,the town of ,boston is situated in the fork made by the ,sacramento and the ,american rivers in their junction1 and its site extends along the shores of both of them4 ,its situation is a little elevated and free from inundation2 the land is rich and well wooded2 the same class of vessels that comes up to ,sacramento ,city1 can lie here with equal ease1 being but a mile above the latter2 the road that crosses the ,american river and leads to the ,feather river1 the ,bear ,creek and the ,yuba goes through the town4 ,it is laid out on the old site of an ,indian ,rancheria1 a portion of which they still occupy4 ,the town of ,washington is very beautifully situated on the same bank with ,sacramento ,city1 from which it is only nine miles distant up the river4 ,the spot is well selected for an inland town where agriculture and trade with the mines must flourish2 it is well provided with timber and a brook runs through it4 ,the river craft and a steamboat run up to it4 ,springfield is a town in project1 close to the town of ,vernon4--,vernon is at the junction of the ,feather river with the ,sacramento4 ,it is in the vicinity of many 8diggings10 with which it carries on a lively trade4 ,at any season of the year there is four feet of water in the river1 but for eight months the depth of water is eight feet4--,river craft and a steamboat are constantly plying up to this place4 ,its vicinity is a rich and well wooded agricultural country4 ,the town of ,sutter1 situated two miles below1 and on the same bank with ,sacramento ,city1 possesses the same advantages of the river and soil as the latter4 ,it has already several houses put up4 ,new ,york of the ,pacific1 at the mouth of the ,san ,joaquin1 has been already spoken of above4 ,stockton is a spot happily selected for an inland town of great importance1 and already its present augurs well for the future4--,situated high up on the ,san ,joaquin1 accessible to river craft at all seasons of the year1 cut through in different directions by four channels communicating with the river1 and admitting close to the shore vessels of the class of barks and brigs1 of which thirteen are moored there at this very moment1 surrounded by rich soil and extensive wood land1 contiguous to numerous rich 8diggings10 ,stockton offers great advantages to a new settler1 and many have already availed themselves of them4 ,its proprietor1 ,mr4 ,chas4 ,m4 ,weber1 by his liberal provisions for the public wants of the town1 cannot fail to accelerate its prosperity4 ,the town of ,san ,joaquin1 situated on the river of the same name1 at the highest point to which river steamers can come up at all seasons of the year1 in the neighborhood of the rich mines of the ,merced and ,mariposa1 to which a good waggon road can be easily made1 offers superior advantages to settlers2 its situation is picturesque1 as it is on a rising ground2 it is abundantly supplied with good water and grass all the year through1 and its climate is salubrious4 ,its geographical position to the surrounding mining district guarantees it the command as a trading post1 to at least one third of the gold region4 ,,end4 ,,errata4 ,second line in the ,preface for ,regions read ,region4 ,page #fth line #aath1 for ,mission1 ,san ,luis ,obispo read ,mission of ,san ,luis ,obispo4 ,page #gth1 line #bast1 for los ,angelos read los ,angeles4 0 #aath 0 #agth for percolated read percolated4 0 #aath 0 #bjth for requires read require4 0 #abth 0 #ajth for ,amerieas read ,american4 0 #abth 0 #aath for gets read get4 0 #abth 0 #aath for him read his4 0 #acth 0 #bjth for ,mahahoe read ,mahahve4 0 #adth 0 #aith for ,martincr read ,martinez4 0 #adth 0 #bjth for ,carquines read ,carquinez4 0 #adth 0 #bbrd for ,california--and1 read ,california and4 0 #aeth 0 #fth for masses of sand-stone2 read ,masses of sand-stone--4 0 #afth 0 #gth for unweary read unaware4 0 #aith 0 #aath for wishes read wish4 0 #aith 0 #acth for passes read pass4 0 #bjth 0 #cbnd for on perpetual read of perpetual4 0 #bcrd 0 #aath for are no longer read exist no longer4 0 #bcrd 0 #bjth for buildings ruined read buildings were ruined4 0 #bgth 0 for whicr read which4 0 #bith 0 #fth for minlng read mining4 0 #cast 0 for archieves read archives4 0 #ccrd transpose the--after words to alter plain fact--4 0 #cath for knife and1 read knife1 iron spoon and4 0 #chth for ,saleratus read ,salratus4 0 #bith for lauch read lanch4 0 #bith for ,tuolomy read ,touolomy4 0 #bith for ,fether river read ,feather river4 0 #djth for ,yuber or ,ynba read always ,yuba4 0 #dbnd for ,wever's ,creek read ,weber's ,creek4 0 #dfth for ,the tim read time4 0 #ehth for advice that is read advice which is4 0 #ehth for at the bottom of the ,bay read at the head of the ,bay4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,punctuation1 hyphenation1 and spelling were made consistent when a predominant preference was found in this book2 otherwise they were not changed4 ,simple typographical errors were corrected2 occasional unbalanced quotation marks retained4 ,ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained4 ,the ,,errata at the end of the book have been applied to this etext and to other occcurrences of the same text4 ,some of the ,,errata's page references were incorrect1 but the changes were found and made4 ,some of the corrections in the ,,errata may be errors1 but still were applied4 ,text uses both 8deposit0 and 8deposite04 ,page #ba3 8perseverence0 was printed that way4 ,page #bb3 8alloted0 was printed that way4 ,page #cc3 8,dyonius0 was printed that way4 ,page #ce3 8cresent0 was printed that way4 ,page #ch3 ,the last column in the table used both periods and commas4 ,page #ci3 8conscienciously0 was printed that way4 ,page #dc3 8hireing0 was printed that way4 ,page #dh3 8soking0 was printed that way4 ,page #ej3 8cristalization0 was printed that way4 ,page #ea3 8exiliarating0 was printed that way4 ,page #ec3 8dilema0 was printed that way4 ,page #ee3 8,sausolito0 was printed that way4