Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-07-30

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From the Pennsylvania Enquirer
CALIFORNIA.
THE IMPoRTS-CROPs-!hAN
observation-disclosures
We day ur t"o sInce, gave b'Iel
sketch Oi California. as gathered lrom sew.
eral chapters :.of the Exploring ExpedI-
tion," by Capt. Wilkes. The subject is
full of interest, aud we therefore proceed
to Gull out few more facts aud statements.
'fhe visit il should be remembered, was
made in l84l.. Capt.. W. says thai the
greater part OF the wealth OF The people OF
Cnliiornla, consists OF live slock. The ex.
por,alions, on The average Of years, are
about one hundred aud fifty thousand
hides, and two hundred thousand arrobas
Of talIow. The standard price for the for
mer is two dollars, while tile latter is worth
Oh dollar and fifty cents the arroha. A
few beaver skins are obtained, which do
not exceed Two thousand, aud are valued
al two dollars apiece. From four To five
hundred sea otter skins are brought in by
the American hunters, which are valued at
thirty dollars each. Wheat has heen ex
ported 10 the Russian ports, TO the amount
Of twelve thousand bushels, OF which the
average price is about fifty cents busbel.
Ot late, however, it has risen to Two dol
lars aud fifty cents, in consequence OF the
great drought that has prevailed. Among
The exports may be also enumerated about
three thousand elk and deer skins, which
are valued al from fifty cents to dollar
each. The hole nercIlantable products
MAY be estimated atless than million of
dollars. The yield Of wheat is remarka
ble, and in some places where the laud is
we'll situated, very large returns are recei
we'd. Mr.. Spears, uf Yerba Bueua, in-
formed Captain W. that he had delivered
to an active American farmer thirty BUSH
els OF wheat Tor seed, al a time when il
was difficult TO procure iI, under aaL aerea
rlIent lnat he should have the refusalol the
crop at The market price. In the July fol-
lowing, he delivered him three thousand
bushels, and on its delivery he found thai
the farmer bod reserved six hundred bush
els Tor himself and this, without esima-
ting the loss from bad reapinS and treadug
out with horses. would give one hundred
aud twenty for one. This is not consid-
cred fair crlerian Or average, as The land
was remarkable for its richness, and was
well attended TO; but MIR. Spears aud sew
era others assured him that the average
~ ~oud be as high as eighty bushels yielded
10 one planted Indian corn yields well,
as also potatoes, beans aud peas. The
cultivation of vegetables is increasing
rapidly, aud supplies in these latter ar'l
c!es may be had iu abundance, aud Of the
finest quality. The country appears 10
be well auapled for grapes. Those that
have been Tried at The missions yield most
aburdanlly; and ahout,two hundred casks,
each Of eighteen gallons, Of braudy, and
the same quantity Of wine, are made
The cultivation OF The grape increases
yearly, bul is not sufficient ior the supply
oil the country, as large quantities ol foreign
wines aud liquors are Imported, which
pay an enormous duty.
l he salmon fishery II attended To, would
in the "puInn of Capt. W., De source Of
considerable profit. But the people are
s"Id 10 be indulent, and TO live with as
little trouble as possible. al lhe Missions,
coarse ARTICLES are manufactured, sucn as
blankets aud wearing apparel Tor the In
dIans. Soap and leather are also manu-
featured. There are in California. only
TWO or three water mills for grinding -four,
and lhuse owned by foreigners. The mills
in general use in the country, are composed
Ot no more than TWO burr stones. 10 the
upper sone cross beam is secured, 10
which mule power is applied. In mosl OF
the estanclas there is 10 be found mill in
an apartment adjoining tie kitchen, il not
in il. The " hole isa, primitive as eau he,
although the captain has no doubt Il an
swers all The wants OF this rude nd indo
lent people. From all accounts, besides
cattle, the c"uhlry IS well adapted to Ihr
raising OF Sheep which simply require
wa ching, as the, eau find plenty of uulr
li"us TODD the whole year round buI there
has been no attention paid to This kind oi
stock, aud HE woul IS of ver, ordinary
qualify. The mutIun is thought 10 be ni
very fine flavor. The usual price Tor a
sheep Is from uue dollar aud fifty cents tn
twu dollars, when choice is made for kill.
Ing. Hogs are raised in some parts, and
might be fed to great advantage on the
acorns which are abundant on The hills
where the land is not susceptible of cult,
valion. Pork may be packed at three dol
lurs The hundred weight. What adds tc
the facility of doing this business. is 'he
fact that large quacti'ies Of sal! collect IN
The ponds in The dry, season, which may be
obtained Cor The expense Of caring it.
The number of lndiane is variously cstl'
mated a, from 1900 to $4,000, while 9th
ers place them as low as 5000 or 9,O0O
The principal part of these are the tribes
on The Sacramento, The Whites, Capt
w. estimates a, about 5000, with abou
200 more of mixed blood. The whole
population of Upper California a: The dal'
of the visit, is given at about l5,0OO souls
The health ana ROBUSTNESS Of the white