The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-14


artices-taking IN return wool, cotton, lead, Gc--as
are now produced in England.
| The highway from Europe and North America
TO Polynesia, the East Indies, and Southern China,
is destined to be located through Oregon and Cali
fornia if this nation will be but true to its great
interests. The overland mail from London to Can
ton is, the average, about seventyve days in It's
| transit As soon as we have railroad commune
cation to the Pacific, the distance between these
great commercial emporiums will be reduced, by the
Atlantic and inland American route, to forty days!
| But | have not leisure to say more just now.
| M.
CALIFORNIA.
| The importance of Upper California to the Uni
ted States begins to be felt, in connexion with the
| commerce of our country in the Pacific. have,
therefore, thought that such observations as have
| been able TO make may not be unimportant.
/ The west coast of America, SO far as l have OBJ
served it, is very different from the east-partcu-
larly that part Of it corresponding in latitude with
the United States. On the west coast there are not
| those sudden changes from cold to heat, and from
heat to cold, that are experienced upon the whole
Atlantic coast of the United States.
| The prevailing wind upon the coast of Califor-
| MIA to $50 north-and | believe upon the coast
| to the north of Upper Caiforna--is northwest. II
blows almost constantly from that quarter from
| April to November. From November to April, al
though the prevailing wind is from northwest, the
| southeast sometimes with great violence. During
this season it rains frequently for days together; but
there many days Of beautiful weather The
| thermometer rarely falls as low as 400 of Fahren-
het and generally in the day rises as high es 600
This is the rainy or winter season. In the opposite
| season il neper rains. During the summer, or dry
season, there is almost constantly heavy fog all
along the coast and it frequently reaches the land
At such times, it is difficult to ascertain the position
Of The ship, or the port you may be desirous to
make.
In extent the Bay of San Francisco may be COM
pared to that of New York, and is not SO difficult
Of access to the largest ships as New York The
bar hard sandy before the entrance may be crossed
with not less than six fathoms. II is about four
miles from the straits at the entrance of the bay.
The straits about three miles long, and average
about one mile in width. After passing the straits,
the bay expands into noble sheet of water. 1t
tends to the eastward about thirty miles, and to the
north at least forty, where it is contracted to
row pass, called the straits of San Joachim. To
the north of these straits there is fine bay Pass
ing that, you enter the rivers Sacramento and San
Joachim The Bay Of San Francisco is decidedly
the best on the west coast of America, and would
be- if possessed by the United States, of vast inn
portance to our commerce. The entrance can be
easily defended; and the country around the bay is
capable of furnishing any amount of provisions, &c.
have visited San Francisco three times, and found
| no difficulty in going in or coming out During a
|
and 1t sometimes breaks on the bar. At such times,
1t would not be prudent for large ship to attempt
to go in or come out At all other times, there is no
difficulty
| Monterey is next to San Francisco, to the south.
1t is deep bay. The town and anchorage is in the
southeast part of the bay Here ships are protect
ed from the southeasers; and although it is open to
the northwest ships considered secure at all sea-
sons, as the wind never blows home with great vio-
lence have never heard of but one ship being los,
| here, and that was from carelcssness.
Santa Barbara TO the south of Monterrey il ain
open roadstead; SO is San Pedro. Ships anchorng
at these places in the winter are always prepared
to slip their cables upon the appearance of south
easter, which always gives warning of its APP
proach
San Diego is the southern port in Upper Califor-
MIA; It is good harbor, having four fathoms water
at its entrance, and sheltered from all winds. II
can never be place Of much importance, as the
country is barren, and almost destitute Of wood and
water 1t Is the least inviting ofany part of Upper
California that have visited.
At present. Upper California may be said to be
entirely grazing country. Wheat, Indan corn,
beans, pumpkins, onions, and Irish potatoes, are,
however, cultivated in such quantities as to supply
the demand In some places, particularly in the
vicinity of Los Angeles, vines are cultivated; and
vine (both red and Whitley and brandy are made in
quantities to equal the demand With proper care,
have no doubt wine of very good quality might be
made; and, in few years, in sufficient quantities to
supply all the coast Of Mexico and the islands.
! Cattle are generally slaughtered for their hides
and tallow; but in most places portion, if not all
the meat is dried; in this state It is known jerked
6eg; 1t is IN this state sent to Mexico, and is
much used by all classes; the common people use
| little other animal food.
From the facts that for more than half the year
there is no rain, and the want of market for the
productions of the earth, agriculture is but little at
tended to. Wheat is sown soon after the rainy
md IL.
the yield is very great--much greater than we are
accustomed to see in the United States. During
this season the grass and wild oats grow very lux
uranty; and although,a Jas soon as the earth becomes
Dry every species of vegetation fit for cattle is dried
up, STILL If the rains have been abundant the cattle
do not suffer for food, the dry grass and oats being
quite sufficient. But, if the rains have not been
sufficient, the small streams of water dry up, the
grass and oats are cut short, and the cattle suffer
both for food and water; and in very dry seasons,
many die.
If Upper California should ever have a good gov
eminent, holding out inducements to the ndustri-
Gus, there are many parts of the country that can be
easily irrigated Indeed, at this time near Santa Bar
bara and Los Angeles and in the great valley of the
San Gabriel, irrigation is practised; and wherever
1t is practised, the husbandman is abundantly re-
warded for his labor. No country that have visit
ca Is more prolific in the productions Of the earth
than this, if Only a moderate share of labor is be-
slowed upon the soil. Every species of vegetable
and grain yields an ample increase, and fully re-
wards the husbandman in the quantity and quality
OF his productions; but l have said before, at
present there is scarcely any demand beyond the
wants of the people themselves. IL liberal policy
were introduced, California (and Oregon could soon
supply the coast Of Mexico and the islands (Sand-
wich) with breadstuis, provisions, wine, and lun,-
ber and receive from the islands, at least in return,
sugar, coffee, salt, and tropical fruits.
The climate of Upper California is, undoubtedly,
one of the best in the world On the coast ne
country Is mountainous, with frequent valleys;
which, when supplied with stream Of fresh water,
are OF great fertility: The only rivers of any i'm.
portance are the Sacramento and San Joachim:
both empty into the bay Of San Francisco; the Sac
ramento runs to the north, and the San Joachim
to the southeast and is connected with lakes almost
TO the great valley of San Gabriel. There are ex-