Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-08-26

ers and some bunch grass, which makes good pasture
until the rainy season sets in, though it is entirely
dry by the LIST of July. The population scA orerer
be confncd to the banks Of the rirers A gentleman
present says, that the plains between here and the
ST. Wankine, are much more fertile, and that much
of them may be watered and proftaby cultivated
He thinks the lover part Of Upper California much
superior to the valley but the difficulty of securing
land and the bad character the Indians, have ndu-
ced many of Us to stop here. The country, taken
together, is greatly inferior to the Western States,
but those who get situations on the rivers, where
they easily rrigate the soil, do 200 per cent.
better than in Missouri. Irrigated lands here will
produce from 40 to GO bushels of Wheat to the acre
every year. There is no fly, nor rust nor rot; and
the only trouble is to have moisture enough to make
head WE'LL Tobacco, Cotton, Flax, Potatoes, Beans,
Peas, sc. grow finely but not ,cithout aratering.-
While on this subject, will speak of the labor to be
performed. A farmer who is fitted with sufficient
teams and farming u,encils, may, employ many In
dams he pleases for nothing but their vctuas and
that very cheap, and about two shirts and pair of
pantaloons of the coarsest kind. He may keep them
while he wants them, which is only at seedtIme and
harvest, and then send them to their villages again for
the remainder of the year. They are about half as
good as the negroes in Missouri, with good looking
after So that farmer, with capital of 400 or 500
dollars, raise and gather about much grain as
the Mssourian with 40 negroes. The Indians know
nothing of the use of the AK but they good ditch
ers, and bitches are the only fence we have.
The timber is altogether in the mountains, which
are covered with the most beautiful pine, fir and &C.
dar, very tall and straight but in the places
ry difficult to get into the valley for use, from the
fact that there is generally Is 20 miles of hills be-
tween the mountain and the valley, which make bad
roads, Most the houses here are built of adobes,
or sticks set up endwise and daubed with mud, some
times covered with boards, and at others with ooly
(bullrush). So far we have not had much use for
timber. The country below is supplied with timber
from the red woods the sea-coast which very
good and beautiful timber, much like the red CEDAR
The trees grow very large and straight and split like
cedar.
Stock.-Horses and cattle raised here without
any feeding; even when ride horse, at any sea-
som he oo+s re o4lo- ii !
grass, staked with long rope; that requires
no other trouble about horses and CATTLE but to mark
and brand them, and to break the colts when large
some of them, have several thousand head of cattle
and horses. The prices of horses are from $40 to
$50, mares from 81 to $25, cattle $3 30 to $15;-
American cattle and horses generally about Is
per cent higher than the stock of California. Eve
rythng else is very high. Flows, such as we have
in ST. Louis at 81, worth 35, and even $50, and
very hard to get at those prices; S. spades SIS
to &c. scarce; cooking vessels about 80 cents per lb
all sorts of Iron tools vessels very high clothing
of every description about five to six times what they
cost in st. Louis; common yarn socks dollars a
pair.
Labor is also high common hands 81 80 per day;
mechanics 81 to So; mll-wrghts 81 per day. SO
that although we pay high for clothing and all we
want for use yet get high prices for labor and for
what we raise. Wheat is worth now So 30 per BUSH
ell usually 81 so; beans 81 so; peas 81 So potatoes
so cents per robe Us lbs.)
The climate is pleasant seldom any ice-occasion-
al frost from December to April. Up to the 25th OF
December the time of our arrival, there had been no
rain and but little frost, and the weather was about
as pleasant as usual in the States in September and
October. The rain began Christmas day, and there
was some ice The rain usually falls for two or three
days, anu Lncn We nave piedsdnI WCd'hCi' III WV"
or two after the rain set in, the plains or high lands
become what we call tasky; that is, horse will sink
in to his knees and sometimes DEEPER SO that it is
not practicable to travel on horseback except in the
bottoms which remain firm all winter. But they are
crossed by CULTS, which we must swim. Our travel
Isl therefore, confined to the bottoms; the high hills
are impossible during the rain, except on foot 1t
NAV be truly said that there are but two modes OF
travel here during the winter that is, either fly or
s,cim The game is becoming scarce, but during the
winter there are great many water-fowls. They
leave in the spring northern latitude and
do not stop to breed here has been reported nor
is it true that 'you can gathera feather bed in day
on Feather Riuer.' So
Musketoes, flies and insects of every description
are here in innumerabte myfiads-feas and MICE but
no chinches.
Lands have been obtained by persons who have
resided here some years and become ctzens,n grants
some three FOUR and sometimes thirty to fifty leagues
But the Government has become alarmed and changed
its policy. There are but few who can obtaie
grants of any sizc and those who have lands not
authorized by their titles to SELL there being such
thing as fee simple titles, except in few special in
stances. The grants are only loans from the Gov
eminent, which is the main reason why the people
live in tents or little shanties, and at the time
own several thousand head of stock. They will not