Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-03-18
Upper California.

The following is from the American Re
view. We transfer ii TO our columns Al
relating to section Of The world now en-
crossing good deal of interest. The
writer, who is young gentleman of rare
abilities, and is occupying distinguished
position, suggests, as California must, il
the course of events, fall into our hands
that i: is our true policy 10 gain il by pur-
chase and fair treaty
"The southern and eastern portions
indeed nearly the whole province except
that part bordering on the Pacific,i scarce.
ly more valuable than the lower province.
Through the eastern sections extends the
chain of the Rocky Mountains, broken in
TO fragmenis, and converting a wide space
of country, through its entire length, into
waste perfectly uninhabItable, producing
very little vegetation, and through which
the traveller with danger and difficulty,
finds casual and precious path. West
oflhis chain lies vast sandy plain, near.
ly seven hundred miles in length, with a
width Of one hundred al its southern; and
two hundred at its nothern extremity
The whole valley of the Colorado is utter
ly barren, and is described by an Ameri
can traveller as a great burial place Of
former fertility, which can never return.
Like IFS branches, the river is not naviga-
BILE. The ella, which forms the South
eastern boundary of the province, is ra.
pld stream, and its upper portion flows
through rich and beautiful valleys, capable
OF supporting numerous population. In
the centre OF the northern section OF Upper
California lies the rImpanagos desert, be
tween four and five hundred miles square,
and probably the most utterly desolate re-
glon of so great an extent on the western
continent. Ga its northwest border, Ma.
RVS river takes Its rise, and flows south
wesiardiy about one hundred and sixty
miles, into lis own lake, which is about
sixty miles in length, and half as wide
The valley of the stream has Il rich soil,
which, were not the atmosphere too dry,
would be well adapted 10 agricultural pur
poses, and contains many deer, elk, and
other game.
The remaining part OF Upper California
that pert which lies near the Pacific
coasts not only by far the best portion
Of The province, but one Of the most beauti-
iatregions on The face Of the earth. Ii EN-.
braces the whole country drained by The
waters which empty into the Bay Of San
Francisco. These are, first, beginning az
the south, the San Josequin, which rises in
a Jake called Bonayista, in latitude 81 deg.
and about 800 miles northwest of the
Colorado; il runs thence northwest some
SIX hundred miles, with a deep and tran
qnll current nayigable for two hundred
and fiiiy miles above its mouth, and thru
valley Of six hundred miles in length,
and from forty TO one hundred in breadth
bounded on every side by mountains,
Which enclose prairie surface, covered
WIN trees which skirt The streams, Of above
av'OOO square miles in superficial extent.
Among the highlands which enclose this
valley, are vast forests filled with The oiil.
estand finest cedars and pines in the world,
WIN every yareiyo soil, fresh water lakes
and every element OF unbounded agricul-
, mural wealth, except propliIous climate.
from November 10 March The whole val.
icy IS flooded BY heavy and ncessanl rains
:, from April until Autumn az intolera-
ole neat converts this vast fen Of stagnantI
rralers into the Valley of the Shadow oil
Deaih. This evil, however it's confident
y asserted, is susceptible Of easy remedy
s.y%alning thlsc accumulated waters into
From The ncrih flows another and much
'a'ger river. ihe Sacramento, which, rising