The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-30
NEW ORLEANS.
SATURDAY MORNING, DEoEMBER 30, 1s4s
California.

California.
Our exchanges from all parts Of the country are |
filled with accounts from the gold region of Cali
fornia. The stories Of the unbounded mineral
wealth of that country, which were received with
incredibly, if not with open denial, are now al
most universally credited The change from skep-
ticism to marvelousness was remarkably sudden.
and now no assertion is too monsrous to meet with
ready belief As consequence, the gold epi-
demic " has spread with great rapidty throughout
the country, and RACES in many places with extra
ordinary intensity and malignancy. Numbers have
been already carried off, and tens of thousands of
cases are reported The Caifornans will doubtless
be astonshed at the resurrection among them of so
many Of the Victims who come, spade in hand, to
dig for the yellow metal. In less than one year the
population Of California win increase at least so 000
and possibly 100000, the greater part of whom will
become gold hunters. Taking $4,000 as tbs num-
Der, and admitting $40 per day to be gathered by
each man, $60,0OOOO0 will in one year be added to
the circulation of the country. This is more than
three times the amount annually coined in one year,
and such sudden augmentation may effect very
serious depreciation in the exchangeable value Of
gold coin. The effect of this depreciation we leave
to the political economists but as for ourselves, we
do not anticipate the direful results which some
nervous people predict. This is branch of the
subject upon which we have not space to expatiate
at present, but may devote some attention to it
another time. Among the various enterprises be-
sides gold digging, by which many expect to make
money in California, we perceive some very singu-
lar propositions. One man at the North adyertises
that he has large supply of tombstones on hand,
and advises those about to emigrate to supply them
selves with their monuments before departing.
This reminds us of the story of the man who put
up notice above his premises, telling trespassers
to bring their collins with them. Another genius
has supplied himself with cards, dice and whisky,
which articles will no doubt prove very profitable
investment.
The ways Of getting to California are almost as
varied as the characters of those who will traverse
them. The route by Chagres and Panama seems
to be generally preferred, and we suppose it will
be found shorter than most of the Others. That by
way of Vera Cruz, Mexico and Mazatlan, is liable
to the objection of robbers, and the road through
Monterey and Durango is infected with Indians,
who are even more dangerous than the Mexican
freebOoters.
But there is one route which ssems to have been
generally overlooked, and which we think prefer
able 10 either of the others--we mean that across
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The distance over
lhnu 10 the racine IL NOT IHucH greater thH dCEOeS
the Isthmus of Panama, and, being much farther
to the North, cuts off at least 5000 miles of water
travelling. We are astonished that this has not
been selected, rather than the other, con-
fident that at least ten days would be saved by it.
This for those gentlemen who are anxious to handle
the gold, is a great consideration, and we think
they would do well to try the Tehuantepec route.
RIVER NEws.-On the evening Of the 22d inst,
there were feet inches water in the Canal, at
Louisville, by the mark. On the falls, through the
Indiana chute there were feet inches water, and
over the middle chute, feet inches. The Iro-
quois, Alex. Scott and Mountaineer, went up over
the middle chute The river during the previous
twenty-four hours had risen IS inches AtCincin-
natl, it was rising on the 22d, at the rate Of two
inches per hour. The weather had turned quite
cold and freezing. The 22d was by far the coolest
day of the season. The steamboat Gen. Washing.
ton arrived from St. Louis on the same evening,
and reported the Mississippi lower than it has been
before this season; steamboat Alphonse de Lamar.
tine hard aground at Rattlesnake island her freight
had been lightened Off into other boats. The Louis
vile papers say they are to have high water, unless
the cold weather checks the rise On the 23d, there
would be an abundance Of water on the falls fol
the largest boats to pass and repass, without diff
Guilty. The steamboat Iroquois, Capt. Findren
was to start for New Orleans on the evening of the
23d. The Iroquois is a new and substantial boat
and Capt. Findren is well known as an experienced
and careful man.. The noble steamboat Alex
Scott, says the Louisville Courier Of the 3d. hai
been rendered unable, on account Of the inclemen
weather, to discharge and take in her cargo, ana
consequently will not start for the sunny South
until tomorrow Sunday morning, at 10 O'Clock
She will come up over the falls early this morning
BuReLARY-On the night of the 2lst inst. som,
villains succeeded in efsciing an entrance into tn
house Of Mr.. Daniel Doup, situated on the Bards
town turnpike, about five miles from Louisville
and alter abstractng between $500 and $1,000 frOr
drawer in one of The rooms, made their escape
A VERDICT AGAINST CuPrD--A coroner's jur
having sat upon the body of young lady who ha
hung herself in fit of love frenzy brought j
this verdict: " Died by the visitation Of Cupid.
HoRRrBLE DIscoyERY.-A young lady in Nan
.tucket, having kissed young man in the dari
near George Carmon's corner, was shocked ct DIS
covering that it was her own husband
COLONIZATION SocrETY.-Benjamin F. Butler
Hugh Maxwell, Arson G. Phelps, DR.. Reese r.
cording Secretary, and Rev. ]. B. Pinneys the co
responding Secretary, have been chosen . deli
gates from the New York State Society, 70 Il
American Colonization Society, the annual meetn
of which viii take place in Washington city on Il
10th prO1imo.
o. The trade of Cleveland, received shrOug
the Canal for the last year. is as follows: ST. 81
bushels wheat, 4ls,4Ss barrels -four, and 65l ~
bushels corn,