The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-13

cipally with White oaks qureus onssIanda TORI aud
Frem in open groves OF handsome trees, often five
Fix feet in diameter, and sxty to eighty feet high
Only the larger streams, which fifty to one hundred
fifty yards wide, and drain the upper parts OF the
mountains pass entirely the valley, forming the
Tusre lshes and the San joaquin river, which In the
rainy season. make continuous stream rom The head
Nevada, which limit the valley, make woodland
country, diversified with undulatipg grounds and
pretty valleys, and watered with numerous small
which reach only few miles hey end the hills
the springs which supply them not being copious
enough to carry them the plains These afford
many advantageous spots for farms making sometimes
large bottoms of rich moist land The rolling surface
Of the hills presents sunny exposures sheltered from
suitable SOIL considered to be well adapted to the
cultivation Of the grape, and will probably become the
bordersr the valleys Of the large streams are
usually wooded with evergreen oaks, and the inter
vening plains timbered with or belts of
green and white oaks among prairie and open land.
The surface Of the valley consists of level plains along
the Tulare lakes and San Joaquin river changing into
urduatng and rolling ground nearer the foot hills of
the mountains.
VALLEY OF THE SACRAMENTO.
The northern half Of the valley of Alta California is
watered by the Sacramento, which runs down south
into the Bay ofSan Francisco while the San Joaquin
comes into 1t from the southern extremity, flowing
westward and meeting the Sacramento in the bay,
which is nearly in the middle Of the valley.
The valley the Sacramento Is divided into upper
and lower-the lower two hundred miles long, the up
PER about hundred and the latter not merely
entitled to the distinction of upper being higher up
the river but also having superior elevation of
some thousands Of feet above it. The division is
strongly and geographically marked The Shasl peak
stands at the head Of the lower valley Ia the ferris of
the river rising from base Of about coo feet out of
column upwards of IA coo feet (neary the height of
Mont Banc) the summit glstening with snow, and
visible from favorable points of view, at distance of
I4O miles down the valley. The river here in des-
cending from the upper valley. plunges down through
canon, falling 1900 feet in twenty miles. This up.
per valley is 100 miles long heavily tmbered the eli.
mi modified ita
northern position, and the proximity and eleya-
ton Of the nes hborng mountains covered with snow
1t contains valleys Of arabic land, and Is deemed
capable ofsettlement.
WESTERN SLOPE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA.
The western flank Of this Sierra belongs to the mari
time region of California and Is capable of adding
greatly to its value 1t is long, wide slope tmbered
and grassy, with intervals of arabic land, copously
wattred with numerous and bold streams and without
the cold which its name and altitude might imply In
length Is the whole extent of the long valley at its
base FIVE miles In breadth it is from forty to
seventy miles from the summit of the to the
mi alton Of the foot bills in the edge ofthe valleys
below and almost the whole of it available for some
mile qusrries- and situated to be convenient
for use, the wide slope Of the mount ain being easy
and practicable descent Timber holds the first place
in the advantages Of this SLOPE the whole being heavily
wooded, frtt with oaks, which predominant to about
half the elevation Of the mountain; and then with
pines PRESS and cedars, the pines predompatiHg;
hence, called the pine region that below Is call
ed the oak region though mixed with other trees The
highest ummits of the Sierra are Naked massive gra
mite Iock covered with enow, In sheltered places all
the year round The oaks are several varieties Of
white and black oak and evergreens, rome of them
sembng live oak OF the white oak there are some
lew species, attaining handsome elevation, upon
feet in diameter. Acorns Of uncommon size,
and not bad TASTE used regularly for food by the In
dspp abound these trees and will be great value
for stock The cypress pine and dar, bet ween
100 and $50 feet high and five to twelve feet in da-
meter with clean solid stems Grass aboun DIS on almost
ali parts of the slope except towards the highest sum
mts and is fresh and green all the year d. being
neither killed by cold In the winter dried by want
In Ia hos
sUfoie nty fertile and gentle to admit Of good settle
ments; while Valleys coves, beaches, and meadows Of
ars bic land are found throughout. Many Of the
streams, of them Smou ntipg to consider
able rivers, which flow down the mountain side, make
handsome frtile valleys All these streams furnish
lbs slope is that of constant spring, while above the
osfd IL. not in proportion to the elevation.
BAY OF SAN FRANCIS SEQ, AND DEPENDENT COUNTRY.
The bay Of San Francisco has been celebrated, from
the time Of its first discovery of the iuest in
the world lie Justly entitled to that even
under the eeamans view of a mere harbor. But when
all the accessory advantages which belong to 1t fertile
and picturesque depen country; mildness and
utrty of climate; connection with the great
valley Of the Sacramento and San Joaquin its vast
sources for chip timber grain and cattle whe these
advantages taken ito the account with it's geo.
grs phica position on the line of communication with
Asia 1t rises into Importance far above that Of
mere barbor and deserves particular notice In any
account OF maritime California Its Iatitudinal posi-
ton is that of Lisbon its climate is that of southern
tay settlemen ts upon 1t for the half centu-
ny attest its healthfulnes; bold shores and
e. - .annt,v rra n oraat ,asonr.oa ~, -
w - s"ran - 80 n,rIt,on So' A'A "s'ioui'uio,
0'u"eiS'' "u P'P
The bay OF san Franchco Is separated from the sea
by low mountain ranges Looking from the peaks fthe
Sierra Nevada the coast mountains present an appa
rently continuous line, with only single gap resem
bling mountain pass. Tbs nthe q Ito the
great bay and Is the only water CONN., from
the coast to the interior country. Apr rom
the the coast presents bold 01ou be
SOUTH the oordtrng mountains aons oow =
row ricge CT oroken NUS terminating In i
point against which the sea breaks heavily; N
nor htrn side tne mountsin presents bold pr
Toy, nfipg IN siew mhes 20 ne'sn. OF Two OF
'houehu ieet., Dee~een .heso pointe ID Tue strS'
ABOUT one mhe proaa, IN tne barrowest par
and hve miles long rom the seq to the be
Passing thiough WI Eaf,' the bay opens
the rght ana WV suiDg In each direction aboJ
50 n1InonahYa ongfn q more than 10, aud
SvldeQ. nY UUn1f4NI