Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-12-12
JoLIET ILLINOIS, DECEMBER: ~ ls, 1913 &

| =. tOHi It's position, u u
the intermediate and connecting TERRITORY
between oar settletuents and our posses,
sions in Texas and those on the Paci6,
! coast. KS So e-:o-st...a .--...---1-..
Upper California, irrespective of the
vast mineral wealth rscshtly deyelopee
/ there. holds, at this day, in point of value
and importance to the rest of the Union
the same relation that Louisiana did. wher
that fine territory was acquired. from
France forty years ago. Extending nearf,
ten degrees Of latitude along the Pacific
and embracing the only safe and commo,
dious hafhors on ttre coast for many
hundred miles, with a temperate climate,
and an extensive interior Of fertile lands
it is scarcely possible to estimate irs
wealth until it shall be brought under the
government OF our laws, and its resourcez
fully developed. . ...-
From its position, II must command The
rich commerce of China, Of Asia. of the
islands of The Pacific, Of western Mexico
OF Central America. Tire South American
States, and the Russian possessions Dor
derIHg or ahat ocean. A great emporium
will doubtless speedily arise on the Cali.
fornia coast which may lie destined h
rival in importance New Orleans itself.
The depot Of the vast commerce which
must exist on the Pacific will probably
centre at some point on the Bay of San
Francisco, and will occupy The same
relation to the whole coast. az New
Orleans does to the valley of the Mis-is.
s'Ppi, and the Gu:f Of Mexico. To this
depot our numerous whale ships will
resort with their cargoes TO trade, ref,
and obtain supplies. This of Itself will
largely contribute to build up city, (which
will soon become the centre of a great
and rapidly increasing commerce. Stu
ated on safe harbor. sufficiently
tor all the navy es we'll as the marine OF
the world. and convenient to excellent
timber for ship building, owned by the
United States, it must become our great
western naval depot.
1t was known that mines ofthe precious
metals existed 10 a considerable extent in
California at the time Of its acquisition.
Recent discoveries render it probable that
these mines are more extensive aid val
liable than was anticipated. The facts of
the abundance OF gold in that region are
OF such an extraordinary character as
would scarce y command belief were they
not corroborated by authentic re ports OF
officers in the public service, who have
visi ed the district. and derived the facts
which they detailed from personal obser.
servaiion. .Reluctant 10 credit, the reports
IN, general ciFculatior,a AS tolhe quantity Of
gold, the officer commanding our forces in
California visited the mineral district in
'nIy last, for the purpose Of obtaining
accurate information on the subject. His
report 10 the War Department of the
results of his examination. and the facts
obtained on the spot. are herewith laid
before congress. When he visited the
country, there were about four thousand
persons engaged in collecting gold. There
is every reason TO believe that the number
OF persons so employed. has since been
augmented. The explorations already
made. warrant The belief that the supple
is very large. and that gold is found At
vSrioas places in an extensive district of
cuunlrY- s...-.-. -. 81. -
Information received from officers of
the Navy and other sources, though not
so lull and minute. confirm the accounts
OF the commander of our military force in
California. II appears, also, from reports
that mines ofquicksilver are found in the
vicinity ofthe gold region. One ofthem
is now being worked, and it is believed
to be among the most productive in the
world, - H.r. =. .--...
The effects produced by the discovery
ofthese rich mineral deposites. and the
success which has attended the iabors of
who have resorted to them, have produced
a surprising change in the state of affairs
in California. Labor commands Q most
exorbitant price, and all other pursuits
but OF searching fer precious metals are
abandoned. Nearly the whole of the
male population OF The country have gone
to The gold districts. Ships arriving on
the coast are deserted by their crews, and
their voyages suspended 70, want of sail.
orS. Our commanding officer there
entertains spPrehensions that soldiers
cannot be kept in the public service with.
out large increase of pay. Desertions
in his command have become FREQUENT.
and recommends that those who shall
Withstand the strong temptation. aud re
main faithful. should be rewarded. g
This abundance Of gold. and the ali.
expressing pursuit Of it, have already
caused ia California an unprecedented
rise in the price Of the necessaries of life.
That we may, ton. more speedily and
folly avail ourselves Of the undeveIoned
wealth Of these mines, it is deemed Of
vast Importance that branch mint ofthe
United States be authorised to be estab.
lished, at your present session. in Cali
f.rnia. Among other signal advantages
which would result from such an estab
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