Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-12-22

hon OF the new acquisition the United States ar
low estimated to be nearly as large as the Who'll
Of Europe.
| 1t is estimated by the Superintendent OF tn
Coast Survey, in the accompanying report, tina
| he extent of the sea coast Of Texas, on the Gul
| Of Mexico, Is upwards of 400 miles; of the coas
IF Upper California on the Pacific, go miles
md Of Oregon, including the Straits OF Fuca, O
$50 matchmaking the whole extent of sea coas
on the Pacific 1920, and the whole extent on thu
Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico 1920 miles. Tht
length of the coast of the Atlantic, from the north
ern limits of the United States, around the Cape:
of Florida to the Sabine, on the eastern boundary
of Texas, is estimated TO be 5000 miles; thai
The addition of sea coast, including Oregon, is
very nearly two-thirds as great as all possessed
before, and including Oregon, addition of / .37C
miles; being nearly equal to half the extent OF
sea coast which possessed before We have
now three great maritime fronts, on the Atlantic,
the Gulf of Mexico, ana the Pacific, making In
the whole, an extent of coast exceeding 5000
miles. This is the extent of the sea coast of the
States not including bays. sounds. and small IT.
regrdarities of the main shore, and of the is
lands. If these be included, the length OF the
shore line of coast, as estimated by the Superin-
tendent of the Coast Survey, would be 33,063
miles,
1t would be difficult to calculate the value OF
these immense additions to our territorial posses
sions.
Texas, lying contiguous to the western bounda-
ry of Louisiana, embracing within It's limits a
part of the navigabe tributary waters of the
Mississippi and an extensive sea coast. could not
long have remained in the hands of a foreign
power, without endangering the peace of our
southwestern frontier. Her products III the Vi
entity of the tributaries through these streams,
running into and through our territory. and the
danger of irritation and collision of interests be-
tween Texas, as d foreign State, and ourselves.
I 4
ments Of commercial intercourse must have been
constant and unavoidable
Had Texas fallen into the hands, or under the
influence and control of large maritime mill
tary foreign power, as she might have done, these
dangers would have been still greater. They have
been avoided by her voluntary and peaceful an
nexation to the United States, Texas from her
position, was 4 natural and almost indispensable
part of cur territory Fortunately, she has been
restored to our country and now constitutes one
of the States of our confederacy, upon equal
footing with the original States. The salubrity
of the climate and fertility of the soil, peculiarly
adapted to the production of Some of our most
valuable staple commodities, and her commercial
advantages, must make her soon one of our most
populous States.
New Mexico, though situated in the interior
and without a sea coast is known TO contain much
fertile land, and to abound in rich mines OF the
precious metals and TO be capable of sustaining
large population. From its position, II IS the IN
termediate and connecting territory between our
settlements and our possessions IL Texas and those
on the Pacific coast.
Upper California, irrespective Of the vast mine
raj wealth recently developed there holds at this
day, in point of value and Importance to the rest
OF the Union the same relation that Louisiana did
when that fine territory was acquired from France
forty-hve years ago. Extending near 10 deg. of
latitude along the Pacific, and embracing the only
safe and commodious harbor of that coast for ma
ny hundred miles. with temperate climate and
extensive interior of fertile lands, It is scarcely
possible to estimate It's value until it shall be
brought under the government of our laws, and
it's resources fully developed. From its position
1t must command the rich commerce of China, Of
ASA. of the Islands of the Pacific, Of Western
Mexico, of Central America, the South American
States and of the Russian possessions bordering
on that ocean. A great emporium will, doubtless
speedily arise on the Californian coast, which may
be destined to rival in importance New Orleans
itself The depot of the vast commerce which
must exist on the Pacific will be at some point on
the Bay of San Francisco, and viii occupy the
same relation 20 the whole western coast of that
ocean as New Orleans does TO TIE Valley of the
Mississippi and the Gulf of New Mexico. To
this depot our numerous whale ships will resort
with their cargoes, to trade, refit, and obtain sup
plies This trade will largely contribute to build
q
great and rapidly increasing co nmerce. Situated
on safe harbor, sufficiently capacious for all the
navies, as well as the marines OF the world, and
to excellent timber for ship-buiding,
owned by the United States, it must become our
great Western depot.
1t was known that mines of the precious met
ais existed considerable extent ir California,
at the time of its occupation. Recent discoveries
render it probable that these mines are more ex-
fer md cd no
accounts of the abundance of gold in that terrific
Ty are of such extraordinary character as to
scarcely command belief, were thew not corrobo-
rated by the authentic report of officers in the pub
lie service who have visited the mineral districts
and derived the facts which they detail from per
sonal observation. Reluctant TO credit the reports
in general circulrtiou to the quantity of gold
the officer commanding our forces in California
visited the mineral district in July last for the pur-
pose Of obtaining accurate information on the sub
ject His report to the war department of the re-
result of his examination, and the facts obtained
on the spot are herewith laid before Congress
When he visited the country there were about A.
600 persons engaged in collecting gold There is
every reason to believe that the number of persons
so employed has since been augmented The ex-
plorations already made warrant the belief that
the supply is very large and that gold is found in
points IN extensive district of country
Information received from officers and other
sources, though notso full and minute confirm the
accounts of the commander of our military forces
in California. 1t appears also from these reports
that mines of quicksilver are found IN the vicinity
of the gold region. One of them is now being
worked, and is believed to be one of the most pro-
ductive in the world
The effects produced by the discovery of these
rich mineral deposits. and the success which has
attended the labors of those who have resorted to
them, have I~oduced surprising change in the
state of affairs in California. Labor commands
most exorbtant price, and all other pursuits but
that of searching for the precious metals are "a
bandoned. Nearly the whole male population of
the country have gone to the gold district Ships
arriving on the coast are deserted by their crews
and their voyages suspended for want of sailors
One commanding officer there entertains appre-
tensions that sailors cannot be kept in the public