Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-03-16
From the New York Tribune.
Mr. AthertOn's lecture ON Cali
fOrnia.

/ and dry" Although Mr.. Atherton would
have doubtless felt more at home, in the val
ley of the Sacramento, as ne himself sng.
gested, the plain, straight. o-lhe-mark man,
ner in which the sum and substance of his
knowledge was impaired to his hearers
might be copied to advantage by many per-
soEs who have had more experience in pub
lie speaking than Mr.. Anterior. A gentle
man, whose name we were not able TO as,
certain, having made few introductory re-
marks, introduced TO the audience Mr.. Alb
crton, who commenced:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: On nv arrival
in this city, three or four days since, was
applied to by large numbers of persons for
reliable information in reference to Calilor>
MIA. All the information | have in refer
ence 10 that country, have freely impaired
to the extent of my ability, to all who have
sought it; but if were TO answer all the in
qulrles that have been put to NE, should
! have no time left To attend TO the business
! for which left California. Numerous let
ters have been sent to me, requesting me to
give public lecture; several ofthe papers of
! the city have called on NE to do so, and
personal applications have been made to me
| TO the same effect. | consented but, gems
tlemen, assure you that it was reluctantly
| would willingly decline the honor, even
now. if it were possible. | have reduced
90 writing portion of what | have to say
to you, that II may be presented with some
method, and in proper order after which it
will give me great pleasure to answer any
question which may be pnt TO me. As my
appearance in public as lecturer is unusu-
| al, | beg you to excuse my RAINY imperlcc-
tons. | shall make of This lecture four
general divisions, as follows:
ErSt-The lace Of the country, climate,
productions of Callornia, its heaithiunees.
River Sacramento and branches, price of
freight launches, government Of the coun>
try, dc. dc.
Second-The mines, manner of procur-
ing the gold, average quantity per man,
probable supply, wet and dry diggings
compared, and some instances Of success
within my own personal observation.
Ihird-A4vice TO Emgrants to Califor-
MIA, articles neces sary for al outfit, &c. &c.
F0urih-The different routes to CaIifor-
MIA, the expenses of each, with full partcu-
lars of the route through Mexico, lover which
| travelled OH my return from San Francisco
with distances, expenses and manner oflrav-
cling in Mexico, and which is the most adj
visable route.
Under the first general division of my
subject, | Will remark that the soil is gcner.
ally good and capable Of producing all the
ordinary grains, that is i good wheat cUun.
uY. The red worm, which destroys so
much of the wheat here, is unknown in Cal
lornia, so far as my knowledge extends
When | first went 20 California, in the month
of January, 1917, land at Budaga. which is
about sAitly niles uorth of San Francisco,
was worth two dollars an acre oaiy-when
/ left, il was worth twenty dollars an acre.
San Francisco, or Herba Bucna, rs We call
! it, stands, as you know, on lhe large and
beautiful bay OF San Francisco, and contains
( The most magnificent harbor in the world,
/ and the aEly safe harbor in all Upper Calls
/ fDrniA, except San Diego. All the navics
of the world and It's commercial marine
could ride Ia perfect security and repose on
+ its bosom. The harbor is entered from The
ocean by 4 narrow passage about one OF
( two miles wide, with high bluffs on each
side. This bay extends about sixty miles
10 the east Of tie town Of San Francisco,
and about one hundred miles 10 the north
west, and is from five to Eileen miles %lde.
The town is four or Ave miles from the
ocean. In January, 1917, there were about
six hundred inhabitants in San Francisco.
In April last, Just before the gold piacers
were discovered, there were about one
thousand inhabitants there. There were
in May and June, only few women ant
children, the HalOrlly OF the population hav
aug gone ID the mines. When left, many
had returned. The town was filled by eml
grants arriving from Oregon, Sandwich Isl
ands, VaIpa also, and al the neghborlns
places. There are several other towns OF
this bay. The principal ones are Sonoma
San Raphael, Santa Clara and San Jose.
have visited all these places, but my resi-
Aence has been at San Francisco from Jan
uary, lS49, up to the l0Ih day OF Deem
Der, 1913.
In relation to the climate Of California
can safely say that it is not an unhealth.
coGntry. Fever and ague is somewha
! prevalent aloag the banks of some OF tn
1 rivers but hazard nothing in saying 1ls
1 tie valley OF the Sacramento is much NOR
e healthy than the valley of the Mississippi
d or the State OF Illinois. | am often aske
t about the "sIekiy season" There is VIII;
| is called "rainy season" which last
! about four or fl sc monIhs-irom Novembt
to April-and continued exposure, wan! {
food aud irregular habits would, OF course
in a rainy or dry season, strongly predE
pose TO disease, and during all seasons it
i necessary to exercise ordinary prudence an
= care in relation to health. During The "dl
p season." as il is called, the climate IS Gle;
y and delightful. The atmosphere is hracln'
'e and though sometimes warm, is not veal
Sc ening to The system. as it is in some of OF
IN Southern States. | would remark, howe
t. er, that in pAe summer season heavy to!
- are prevalent on the coast. Tie XIV
i. Sacramento and San Joaquin are the gre
u rivers Of Upper California. he Sacr
mento is a most beautiful stream. Al
mouth it is about two-thirds as vide as Il
b. East River at Fullon Ferry. There is
~ small island in the middle of the river, at
mouth. II has middle bed, and IS nav
-, c,bla f,r tbres mr. four buulraI miles abO