New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-04
Cs,,fornis-GoJd and Soil.

The .Jon>sforn Journai has been favored with
private letter by the late steamer from settler in
California TO his friend In Chsutsuque County from
which we extract as follows
"T'hs whole country is rich in the extreme in It's
abundance OF the precious metals particularly OF gold
IN which In comparison with any other the globe II
probably stands unrvsled Large masses OF gold have
occasionally been found The largest piece oil pure goa
that any Of u.s. or at least have seen, or hesrd OF
weighs little than l2s lbs. This s considered
here by the Oldest and most experienced miners ana
diggers the heaviest piece lump OF virgin goa ever
found II il about the size Of common dining plate
and will average say quarter Of inch Ia thickness
Gold Is found almost everywhere one can satate the
most sordid thirst for gold, II he will but pay MS deVors
20 the tempting god At almost any point on the western
slope OF the Sierra Nevada the valleys OF the Sscra-
nento or San Joaquin at ts base Neither Cortez or
pixarro cosid have dreamed OF country IKE ms
Here the God OF Msmmon establishes his court and
deals to hs devotees with most proiuse and lloerh
hand. But the agrculturist who comes 10 CAhioInla
70 mend or make his fortune who Ia MS Arcadan revc
res has pictured In future the extended prairie covered
with the waving corn, ripenng under harvest sun or
the stately forest gracefully bending 70 the healthy
breeze, will find himself sorely disappointed. Com.
pared with the Mississippi Valley, II is worthless as
whole venture opinion that not over one acre IN
one thousand OF tie whole great Territory OF california
oan ever be cultivated without irrigation and not more
than one In each hundred acres a. fartbest one Ia
every my, be pr0htably cultivated with Irrigation
Previous the discovery Of the gold mines II had but
few advocates a agricultural country First aud
foremost AMONG those advocates stands c. Fremont
sncs this discovery OF the gold and tic explorations
consequent thereto rational man pretends that a.
whole worth 81 for agricultural purposes now, or
ever was. This country has ever been covered with
cattle and horses 20 the utmost extent OF its capacity
for support; aud sometimes, am informed the IN
ha5i,ants for lack Of pasture tor their animals nave
been compelled 70 drive them into the sea, there u
perish In order 10 rid himself OF the superabundsnce
grain was always scarce and raised with but vast
amount Of labor There is a, the present time as many
cattle and horses Ia the country II can supply with
food gres, many died last Winter from starvation, and
yet this land OF beciesters working oxen are worth
from sOO 500 per yoke horses from $500 20 $500
EACH and barley s. per bush oats none except the
wild which worthless Pork 60 cents per ID with
corresponding prices for other kinds Of provisions.
have a horse In my possession Tor which, two years
ago, when there were bat few people in the country,
paid sl5 ouly few days since refused ala oder OF
5000 for the horse. will have 81 coo for him
next year.
There are now In the Bay Of San Francisco IS sell
and STRAIN vessels mail steamer Is daily expected,
with several Government vessels
Truly yours, q. STONENAN.