The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-10-19
VOL. X.-NO. 10.

OF EluSn business, thOu6n tnre0
months since scarcely anything was
done there. There are only two
sa:nglod buildings in the place, but
many scores oftents, large and small.
It IS emphatically "clty of tents"
Thithcrrcsort for supplies all the
miners now digging upon the tribut-
aries ofthe San Joaquin. When we
were there everybody was in great
hurry, business was very brisk,
teams coming and going constantly,
vessels arriving and departing.
spentone Sabbath there, where there
never had been clergyman before,
Or sermon preached. I was most
cordially welcomed az a minister OF
the Gospel, and the service was well
attended. Among the numerous
clergymcn just arrived, doubt not
that some one will be found to locate
himself at Stockton, where | am
certain he is needed and would be
well received.
From Stockton I proceeded by
land to Suffers Fort, a distance of
nearly seventy miles. The country
is quite level, and such parts as arc
wooded are covered with a growth
of noble oaks. Atthis place | spent
III. 4th of July. An Grafton was
delivered By Dr.. Deal, recently from
Baltimore, gentleman of high
mind and religious character. He
is a member Of. the Methodist de-
nomination, and in the absence of a
Clergyman oaiciates with much &C.
ccptancc, Near the Fort new and
thriving town Or city is springing up,
called Sacrimento City. It's also
place Of great business. Hither re-
sort for supplies the miners now
digging upon the Sacramento river
and It's tributaries. \ person who
has not visited these places can have
bat very imperfect idea Of tho
amount Of business daily transacted
in them. Literally in the very
woods, under the shade Of tie oak
and sycamore trees, merchants are
doing business that would do credit
to towns Of century's growth.
Every man seems intent upon lis
own affairs; and everything moves
forward in the most quiet and or
! derby manner. There are no mayors,
aldermen, or other city officers, nci-
thcr couYt.Eouses nor gaols, and
goods are everywhere exposed about
the streets, yet ! heard Of no riots
/ and no theits. Ii | had not seen
these things with my own eyes I
could not have been made to believe
, them In the American character
. there is the element Of f-govern-
mcnt that in an all-important sense
supplies the place of civil organ
. tzaticn. | never had before such
, admiration for American character
as have gained since mingling with
j my countrymen in this new and
e strange country. To be sure there
f is much TO be dcplored, but there is
4 much more | do assure you to be ad-
5 mircd and rejoiced in. 1t may DO
said that everything is in utter con-
fusion and disorder; and yet every
man feels safe in person and in prop
crty.
l left Sacramento City to visit tho
5 Mills, or Cutonia, where fourteen
months since the gold was first dis
covered. This town is situated on
the South fork ofthe American Fork
e of the Sacramento River. 1t is a
i place of considerable Importance,
t There spent Sabbath, and met
= the Rev. Mr.. Eoberts, superintend.
= cnt ol'thc Methodist Episcopal Mis-
5 sion on the shores ofthe Pacific. lie
70 preached in the morning, and | fol-
:, lowed him in the afternoon. We had
t good audiences. The Methodists
Q have already organized class. The
II communion was administered during
y the interval between the services
S Early Monday morning left for the
u 'Fort," aud embraced an early OPP
It portunity to pass down the Sacra.
o mcnto to this place Bcnecia1. Til,
l. is a beautiful river. Its banks fol
:. an hundred miles are beautiful,
"a skirtcd with oycrhanging vines and
}. trecs-thc tall sycamore, the waving
IN willow, the creeping grapevine,
10 minsIing and entwining together
Of and forming in the mass beautiful
o. border TO beautiful river. We
= were four days in descending from
m Sacramento City to this place.
a assure you lrompersonal observation
y that the country watcred by the Sal
=. Joaquin and Sacramento, with thei
- numerous tributaries. has within i
al tlc elements ofimmense mineral an,
e. agricultural wclth. The might,
of movements ofthc last twelve months
,c with reference to California, ar,