The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-12-12

Califoraia--I,s Climate and Crops.
AN INTERESTING LErTER.-Mnst of
the letters from California, speak dis
paragingly of its climate. We have be-
lore US letter from Gov. Shannon, oc
Ohio, dated Aug. IL. which contains.
some authentic and useful facts, 10 re-
gard to that country.
al have traced about 1900 miles since
left here, and explored large portion
of the mining country. During six weeks ,
l slept ON the ground, near the best grass
i could get for my horse, with the saddle
for my pillow, and a blanket for cover
ing. In these long mountain solitudes,
how often have my thoughts rested for
whole sleepless nights on family, friends
and home, sweet home! Still / have
been blessed with good health. The
mere business of mining is pleasant.
You have regular meals, good tent to
sleep in, and washing out the gold is ex-
citing But must say, the business Of
exploring, is the hardest labor man can
endure. To appreciate this, you must
see the mountains to be passed, and the
deep ravincs to be entered.
As to California, there is but one
thing to be said in its favor, that is the.
gold mines--and they are all and more,
than what has been represented. But it
requires labor to get gold, and one half
of those that have arrived, cannot, ard
will not endure the priyation Of mining
To excuse themselves, they will eiye an
uniavorable account OF the mine but
you may rely upon it, they are al that
they have been represented, being the
richest gold mines the world has ever
produced. But it is to be obtained hy
patient toll and industry, and the man
who can and will labor and put up with
the privations of miners life, cannot
fail in two years. to get enough TO give
him at least, a handsome start ip any
business in the States.
But when you do justice to the rpines
you have said all that can be said III this
country. Instead Of being the hfst, it
is the worst climate in the world. Il have
seen the thermometer stand 100 degrees
in the shade! 1t was SO hot that no hu-
man being could labor. The whole val
ley Of the Sacramento is unhe altly, and
with the most oppressive and disu greea-
bic climate suffered more few nights
ago on this bay, as was coming down,
from cold, thanI did all last wintcr--
The fact is, Twas almost chilled to death.
This is cold, chilly place, the wind
blowing tornado half the time This
is no agricultural country, and never can
be. The only wheat l have scqn, or
heard cf here, is at Captain Suffers, on
Feather river, and on examining his field
the day before it was cut, do not think
it produced three bushels to the acre
In Ohio, no farmer would think of cut
ting it. The corn was still worse You
have heard of Capt. SIS. great crop of
wheat last year. Will you believe me-,
when tell you he bought his own bread
and -four, and what he bad was fed like
hay to his horses and cattle. In all NV
travels iii California, have not seen
vegetables enough to supply one family
There are few spots that are desi:ab bic
enough, but they are mere spots--tmalI
valleys supplied with good soil and ,sEater,
and of limited extent.
The truth is, a few tnen came here
and got large grants of land, and then
set to work to write the country into con-
sequence. This is crirae. Thousands
have read Fremont's reports and qthey
books on California, and been decoyed
here with their families at cost and
risk of life. When they come here, in
stead of finding an Italian climate--in
northern latitude, they find every degree
Of heat of the. inhabited globe, down TO
that of perpetual snow. In place of
rich, alluvial plains, we find the sandy
deserts of ARABIA, with here and there.
spots of good land, useless; because for
eight or nine months, they receive hot a
drop Of moisture. Even as grazing
country, it has been greatly overrsied,
Giving the horses and cattle, the w:hoIe
valley as range, which is the case, shey
can make out to keep fat and in goes or
der, but in general one acre Of our good
grass land, can produce more than five
acres here. The country can never be
cut up into small farms as in the States
OF all the emigrants here, never mee;
one but intends TO leave as soon al he
can make his pile Many old settlers
have got their pile, and have gone back.
All are preparing TO go, and no orc
thinks of remaining over one or two
years, hoping in that time to make enough
here. All the Oregon men, as they get
$40 coo or $50 600, go back.
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Scarcity OF APrLEs.-The Bos.ou
Traveller hears from. all quarters oflthe
failure of the apple crop, and says that
uiready good apples are unusually high.