Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-04-13


afflici the country. Il will be temporary in its
nature, and having no permanent hold upon the
community, il viii be only litIle better than no
government at ALL
The following extracts contain all the news
interesting in this quarter:
Within the last FIVE or six weeks we have
had weather of extraordinary severity. 1t is
said TO be the codesl season experienced here
since that Of l823-'24. ln the gold mines the
The snow has been four feet deep, and at Suffers
Fort ice has formed three inches in thickness.
Within Two weeks the streets oflhis village have
been repeatedly whitend with snow and hail;
aud the hills within sight, on the opposite side
Of the bay-twelve miles dislant-haye been
capped with snow for the last fifteen days. Very
heavy and protracIed falls Of rain have now
swept off the snow from all the hills within sighg
but high in the mountains, among the mines, it
IS thought that they have had nothing but snow.
II so, 1t must have fallen TO very unusual
depth. We now have cool winds and occasion
al rains, but the severity Of the latter, it is Le-
lieyed, is now past. During the last winter we
had no snow here, and only on one occasion. for
two days, was there any in sight; and the falls
of rain were much less heavy than those we
have recently experienced.
As general thing, the operations among the
mines wer suspended on the approach of winter;
but large numbers Of persons have log houses
in the mountains, and, having laid in a winler's
stock Of provisions, continued among the mines
for the prosecution Of their business. Ills now
understood that the extraordinary severity Of
The weather has prevented them from etfeclng
much, and there can be no doubt that much SUI.
ering will be the result.
A great stagnaion in busnes has occurred
since winter set in and prices Of goods have fall
len in consequence. Vessels arriving at this
time find an lnconsiderable market, and it will
continue bad until there is a tendency towards
the mines, in March, hen new supplies must
60 in that direction. Within the last ten days,
six or eight vessels have arrived from Mexico
and the west coast of South America, and we
hear Of more than forty which are likely TO fol.
low them from Chill and Peru with about 5000
emgrants. Every vessel which leaves takes
away rich freight Of gold, and there are still
very large amounts of il in the country. ] am
satisfied that more than 100000 worth of gold
has been taken from the mines up 10 this time,
and that SO 100000 have been taken away from
the country, mostly to foreign countries for u
market. | have no doubt that 81 100000
worth will have been shipped from this port
alone.
We hear officially from Chill that very large
amount Of spurious coin is about to be shipped
from Peru and Bolivia, 10 be put into circulation
on this coast in exchange for gold, and through
the customhouse. By giving what may appear
10 be high price for gold dust, il would not be
strange TO find the community delrouded out Of
their properly. At present gold dust is selling
for about Sl3,50 per ounce troy but it would
not be surprising should the holders of spurious
coin force il into circulation by giving a nomi.
nal consideration Of SIT per ounce for gold.
There is no proper authority here to expose
fraud of this kind in its inception, or TO make an
assay of the coin supposed to be base.
The trade of the country is rapidly increas-
ing in consequence of the mines and the great
influx Of population. For several months past
the average amount Of duties COLLECTED at this
port, exclusive Of the expenses Of the custom
house, has been rising $4,000, and tits thought
that it will exceed 100000 the present month.
1t will be safe, | think, to put the revenue Of
California, for the current year, at 81 100000,
and four flihs of this will be collected at this
port. The amount paid is becoming subject
of commont, and the fact that population pay
ing such a tax has no government and no rep
resentotlon is exciting very general dissatlsac'
ton. Should Congress again adjourn without
any action in relation TO this territory, il will cre
ate still more violent comment, and may leat
to some measures on the part Of the people o
the country which would bring lasting disgrace
upon our flag.
All the trade of the coast is fast concentrating
in this bay. Nearly all the goods consumed il
The lower parts of this territory are sent from
this port, and as soon as coasters can be got io
the business, foreign vessels will not visit thos'
ports at all. The introduction Of steamers oil
the coast will give additional importance to thi
harbor, and it is most likely that mu ch of hi
business Of Oregon will be done here also.
We are now expecting the first steamer herr
in about u month, and all look forward to thoi
regular trips as u uew era in the history Of thi
coast.-There are many persons here who vii
avail themselves of their rapid trips 10 remi
gold dust to the States; and u certain, regular
and expeditions mail communication with th
States will give great assistance to the mercan
tile community. 1t is generally believed lho
the business of the line will justify such an aug
mentalion of boats as TO allow Of scmi.monlhi,
trips before the end Of the present year; for
is presumed that an active emigration will taxi
place from the eastern and middle States vii
Panama.
write in great haste, and beg that you vii
take the discordant matter send you for wha
ii is worth.
| am, dear sir yours truly,
j. l.. FOLSOM.
Major Gen. Jessup, U. S. Army.
Pension Laws.