The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-01-01
CALIFORNIA.
TIL GOLD REGION
Geographical and Typographical.

1 Bay of San Francisco and of the valleys of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin, from latitude $40
to 400 north, and longitude 1909 to 1920 3V west
| from Greenwich-being that portion of those val
lsys in which the Gold Region % lies Were it
not for the extraordinary mineral treasures recently
discovered in this portion of country, it is pro-
babe that comparatively little interest would be
felt in relation to it, yet it would under any cir
cumstances be region well worthy Of the investi-
CATION of the curious, of the consideration of the
enterprising, and of the earnest attention OF those
who placed at the head Of affairs, or aspire to
that situation hereafter. Upon another occasion
We shall endeavor to give full examination to the
subject-of the past history, and probable future
Importance both political and commercial, of this
great and magnificent acquisition. We shall con-
tent ourselves this morning with compiling from the
best sources within reac CHI, but principally from
Fremont's Geographical Memoir upon Upper
California" and from Farnham's 4" Travels in Cal
ifUrnia," such an account OF the country as Will
serve 10 give a general view of lis nature and ca
pacltes, and will, wnen taken in connection with
the full and accurate map-drawn On the spot by
an officer of the United States corps of Engineers,
and the excellent letter below from another officer
of the army who visited the mineral region and de-
scribss only what he saw-afford as accurate an
personal inspection.
CALF oRNIA
Below the Sierra Nevada is about the extent of
Italy, geographically considered, in all the extent
of ltaiy IRON the Alps to the termination Of the
peninsula. Ii Is of the same length, about the same
BREADTH consequently the same area, about one
hundred Thousand square miles, and presents much
similarity Of climate and productions Like Italy
it lies north and south, and presents some differ
If riIma md Iha f{ecfn
ferencs OF lat tude, proximity Of high mountains,
and configuraton of the coast. Like Italy, it is a
country OF mountains and valleys: different from
II liz internal structure 1t Is formed for unity;
It's large rivers being concentrlc, and Its large VAL
lies appurtenant to the great central basin OF San
Francisco, within the urea OF whose waters the
dominating power must be found.
THEBAY oFsAN FRANCISCO.
"The Bay of San Francisco" says Fremont, " is
of the the world, and is justly entitled
that charac ter even under the seamans view of a
mere harbor. But when all the accessory advan-
Iages which belong to ii-tertile and picturesque
dependent country; mildness and salubrlty OF eli
male connection with the great interior valley of
the Sacramento and San Joaquin Its vast resources
for snip lumber, grain and cattle-when these adj
vanlages taken into The account, With Its geo.
graphical position the line of communication
with ASA it rises into an importance above that
of mere harbor, and deserves particular notice
in any account OF maritime California" Its mouth
lies in latitude 80 So north, nearly that of Lisbon
lis climate that of Southern Italy settlements
upon it for more than half century attest its
healthfulness hold shores and mountains give it
grandeur the extent and fertility of its dependent
country give it great resources for agriculture,
commerce and population.
The bay of San Francisco is separated from the
sea by low mountain ranges Looking from the
peaks of the Sierra Nevada, the coast mountains
present an apparently continuous line, with only
single gap resembling a mountain pass. This is
the entrance the great Bay, and is the only water
communication from the to the interior coun-
try. Approaching from the the coast presents
a bold outline. On the south the bordering noun
taIns come down to narrow ridge of broken hills,
terminating in q PERCEPTIONS point against which
the sea breaks heavily. On the northern side the
mountain presents a bold promontory, rising in a
few miles to height o. two or three thousand feet
Between these two poi ITS is the strait-about one
mile broad in the nar'owest part, and five miles
long from the sea to the ray. Passing through this
gate the bay opens to the right and left, extending
i'll each direction about thirty-fve miles, having
total length of more than 70 and coast of about
PTS miles. 1t is divided by straits and projecting
points into three separate bays, of which the north
ern two are called San Pablo and Suison bays
Within, the view presented is OF mountainous
country the bay resembling an interior lake of deep
water, lying between parallel ranges of mountains
Islands which have the bold character of the shores,
some mere of rock and others grass covered
rising 10 the height of three and eight hundred feet
break its surface and add to its picturesque appear
ance. Directly fronting the entrance, mountains a
mile from the shore, rise about 1000 feet above the
water, crowned by forest of lofty cypress, which
are visible from the and form conspicuous land
marks for vessels entering the bay. Behind, the
rugged peak of Mount Dablo, nearly 1000 feet high
overlooks the surrounding country of the bay and
San Joaquin. The immediate shore of the bay, OPP
poste to the sea, and for that reason called the con-
ira costa, presents varied character of rugged and
broken hills, rolling and unduatng land, and rich
auvia shores, backed by fertile and wooded ranges
suitable for towns, villages and farms, with which
it is beginning to be dotted low a luvial bottom
land, several miles in breadth, with occasional
open woods of oak, borders the foot Of the noun
tains around the southern arm OF the bay, termln-
aIing on a breadth of twenty miles in the fertile
valley of St. Joseph (see Map, San jose narrow
plain of rich soil lying between ranges from 1000
5000 feet high. The valley is openly wooded with
grove. of oak, free from underbrush and after the
spring rains covered with grass. Taken in con-
necton with the San Juan, with which it forms
continuous valley, it is ffty-fve miles long and
from one to twenty broad, opening into smaller val
leys among the hills. At the head Of the bay it is
twenty miles broad and about the same at the
southern end, where tn: SOIL Is beautifully fertile,
covered in summer with four or five varieties of
wild clover several feet high In many places it is
overgrown with wild mustard, ten ar twelve feet
high, through which roads have to be cut like
lanes On both sides the mountains are fertile and
wooded or covered with grasses and scattered
trees, On the west it Is projected from the chill
ing influence of the northwest winds by the cuestd
de los gdtos, or wild cat range, which separates It
from the coast. This is a grassy and tImoered
mountain, watered with small streams and wooded
on both sides " it'll many varieties OF trees and
shrubbery the heavier Of pine and cypress occupy
ing the western slope. Timber and shingles are now
Obtained from this mountain and one OF the re-
Gently discovered quicksilver mines is on the eastern
side Of the mountain, near the Pueblo of San Jose.
This range terminates on the south in the Ammo
Nuero point of Monterey bay, and on the north de-
clines into ridge of broken hills about five miles
wide, between the bay and the sea, and having the
town of San Francisco on the bay shore near its
northern extremity. -
"Sheltered from the cold winds and fogs of the
sea, and having soil of remarkable fertility, the
valley of San Jose is capable Of producing In great
perfection many fruits and grains, which do not
Il l. lite VyIAI