Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-11-22
Nao York of the Paci fc
MondQu, S1k. II. 1910.

California is truly great country; ev-
ery,hing touched. turns to gold. Money is
he cheapeet article in the land. The pop.
ala,ion increases more rapidly than in any
other portion Of the world. Towns and
cities spring up like magic in places where
a few months since the grass Of the Prairie
and the trees of the forest flourished in soi-
tude, save the occasional presence ofa Hun
ter, an Indian, bear or a wolf. Vast
Plains where not long ago it was 4 rare
thing to see an evidence Of humanity, arc
now ,hronged with crowds of men num-
bering many thousands, busy as moes,
burrowing in the earth, in search Of yellow
dross, all eager to heap up wealth and to
accumulate fortunes. The mos, in por,an,
cities in Alta California are those of San
Francisco on the sea-coast, tho great com
merclal depot Of the country, where every
body and everything travelling htherwards
must stop Tor short time, at least Sacra
mento City, on tho river OF the same name,
and Stockton, upon the Rio San joaquin,
both situated at the head of navigation, and
through which flows The tide of population
to and from the Mines. OF these three cit
les, the first has increased within a few
months from a population of five hundred
to fifteen thousand and the others have
nearly tho same number, while, but short
time since, they numbered not single
habitation. 1t is true that these places are
mostly cities oI cloth tents, but then the in
habi,ants are there, and as long as tho
Gold fever continues, their numbers will
wax greater, and eventually these " settle
men,s" will become well-built cities of great
importance in wealth and renown
Doubtless the dating Of this letter will
cause no little wonder, ,--New York Of the
Pacific is sounding title but what will
you think when tell you that there are
but five houses hero ! one of these is un-
finished, and no tents They call 1t
city; only two months ago there was not
soul in the place. The land here was pur-
chased by Col Stevenson, of the 4" Cali
fornia Regiment" and few others, on
speculation lis situation at tho mouth of
the two rivers leading to the Gold regions
is certainly good ono. Almost all Of the
vessels passing up ans down stop hero for
day or two their crews and passengers
come ashore, Of course, and money and
dust circulate freely, while they stay for
what there is to be bought, which, at prss-
ent, is not much, bu prices are high. There
are not more than a dozen permanent resi-
dents here, and only two women, an Am
erioan and Mexican. Ore Of The build
ings is a Grocery and liquor shop, and an
other s a boarding house, with board at
s2,75 per day. have seen plan OF the
city on paper, where 1t looks remarkably
well, with it's streets, avenues, public
squares, gardens and fountains A Poiit-
ion has already been sent to Washington
for Post Office, signed by all the inhabi-
tan,s ahd they talk Of a Custom House
Said | not truly. "this is great country" +"
One Of the COMPANY, William Wolch,
is very sick ho is ashore. We left San
Francisco with the ship on the 9th We
tsailcd up the bay Of San Francisco, and
Trough that Pablo the same afternoons "A
and lnch orcd that evening at Ben.cia,