Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1849-09-22
From California.
BOTH SIDES OF THE PICTURE.

cisco.-.N Y. Express.
Capt Goodyear's party had arrived out in 67
travelling days from San Jose the Missouri river.
1t was believed that the Wagon trains would
suffer severely. small party had also arrived via
the Salt Lakes, and these represent the Mormon
settlements in most tourishing condition, with the
prospect of glorious harvest in every branch Of
agriculture Corn. The Mormons very kind
to the emigrants who pass through their domain.
Needy emigrants are furnished without reward with
provisions and fresh cattle, accompanied with the
inequalities of the good Samaritans.
The party which in by way of the Salt
Lakes state that not ten wagons of the whole
van will ever cross the mountains. Full one-half
of the whole number abandoned already, and the
animals used to pack in provisions sufficient to
tain life. For one hundred miles after the Salt
Lake party reached Mary's River, not a spear of
grass could be found to sustain the cattle and thous
ands persisted before reaching the Sink.
Few or none of the emgrants had died from want
of food but their sufcrngs from want of water had
been intense. In many places on the desert parties
were compelled to bury themselves in sand up to
their necks, and await the return of their friends
who went off in search of water. But have
died, and most of the parties, after abandoning
every thing but provisions, would reach Sacramento
City.
Capt. Goodyear's party (by the Missouri route)
think that the first wagon train will enter the val
ley of the Sacramento by the 18th of July.
This disastrous news from parties by the interior
mode of transit.
One of the correspondents writes from the gold
diggins at Tulwallamy:
DO not advise a dog to come to California The
entire Northern portion of Upper California is in
feror to New England in every respect, while the
Southern half of the same territory is baked and
burned by a scathing scorching for nine months
of the year, without rain dews, and deluged dur
ing the other three Thesame writer says Flour sells
here at so cents W H.; beans 374 do and sugar, cot
fee, sc. in proportion. Pilot bread is worth Is cts.
mess pork IS cts; potatoes so cts and parched corn
ground, IS cts ~ b. A bottle of picked beans,
cucumbers onions brings 50, and salnratus is very
scarce at twenty dollars u b. We find it saving of
GOO ~ cent. to buy provisions at Stockton and trans
port them hither at an expense OF So " cwt.
Not wrinkle is to be seen upon the heavens
front from February to December, while old Sol
smiles his severest. My neck, arms, hands, ankles
and feet blistered. am working upon the sharp
slate rocks which burning hot at mid day, with
out shoes, sometimes raining perspiraton, and, after
an hour or two of canadigging labor with the pick
and shovel, Jumping into the water singing hot for
the purpose of g panning out" with thermometer
ranging from hundred upward Ought mtelli-
gent fore-handed farmers to be induced to leave
Portable homes and bring their families to a land
however rich in mineral wealth, where Indians posi-
lively cannot live
The harvest of gold will be gathered in two
years, and the gleanings will be poor indeed After
that unto him whose cupidity or stupidity brings
him hither
LIFE AND SERVICE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
At San Francisco prices of every article were
greatly reduced it is said and every thing had fallen
off The Caliiornia's stores, her last voyage
were bought cheaper of ships in the harbor than
were her stores in New York on her voyage out
Salaries reduced and clerks could be hired
about cheap in New York, excepting the bet
ter class of book keepers.
A large number of young men had returned from
the mines unable to endure the toll necessary to
procure gold, and this had produced this gut of
clerks. Manual labor, however, still high, So
per day, carpenters get 10 to II.
The South Carolina was ready to sail for New
York, and the Sea Queen was taking in some bal
last for the same destination. Sailors wages were
120 to $50 u month; fremen, $50. Sailors
plenty at these rates, and the steamers had no
difficulty in getting away regularly. There has
been several arrivals of coal vessels at San Francisco
for account of the steamboat company, and the sup
ply ample.
Cape Horn vessels are arriving by dozens, but
their cargoes pass off quietly under the hammer, and
nobody notices it, except some ruined owner who
NAV happen to be on board.
Men should not attempt gold digging in Califor-
mia, who have not been used to the hardest kind Of
service at home.
But few Of the men save what they make, Gam
bling is carried on to enormous extent in San
Francisco. A few days before the California left,
one hundred thousand dollars in dust and Spanish
ounces changed hands at Monte bank on the turn
of single card. A notorious New York gambler,
who keeps bank, was broken the night before the
California sailed, having lost 10000 dollars at
Euchre, at 500 game.
In San Francisco frame building has been
erected the lot opposite the Parker house, to be
used drinking and sporting house, and the rent
of which is to be 5000 dollars U month"; 200 T.
day.
Among the enterprises of the town, is large
theatre, about being erected by William A. Bufam,
Esq.
HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY.
The usual fever of the season was Just beginning
to prevail the placers and old residents of Cali
fornia estimated that at least 5000 deaths would
occur during the summer among the unacclmated
San Francisco healthy usual. Dyson
terry prevailed to some extent. In the new places
up the Rivers Benicia, Stockton, Sc dysentery was
very prevalent.
A letter from Sacramento City also says:-The
most of those who are now in California, will do
well, il they work to the top of their energies, and
can avoid sickness. But disease will come, and then
an ounce of gold goes with every pound of flesh
The best course (and the majority pursue it is to
be content with small gains, work moderately in
this enfeebling climate and get home as pos
sible with Just enough to pay their passage and
barely compensate them for the hardship they un-
dergo. This is the land for hard hands and hard
stomachs. 90 None need apply without these quail
ications"
LIFE AT THE MINES.
We will venture to affirm that the standard of
morals at the mines is much higher than in any town
in the States south Of Boston. We speak from
knowledge of the mines tributary to the Sacrainen-
to of those the San Joaquin we learn that quite
the reverse exists; but the branches of the Sa-
cramento every mans rights scrupulously re-
spected. Very seldom you meet with drunken
man; less often with gambling or quarreling.-
Placer Times.
Several letters from California represent the
mines as the most orderly places in the country.
You rise at o'clock, swallow hasty bit or two,
leap into your &c hole" and delve till IL o'clock.
The pours down most scorchns ly--the high
perpendicular rocks each side reflect the heat, and