The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-05-18
From the RcGyune.
NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA.
The Detention of the California and
DesertiOn of her Crew, Sc, &c.

DeSertlOM OF hef CFeWS &css exc
SAN FRANCISCO, March 2, 1910.
MY Dear C.-1 have the pleasure to ad-
wise our safe arrival at this place on the 28th
ult., after tedious passage of twenty-elght
days from Panama. We were detained near
ly a week at Monterey, about ninety miles
below this, in consequence Of being short of
fuel; after taking on board twenty cords wood
we arrived here wit about two hours supply
Of fuel on board.
| have been on shore but a short time, and
am heartily surprised with everything that |
see. Speculation Of all kinds is rife and ex-
ceeds anything | ever witnessed in Mlsslssip-
pi in the palmy days Of '36 and Y. Town
lots are held at the most exorbitant prices,
and every lot-holder is worth from fifty to two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I have
yet had no means of ascertaining the state of
affairs generally, as was prevented going on
shore yesterday in consequence of a severe
cold, but cannot but believe that there is an
unnatural and fictitious value placed on every
thing, which will soon be corrected Mer-
chandize and labor are extraordinarily high.
In relation to the mines, there is unquestion
ably an abundant supply of gold, and it is
continually discovered in new places. The
gold region is now believed to extend down as
low aslower California.
There are two or three firms who monopo.
lie the business of the place, whose original
employment was selling their goods by retail
to the natives and taking their pay in tallow
and hides, the former shipped to the United
States, and the latter to Valparaiso. Since the
fever broke out they have used their money
in speculation and buying goods from vessels,
which arrive in abundance, from Mexico
Chilli, Peru, the Sandwich Islands, &C., &c.
The steamer will be detained here a month
and perhaps six weeks, for a supply of coal.
There are not houses enough to contain III
in the town, and shall camp out in the neigh
bolhood with some friends who came on il
the steamer. Some few buildings are goinl
up, but very few, as carpenters wages ar,
eight to ten dollars per day. | am writing
this in the cold, and my fingers fairly ache -
The rainy season. accompanied with cold
damp weather will continue some weeks
This has been the severest winter, however
for many years in this country. The rain
have been heavy and the communication with
some parts Of the money region cut off. II viii
t yet be a month before parties can leave thi
place with safety, owing to the snow,and mud
| / have some doubts whether the presen
| town Of San Francisco will continue to be tn
place of business. 1t is situated few mile
from the entrance of the harbor on the sid
Of a hill, but the great objection to it, as
l place Of business, is that vessels cannot ap
= proach under a quarter to half q mile Of tn
city, owing to a flat which makes off diEectl
in front of it. Vessels are consequently oblige
> to be lightened and the goods are again to b
shipped up the bay into the interior. There ar
other sites up the bay more suitable, and
D should not be surprised to see an attemp
made to change the port. At present tow
lots are worth in San Francisco $1,000 to SEC
| 600 each. . 5.