The North-Carolina standard., 1849-02-28

in New York City, few days since, In reiapoh 70
California will doubtless prove interesting to all our
numerous readers. Mr.. Atherton arrived in this coun-
try two or three weeks since from California and at
the request of number of citizens of New 7 orK,
he consented to lecture the subject of the Gold
i region. We find him extensively reported In the
New York papers, and we can have no doubt OF the
truth of his statements. We quote as follows from
the New York Tribune:
| LADIES AND GENTLEMEN On my arrival in this
city, three or four days since, was applied to by
large numbers of persons for reliable information In
reference to California. All the information have
in reference that country, have freely Impaired TO
the extent of my ability, to all who have sought
but if were to answer all the inquiries put to me,
should have time left to attend to the business for
which left California Numerous letters have been
sent to me- requesting me to give public lecture;
several of the papers of the city have called on me to
do so, and personal applications have been made to
to the same effect. Iconsented; but, gentlemen
assure you that it reluctantly. would willing
ly decline the honor, even now If 1t were possible
have reduced to writing portion of what have to
say to you, that it may be presented with meth
3D. and in proper order after which 1t Will give me
great pleasure to answer any question which may be
put to me. AS my appearance in public as lecturer
is unusual, beg you to excuse my many lmPerfec-
tions. / shall make of this lecture four general di-
visions, as follows:
| Fyrst-The face of the country, climate, produc-
tions of California, its healtffulness, River Sacra-
government of the country, &c. &e.
SecOnd-the mines, manner of procuring the gold,
average quantity per man, probable supply, wet and
dry diggings compared; and some instances OF sue
cess within my own personal observation.
Ihird-Adyce to emigrants to California, articles
necessary for outfit, &c. &c.
F0urth-The different routes to California, the ex-
penses of each, with full! particulars of the route
through Mexico Cover which travelled on my re-
turn from San Francisco) with distances, expenses
| and manner Of travelling in Mexico, and which IS
the most advisable route.
Under the first general division of my subject l
will remark that the soil is generally good and caPa-
be- of producing all the ordinary grains. 1t Is a
good wheat country. The red worm, which destroys
so much of the wheat here, is unknown in Cafor-
MIA, SO far as my knowledge extends. When first
went to California, in the month of January, lS47
land at Bodaga, which is about thirty miles north of
San Francisco, worth two dollars acre only
when left, 1t was worth more than twenty dollars
an acre. San Francisco, Yerba Buena, as we call
1t, stands, you know, the large and beautiful
bay of San Francisco, and contains the most mag
nhcent harbor In the world, and the only safe har-
Dor in all Upper California, except San Diego. All
the navies of the world and its commercial marine
might ride In perfect security and repose its BOSOM
The harbor is entered from the ocean by narrow
passage about two miles wide, with high bluffs
on each side This bay extends about sixty miles to
the east of the town of San Francisco and about one
hundred miles to the northwest, and is from five to
fifteen miles wide. The town is four five miles
from the ocean. In January 1847, there about
six hundred inhabitants in San Francisco. In April
last just before the gold placers were discovered,
there were about one thousand Inhabitants there.
There were, in May and June, only few women
and children, the majority of the population having
gone to the mines. When l left many had returned.
The town was filled by emigrants arriving from Ore
gon, Sandwich Islands, Valparaiso, and all the neigh
boring places There several other towns on this
bay. The principal ones are Sonoma, San Raphael,
Santa Clara and San Jose. 1 have visited all these
places, but my residence has been at San Francisco
Von 81. SC hal
In relation to the climate of California, safe
ly say that it is not unhealthy country. Fever
and ague is somewhat prevalent along the banks of
some OF the rivers; but hazard nothing In saying
that the valley of the Sacramento is much more
healthy than the valley of the Mississippi, or the
State of Illinois. l am often asked about the 'sick
ly season." There is what is called rainy sea-
son., which lasts about four or five months-from
November to April-and continued exposure and
want of food and irregular habits, would, of course
In rainy dry season, strongly predispose dis
ease, and during all seasons it is necessary to
else ordinary prudence and care in relation to health
During the dry season., it is called, the climate
is clear and delightful. The atmosphere is bracing
and though sometimes warm, is not weakening to the
system, as it is in some of the Southern States.
would remark, however, that in the summer season
heavy fogs are prevalent on the coast. The river
Sacramento and San Joaquin are the great rivers of
Upper California. The Sacramento is most beauti-
ul stream. At its mouth it is about two thirds as
wide East River, at Fulton Ferry There is
small island In the middle of the river its mouth
1t has middle bed, and is navgable for three or
four hundred miles above it's mouth. have never
been that river above Suffers, which is about one
hund red and fifty miles above San Francisco. 1t is
navigabe for ships drawing eight feet the mouth
of the American Fork, and small steamboat draw
ing two three feet of water could go two hundred
miles still farther up. branch of the Sacramento
called the american Fork, I" empties into the Sac
ramento, about $50 miles from its mouth. Captain
Suffers mill is 40 miles above the mouth Of and on
the American Fork This is the place where the
gold first discovered. The discovery was made !
by some of Capt. Suffers men, who Were employed |
to dig to discharge the waste water from the
mill.
All articles of merchandise are carried in what are
called launches which large boats that will carry
from eight to fifteen tons. 1t takes about week or
ten days to go from San Francisco to Suffers, and
back in of these launches, and when left, the
freight on barrel of -four $14. A common
steamboat could make the trip in two days. When i
/ left California launch, which but a short time
before could have been bought for $780, could not be
hired for trip Suffers for that sum. The price
of passage $1O-each passenger carry his food
and bed with him; if he had any to carry. Nothing
is found for passengers, except passage. Every man
has to do the Irishman did, himself" on the
passage 1t is quite unnecessary for me to allude to
the political regulations of California. You are we'll
aware that, as yet, we have government there.
Congress neglects to provide Territorial Govern
for the country, and although the Alcades are
obeyed the people not yet obligated obey them.
now approach that portion of my lecture which
will probably be of the greatest interest to you to
witt the mines manner of procuring the gold, aver
age quantity per man, probable supply, wet and dry
diggings, and instances of success within nv
own personal observation. l may very safely tell