The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29

vor OF the remittance to New York. $1,000 "A
IL will thus be perceived, that nature has 50 ar,
ranged the winds and currents OF the PACING, and
disposed of her vast treasures IN the hills and noun
ains of California, TO give 10 the harbor oil San
Francisco the control OF the commerce oil that
ocean, far as il may be connected with the west
coast Of America,
Imnortant as the commerce of the Pacific I'M
doubleday is and will be- TO California, il cannot
now nor will il ever compare in magnitude and
value TO the domestic trade between her and the
older States of the Union.
Two years 90 California did not probably con-
tain more than fifteen thousand people That por-
ton OF it which has since been so wonderfully peo-
pied by American citizens, was, comparatively
without inhabitants, without resources, and not
supplied with the common comforts of shelter af-
iorded by a forest country.
Notwithstanding the great distances emigrants
have been compelled to travel TO reach the Terri
tory, more than one hundred thousand have over
come all difficulties and spread themselves over its
hills and plains. They have been supplied from
distances great they themselves have passed,
with not only the necessares, but the comforts and
many of the luxuries Of life. Houses have been inn
ported from China Chill, and the Atlantic States OF
the Union. All the materials required in building
cities and towns have been added TO the wants OF
people numerous, destitute, and remote from the
sources of supply
These wants will exist as long as emigration
continues TO flow into the country, and labor en-
ployed in collecting gold shall be more profitable
than its application 10 agriculture, the mechanic
arts, and the great variety of pursuits which are
fostered and sustained in other civilized communi-
ties.
This may be shown by mentioning the prices of
few articles. Last summer and autumn, lumber
was sold in San Francisco at $500 to $400 per
thousand feet AT Stockton and Sacramento city,
at $500 to 5000 At these prices, it could be made
IN the Territory, and many persons were engaged
in the business. perceive by recent accounts,
that the price had fallen at San Francisco to SIS;
this price, it cannot be made where labor is from
$40 10 8 Is per day, and the difficulties attending
its manufacture much greater than in the At
antic States Lumber can be delivered in our
large lumber markets for average of the various
qualities of S 10, and freghted 10 San Francisco
for 1924, making $40 per thousand feet. This
price would the manufacture of il in Califor
MIA to be abandoned. We may add $50 per thou
sand 10 meet any increase of price III the article
itself, in the freight, and the result would be the
same.
1t is probable that the demand, for several years
10 come, will not be less than twenty millions of
feet per annum, which, at $40 per thousand, will
be S., 900.
When California comes 10 have a population of
200 900, which she will have before the close of the
present year, she will require near half million
Of barrels OF flour from some quarter, and no coun-
try can supply 1t as good and cheap as the old
States Of the Union. Including freight and nsur-
ance, this may be set down item of about
$1,000 900. The article of clothing, allowing $50
each person, would be $4,000, 900.
There is no pretension TO accuracy in these items
and they may be estimated too HIGH but II is quite
probable they are too low.
We have no data which to found calculation
of what the value of the trade between the States
Al
be during the current year will venture the
opinion however, that il will not fall short Of TWEEN
ty-fye millions of dollars. 1t may go far beyond
that sum. At present, ! perceive
which which win retard or diminish emigration.
II the movement shall continue five years, our
commerce with that Territory may reach one hun
dred millions per annum This Is doubtless a
startling sum, but il must be borne in mind that
have to build cities and towns, supply machinery for
mining coal for domestic purposes, and steam nav-
CATION, and all the multifarious articles used in
he nd af life FIR hal
million OF people, who will have transferred them
selves TO a country which is TO produce, compare
lively, nothing except minerals and the precious
metals, and whose pursuits will enable them to pur
chase, at any cost, whatever may be necessary for
their purposes.
Il is difficult TO imagine or calculate the effect
which will be produced on all the industrial pur
suits of the people Of the old States OF the Union, by
this withdrawal from them Of half million Of
producers, who, in their new homes and new pur
suits, will gre erissnce TO commerce almost equal
in value to foreign trade. Let one, there
fore, suppose he is not interested in the welfare of
California. As well may he believe his interests
would not be influenced by closing our ports an
cutting off intercourse with all the world
The distance round Cape Horn is great that
breadstuf and many other articles OF food deterio-
rate, and many others are perishable in their
nature that they would decay the passage.
This would be the particularly with all kinds
ofvegetsbles and undried fruits. Until some more
speedy mode Of communication shall be established
by which produce can be transferred, the farmers
and planters Of the old States will not realize the
foil value Of this new market on the Pacific.
Many other important interests will be kept
back, especially the consumption Of coal. The
American steamers now that ocean, those on
their way there, and others shortly 10 be out.
will consume not far from one hundred thousand
tons "a coal per annum. The scarcity Of wood in
California will bring coal into general fuel,
as il can be obtained at reasonable prices.
Suppose there may be, three years hence forty thou
sand houses, which shall consume five tons each
per annum. This with the steamers would be a
af three hundred thouzand m
delivered at $50 per ton, il would compete
fully with the coal from vancouvcr's Island and
New Holland, aud amount to s 6,0O0,0O0.
The construction Of a railroad across the lsthmus
Of Panama would secure the market for those arti-
cles against all competition.
Some id9A may be formed Of the demand for
them from the prices paid in San Francisco last
autumn Coal was sold at 500 TO 500 per ton
potatoes $40 per bushe turnips and onions for
- To 62i cents each; eggs from $40 to Sl2 per
dozen.
The distance from Chagres TO New York has re.
Gently been run in seven days. The same speed
would carry steamboat from Panama to San
Francisco IN ten days. Allow three days 10 convey
freight across the Isthmus, on a railway, and both
passengers and freight will be conveyed from New
York 70 San Francisco IN twenty days.
This celebrity Of movement would secure for
American produce the entire market Of California.
Sailing vessels may b. successfully employed be.
tween Atlantic and gulf ports and the terminus
u the railway this side Of the Isthmus; and pro-
pellers from Panama 10 San Francisco. These lat.
ter vessels will be found peculiarly suited TO tina,
trade they their steam through the Gains
of the bay Of Panama, and against head winds and
currents going north. and their sails with favorable
winds and currents coming south.
These modes Of conveyance, In connection with
tic railroad across the sthmus, would be sufficient
ly expeditions and economical Go turn the tide d
commerce, between the Atlantic and Pacific Statei
II the Union, into that channel The tendency o
commerce the Pacific 10 promote the en-
ployment OF ocean steamers IL Of much import
ance connected with the defence Of our exten
sive line Of coast from latitude 32o 10 4go the pro
lection Of the whale fishery, and other branches o
trade on that ocean. The establishment Of linz
u heavy steamers TO China would promote all thee,
objects; increase intercourse with that coontry
and probably be the means Of opening comnuncs
tions with Japan. Money wisely employed in pro
noting these objects IL is believed would add NOR,
10 the power and prosperity Of the country thar
ia expenditure ON any general system Of fortified
ton at the present prices Of labor and materials
There j. one point, however, Of such vast import
that no time abould he lot n, tak,nu 49, =