Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-03-30


of four hlngs and ttoo pence three pence per dollar
have statement before from Of the most eminent
merchants and bankers Of New York, who was for many
years engaged extensively in the India ade which shows
that profit gain ten thousand ounces Of gold thus
RENTED, would be S34,434 ~
And that the loss on the quantity, sent di.
rect TO China, would be. l5,600 OO
Total difference in prof, and loss in favor of the
remittance to New York.. 5O,O3f A
It will thus be peceived that Nature has arranged the
winds and currents Of the Pacific and disposed of her vast
treasures in the hills and mountains of California to give
TO the harbor of San Francisco the control Of the
of that ocean, far may be connected with the west
coast of America.
important as the commerce Of the Pacific undoubtedly is
and will be to California, cannot will 1t ever COM
pare in magnitude and value the domestic trade between
her and the older States of the Union.
Two years ago California did probably contain more
than fifteen thousand people. That portion of it which has
since been so wonderfully peopled by American citizens
comparatively without inhabitants without resources and
not supplied with the comforts of shelter afforded by
a forest country.
Notwithstanding the great distances emgants have been
compelled TO travel reach the Territory, more than one
hundred thousand have all difficulties and spe
themselves hills and plains They have been suppheo
from distances great they themselves have passed. win
not only the necessae but the comforts and many Of the
Iuxures Of le Houses have been imported from China,
Chilli and the Atlantic States of the Union. All the mate
rails required in building cities and towns have 6een added %
the of people so numerous destitute ana remote rom
the sources Of supply
These wants will exist long emigration continues to
flow into the country and labor employed in collecting gold
shall be profitable than its application to agriculture, the
mechanic arts and the great variety of pursuits which fos
tered and sustained in other civilized communities
This may be shown by mentioning the prices of few
tcles Last and autumn lumber sold IN San
Francisco at $500 $500 per thousand feet At Stockton
and city, at $500 to $500 At these prices
could be made in the Territory and many persons were en-
gagged business perceive by recent accounts, that
the price had fallen San Francisco to $751; this price,
cannot made where the labor is from $40 to Sl5 per day.
and the difficulties attending its manufacture much greater
than in the Atlantic Slaes Lumber be delivered in our
large lumber markets for OF the various qualities OF
Sl6 and eghed San Francisco for S24, making $40 per
thousand feet This price would the manufacture of it
in California be abandoned We may add $40 per thou
sand, any increase of price in the article ITSELF in
the freight, and the result would be the
1t probable that the demand for several to come
will be less than twenty millions Of feet per which,
at $40 per thousand will be So, 000, 600.
When California to have population of zoe, 600,
which she will have before the close Of the present year, she
will require half million Of barrels of -four from
quarter, and country supply it good and cheap
the old States Of the Union Including freight and insurance,
this may be down item of about SIS, O00 OOO The
article Of clothing, allowing $40 to each person. would be
$4,000, 600.
There pretenson accuracy in these items, and they
may be estimated too high, but it quite as probable they
too low.
We have no data on which 10 found calculation of what
the value the trade between the States east OF the Rocky
Mountains and California will be during the current will
the opinion however, that will not fall short Of
twenty-five millions of dollars 1t may go far beyond that
At present. can perceive which will retad
or diminish emigration.
with that Territory may reach hundred millions per
This doubtless startling but must be borne
in mind that have to build cities and towns, supply
chnery for mining, coal for domestic purposes and steam
navigation and all the muifarious articles used in providing
the comforts and uxuries of life for half million Of people,
who will have transferred themselves country which is to
produce, comparatively nothing except minerals and the pre-
cous metals and whose pursuits will enable them purchase,
at any cost whatever may be necessary for their purposes
1t is difficult to imagine calculate the effect which will
be produced all the industrial pursuits Of the people Of the
old States Of the Union by this withdrawal from them of
half million of producers, who in their homes and
pursuits, will giue eristence 10 almost equal in
value to foreign trade Let one therefore, suppose
he is interested ia the welfare of California AS well may
he believe his interests would be influenced by closing
ports and cutting off intercourse with all the world.
The distance round Cape Horn is great that breadtus
and many other articles OF food deerorae and many others
persabe their nature they would decay on the
passage This would be the particularly with all kinds
of vegetables and undried fruits Until speedy
mode Of communication shall be established by which produce
be transferred the farmers ad planters Of the old States
will not realize the full value this market on the Pacific
Many other important interests will be kept back, espe
cay the consumption of coal The American steamers now
on that those their there, and others shortly to
be sent out will not far from hundred thousand
tons of coal per The scarcity of wood in California
will bring coal into general fuel be OBJ
tanned at reasonable prices Suppose there may be- three
years hence forty thousand houses which shall five
tons each per annum, this with the steamers would be
sumption of three hundred thousand If delivered at
$50 per tom would compete successfully with the coal from
Vancouyers Island and New Holland, and to six
million dollars.
The construction of railroad the Ishmus Of Pana-
would the market for those articles against all
competition.
Some idea may be formed Of the demand for them from the
prices paid in San Francisco last autumn Coal sold at
500 to 500 per potatoes SIG per bushe tunps and
onions from 25 to 623 cents each eggs from $40 to Sl2
dozen.
The distance from Chagres New York has recently been
in seven days. The same speed would carry steam
boat from Panama San Francisco 10 days. Allow three
days to convey freight the Isthmus railway, and
both passengers and freight will be conveyed from New York
to San Francisco in twenty days.
This celebrity of movement would for American pro-
duce the entire market of California Sailing vessels may be
successfully employed between Atlantic and Gulf ports
and the terminus Of the railway this side Of the hmus
and pTopeers from Panama San Francisco. These latter
vessels will be found peculiarly suited that trade they
their through the Gains of the bay of Panama, and
against and currents going NORTH and their sails
with favorable winds and currents coming south.
These modes Of conveyance connection with the railroad
across the sthnus would be sufficiently expeditions and
nomical to turn the tide Of commerce, between the Atlantic
and Pacific States Of the Union into that channel The ten
dency Of commerce the Pacific promote the employ
ment OF steamers Is Of much importance connected
with the defence of extensive line Of from latitude
32 to 49, the protection Of the whale fishery and other
branches Of trade that The establishment Of line
OF heavy steamers China would promote all these Objects
increase intercourse with that country and probably be
the means of opening communications with Japan. Money
wisely employed in promoting these objects, it is beiev