The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-05-01
FOR TRUTH WE SINK
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA. MAY l. 1850

| 10 ~oh'ciilelcc may lcqulre; ne has no tear
that they will be injured by wet or unfavorabl,
weather. Hence it is, that many who have lone
been accustomed to that climate, prefer it to tho
changeable weather east of the Rocky mountains
AS already stated, the forests Of California
south OF lat 80 deg and west to the foot hills O.
the Sierra Nevada, are limited and detached
scattering groves of oak in the valleys, and O
redwood on the ridges and on the gorges of the
hills.
1t can be of no practical use to speculate or
the causes which have denuded so large an ex
tent OF country, further than to ascertain wheth
er the soil is or is not favorable to the growth
forest trees
| When the dry season sets in, the entire sur
face is covered with luxuriant growth of grass
and oats, which, as the summer advances. be-
come perfectly dry. The remains of all dead
trees and shrubs also become dry. These mate
rails therefore, are very combustiblc, and usual
~ take fire in the latter part of summer and be.
ginning of autumn, which commonly passes ov.
er the whole country, destroying its course, the
young shrubs and trees. In fact, it seems to be
the same process which has DESTROYED or pre-.
vented the growth of forest trees on the prairies
OF the western States, and not any quality in the
soil untriendiy to their growth
| The absence of timber and the continuation o1
the dry season are apt to be regarded by farm.
ers, on first going into the country as irrcmeda.
bic defects, and as presenting obstacles almost
insurmountable, to the successful progress of ap
riculture. little experience will modify these
opinions.
1t is soon ascertained that the soil will produce
abundantly without manure; the f1ocks and herds
sustain themselves through the winter without
being fed at the barn. yard, and, consequently
no labor is necessary to provide forage for them
that bitches are easily dug, which present very
good barriers for the protection of crops, until
live fences can be planted and have time to grow
Forest trees may be planted with little labor, and
in very few years attain sufficient size for build
ing and fencing purposes. Time may be useful
ly employed in sowing various grain and root
crops, during the wet or winter season. There
is no weather cold enough to destroy root crops
and, therefore, it is not necessary to gather them
They can be used or sold from the field where
they grow. The labor, therefore, required in
most OF the old States to fell the forests, cea,
the land Of rubbish, and prepare it for seed, NAV
here be applied to other objects.
All these things, together with the perfect SC.
curity Of aH crops, tn harrcst time, from iujurq
by 'cet 1ccathcr, are probably sufficient to meet
any expense which may be incurred in irrigation
or caused, for time, by a scanty supply oftim-
bcr
In the northern part of the Territory, above
latitude 80 deg, and on the hills which rise from
the great plain of the Sacramento and San Joa-
quln, to the foot Of the Sierra Nevada, the for
csts of timber are beautiful and extensive, and
would, if brought into use, be sufficiently pro.
ductvc to supply the wants of the southern and
western portions ofthe State
have spoken of the agricultural products and
resources of the country without reference to
remarkable state ofthings caused by the discov-
cry OF gold, which it is probable will postpone
for an indefinite time all efforts to improve the
| AS lnnr 1ohn
lars or more per day, in collecting gold, that can
very well afford to import their supplies from
countries where the wages of labor are not more
than from f1ity cents to one dollar per day. 1t
is not, therefore, to be supposed, that the soil
will be cultivated more than the production OF
vegetables fruits and other articles so perishable
in their nature that they cannot be brought from
a great distance will require.
10 secure this important market for the pro.
ducts and manufactures of the States east of the
Rocky Mountains, is undoubtedly an object Of
the greatest Importance. 1t will be considered
in its proper place.
| COMMERCIAL RESOURCES.
The commercial resources Of California are,
at present founded cntlrel on her metallic 7realh
her vast mineral treasures remaining undcve-
lopcd, and her fertile soil almost wholly neglect
ed; and this must continue to be the case as lone
as labor, employed i'll collecting gold, shall be
more profitable than in any other pursuit which
can furnish the sinews of commerce.
The day is probably not distant, however,
when her minerals, especially the quicksilver
mines, will be extensively and proftably worked
Gold is the product Of the country, and is inl-
mediately available, in uncoined statc for all
the purposes of exchange. 1t is not there, as in
other countries, where the production of the
earth and OF art are sent to market-foreign or
domestlc-to be exchanged for the precious me
tails, or other articles of value. There, gold not
only supplies the medium of domestic trade. but
of foreign commerce.. - -.--
Gold dust is worth but s$l7 per ounce in Chi
Ii. 1t is worth $l8 at the United States mint
| If, therefore, a merchant of Valparaiso has ten
thousand ounces in San Francisco, received in
payment for lumber, barley, flour, or other pro-
duce, and desires an invoice Of goods from the
United States or Europe, he will gain $4,000
at the onset, by sending his gold to New York
besides saving something on the freight and in
surance, and at least one months interest
The countries on the west coast of America
have no exports which find market in China,
or other parts of Asia. San Francisco will there.
| fore become not only the mart of these exports,
but also ofthe products and manufactures of In
dia, required in exchange for them, which must
be paid for, principally, in gold coin or gold dust
Neither gold coin nor gold dust will answer as a
remittance to China Gold in China, is not
currency in any shape, nor is it received in pay.
ment of import duties, or taxes on land, or on
the industry Of the people. ...r} .fEt .....,. T.
The value of gold in China is not far from
$s14 the ounce, Hence, the importer of manu-
features and products Of India into San Francis
co will remit the gold coin or dust direct to New
York, for investment in sterling bills on London
These bills will be sent to London and placed to
the credit of the firm in China, from whom the
merchandise had been received, and who, on
learning of the remittance having gone forward
to their agents, will draw sir months sight bill
for the amount, which will sell in China at the
rate Of four shillngs and taco pence or three pence
per dollar. ,.,..T, .,r. n-r art' f-..., o.. H.,
/ have statement before me from one of the
most eminent merchants and bankers of New
York, who was for many years engaged extens-
lively in the India trade, which shows that the
profit or gain on ten thousand ounces of gold,
thus remitted would be-, s:9gd 1884, ,434 al
And that the loss on the same quan ,snwti
tity, sent direct to China wouldbe l5,6OO 90
Total difference in profit and loss in ~ g1a l.es
favor Of the remittance to N. York $5O.O34 "a
II will fhua ha narcoival fho+ ~,,&,so ~.