Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-10-07
Correspondence of the N. o. True Dslts,l
SACRAMENTO Cry, July 81, 1850.

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The immsnce posse sions Of Ca plain Sut.
ter about which So much has been written,
have recently, and by his consent, passed
from his control, and instead of being a
millionaire, he is the poorest man in this
region. The last sale embodied about
260 900 acres, for the nominal price Of So
900. How much will be realized from it
by the fortunate purchacers, no one can
conjecture; bat it. the whole was rendered
to me as free gift, on condition that
should reside on the most favored portion OF
it six months, should decline receiving it,,
and being impressed with the belief that
the larger part oil. all who know any thing
about It entsrtain the same opinion, can
not but think thai the purchasers will, by
the time they have paid two or three years
taxes upon it, be satisfied that 1t IS no very
great bargain--yet, at this moment, each
one of the party expects te realize dozen
Completeness from it. go - -as.'es-
A miserable dulIness pervsdes this COM
munity, the like of which have never be-
fore seen. Rents have fallen within the
past two months one half, and the demand
for provisions is twice as great as 1t was
one short month ago; yet SO great is the
demand for money, that nearly every des-
cription of miners supplies is sold with lit
tie or no profit Judging from appearance,
I have come to the conclusion that the busi-
ness Of the place is confined to gambi 6
houses, real estate agencies, goipg! going !!
gone! y! shops, and banking houses The
gambling houses appear to be the best pat
ronized. Many Of them are well attended
at all hours of The day and night; every man
who owns the fractional part Of a lot within
twomiles of the, business part Of the city,
paffs aud blows on the advantages this city
possesses over eve y other in the habitable
globe. sf. s s..s 4,t, .s sss az
Auctionssring appears TO be a favored
calling, and very many Of the first citizens
appear to be engaged in it. The commits
sions on real estate are, an, told, 5 per
cent, and on merchandise, 10 per cent
Banking houses are very numerous, but as
the capital employed is in most instances
borrowed from the miners at five per cent
per month, they do not appear to flourish.
A straight forward, legitimate business, is
thing unknown here; Every one appears
to be grasping for things beyond his reach,
and the resalt is, that nine out of every ten,
men are embarrassed beyond extrication.-
Ii the; next three months does not tell a
gloomy tale for this city, / will never make
prediction again. .--l..f -
The weather, during the larger part of
the day is intensly warm, the thermometer
not unfrequently standing as high as lie.
Farenheit. 3 For the last two weeks it has
not stood, below LA in the shade, at two
O'clock in the afternoon: but during the
night the change has been so sudden, that
the spare blankets have been brought into
reqnisition. How q climate which is so
cbangeabls can be healthy. is past my con-.
eeption. s.r.. se,,z - s..s =
About nipe-tenths Of the population ap-
pear to be shaking with the ague. and the
other tenth are blessed with the dy sentery:
nearly all have. frequent attacks Of the
blues, and judging from the elongated phi
zes, ! conclude that all have the horrors. 4
Is California may be great country, and
this city may be the garden spot Tor big
fortunes, but SO far as my observation ex-
tends i am satisfied, that more money can be
made in New Or leans by working on the
levee at the rate OF a dollar and a half
day, than by any business which is follow
ed here. Even the frozen snow. business,
which was commenced less than three short
weeks sgo, il .overdene, and the snow i,