The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-26
Our California correspondence.

and hall, al the very centre OF the I'll Dorado OF
the West, and in the greatest country that have
ever seen. The tales Of the Arabian Nights and oil
Aladdn's Lamp are mere nonenates in comparison
My senses have been bewdered and confounded'
and am just emerging from my astonishmen''
and intend putting my thoughts and opinions In
form.
From the reports thar one receives IN the states
respecting this country, he j. led to the conclusion
that all traces Of civilization must be eradicated
from the system of person whose intention it is
10 live here, and that none but those who are of
the most desperate character can succeed. AL
though ! know perfectly well the character and
circumstances of many " no left our own city for
this State, and knew that no change would make
any material difference with them yet was sur
prised and astonished, landing at San Francisco
and at this place. TO 6ud the evee and streets filled
with population of handsomely dressed, fine look
ing, smart, active, business nlen. quietly pursuing
their individual avoc alions, INSTEAD of finding,
supposed, band OF despt radOes. | remained but
very short time at San Francisco, and am, there
fore, unable to write freely IN relation to It..
found IT, however, busiprss, busting, and thriv-
ing place; and, tn my mlud, us prospect OF per-
rnanency and prosperity ha,tellng in the extreme,
but net destined, by any metn- to attain that posi-
lion in a commercial pmni a. view when that city
has and will for the tuIuFe cHJoy. Many discus
sions have arisen between me press OF the two
cities, to the Relative Wcfus winch thty edcn
possess; but | think the hat has gone forth and
Sacramento City will eventually become the great
DEPOT for the trade ana commerce of the State of
California
lis situation is very fne one, on the banks o.
the Sacramento, where, a. all times, vessels
drawing from to II itet may be towed up and
moOed with safety. The city, as 1t is at present,
is laid out prrtc city level PLAN, the streets
running at right angles, and broad, and Will, as
time advances, become handsome promenades
as any city in the Stltrs cau boast OF; they are
it.tla q -FH,s.I- WaSh
City. The principal avenue for business is Jetral,
being over mile IN lergth. and built up closely
on both sides, containing millions OF dollars worm
OF property Very nearly "a the buildings are OF
wood; but here aud Jhrra may he seen large and
elegant brick edlhcts showing clearly what is in
embryo for the improve meat OF the city. A large
post Office Is IN tine course OF erection, IN
building on the corner 81 second and streets,
and will be shortly op-ue! for business. II will
have accommodation sufficient for population OF
75,COO or 100000 persons, aud IS to contain BOO
boxes, the yearly rent OF which Will yield s Ia 400,
being $2l per year for each boX The expenses,
however, are enormous, me rent of the room in
which the post office IL located being about 3 900
per month. A court house of brick Is also build
ipg; il is 10 be two stones IA height and about
eighty feet in width, the principal court room of
which will be sixty BY sXy'hve feet; the other
portions of the edflCe will be- devoted to the diff
ferent officers OF the county, and the judges
chambers The cost " hen flashed, will be about
$4,000. Other buildings devoted 10 public pur-
poses are being talked Souf, aud will, as matter
of course, be erected city hall, schools,
churches, &c. The city now will be perfectly
safe from any sudden "a the river, which may
occur, the ievee which T. being built around
Sacramento having almost attained completion
In my opinion, for new ci.y,p'ssessing the means
that this did, the levees greatest work ever
dertaken, and will bear comp insoa with any OF
the great public works e the East not even ex-
cephpg the High Bridge high ridge of land
stretching from the American fork 10 the Sacramen-
TO river, back of the city proper, forms perfect
ly natural protection, almost wholly around two
sides Of the city, while ths emhankment now be-
ing made, running from the intersection OF this
ridge with the American ioIk about five and half
miles above its junction WIKI The Sacramento, con-
tinues On The msTgn ot the American and Sacra-
mento rivers and again Joins the high land at the
town Of Suffer, aD0ut tFo miles from the CITY,
making line OF artificial mbankmento OF about nine
mIes and natural eleven miles, The whole length
being twenty mules tHa average helght OF tne
Levre is from four q six rect with top width OF
six feet, end side SLOPE, u Two feet horizontal
measure 10 foot V'rugal-exs epung on the
city front, the acrimento, where for the dis
lance Of one and a quarter mites, the bank has
top width of fourteen iref vim convenient slopes
for the transmission o.. mrrchahdise. WEhln the
space ltyeed, there D. aI-o very large tract OF
very low land, which ga winter forms tremendous
lakes, at the natural outlets at which are placed
sluice gates Il is thought that the reservoirs, as
they may be temeo, ~ ,Kclu ting from them the
river water, will b. amply sufficient 10 drain the
city during the wet season. The whole OF this
work has been done uut. the suprnntendenee OF
MIR. A. Burney, ch,st engineer from fhiadel'
oh a, and reflects the hCgsst credit uPon him. IL
was commenced about tbistv days since, and Will
be finished in the same space o. ume-many days
sooner than was antcipatsd-aud the cost OF the
work will be about lI5 600 % b. raised by special
taxation, 500 coo OF WIN n has been collected and
paid over to the contractors. tnt a similar amount
almost ready to hv paid,
from the various listrct., buying provisions, for
consumption during he season. This place Is
the great depot tor trade 81 ~ the nners, with the
exception Of those from ihs southern mines IN con-
seuue nee OF the u.aip-- ~ the Bay of san Fran
cisco, the small boats yhch ply between the mines
and the cities, err got enabtd 10 90 farther
down the river than Benci. aud the result Is that
the miners 10 save Oh. trouble mat luld &C erue
from shifng from boat % another, stop at this
place and purchase their .aWi'i coming IN, ellher
by land water, 0ud ly .lft me ans at least hve-
eghths of the products 81 t uines are lett al TINS
fhe agricultural ADVENT lee Of this country, and
Convenieat the CITY, g4l almost iacaleulable, and
man working i.TW oil. o. should b., can, with
case make an ippeptEdrut .,ruhe IA very shot
time. The soil D. ftrh u Iha aie, and not being
worn DOT, yelds largely / give you an idea OF
Mat cen be made dJ i. " ID H,ruiion few Of the
VIiCts obtained for 1fot isioos, when they can be
procured Potatoes 75c pr IUuDd eggs (when
they Gun be had, whicb B.. scIdum) 50 per dozen
water melons from I ~ .a - ga a piece cabbages
which grow To an enormous SIR, $500 apieoe;
onions, also yefy lafL'. dad .1'sR IKE an apple,
without any Of that dlsel sta|lc htNOr when DIS
sirnuishes our Northern .siure, eel Tor ~ a piece
might 70 On aud rrutEtrltg twenty other KINDS
at he same ratio OF ptic's gu can hardly wonder
thot hvitg can b q" LEh, when provisions
must he obtained AZ ~. ~ tilt pI,ces Fair board,
" hich at the States M H. uncurrd tor % or ~
per week. rsrges here iJri SiS 2, .; the room IN
which my Office issuated T. 80 yer month boots
which you can get fer 80, sell here for 80 and
80 on, everything IN proportion. think, however,
as time advances, things will take different course,
and that articles Of living may be obtained at prices
which will give good profit 10 the seller, and
cover the expenses Of transportation.
The election for members ~ the Legislature has
Just taken place. The result, however, does not,
IN the slightest degree indicate the political feel
fngs and sentiments ~ the people. nor will they
ever Be found out until party lines are drawn, and
the two great factions organized and arraigned.
at hrst believed that, IA a country like this,
stump candidates we're preferable 10 those who
might be put up by pary machinery, but, from
practical illustration IN the present instance, am
OF an entirely different opinion There were eight
cen candidates from one nsirlrt for The A ssemnv.