Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-04-25

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land in winter, and see the ground frosen and Gov
ered with anow. the streams with ice, and 6nd him
eelf in Temperature many degrees colder than ne
had ever felt before, he would probably De a mucn
surprised that people could or would live in SO in
hospitable region, As any immigrsnt ever mas oeen
n what Ne has seen or felt in California.
90 much are our opinions Influenced BY early
inpressions. the vicissitudes ri the seasons WIN
which ~ are familiar, love Of country, home anu
Kindred, that we ought never to hazard Nasty opao.
ION when We come in contact with circumsanees
entirely different from those TO which We have all
or lives been accustomed.
@h SOIL.
The valleys which are situated parallel TO the
coast range, and those which extend eas'wafay Ia
plain Of the Sacramento, Of unsurpassed iertl-
rhev have deep, black, alluvial soil, which has
The appearance Of having been deposited when they
vere covered with water. This idea Is strength
sned by the fact that the rising grounds on the bor
dsrs OF these valleys, and many hills Of moderate
elevation, have soil precisely like that Of the ad-
joiains plains.
Sahroksn BY gullies, notwithstanding the great
quantity Of water which falls in it annually during
the wet season. The land in the northern part Of
Ne territory on the Trinity and other rivers and
on the borders Of Clear Lake, - far ~ it has been
examined, il said to be remarkably fertile.
The great valley of the Sacramento and San Joa-
Qun has evidently been, at some remote period, the
1sd OF lake and those rivers which drain it. pre-
sent the appearance Of having cut their channels
through the auviai deposit after had been formed
In fact 10 not possible that they could have been
Instrumental in forming the plain through which
they pass. Their head.watefs come from the ex-
sress ends q the valley, north and south; and,
were il not for the supply Of water received from
A. s.A. q.
Nevada, their beds would be almost, if not quite,
dry In the summer months. The soil is very rich,
end, with proper system Of drainage and embank-
nent, would, undoubtedly, be capable reproducing
any crop, except sugar cane, now cultivated in the
Atlantic States Of the Union.
There are many beautiful valleys and rich hill
sides among the foothills Of the Sierra Nevada,
which, when the profits Of labor in mining shall be
reduced 20 - to cause its application TO agriculture,
will probably support large population. There is
osid to be rich belt Of well timbered and watered
country extending the whole length OF the gold re.
gion between II ami the Sierra Nevada, some twen-
81 miles In width. There is no information suffi-
cienty accusaee respecting the eastern slope Of the
great snowy range to enable US TO form any opinion
or il general character soil. Some Of its val
leys have been visited By miners who represent
them - equal to any portion Of the country to the
westward OF it.
The great valley ofshe Colorado, situated between
The Sierra Madre and the Sierra Nevada, is but lit
lie known. 10 inhabited by numerous tribes Of
eavases, who manifest the most decided hostility
towards the whites, and have hitherto prevented
any explorations Of their country, and do not per-
nit emiRrants to pass through it. Therefore, par
ties from Santa Fe, their way to California, are
compelled to make circuit of near thousand
miles northward 10 the Salt Lake, about the same
distance southwark by the route Of the ella. AL.
though this valley IL little known, there indi-
cations that IL is fertile and valuable.
The name Of the river 0Colorado" is descriptive
Of its waters they are deeply colored a. those
the Missouri Red river, while those of the Gia,
which We know flows through barren lands, are
clear.
II would seem impos sible for large river to col
iect sediment enough in 4 sandy, barren soil, to
color It's waters 50 deeply as to give It name a.
Dong those who first discovered and have since
visited its shores. The probability, therefore, Is
That this river hows through an sluvial valley ct
great fertility, which has never been explored
This conjecture 10 strengthened by the fact that the
Indians who inhaAt hostile, and oppose, far
% they can, al persons who attempt 10 enter
plors It. This has been their uniform course Of
conduct respecting oil portions Of the continent
which hare been fertile, abounding in game and the
spontaneous productions Of the earth.
A. this valley 10 situated in the direct route from
ssnta Re to California, ts thorough exploration be.
comets matter Of very great importance, especial
y - Il 10 highly probable that the elevated regions
% the north Of Il, covered with snow during most
Of the year, will force the line Of the great national
railway to the Pacific through some portion of it.
The soil have described situated west OF the
Sierra Nevada, and embracing the plain of the Sac
1amento and San Joaquin, covers an area, Is near
Iyss can estimate, Of between fifty and sixty thou
esad square miles, and would, under proper sys-
tenn OF cultivation, be capable Of supporting pop
ulation equal to that Of Ohio or New York al the
present time.
PRoDrcrs OF CALIFORNIA.
Previous to the treaty OF peace with Mexico, and
the discovery ofgod the exportahle products Of
country consisted almost exclusively of hides and
IA
and paid much attention 10 the raising Of hor-
sss and cattle than the cultivation OF the soil.
wheat, barley, maize, beans. and edible roots,
were cultivated in sufficient quantity for home con-
sumption, butt % far ~ am informed. not for ex-
portation. At that time full-grown OF, steer, or
COW, was worth about two dollars. Beef cattle,
delivered on the navgsble waters OF the bay OF San
Francisco, are now worth from $40 10 $50 per head
horses, formerly worth from 45 to Slo, are now
valued at $50 TO ei6O. The DESTRUCTION Of cattle
TOR their hides and talow has now entirely ceased,
IN consequence OF the demand for beef. This de-
nand will Of course increase with the population
and u would seem that, in very few years, there
win be none to supply the market.
II we estimate the number Of cattle, now in Cali
fornis at 100000 head, which is believed TO be a.
bout the number-snd the population at 100000 for
The year Asso--a low estinate-and suppose il 30
increase enc hundred thousand per annum, there
will be IN the Territory State, in 1854 $4,000
people.
II ws ADOPT the estimate of those well acquainted
with the demand, Of half beef, on an aversge, to
each inhabiant il appears there will be cons Jump.
ton, IN 1850, Of 900 head In 1851, Of in
1869, OF 100000; in 1888, of 100000; in 1854. of
$4,000. Making an aggregate OF 500 900, which
would absorb oil the present stock, with its
natural increase.
This 10 4 very important matter, - connected
with the amount Of supply which that country will
ultimately require from the Atlantic States Of the
Union. There 10 no other country on earth which
has,or viii ever possess, the means Of supplying 30
great demand.
II 10 now 4 wel,-essahished fact ,mons the emf
grants TO California, that possess greater pow.
ers Of endurance than mules or horses that thew
will perform the distance with loaded wagons in
less hes and come in a. the end Of the journey in
better condition.
Cows are now driven in considerable numbers
from Missouri. and the time cannot be far distant
When cattle from the western States will be driven
annually ~ tens Of thousands to supply this new
market.
II California increases in population as fast as the
most moderate estimate would lead us to believe, il
VIII not be i've years before she will require more
than one hundred thousand head Of beef cattle per
annum, from some quarter, to supply the wants OF
her people.
Il must not be supposed that salt provisions NAV
supply this vast demand. Those who have attempt.
% live on such food, during the dry season have
been attacked with scurvy and other cutaneous dis
eases, Of which many have died.
There u no climate in the world where fresh meat
ssu veeesaoieCare more essential to human health,
10 TACT they are Indispensable.
. must not be inferred that cattle driven across
sac psNns ana mountains, from the western States,
van DC ~ Tor beef on their arrival in California
Su one winter and spring the luxursnt ma stpres
vvaysll INIT =