The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29


yor OF the remittance 10 New York. b 5O'oSi "a
II will thus be perceived, that nature has SO ar,
ranged the winds and currents OF the racine, anu
disposed Of her vast treasures IN the hills ana noun
tains OF California, TO give 10 the harpof oi gan
Francisco the control Of the commerce OF that
ocean, as far il may be connected with the west
coast Of America.
doubleday is and will be- TO California, il cannot
now, nor will il ever compare In magnitude and
value to the domestic trade between her and the
older States of the Union
Two years ago California did not probably con-
tain more than fifteen thousand people. That por
ton Of it which has since been SO wonderfully peo
Piled by American citizens, was, comparatively,
without inhabitants, without resources, and not
supplied with the common comforts of shelter af
forded by forest country
Notwithstanding the great distances emigrants
have been compelled to travel TO reach the Terri
tory, more than one hundred thousand have
come all difficulties and spread themselves over its
hills and plains. They have been supplied from
distances as great as they themselves have passed,
with not only the necessares, but the comforts and
many OF the luxuries of life. Houses have been i'm
ported from China, Chill, and the Atlantic States OF
the Union. All the materials required in building
cities and towns have been added to the wants of
people so numerous, destitute, and remote from the
sources OF supply.
These wants will exist as long emigration
continues to flow into the country, and labor en-
ployed in collecting gold shall be more profitable
than its application 10 agriculture the mechanic
arts, and the great variety of pursuits which are
fostered and sustained in other civilized communi
ties.
This may be shown by mentioning the prices of
few articles Last summer and autumn, lumber
sold in San Francisco at $500 to S400 per
thousand feet. AT Stockton and Sacramento city,
at 5000 TO 600. At these prices, ii could be made
in the Territory, and many persons were engaged
in the business. ! perceive, by recent accounts,
that the price had fallen at San Francisco 10 $50;
at this price, it cannot be made where labor from
$40 10 3 rs per day, and the difficulties attending
its manufacture much greater than in the At
lantic States Lumber can be delivered in our
large lumber markets for Average of the various
qualities of Sl6 and freghted 10 San Francisco
tor 1874, making $40 per thousand feet. This
price would cause the manufacture of II in Caifor
MIA TO be abandoned. We may add 500 per thou
sand 10 meet any increase of price in the article
ITSELF or in the freight, and the result would be the
Ii is probable that the demand, for several years
TO come, will not be less than twenty millions of
feet per annum, which, at $40 per thousand, will
be s., 900.
When California comes 70 have a population of
100000, which she will have before the close of the
present year, she will require half million
OF barrels of flour from some quarter, and no coun-
try supply il good and cheap the old
States of the Union Including freight and insur-
ance, this may be set down item of about
900. The article of clothing, allowing 500
To each person, would be $4,000,OO0
There is pretension 10 accuracy in these items,
and they may be estimated too high, but it is quite
probable they too low.
We have no data on which to found calculation
OF what the value OF the trade between the States
east of the Rocky mountains and California will
be during the current year | will venture the
opinion however, that it will not fall short OF TWEEN
ty-fvc millions of dollars. II may GO far beyond
that sum. At present, ] can perceive no cause
which which viii retard or diminish emigration.
If the movement shall continue five years, our
commerce with that Territory may reach one hun
dred millions per annum. This is doubtless
startling sum, but il must be borne in mind that
have build cities and towns, supply machinery for
mining coal for domestic purposes, and steam navi
cation, and all the multifarious articles used In
providing the comforts and luxuries Of life, for half
million of people, who will have transferred them
selves TO a country which is to produce, compare
lively, nothing except minerals and the precious
metals, and whose pursuits will Bile them to pur-
chase, at any cost, whatever may be necessary for
their purposes
II Is difficult TO imagine calculate the effect
which will be produced on all the industrial pur-
suits of the people Of the old States of the Union by
this withdrawal from them of a half million of
producers, who, in their new homes and new pur-
suits, will gire existence TO a commerce almost equal
in value to our foreign trade. Let no one, there
fore, suppose he is not interested in the welfare Of
California. As well may he believe his interests
would not be influenced by closing our ports an
cutting off intercourse with all the world
The distance round Cape Horn is 50 great that
breadstuffs and many other articles OF food deterio-
rate, and many others are perishable in their
that they would decay the passage
This would be the case particularly with all kinds
Of vegetables and undried fruits. Until some more
speedy mode Of communication shall be established
by which produce can be transferred, the farmers
and planters Of the old States will realize the
Many other important interests will be kept
back, especially the consumption Of coal. The
American steamers now on that ocean, those on
their way there and others shortly to be sent out
will consume not far from one hundred thousand
tons ~ coal per annum. The scarcity Of wood in
California will bring coal into general fuel,
il can be obtained at reasonable prices.
suppose there may be, three years hence forty thou
sand houses, which shall consume five tons each
per annum. This, with the steamers, would be
consumption Of three hundred thousand tons. If
eli ered merit Inn ynud metz
fully with the coal from yancouvcr's Island and
New Holland, and amount to S6,0O0,o0o
The construction Of a railroad across the Isthmus
Of Panama would secure the market for those arti-
ces against all competition
Some idea may be formed Of the demand for
them from the prices paid in San Francisco last
autumn. Coal was sold at 500 10 500 per ton !;
potatoes $40 per bushel turnps and onions for
% to 81 cents each; eggs from SO to Sl2 per
dozen.
The distance from Chagres to New York has re-
Gently been run in seven days. The same speed
would carry a steamboat from Panama to San
Francisco in ten days. Allow three days to convey
freight across the Isthmus, a railway, and both
passengers and freight will be conveyed from New
York " San Francisco In twenty days.
This celebrity Of movement would secure for
American produce the entire market Of California
Sailing vessels may b. successfully employed be-
tween our Atlantic and gulf ports and the terminus
Of the railway this side OF the Ishmus; and pro-
peiips from Panama to San Francisco. These lat
ter vessels will be found peculiarly suited to that
trade; they can use their steam through the Gains
Of the bay Of Panama, and against head winds and
currents going north, and their sails with favorable
winds and currents coming south.
These modes Of conveyance, in connection with
the railroad across the isthmus, would be sufficient
y expeditions and economical 90 turn the tide of
commerce, between the Atlantic and Pacific States
Of the Union, into that channel. The tendency OF
commerce on the Pacific 20 promote the en-
poyment Of ocean steamers is Of much import
ance connected with the defence Of our extern
sive line Of from latitude 32o to 4go the pro-
lection Of the whale fishery and other branches Of
trade on that ocean. The establishment Of a line
Of heavy steamers 10 China would promote all these
objects; increase intercourse with that coontry
and probably be the means Of opening communica.
tions with Japan. Money wisely employed in pro-
noting these objects, il believed would add more
10 the power and prosperity Of the country than
its expenditure any general system Of fortified
ton at the present prices Of labor and materials
There IL one point, however Of such vast inport.
nnce that time shnnld be llst in tnLinnr H. ~.