Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-02

I0HS IN WlUeT WOulQ TeNucG tlc SIcdlcI
portion of it unfit for cultivation. The
foundation Of such system can only be
established in the survey and sale Of the
land. s~
This can be done BY laying out canals and
drains, at suitobie distances, and IN proper
directions, and by leaving Uide margins to
the rirers, that they may hare plenty Of
room 10 increase their channels sphen their
uaiers shall be confined rithin them by EN-
bonkments.
1t would be we'll also to regulate the
price Of these lands, so as to meet, in
some degree, the expense Of draining them.
This system would, when agriculture
shall becomes pursuit in California, make
this valley one of the most beautiful and
productive portions of the Union.
COMMERCIAL RESOURCES.
The commercial resources Of Califor-
MIA are, at present, founded entirely en-
her metallic ,Dealih-her vast mineral
treasures remaining undeveloped, and
her fertile soil almost wholly neglected;
and this must continue to be the case as
long as labor employed in collecting gold,
shall be more profitable than in any other
pursuit which can furnish the sinews of
commerce.
The day is probably not distant, how
ever, when her minerals, especially the
quicksilver mines, will be extensively and
profi'ably worked.
Gold is the product Of the country, and
is Immediately available, in an uncoined
state, FOR all the purposes Of exchange
1t is not there, as in other countries where
the productions of the earth and Of art are
sent to marke,s-foreign or domestic-to
be exchanged for the precious metals, or
other articles Of value. There, gold not
only supplies the medium Of domestic
trade, but Of foreign commerce.
At first view, this state Of things would
seem to be unfavorable TO an extensive in
tercourse with other parts Of the world,
because Of the want OF return freights Of
home production, for the vast number of
vessels which will arrive with supplies.
These vessels, however, making no
calculations on return cargoes, will esti-
mate the entire profits Of the voyage on
their outward freights, and become, on
their arrival, willing carriers for COM
paratively small consideration.
This tendency in the course Of trade, it
would seem, must make San Francisco a
war rehouse for the supply, to certain ex-
tera. Of all the ports Of the Pacific, Ameri-
can, Asiatic, and the Islands.
Almost every article now exported by
them finds ready market in California,
and the establishment Of a mint will bring
there also the silver bullion, amounting to
more than ten millions per annum, from
the west coast Of Mexico, and, perhaps,
ultimately f,ora Gill. and Peru, TO b IA
sayed and coined.
Vessels bound round Cape Horn, with
cargoes for markets on the American
coast of the Pacific, can, by taking advan-
tage Of the southeast trade winds. and
"s,anding broad off the Cape make the
voyage to San Francisco mas short a time
as they can to Valparaiso or any port
south of California. Vessels have sailed
from our Atlantic ports to San Francisco
in less than one hundred days, and they
have been, in more than one instance, over
one hundred and twenty days in going
from Panama to San Francisco.
This astonishing difference, in time and
distance, was caused by the course ofthe
winds, and the "gulf-stream' Of the Pa.
citic, mentioned in my remarks on the
climate of California.
The vessels from our Atlantic port.
took advantage Of the winds by steering
from the Cape as far into the Pacific as tc
he enabled to take a course west of the
gulf-stream in sailing northward, thus
avaiiing themselves, first of the southeast,
then 0. the northwest Grades" and avoid
ing opposing currents.
The vessels from Panama were KEEP
back by calms, adverse winds, and cur.
rents. 1t will be perceived, therefore
that there can be no inducement for yes
sells bound round Cape Horn, with nike,
or assorted cargoes, to stop at Valparaiso
Callao, Guayaquil, or any other port OF
the west coast, because the exports Of al
those places will seek market at Sal
Francisco and their supply Of merchan
disc, as return freight, will be delivere,
at less expense than it can be by vessels
direct from Atlantic ports, American Of
European. This tendency of trade I.
concentrate at San Francisco will be aidet
by the course of exchange. as@
! Gold dust is worth but $l7 per ounc,
in Chill. 1t is worth $lS at the United
States mint. II therefore, merchant o
/ Valparaiso has ten thousand ounces il
San Francisco, received in payment fol
lumber, barley, flour, or other produce
and desires an invoice Of goods from tn.
United States or Europe, lie will gait
$4,000 at the outset, by sending his golt
to New York, besides saving Something
on the freight and insurance, and at leas
one months interest.
The countries on the west coast o
America have no exports which find
marke, in China, or other parts of Asia
San Francisco will therefore become no
only the mart Of these exports, but also 0
The products aud manufactures Of India
required in exchange for them, whicl
must be paid for, principally, in gold coil
or gold dust. Neither gold coin nor gol,
dust will answer a, a remittance to China
Gold, in China, is not currency in an,
shape, nor is it received III payment o
import duties, or taxes on land, or on ,h'
industry Of the people. 80