Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-02
BURLINGTON. IOWA. MAY 2. 1850. I.

vegetables and undried fruits. Until
some more speedy mode Of communication
shalt be established by which produce can
be transferred, the farmers and planters
Of the old States will not realize the full
value Of this new market on the Pacific.
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 con-
sumo not far from one hundred thousand
tons Of coal per annum. The scarcity of
wood in California will bring coal into
general use as fuel, as soon as il can be
obtained at reasonable prices. Suppose
there may be, three years hence, forty
thousand houses, which shall consume FIVE
tons each per annum. This with the
steamers, would be consumption of three
hundred thousand tons. Ii delivered at
$40 per ton, it would compete successful
ly with the coal from Vancouver's Island
and New Holland, and amount to sc, ,00O-
900. 't
The construction of railroad across the
1sthmus Of Panama would secure the mar
ket for those articles against all competi-
ton. ...t ~s...... -. rz. .--..... .~...-....
Some idea may be formed Of the de-
mand for them from the prices paid in San
Francisco last autumn. Coal was sold at
$50 to 800 per ton; potatoes $l6 per
bushel turnips and onions for % to 62a
cents each; eggs from $40 to $l2 per
dozen. ~ ''
The distance from Chagres to New
York has recently been run in seven days.
The same speed would carry steamboat
from Panama to San Francisco in ten days.
Allow three days to convey freight across
the lsthmus on railway, and both pas
sengers and freight will be conveyed from
New York TO San Francisco in twenty
| days. @s
| This celerity Of movement would Sc
, cure for American produce the entire
market Of Califonia. Sailing vessels may
be successfully employed between our
Atlantic and gulf ports and the terminus
Of the railway on this side Of the lsthmus
and propellers from Panama to San Fran
cisco. These latter vessels will be found
| peculiarly suited to that trade; they can
use their steam through the calms OF the
bay of Panama, and against head-winds
and currents going north, and their sails
with favorable winds and currents com
ing south.
! These, modes Of conveyance, in con.
nexion with the railroad across the 18th.
mus, would be sufficiently expeditions and
economical 10 turn the tide Of commerce
i, between the Atlantic and Pacific State:
Of the Union, into that channel. Ths
tendency Of our commerce on the Pacific
10 promote the employment Of ocea,
steamers is of much importance as con
nec,ed with the defence of our extensiv,
/ line Of coas, from latitude 32o TO 490, tn
pfo;ectton os the wha.c fishery, and nthe
branches Of trade on that ocean. The es
tablishment OF line OF heavy steamers t
China would promote all these objects
increase our intercourse with that coun
try, and probably be the means Of open
ing communications with Japan. None
wisely employed in promoting these oh
jecss, it is believed, would add more I
the power and prosperity of the coun,r
than its expenditure on any general sys
tenn of fortificaticn at the present prices c
labor and materials. There is one point
however, Of such vast Importance that n
time should be lost in taking the necessar
steps to render it perfectly lmpregnable-
that is the entrance to the harbor OF Sa
Francisco. On the strength o.! the work
which may be erected 10 defend that pas
sage will depend the safety Of Californi
in time of war with maritime power
Permit hostile fleet to cast anchor in tn
harbor of San Francisco and the countr.
would be virtually conquered.
The coast has not been surveyed, no
has its outline been correctly ascertainec
There are many rocks above and belcv
the waier-line, and small islands not men
toned or indicated on any chart, whic
render navigation near the land, especial
at night, extremely dangerous. ...-
An accurate survey of the coast, t
commence at the most important points
the constructions Of lighthouses, and tn
placing of tnoys in proper positions, ar
objects of much importance, and, it is nc
doubted, will attract the early attention q
Government. ..-........ ........
METALLIC AND MINERAL WEALTH.
The gold region Of California is be
tween four and five hundred miles long
and from forty to fifty miles broad, follow
ing the lines of the Sierra Nevada. Fur
ther discoveries may, and probably will
increase the area. 1t embraces Vi,hn it
limits those extensive ranges of hill
which rise on the eastern border of tn
plain of the Sacramento and San Joaquin
and extending eastwardly from fifty /
sixty miles, they attain an eleva'i n OF IA
bout four thousand feet, and terminate d
the base of the main ridge of the Sierr
Nevada. There are numerous stream
which have their sources in the spring
of the Sierra, and receive the water iron
its melting SHOWS, and that which falls II
rain during the wet season.
These streams from rivers, which hav
cut their channels through the ranges @
foot-hll westwardly to the plain, and dis
embosue into the Sacramento and Sal
Joaquin. These are from ten TO fifteen
and probably some of them twenty mile
| apart.
The nrincipal formation, or substratum