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

boundaries, such as mountains, bays, and promon-
tories, whlch, IN many Instances, might allow of
corner with chain aud compass
BY the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United
States purchased all the rights and interests of
| Mexico to and in California. This purchase not
only embraced all the lands which had not been
granted by Mexico, but all the reserved minerals
and metals, and also reversionary rights which
might accrue TO Mexico from a want of compliance
on the part Of the grantees with the conditions of
their grants, or tcant Of perfection in the grants
1t will be perceived that this Is a subject of very
great Importance, not only to the people Of Cali
fornia but to the United States, and calls for prompt
and efficient action on the part of the Government.
1t is believed that the appointment of competent
commissioners, fully empowered to investigate
these titles, in spirit of kindness towards the
claimants, with power to confirm such titles aG
justice may seem TO demand, or with instructions
TO report their proceedings and awards Congress
for confirmation or rejection, will be the best and
perhaps the only satisfactory mode of adjusting
this complex and difficult question
The lands in the northern part of the Territory,
above the 3s', have not been explored granted.
They are supposed TO embrace an area Of about
twenty millions OF acres, large portion of which
is doubtless valuable for its timber and coil
Comparatively few grants have been obtained in
the great valley of the Sacramento and San Joa-
qun. This vast tract therefore, containing, as is
estimated from twelve to fifteen millions of acres
belongs mostly to the Government. South of this
valley, and west of the Colorado within the limits
OF California, indicated in her constitution there
are said to be extensive tracts Of valuable unappro
priated land, and on investigation it will probably
appear that there are many Of them in detached
bodies, which have not been granted
do not speak Of the gold region, embracing the
entire foot hills OF the Sierra Nevada, some five
hundred miles long and sixty miles broad in con-
nexion with the public domain, which may be en-
braced in the general land system for sale and set
tleInent, for reasons which will be hereafter as-
signed
The survey Of the public lands on a system suited
to the interests Of the country is matter of yerv
n he hab ad .l~
Territory the boundaries of Mexican e-s,ts run
ming as they do in all directions, will render the
system OF surveys by parallels Of latitude and lon
gitude, quite impracticable
In all parts of the country irrigation Is desirable
and ts benefits should be secured as far as posi-,
BILE, by suitable surveys and legal regulations Most
OF the valleys are watered by streams sufficiently
large to be rendered very useful. II would there.
fore, seem wise to lay off the land in conformity to
the course Of the hills and streams which bound and
drain the valleys.
A system Of drainage, which would also secure
irrigation, is absolutely necessary to give value to
the great plain OF the Sacramento and San JOAQUIN
This valley is 80 extensive and level, that il the
rivers passing through it were never to overflow
their banks, the rain which falls in winter would
render the greater portion of it unfit for cultivation
The foundation Of such system can only be estab-
lished in the survey and sale of the land
This can be done by laying out canals and drains.
at sifaof disfances and IN proper directions aud bp
ieaDing tcde margins 10 the rics that thsy may haze
plenty Of room TO increase their channels ,chen their
ments.
II would be well 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 be-
come pursuit in California, make this valley ono
OF the most beautiful and productive portions of the
Union.
COMMERCIAL REsouRcEs
The commercial resources of California are. nj
present, founded entirely on her metallic ,peoIt-
her vast mineral treasures remaining undeveloped.
and her fertile soil almost wholly neglected and
TINS must continue 70 be the case as long as labor.
able than In any other pursuit which can furnish
| the sinews of commerce.
The day is probably not distant however, when
her minerals, especially the quicksilver mines will
be extensively and probably worked
! Gold Is the product VI the country, and is imme-
diatey available, in an uncoined state for all the
purposes Of exchange. II is not there as in other
countries where the productions Of the earth and of
art are sent TO markets-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 bret view, this state OF things would seem 10
be unfavorable TO an extensive Intercourse with
other parts OF the world, because Of the want of re-
iurn frelgn,s OF nome production, for the vast
J Der Of vessels which will arrive with supplies
These vessels, however, making no calculations
on return cargoes, will estimate the entire profits
OF the voyage on their outward freights, and be-
come, ON their arrival, willing carriers for com
paratively small consideration
This tendency IN the course Of trade IL would
seem, must make San Francisco a warehouse for
the supply 70 certain extent, Of all the ports OF
the Pacific, American, Asiatic, and the islands
Almost every article now exported by them finds
a ready market in California and the establisb-
ment OF mint will bring there also the silver bull
hon, amounting 70 more than ten millions per an
mum, from the west coast Of Mexico and perhaps
ultimately from Chill and Peru, to be assayed and
coined.
Vessels bound round Cape Horn. with carroes
| 80 a.. n
can, by taking advantage Of the southeast trade
winds, and standing broad-od the Cape, make
the voyage 70 San Francisco In az short time as
they can to Valparaiso any port south of Califor
MIA. Vessels have sailed from our Atlantic ports 10
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 Pans-
This astonishing difference, in time and dis.
lance, was caused by the course Of the winds and
the "gulfstresm" Of the Pacific, mentioned In my
remarks on the climate Of California
The vessels from our Atlantic ports took adyan-
tage oi the winds by steering from the Cap< far
into the Pacific as 10 be enabled 10 take a course
west Of the gulistream in sailing northward, thus
avaihng themselves, first Of the southeast, then of
the northwest Grades" and avoiding opposing
currents.
The vessels from Panama were kept back by
calms, adverse winds, and currcnts II will be
perceived, therefore, that there can be no induce
ment for vessels bound round Cape Horn, with
MIXED or assorted cargocs, 20 stop at Valparaiso
Caiao, Suayaquil, or any ether port the west
coast because the exports Of all those places will
seek market at San Francisco; and their supply
oil merchandise, az return raghi, will be delivered
at less expense than IL can be by vessels direct
from Atlantic ports, American European. This
tendency OF trade TO concentrate at San Francisco
VIII be aided by the course Of exchange
Gold dust is worth bot 3 N per ounce in Chill; Il,
u worth > 10 at the United States mint II, there.
lore, merchant Of Valparaiso has ten thousand
ounces IN San Francisco, received in payment for
lumber, barley, -four, other produce and desires
an invoice OF goods from the United States or Eu-
rope, ne viii gain 10000 at the outset by sending
nae goid TO New York, besides saving something
on the freight and insurance, and AZ least one
months interest.
The countries on the west coast Of America have.
no exports which find market in China, or other
parts OF Asia. San Francisco will therefore be-
come not only the mart Of these EXPORTS but al-o Of
the products and manufactures OF India, REQUIRED
in exchange for them, which must be paid for
| principally, in gold coin gold dust Neither
| gold coin gold dust viii answer as a remit
| lance 10 China. Gold, in China, is not ct,rrencv
in any shape, nor is il received in payment of inn
port duties, taxes land, or on the industry of