Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-04-23
Abstract ofthe California Report of Hon.
II. Butler King.
(Concluded.)
PUBLIC DOMAIN.

of accuracy until some very important pre-
liminary questions shall have been settled.
Most of the land fit for cultivation, south
of latitude 80 deg. and west of the valley OF
tho Sacramento and San Joaquin, is claimed
under what purport to be, grants from the
Mexican Government.
On most of these grants the minerals and
metals are reserved to the government--con-
dition were coupled with many of them
which have not been complied with. In 9TH
ers, the boundaries described embrace two
or three times as much land as the grant
conveys.
The Mexican law required all grants made
by the provisional government, with few eX-
ceptons, to be confirmed by the Supreme
government. The great distance which sep
arated them, and the unfrequent or difficult
means ofcommunicaton, made compliance
with the law so expensive and tardy, that it
came 10 be almost disregarded.
There were other causes which led TO this
neglect.
Previous to the treaty with Mexico and
the immigration Of American citizens to that
country, land was not regarded as of much
value, except for grazing purposes. There
was room enough for all. Therefore the
claimants or proprietors did not molest each
other, or inquire into the validity of titles
BY the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Uni
ted States purchased all the rights and inter-
ests of Mexico to and in California. This
purchase not only embraced all tho lands
which had not been granted by Mexico, but
all the reserved minerals and metals, and al
SO reversionary rights which might accrue
| to Mexico from want of compliance OH the
part of the grantee with the conditions Of
their grants, or aoant Of perfection IN The
grants.
The lands in the northern part of the Ter
rtory above the 39th deg, have not been
explored or granted. They are supposed TO
embrace an area Of about 20,0O0,0O0 of acres
u large portion of (which is doubtless valuable
for its timber and soil.
Comparatively low grants have been OBJ
tanned in the great valley of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin. The vast tract therefore
containing, as is estimated from twelve to
fifteen millions ofacres, belongs mostly to the
government. South of this valley, and west
of the Colorado, within the limits of Califor-
MIA, as indicted in her constitution there are
said to be extensive tracts ofvaluable unap-
propriated land, and on investigation it will
! probably appear there are many of them in
detached bodies, which have not been grant
ed.
The survey of the public lands on system
u
matter of very great Importance. In the in
habited portions of the territory the bounda-
ries Of Mexican grants, running they do
| in all directions, will render the system of
surveys by parallels oflatitude and longitude
! quite impracticable.
In all parts of the country irrigation is de-
srable, and its benefits should be secured. as
far as possible, by suitable surveys and legal
regulations. Most of the valleys are water
/ cd by streams sufficiently large to be render
ed very useful. 1t would therefore, seem
wise to lay off the land in conformity to the
course of the hills and streams which bound
and drain the valleys.
This system would, when agriculture shall
become pursuit in California, make this
valley one of the most beautiful and produc-
tive portions of the Union.
COMMERCIAL RESOURCES.
The commercial resources of california
are at present, founded entirely on her metal
! &c ieedtth-her vast mineral treasures remain
ing 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 probaly not distant, however,
when her minerals, especially the quicksilver
mines, will be extensively and proftably
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 pro-
ductions of the earth and of art are sent to
markets-foreign or domestic--to be eX-
changed for the precious metals, or other ar
ticles of value. There, gold not only sup
plies the medium OF domestic trade, but Of
foreign commerce.
At first view, this state Of things would
seem 10 be unlavorable to an extensive inter-
course with other parts Of the world because
fthe want of return freights of homo pro-
duction, for the vast number of vessels which
will arrive with supplies.
These vessels, however, making no caleu-
lations on return cargoes, will estimate the
entire profits of the voyage on their outward
freights, and become, on their arrival, willing
carriers fora comparatively small conside-
ration.
The tendency in the course of trade, IL
would seem, must make San Francisco "A
warehouse for the supply, to n certain oxtent
Of all the ports of the Pacific American, Ash
attic and the Islands.
Almost every article now exported by them
finds a ready market in California, and the
establishment of a mint will bring there also
the silver bullion, amounting TO more than
ton millions per nnnum, from the west coast
of Mexico, and, perhaps, ultimately from Chill
and Peru, TO be assayed and coined.
Gold must is worth but Sl7 per ounce in
) Chill. 1t is worth Sl5 at the United States
mint. If therefore, merchant of Valparaiso
I has ten thousand ounces in San Francisco.
I received in payment for lumber, barley, -four
S OF other produce, and desires an invoice OF
goods from tho United States or Europe, he
will gain $4,000 at the outset by sonding
' his gold to New York, besides saving some
, , thing on the freight and insurance, and al
least ono months interest.
The countries on the west coast of Amer
lea have no exports which find market in
China, or other parts of Asia. San Francis
|. !, 90 will therefore become not only the mar
Of these exports, but also Of tho products anc
manufactures Of India. required in exchange