The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-06-21
Affairs on tho Gold Coast.
Our CALIFORNIA; Correspondence.
Los ANGELES, April Is, l3j


Los ANGELES, April Is, 1850.
Nsw To,on of Taeft-AniyI of Emil
grarts-Eieotions and Pol,tiea! Iatell.gsnss- The
Garden Of Caiifornia-Olisss. Oranges, Grapes,
Wrne, &c.
left Chino about week since, on a temporary
visit to this place. Since l first visited it, about
eight months since. great change has taken place.
Everything now gives token of rapid progress. =
Jones, Esq, the land partner of Col. Weller. at
san Francisco, is now here, and has lately com
pleied purchase, at San Pedro, of tract Of land,
on which il is designed 10 form town, at an
pense OF $4,000. IL is said good harbor can be
made there.
A good deal of excitemen prevails here just now,
about the purchase OF Chino by the Mormons, about
which wrote you in my last. Threats are freely
thrown out about dspossessing them by force, when
ever they shall take possession. But think the
people will think better of it, BY the by, the troops
that were ordered to Chino have been cOunIermand-
ed This seems queer movement The govern
ment officers have incurred expense of more than
5000 in the want of building which they have
never taken possession Of and IN the transportation
OF military stores, and now they de cline coming,
and that too, at time when their services are
most urgently needed. As proof, will mention
that John Forster, Esq, of the Mission of San
Juan, has had stolen within the past week his en-
tire stock OF tame horses, comprising about one
hundred head. They We're tracked into the T" Ca
boone Pass, and were no doubt stolen by the
Utah chief Walker, and his gang. Thiscads me to
mention, that fine horse rode down from Chino,
stolen the night after my arrival from the gar
den of friend, where he was tied There is no
security at all for property of this kind here. The
whole country sfilled up with Sonoranans and they
take as suits their convenience. The number of
these people that have come into this country this
season, is at least six thousand, and hundreds
arriving daily. One good result accrues 10 the peo-
pie OF this section from this movement; labor is
made cheap. Men now to be hired in album
dance for less than one dollar per day.
A large party OF Amer leans have passed to-day.
They are from Knoxville, Tenn, and left that
place the I'd Of May last. Their leader is Gen.
made by this party, as well by numerous others,
at the state of things the Colorado river. There
is gang Of outlaws there, headed by desperate
from Arkansas who have taken possession of the
ferry established there by Lieut. Couits, and pre-
vent all others from ferrying over travellers. Their
charges are most enormous, having been known
some days 10 take as high as g, 800. An Irishman
who went down TO the lower crossing and esab-
lisbed ferry in connection with the Indians, they
deliberately murdered. This state of things calls
loudly on government for the establishment of
military post at the junction OF the ella and the
Colorado. Gen. Smith, however, who is now at
San Diego, will probably take the subject into
sideratien, as he is down here for the purpose of
establishing another post in this section of Califor
MA AT San Diego, by the by, they are building
new town, some three miles nearer the harbor than
the old one.
A good deal of interest is felt here in relation to
the move that has been made in Congress relative
Y
man in favor Of il, and of territorial government
for this portion of IT, The taxes assigned by our
last Legislature considered most exorbtant, and
it will, think, be found difficult TO collect them.
There is Rev. Mr.. Brier here, who came
through last fall from the Salt Lake, and was one
Of the number who started of, when little below the
Utah Lake, to find another entrance through the
Sierra Nevada into the Tuluc Valley. They wan
dered about more than three months, and finally
came out near the Mission of San Fernando,
to the north Of this. Six of their company died OF
starvation and fatigue; among them, Capt. Cald-
well, Of Washington City. Mr. Brer had his fami-
ly with him, including his wife and several chill
dren, one Of whom was but four months old.
These have walked twenty-five miles day. aud
sometimes without water for two days at a time.
They lived for many weeks on nothing but the beef
oil their cattle. An account OF their suifengs, IL
properly written, would equal anything of the kind
ever iDdifed.
Count Harestie, Hungarian, who is now living
at the Mission OF San Juan, and who came through
last hil by the ella route, is about establishing
Roman Catholic College in this section, under the
auspices Of the clergy. He is said TO be worthy
man, and fine scholar.
The elections in this city resulted generally in the
election Of the Spanish ticket throughout, the old
Cslifornisns not choosing to trust the Americans
WITH the government. AT san Diego, son OF Joel
Il. Sutherland, of Philadelphia, is elected Judge.
As an instance Of the excellence of this climate,
lwlll mention that have this day visited vin~
yard. In which there are orange trees more Than
twenty feet high, that produce an abundance OF
nate trees, olive trees, ounces, peaches, pSars and
eppes, all OF which, with the exception Of The last
yield IN The greatest profusion, and Of the best
quality. There also about fCrty-five acres of
vince, that yield many Thousand barrels Of the best
wine. This is undoubtedly the Italy OF the United
States, and the garden Of California.
SAN FRAscrsco, April 80, 1850.
Complaints AGAINST he Collector Of the Customs,
A constant reader of your valuable journal. you
vNttl rda h.. 81 - L..
ton to some of the grievances experienced by some
Of the business men OF this city, which ere Of ma
ture that some remedy must be applied by our re-
neral government, sincc one here engaged in
mercantile pursuits Gun possibly submit 10 the in
justice praciiscd by those who hold high offices Of
trust and responsibility amongst us. For one, j
know Of no better mode OF improving the present
miserable management Of affairs here, than is af-
forded us as citizens, of speaking boldly through
the columns OF the press, stating the true position
Of things here, trusting that notice thereof will be
taken by the prsss generally, well as by GO
veument at Washington.
You must be well aware the appointment made
by the present administration. was tibet Of Mr. Cot
ler Collector ct this ports II ~ surprising that
appointment Of such great importance should be
made, a. all merchants here will admit, with so
little consideration on the part of those who placed
in that Office one totally inexperienced with the
duties sppcrtaining 10 the same. Whatever good
qualities Mr.. Collier may possess OF filling other
stations. that of his total unhness for the one
which he al present occupies, will be denied by no
one, and Acknowledges by all acquainted with his
acts. Removed "a we so far from the seat OF
government, great care should be taken In appoint
menis made TO Ill Offices of responsibility here. In
this the admin sgraion has been sadly de-
fcent. That these remarks are based upon just
grounds, perhaps statsRclt of facts will remove
all doubts as to the CORRECTNESS Of the same. The
frst sct which shall name viii sinkiagiy exhibit
Mr. Golfers ignorance 81 our revenue laws. |
doubt Il boy attending 20 custom house business
IN the states would be guilty Of gross error
But to begin. In the nlcnth ~ December, wien
MIR. Collier had just assumed the duties Of his Of
hce, he saw III 60 seize all French vessels bringing
caigoes from other ports than those belonging to
The government of france. in which case not alone
the vessel. but also cargo, was coniiscated, with
the exception, however, when such cafgoes or YES
sells belonged 10 some Of bis particular fncnds-for
the collector has HE iavorites. The parties whose
goods were thus unawfnlly seized. sought redress
at Washington. The Secretary of the Treasury
readily acknowledged the cOniiscaiion TO be lille
gal. but at the same time leaving the whole settle
ment OF the matter with the Collector himself. |
who. on being called upon hy the PARTIES did nct