The New York herald., 1850-09-17

u
but as there were city lots to purchase and improve
on speculation, or sites Of up river towns to be To-
Gated, the funds were necessary TO further such
objects. This system has been changed, to a GER
tam extent, and new one substituted. Mr.. A.
now ships Mr.. b a certain quantity ofmerch andise,
the description of which b is informed of by bill
or bills OF lading, or letters. The goods arrive,
and Mr.. b. fails TO come forward, within twenty
days, TO pay the freight and redeem the same. The
goods advertised by the ship to be sold in bulk for
freight, and the sale accordingly takes place. Mr..
b. beng IN full possession of the quality, quantity,
snd character of TIE goods, employs a sub agent to
attend the sale, and purchase the at less than
freight, thereby bringing the shippers in debt, and
pocketting large profits from the resale of those
goods This is the way ia which thousands have
been ruined in shipping goods to this place, when
the actual proceeds would have paid them very
handsome profit on their investment.
Another way in which the money of shippers is
squandere1, Is at the mente and faro table and |
would suggest that shippers ia future, come in per-
son 10 attend TO the sale of their own goods, and
al the same time have eye upon the acts and do
ings of parties reported 10 belong to some of
the most respectable firms here or whe are the re-
presentatives of such at heme, and my word for
il, the private gambling establishments ofthis place
will be found to be their frequent resort, not
matter OF curiosity, but for the purposes Of playing
their games Of chance. What respectab able and bust
ness merchant or man, after this, will send goods
TO this place without first receiving the money from
parties here to pay for them. think not one
do not wish TO be understood as making sweeping
allegation against all firms here, but, on the con-
trary, would say that there are numbers here
known TO be as honorable and trustworthy as can
be found anywhere but, where it is so difficult to
be certain of having justice done, | would advise
parties at home 10 keep their goods and ssels un-
less they have the best of security for their proper
and just disposition In conclusion, will venture
10 say that hundreds Of invoices have been ac-
counted for as destroyed by the last hres, that
never were within a mile of the scene at the time
OF the occurrence, and thus il is, that real estate
and rents keep al the enormous amount which they
have brought, and now command, and which they
VIII retain as long parties have the investment
OF funds belonging TO others
intend hereafter. TO furnish YOU with occa-
sonal accountsof what is doing and what the pros
pects OF the country for the future may be.
VrerLAyT.
MouTv OF THE GIIA, CALIFORNIA, June %, 1850.
IA" Ftf'ppo-GOr. Smith, Of Tsras-Bayou Cifa
-Prog6o of our Jownty-Food-Ind,an
Irading-7he Ferry, &c, 8s.
My last letter to you was from Warmers Rancho,
Ohe aqua coliente Of Ffemont's map,) and gave an
account OF the progress Of the company with which
/ am connected, organized with view to establish
ferry and trading house at this point. We left
Warmers on the 9th OF June Directly at the e ~
tern extremity Of his rancho, occurs a pass
through the coast range of mountains. At this
poin, the waters divide. From one slope Of the
mountains they flow into the Colorado, and from
the other into the Pacific Fifteen miles from War
ner's, occurs the Indian village Of San Felippo. II
is in pleasant valley, in which there Is good grass
and water, and is the first place where such be
said to be found east Of the Colorado. The In
dans that live here were formerly connected
with the missions on the coast. They are
now in most wrerched condition. I saw
them here preparing their food One Of their
dishes is made Of grass seed; another 10 a sort o.
bread, made of pounded acorns, and third is a
stew of grass-hoppers. They cultivate little patches
OF corn and pumpkins, but are at this season en-
tirely out of both
We found at this point, two Americans engaged
IN trading with the emigrants as they come up
This may be considered the farhest outpost Of
civilization IN this direction. Here, als7, happened
TO be at the time, Ex-Governor Smith, Of TEXAS,
with his sons, who were stopping to recruit. The
Governor has already been more than year on
his journey, having wintered the past at the
PoPo del Norte. He was the first Governor Of
Texas, and rs sensible, weliinformed man,
native Of Kentucky, bat brought up in a store at
Nashville, Tennessee.
Twenty miles from San Felippo occurs another
Indian village, called Bayou Cila. AT this place
there is toleIable water, and some grass We
here met two Englsh families, who were apparently
in great distress. They had been nineteen DAYS in
coming from the Coloradoto TO this point. They had
been terribly imposed upon by the Indians, IL hav-
ing cost them more TO get across the rver than di
the whole Of the balance Of the previous journey
From Bayou Ciia Il 10 twenty miles 10 Carriso |
creek Here is plenty OF water, but no grass. |
This, In former days, ives considered the terInua-
ton OF the desert, there was no water knowa TO
exist between this and the Colorado; bat within the
last two years there has been so much passing a /
great many places has been found where there Is
waur We left the place about sunset and travelled
on ill near day, and then stopped for short time
and ih.n. after travelling about two hours wercach
cd Little pond Of tolerable water. There was no
grass there but plenty Of musquie beans. This yege-
table sppears 10 be a kindly provision of Prov- !
dence IN his inhosmtable region, for without IL
would be very difficult TO get across the
desert The mosquito bush grove in clusters, and
" about hlteen feet high. Its fruit is most abun-
dant, and s seid TO be equally valuable for animals
as corn on otis. Another drive IN the night Of
fifteen miles brought us TO another little pond,
where the water was good, and the musquile
beans so plenty, that we stopped two days to give
our teams time TO refresh. The lake was covered
with ducks, and there was in Is an abundance Of
small hsh. How they got here is query, for the
pond has neither outlet of inlet. We caught some,
and made out Of them comfortable meal soon
after leaving this point, we crossed what is called
New nver. Here, last season, flowed river both
wide and deep, where before there was never
no~n 20 be drop Of water, nor is there aay here
now. How the stream originated is a matter onen |
mooted, and one on which am unable TO form an
opinion crossed II last year, on the 18th Of July,
and u was then deep and rising very rapidly.
Another drive of II miles in the night, brought
We 70 one Of the wells dug by Col Cook, when he
ceme across with the Mormon battalion. During
THIS nights journey, We came across many article.
CT value tha.hid been left by emirrants as their
teams gave out, which is very common thing on
this desert, and ths road is strewed with dead ami.
mas and wagons The water at this well is very
bad, and the musquite bushes scarce. We started
m The afternoon early, as we had before US drive
ui eboui W miles, IN which there was known TO be
no water or gra's, AMI that the road was very
heavy The weather was intensely hot, even nj
night AZ about IN the masniug we had a most
sensible shock of an earthquake. The road was
- heavy that We did not reach the second wells an
near noon ~ the next day. and our teams az well
as mea weie learly exhausted. The musluiie here
was very good, and we concluded TO lie by two |
days 70 recruit This morning, (June I9thO there
were repeated shocks Of an earthquake and some /
~ them very severe. We are now within tsn /
miles u the point where the road first strikes inc
rver. Tracks of lniians are all about and il IL |
suppcsed probable We will come in contact with them
before morning We have but about ha m the number