Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-03-30

Formerly, the Missions those who brought up and
instructed by the priests made very good servants Many
these attached TO families, to be faithful and nte-
gent. But those who at all in wild and uncuvated
state most degraded objects Of filth ard idleness.
1t is possible that Government might by collecting them
together teach them in some degree the arts and habits Of
but if may judge of the future from the past
they will disappear from the face Of the earth the settle
of the whites extend the country. very
siderable military force will be necessary however, protect
the emgants in the northern and southern portions of the
territory.
Climate.
consider the climate. The climate of Cali
orna remarkable in its periodical changes and for the
long continuance of the wet and dry seasons dividing, they
do, the year into about two equal parts which have most
peculiar influence the labor applied to agriculture and the
products Of the SOIL and in fact connect themselves
paaby with all the interests of the country, that deem it
proper briefly mention the which produce these
changes and which, it will be seen, this report proceeds
must exercise controlling influence on the commercial pros
perty and resources of the country.
1t well established theory that the currents of
der which the earth passes in its durna revolutions follow the
line of the suns greatest attraction. These of air
drawn towards this line from great distances each side of
and the earth revolves from west east they blow from
northeast and southeast meeting, and of causing
calm the line
Thus when the sun is directly, in common parance
the EQUATOR the month of March, these of air blow
from distance north of the ropc of Cancer and south Of
the opc of Capricorn in oblique direction towards this
line of the suns greatest attraction, and forming what
known as the northeast and southeast trade-winds
As the earth, in its path round the sun, gradually brings
the line Of attraction NORTH in these of air
carried ,Uh il. that about the middle of May the
from the northeast has extended FAR the SSH
seth degree of north latitude, and by the twentieth Of June
the period Of the suns greatest northern ncnaon TO the
northern portions Of California and the southern section Of
Oregon.
These northeast Winds in their progress the CONT
nen, towards the Pacific ocean, pass over the sowcapped
ridges of the Rocky Mountains aud the Sierra Nevada, and
of deprived OF all the moisture which can be
aced from hem by the low temperature OF those regions Of
eternal snow and moisture can be precptaed
from them, in the form of dew rain, in higher tempefa
ture than that to which they have ben subjected. They
therefore pass the hills and pan Of California where
the temperature is very high in SUMMIT in dry state
and far from being charged with nosure they absorb,
like sponge, all that the amosphereand surface earth
can YIELD until both become, apparently perfectly dry
This process commences hse said, when the line OF
the suns greatest attraction rth IN summer bringing
with it these vast atmospheric moemens and their APP
proach produce the dry in CALIFORNIA; which, governed
by these laws continues until time after the repasses
the equator in September when, about the middle Of No
vember the climate being Ieiev from these northeast
rents of the southwest winds st in from the charged
with moisturehe rars comnrnce and continue to fall,
not constantly, persons have represented, but with
sufficient frequency to designate the period of their contnu-
ance from about tue middle until the middle of
May in the latitude Of San FRANCISCO, the ,ret
1t follows, matter Of co,rse that the dry
mences FIRST and continues INCEST in the southern portions
OF the Territory, and that hecmae OF the northern part
influenced in much less decree by the which have
mentioned than any other section ohe country Consequently
find that as low down asiatude 800 rains sufficiently
frequent in rend,r irrigation quite unnecessary to
the perfect maturity of any crop which is suited to the soil
and climate. - .'..g ."@.
There an extensive cean current of cold water which
from the northern regions of the Pacific or perhaps
from the Arctic, and flows along the coast of California 1t
comes charged WITH and emits in its progress air, which APP
pears in the form of og when it in contact with
higher temperature onthe American coast the Gusream
OF the Atlantic exhae vapor when meets in any part of It's
progress lower temperature This current has not been
surveyed and therefore, its source, temperature velocity,
width and course have not been accurately ascerained.
1t believed by Lieutenant Maury what he considers
sufficient evidence-and higher authority be cited
that this current from the coasts of China and aan
flows nothwardy to the peninsula of Kamptschatka and
making circuit the eastward strikes the American coast
in about latitude 4o APO 1t passes thence sou,hwardy
and finally loses itself in the tropics.
Below latitude hrtynine and west Of the foot hills Of The
Sierra Nevada, the forests of California limited some
scattering groves Of oak in the valleys and along the borders
of the streams, and of red wood The ridges and in the
goges of the hs-sometmes extending into the plains
Some of the hills covered with dwarf shrubs which may
be used as fuel With these exceptions the whole territory
presents surface without trees shrubbey II is covered,
however, with various species Of grass and for many miles
from the coast with wild oats, which, the valleys grow
most uxuanty These grasses and oats mature and pen
early In the dry season. ard to protect the soil from
the sccarcnng rays OF the SUM- AS Ee summer advances
the moisture in the atmosphere and the EARTH consdera
Bile DEPTH becomes exhausted and the radiation of heat
from the extensive naked plains and hlsdes rs very great
The cold dry currents Of air from the northeast after pass
ing the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada descend
the Pacific, and absorb the moisture Of the atmosphere
great distance from The land The cold ali from the
tans and that which accompanies the great
from the northwest thus become united and vast banks of
fog generated which, when driven by the wind has
penetrating cutting effect the human skin, much
uncomfortable than would be felt in The humid atmosphere Of
the Atlantic at a much lower temperature.
As the rises from day day, week after week, and
month afer month, in unclouded brightness during the dry
and pous down his unbroken rays The dry unpro
teced surface of the country, the heat becomes much
greater inland than it is the ocean, that undercuren
Of cold air. bringing the fog with it, rushes the
range OF hills and through their passes, towards the
interior.
Every day the heat inland, attans sufficient tempera
re the cold, dry wind from the to blow.
This is usually from eleven o'clock and the day adj
vances the wind increases and continues to blow till late
night When the is filled, the equilibrium of the
atmosphere restored the wind perfect calm prevails
until about the hour the following day, when the
commences and progresses BEFORE and these phe
OF daily occurrence with few exceptions, through
out the dry season.
These cold winds and ogs render the climate San Fran.
CISCO and all along the coast Of California except the
IRENE southern portion of it. probably uncomfortable
those not accustomed TO IL in summer than in winter.
few miles inland where the heat Of the sun mobiles and
sotens the wind from the the climate is moderate and
delightful The heat the middle of the day not so great
to retard labor render exercise in the open un-
comfortable. The nights cool and pleasant This de.
scpon of climate prevails in all the valleys along the coast
range, ard extends throughout the country north and SOUTH
far eastward the valley of the Sacramento and San Joa
quin In this plain the breeze loses influence and
the degree of heat in the middle Of the day. during the sum-