Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-03-22
California Items by the last steamer.

GoLD.-There is yet no evidence TO show any
decrease in the product of gold, or signs of ex-
haustion of the precious metal. 1t is true, ac-
counts are contradictory but if must be oorne
in mind that thousands come to California who
are totally unfit for the rough work that is requ-
red in the mines, and it is from these the most Of
the dlscouraglng statements emanate.
BCnDNGs.-A number of brick buildings are
going up in San Francisco, and give to the city
a more substantial appearance than it before pos
sessed. Some Of these buildings are really very
elegant and compare favorably with majority
OF buildings in the Atlantic cities.
How THEY LIvE.-Pcrhaps full one half o.
the population of San Francisco, live in tents
Happy Valley" and the hills surrounding are
covered with threse frai tenements, and as the
occupants pay no rent for the land or which they
locate tents they thus contrive to live quite eco
nomicaly. Board and lodging can be obtained
at S25 to $50 per week.
THE MINEs-The news from the mines con-
thues encouraging. Allaccounts represent the
mines as doing as well as at any previous time.
Indeed the recent news is of such a charact T as
to induce many people to start from San Fran
ciscOto the diggings, Notwithstanding the almost
incessant rains and the bad condition of the roads
We have accounts from the mines as often as
once week, brought by eXpressmen who come
down frequently tor letters, &c, for the miners.
A lump o! gold weighing twenty-one pounds has
been picked up in the southern mines.
The FLooD AT SACRAMENTO CIrY-What
we have long anticipated, has at last taken place
The waters, after threatening for weeks, have
performed their work at Sacramento. The city
is inundated. We learn from passenger by
the Senator, that the average depth of water
there is four feet. There are, however, some
few knobs yet above water. on the tops of which
hundreds h We collected as a last resort.
We regret to learn that several instances of
death by drowning have occurred. One gentle
man informs us of case Of four men, in state
Of intoXication, who fell overheard from a boat
and persisted. The loss of property in the city
alone must be immense. In addition 10 this,
herds OF cattle in the country have been swept
oil in great numbers and drowned. The lowest
estimate of the loss which we have heard is one
million dollars.
The current running through the streets is
very strong, and great proportion of the prop
erty lying loose, has OF comrse, been swept away.
In addition to this, instances have occurred where
tents and houses have been carried off. One
large brick house, which was in process OF erec-
ton, has been cracked by the rushing waters,
ard the foundations of many other houses arca.
dy looscned.
! Many, in cndcavoring to save themselves,
were forced to leave the sick. and even the help
/ less, to the mercy of circumstances. A man in
/ forms US of an instance that came within his
knowledge, of man who was almost dying for
want OF water to quench his thirst, and yet who,
although the water as flowing within few in
ches of bis berth was SO sick that he could not
reach out and help himself
In addition to the loss of life and property, in
addition to the biighted prospects of hundreds,
VIA! shall We say Of the immediate distress which
the inundaliou has produced With many of
the houses only one story high, with the rush of
water covering almost every spot OF land in the
city, with no convenience for making fires, for
sleeping, and for cooking it is difficult 10 see
how the inhabitants of Sacramento manage 10
exist at the present lime.
HE W MINING. The winter has
+ been one of intense severity and Suffering
! The rain has flowed in torrents, unheard of even
! by the 'oidest inhabitants" of some twenty years
standing. The rivers and streams throughout
the country are very much swollen and the low
lands undar water
! la consequence Of the high waters, the lad
state Of the roads. and the scarcity of provisions
in the mines, the digging operations have adj