The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-31


during the last SUMMER in attempting 10 penetrate high
mp the rivers in search OF gold they also drove one
or two parties from Trinity river They have in several
Oregon IN the section OF country which the amented
Captain Warner was examining when he was killed
II quite impossible 10 form any estimate OF the num-
as many as three hundred thousand in the Territory, but
should not be inclined TO believe that there be one
third OF that number II quite evident that they are
hose and that they ought TO be chassed for the MUIR
ders already committed.
The small bands with whom met scattered through
the lower portions of the ot-hs OF the Sierra and in
the valleys between them and the coast seemed 70 be
almost the lowest grade OF human beings. They live
chiefly acons roots insects, and the kernel OF the
pine burroccasionally they catch fish and game They
efemnate to make successful hunters. They do not
appear 10 have the slightest inclination to cultivate
the soil, nor do they even attempt itas far as could
enter the service OF the white inhabitants. They have
pretended TO hold any interest in the soil nor have
they sen e-.ed by the Spanish or American immigrants
The Mexican government never treated with them for
the purchase Of land, the REIMBURSEMENT OF any claim
to whatever They lazy, idle TO the last degree,
services 10 any one who will provide them with blankets
beef, and bread, is with much difficulty they can be
made to perform labor enough to reward their employers
for these very limited means of comfort
Formerly, at the missions, those who were brought
up and instructed by the priests made very good
wants Many Of these now attached TO families seem to
wild and uncuvated state most degraded objects
OF filth and dleness.
II is possible that government might by collecting them
together teach them, degree the arts and habits
the past they will disappear from the face Of the earth
the settlements Of the whites extend over the country
very considerable military force will be necessary, how
ever to protect the emgrans in the northern and south
ern portions OF the Territory.
CLIMATE.
now come to consider the climate. The climate OF
California is remarkable 10 its periodical changes and
for the long continuance OF the wet and dry seasons d.
vdlng as 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 50 nseparaby with all the interests
OF the country that deem proper briefly to mention the
which produce these changes, and which, will
be seen this report proceeds, must exercise control
ling influence on the commercial prosperity and resources
OF the country
II isa weesabshed theory, that the currents OF air
under which the earth passes in its dunal revolutions
follow the line OF the suns greatest attraction These
currents OF air drawn towards this line from great
distances each side of iii and as the earth revolves
from TO east they blow from northeast and south
east, meeting, and OF course causing calm, on the
line.
Thus, when the sun is directly, in common parance,
over the EQUATOR in the month OF March, these currents
Of air blow from distance north OF the tropc oil
Cancer, and south OF the tropic OF Capricorn, in an
oblique direction towards this line OF the suns greatest
attraction, and forming what known the northeast
and southeast trade e-winds
brings the line OF attraction north in summer these
rents Of air carried ruth ii that about the middle
OF May the current from the northeast has extended as
far as the 3sh or Both degree OF north latitude and by
the twentieth of June the period of the suns greatest
northern inclination, 10 the northern portions OF Caor
MIA and the southern section OF Oregon.
continent towards the Pacific ocean, pass the snow
capped ridges OF the Rocky mountains and the Sierra
Nevada and OF course, deprived OF all the moisture
which be extracted from them by the low temperature
OF those regions OF eternal snow and consequently no
moisture can be precptaied from them, the form OF dew
or rain. in higher temperature than that to which they
have been subjected They therefore pass the hills
and plains OF California, where the temperature is very
high in summer, very dry state and far from be-
ing charged with moisture they absorb. like sponge
all that the atmosphere and surface OF the earth can YIELD
until both become, apparently, perfectly dry
This process commences, as have said, when the line
OF the suns greatest attraction comes north in SUMNER
bringing with II these vast atmospheric movements and
on their approach produce the dry season in California,
which. governed by these laws, continues until some
time after the sun repasses the equator in September,
when, about the middle OF November, the Climate be-
ing relieved from these northeast currents OF air, the
southwest winds set in from the ocean charged with
moisture-the rains commence and continue 10 fa not
constantly, some persons have represented but with
sufficient frequency designate the period OF their
tnuance, from about the middle OF November until the
middle OF May, in the latitude Of San Francisco the
iref season.
II follows as matter of course, that the dry season
commences first and continues longest in the southern
portions OF the territory, and that the climate OF the
nOftneIn muCn less ucRIees
causes which have mentioned, than any other section
OF the country Consequently, we find that low down
as latitude 80 deg rains are sufficiently frequent in sum
TO render irrigation quite unnecessary TO the perfect
maturity OF any crop which is suited to the soil and c
mate
There is an extensive ocean current OF cold water,
which comes from the northern regions OF the Pacific,
perhaps from the Arctic, and flows along the coast Of
California. II comes charged with, and emts ns pro-
gress, air, which appears in the form OF fog when it
in contact with higher temperature the Amer
lean coast the Gulf stream OF the Atlantic exhaes
por when meets, in any part OF its progress, lower
temperature This current has not been surveyed, and
therefore it's source, temperature, velocity width, and
course, have not been accurately ascertaned.
Ii is believed by Lieutenant Maury, what he con-
siders sufficient evdence-and no higher authority can
be cedhat this current comes from the coasts OF Chi
ma and Japan, flows northwardy TO the peninsula Of
kamtschaka, and, making circuit TO the eastward,
strikes the American coast in about latitude III deg or AZ
deg IL passes thence southwardly and finally loses IT.
self in the tropics.
Below latitude thirty ynine and west OF the foot-hil Of
scattering groves of oak In the valleys and along the
borders OF the streams and Of red wood the ridges and
in the gorges OF the hls-sometmes extending into the
plains Some OF the bills covered with dwarf shrubs,
which may be used fuel With these exceptions, the
whole Territory presents surface without trees shrub
berry is covered, however, with various species OF
grass, and for many miles from the coast with wild oats,
grasses and oats mature and pen early in the dry season,
and cease to protect the soil from the scorchng rays
OF the As the summer advances the moisture in the
atmosphere and the earth considerable depth, soon
becomes exhausted and the radiation OF heat from the
extensive naked plains and hill sides, is very great
The cold, dry currents Of air from the northeast after
passing the Rocky mountains and the Sierra Nevada de-
ni fbn and ahcprh tho - al