New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-24
Hum beldf Harbor.
Prom be W~hlpf.on RepablIe. Jan,

ard explored bv the party under his mani, will
be found highly interesting The entrance 70 the
barber IL will be seen, is in latitude 40' ~ The
sketch referred b in the letter. exhibits the haroor
asa lake oil Is miles in length. with breadth va
| wing from one to five miles, and connected With
the ocean by narrow outlet. Ii Is In this partcu-
lar, remarkably similar 10 the barbos o. San Fran
cisco. Ii may be reached by steam navigation from
| San Francisco 10 from eighteen 70 twenty four
! hours, and its headweters are, IN puoication
| made In the California Journal Of Commerce ny
| persons who accompanied Lieut.. Ottinger, sta ID
| TO be within forty miles OF the mines on Tril y
! river. This fact, however rests apon inormaiiJ =
given to members Of the expedition by party OF
miners from that quarter.
To Hon W- NJ Me-eSah Seey o. ne T,eass,y,
SIR: Although on Through, yet feel that when
| can give what believe to be useful information
| b the Department il is my duty TO do so, and
therefore take the liberty OF sending you brief re-
port Of my late voyage for the purpose Of cxplJrng
the Coast Of California from Bodega Bay to the
chorage Of Cape St. George.
| sailed from this port in command Of the schr
! Laura Virginia, with party OF gentlemen for Trim
| ity Bay also 10 make examinations for the mouth
| OF Trinity River. The schooner under my command
being well adapted for coastlng, gave me consider
able advantage over the numerous vessels that had
| preceded me- and no doubt contributed much 70 my
| ultimate success.
During the first two days of my voyage, the
weather was thick, and our progress slow; but
from Pinnacle Rock, in latitude 39e or had op.
portunity Of seeing most OF the shore. The timber
begins to show itself some distance TO the south Of
Pinnacle Rock, AID as we proceeded to the north
became more dense, and the trees nearer 10 the
ocean. The coast generally, is rocky, bat safe fJr
the purposes ofnavigstion as all danger seemed 10
show itself. The sea breeze blows from north
west but not regular, and comes in generally about
IL AN. and ceases at PM. which renders the
coast particularly well suited for steam navigation
"a. II
eighteen hours ia the day and the further went
north the less regular fousd the northwest trade
winds After passing Cape Mendocina about six
miles which is in latitude 40 90, the land tends
TO the eastward, and forms considerable indenta.
ton or bay with valley OF some ten or fifteen
miles in width and running back as far as the eye
could reach
We now ran along within half mile OF a low
sand beach, upon which the sea was breaking
heavily, expecting to find river OF considerable
magnitude from such topography, and soon had the
satisfaction of seeing large stream winding It's
way among the woodlands.
spent two days in the sounding and wait ny
for smooth sea to get over the bar, lat. 40 IL,
and finally attempted il, but had the misfortune to
upset one Of our boats by which accident valua-
bic life was lost. was in the other boat and sue
ceeded in saving the remaining gentlemen compos-
ing the crew. | was satisfied, however, that my
vessel could enter with safety, bat the great diff
there seemed TO be heavy and constant run Of
breakers at its mouth, sufficient TO render sail
craft unmanageable. / have since been informed,
by persons competent to Judge, that this river il
navigabe for 40 or 80 miles, and that it passes
through section Of country diversified with hill
and valley, woodland and prairie, with a soil so
rich and deep that ages OF culture will not exhaust
it, We again stood to the northwsrd, and, after
passing headland, which | have named Ridge |
Point, noticed that the country still continuodoPen
near the ocean, and from the mast head discovered
inside Of a sand bank large bay, bat no clear en-.
trance showed itself was, however, Of the opin-
ion that so large q sheet Of water must have an
OutletofcODsderable depth and from theanchorage
at Trinity Bay, lat 45s 05' So" party of men
dispatched overland April 4 to examine the topog
raphy of the Bay and gain some kno Wedge OF the |
channel On April they returned TO Trinidad |
Bay and again proceeded to the entrance of the |
large Bay lat 40 4s, and aftor sounding tho bar
and channel sent in my boats and landed party |
did not find less than four athoms water the bar
and which alter crossing, deepened to tenfathoms
/ spent two days in sounding the depth OF the wa.
ter and examining the capacity OF this beautiful |
Bay which is about G miles In length, and from |
to in BREADTH with safe anchorage for 200 or 300
sail of ships. Latitude of the point where our first
tent was pitched, 400 49, 5y.
In both the northern and southern parts OF the !
bay there are extensive fats dry st low water; /
but the country surrounding It's shores has been
pronounced, by persons component to judge, as
possessing, in the highest degree, all that Is requ
site for iourshing agricultural district, as well as
to furnish timber for all the cities and towns in Cal
fornia And so far as appearance goes, it is one OF
the most beautiful sections OF the coantry that |
have ever looked upon. being well wate-ed and
possessing much prairie would probably be
needed for culture for some years.
The woods abound with elk, deer and small
game and the water with shell and other fish. In
addition TO the advantages above mentioned, its
proximity to the rich gold mines on the Trinity
River will doubtless give il some immediate com.
mercial importance /; and, under this belief have
taken the liberty of making this nport 10 the Head
Of the Department TO which | am attached.
would further state that, so far as have ex-
smined the line Of country bordering on the sea
coast il appears TO DO well adapted 10 agricultural
purposes. The timber is of the most abundant and
stupepdous growth and streams, of sufficient power
and fall to drive large gangs Of saws emPtying into
the ocean within every three or four miles. have
examined, with great care, the coast from Cape
Mendocins to Cape st. George, at which last named
point found brig az anchor and schooner ashore,
having parted her cables in a gale. From persons
on board these vessels first learned OF the death
of Lieut.. II. ache and Lieut. Il. Browning, U. 8.
Navy and three other persons who were drowned
BY the upsetting Of boat while attempting 10 land
through the surf. The body of Lie1t Bache had
been recovered and buried on the sand beach, bat
was removed thence and renterred on the high
LAID by our party, the particulars Of which have
written 10 his orother, A d. Is acne, Esq Superin
tendent of United States Coast Survey The land
timber, and streams at this point are nearly the
same as at those already described bat the an
chornge is not good, as the bottom Of the Bay ap
pears to be composed Of quick sand Latitude Of
same Il deg AZ min. 20 sec.
| would also mention river OF cOnsderablemag
pitude in latitude AZ 80 with bus little breaker
on its bar AID notices. than three lathons far az
bad an opportunity OF sounding. This stream,
have 10 doubt can be safely entered by vessels Of
fly or one hundred tuns and RATS oltimbsr ioated
10 ships, outside where the anchorage Is good, and
the current strong from the river AZ three quarters
Ct mile from the be ch Ia aboutlattude 4ls 10
there is also a considerable stream, bat not Of suf
fceut magnitude for commercial purposes, further
N On rating down trlber The lsn1s u the neirh.