Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-04-23

tlcs, OF tdAeS on ianub oI on bde ihuuStig Vi
| the people.
The value of pure gold in China is not far
from @l4 tho ounce. Hence, the importer
ofthe manufactures and products ofIndia in
TO San Francisco, will remit tho gold coin or
dust direct to New York, for investment in
sterling bills on London. These bills will
be sent to London. and placed to the credit
of the firm in China from whom the merchan-
die had been received. and who on earning
of the remittance having gone forward to
their agents, will diaw sir months sight 6iH
for the amount which will pass in China at
the rate of four shiilings and two ponce or
three pence per dollar.
Important as the commerce of the Pacific
undoubtedly is, and will be 10 California, II
cannot now, nor will il ever compare in mag
nitude and value TO the domestic trade be-
tween her and the older States of the Union.
Two years ago California did not probably
contain moro than fifteen thousand people,
That portion of il which has since been so
wonderfully peopled by American citizens,
was comparatively, without inhabitants, with
out resources, and not supplied with the com
mon comforts OF shelter afforded by forest
country.
When California comes 10 have o popula-
ton of 100000, which she will have before
the close of the present year, she will require
nearly halfa million of barrels of flour from
some quarter, and no country can supply it
as good and cheap as the old States Of the
Union. Including freight and insurance this
may be set down as an item of about S5,OOO,-
900. The article of clothing. allowing about
S2O to each person, would be 100000.
There is no pretention TO accuracy in these
items, and ihey may be estimated too high,
but it is quite probable they are too low.
We have no data on which to found u cal
culation Of what the value of the trade be-
tween The States east of the Rocky Noun
tains and California will be during the current
year. will venture the opinion, however, that
it will not fall short oftwenty-ive millions of
dollars. 1t may 60 far beyond that sum. AT
present can perceive no cause that will di-
minish or retard emigration.
Ifthe movement should continue FIVE years
our commerce with that territory may reach
one hundred millions per annum. This is
doubtless startling sum, but it must be
borne in mind that we have to build cities
and towns, supply machinery for mining, coal
for domestic purposes, and steam navigation,
and all the multitarious articles used in pro-
viding the comforts and uxuries of life, for
half million of people, who will have trans
ferred themselves to country which is to
produce, comparatively. nothing except min
erals and the precious metals, and whose pur-
suits will enable them to purchase, at any
cost, whatever may be necessary for their
purposes.
1t is difficult to imagine or calculate the
effect which will be produced on all the in
dustrial pursuits of the people of the old
states of the Union, by this withdrawal from
them of half million of producers, who, in
their new homes and new pursuits. will give
existence TO a commerce equal to our foreign
trade. Let no one, therefore, suppose he is
not interested in the welfare of California;
AS well may he believe his interests would
not be Influenced by closing our ports, and
cutting off intercourse with all the world.
The distance from Chagres to New York
has recently been run in seven days. The
same speed would carry steamboat from
Panama to San Francisco in ten days. Allow
three days to convey freight acaoss :he 18th
mus on railway, and both passengers and
freight will be conveyed from New York to
San Francisco in twenty days.
This celebrity OF movement would secure
for American produce the entire market OF
Ca!ifornia. Sailing vessels may be success
fully employed between our Atlantic and
Gulf ports and the terminus of the railway
on this aide of the Isthmus; and proPeltors
from Panama to San Francisco. These lat
ter vessels will be found peculiarly suited to
the trade; they can use their steam through
the calms ofthe bay of Panama, and against
head winds and currents going north, and
their saislwlth favorable winds and currents
coming south.
metallic AND MINERAL WEALTH.
The gold region Of California is between four
and five hundied miles long, and from forty TO
fifty miles broad, following the line Of the
Sierra, Nevada. Further discoveries may,
and probably will increase the area. |; en-
braces within its limits those extensive ran
ges OF hills which rise Oh Ihe eastern border
Of the plain OF The SaCUmento and San JOa-
quin, and extending eastwardly from fifty 10
Sixty miles, they attain an elevation at dbout
four thousand feet aud terminate at the base
of The main ridge oi The Sieus Nevada
There are numerous streams which have their
sources in the sp,ings Of the Sierra. and re
ceiye the water from MS meltI1g SHOWS. and
that which falls in rain during the wet sea
son.
These streams from rivers. which have cut
their channels through tue ranges of foot
hills west-wsydy 10 the PLAIN, and d'semOo'
que in the Sacramento and San Jodqnin.-
These rivers are from ten TO fifteen, aud prob
baby some of them twenty miles apart.
The principal formation, or subsIr"Iun, an
these hills, is talcose slate; the s1bstraidm
sometimes penetrating 10 great depIh' u
quartz. This, however, does not eover the
entire lace OF the country, bnt extends ~
large bodies in vsious duecuons-'s found
~ masses aud small fragments on The surface.
and seen along the ravlnes. and 10 the noun.
tains overhanging the rIver-. and ~ the hIll
sides ip its original beds. In crops Out IN
the valleys and nn the tops Of the hills and
forms y striking feature Of the entire country
over Yhch u extends. From Iunumerable
evidences and indications, u has come TO be
the universally admitted opinion among The
miners and intelligent meo whb have exam
ined this region. that the gold, tchedfher an
detached partielesland piecer, or IN ue,Hs, icds
created in combination toith the quartz Gold
is not found on The surface of the country p'e-
sentin ne the appearance ofhaviog been thrown
up and scattered 10 all directions by volcanic
action. Ii is only found in particular local
H.