The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-21
Our California Correspondence.

In my last, wrote you of the pre- sent condition
of the mines, and the prospects Of the miners for
the approaching winter rainy season. | will
now change the subject California as it is Spe-
culators and traders may continue to falsfy and
misrepresent this country much as they please,
for pecuniary and selfish motives, TO induce people
10 emigrate but they can never alter or change
the Interchangeable stamp psced upon 1t, or make
Upper California difirrvn, from what the Almighty,
in his dsapprobation (aslde from the gold mines,)
has seen fit TO make IT, They may talk about its
salubrious and healthy climate--the Italy of Anne
rica-its fertility Of soil, and what its agricultural
resources are, and can be made. Here is a vast,
barren, and desolate waste of country, without
shrub or even a single Tree, until you get into the
mountains, some sixty miles from the Sacramento
Valley, upon which, for nearly eight months, q
burning sun shines with scorchiog ray, beneath a
brazen, cloudless sky and upon which a merciful
Providence does not, in pity, pour one single
shower of rain, and where even weeping light re-
fuses TO shed one drop of pearly dew. True, the
soil in the valleys is rich aud there few small
patches OF land, chat blessed with spring of
water, where cultivation can be carried on, and
also a little stnp Of land upon the immediate banks
of the rivers; but, after you leave these, the coun
Try presents perfect barren waste In the spring,
after the rains have ceased, vegetation puts forth
uxurisntly, for a few weeks, over the whole coun-
~, and then truly presents one Of the most beau
iiful scenes upon the earth; but in few days. alas
what changes all is parched, dry, barren, and desc
late, with scarcely a single green oasis upon which
the eye rest with the least degree OF sa,isfac
tion or pleasure The cattle. roamn about over
The plains for food, are but moving skeletons
while the bones OF hundreds that have starved TO
death, are strewn about aud lie bleaching In the
kua. In consequence Of the inundaticn of the
greater part of the lands IN the valleys during the
rainy season or spring. II is impossible for people to
make il their permanent abode, and in addition, in
consequence of the general overflow and subsidiug
of the waters, large sgamps and stagnant POOLS of
water with vegetable decay, left upon all sides
throughout the remainder of the year, TO infect
poison the atmosphere. The inevitable con-
sequence Of which is, all kinds of sickness pre- vail
Few are the men who will risk their lives there,
and few who can endure It. / will repeat what
ever have said, that could this country be blessed
throughout the year by occasional showers, il
would ne of the nest upon the globe but as il s
not, II Is one of the worst, ialsfying representations
of humbUg SPECTATORS 10 The contrary no.wifh-
standing, IN the face ut established and unde-
niable truth. think II Is necessary row and then
10 show the other side oi the picture of California
and the gold mines, from that usually shown by
interested SPECTATORS, lest those who have not
been here, might think by silence they were true,
although for substantidtion OF truth have only
10 refer TO the thousands who have been here, and
are now at The Eat Scarcely one ia business
here with whom | have convrrsed, have the least
intention or desire of making this their permanent
abode. Some will remain here few months or
years, and then return. They remain here for the
reason that the opportunities of making fortunes
are greater Than at the East, (but they go not TO
the mines,) and ask them how they like the coun-
ny, with few exceptions there Is but one reply
From the extensive and great improvements
being made here, and the numberless cities upon
paper, whose lois are offered for sale in this mar
ket, situated IN all paris Of The land, one would
suppose that this 10 be one OF the greatest
agricultural and mineral producing countries upon
the globe. u rs really amusing TO read the pecu-
liar inducements offered by each city fer invest
ment OF capta-one, b, CT use II is located upon the
bank OF nyer, above which a steamboat drawing
foot and bslf OF water cannot proceed, and
near come rich dlggings that have been; another,
because II Is where the waters OF two rivers or
brooks meet, and there are, or have BEEN diggings
upon each; and another, because il is backed up
into tbs mountains, shost lar as u could be-; ano
her, because n-is about as Tar OIL; and number
ess othtTs, each offering the greatest inducements
for investment Each city has been surveyed and
placed upon paper, with their grand pszas, squares
and pubic buildings in bold relief and, from their
size, have no doubt they would accommodate
the entire population Of the United States Those
interested IN each are sangulne of success, and
their cities are speedily To be built up and peoped by
".
and TO be buried in gols dust WI hen they die
To hat 10 this great hustle and confusion OF
busness and speculation tending To one grand
explosion. The crisis has already commenced,
and II must come; and the sooner the better TO
bnng abouta healthy, sound, aud substantial al basis
OF business for The future At present, there seems
10 be a general want OF confidence, because the
RreaterI part Of the business or moued men have
become go suddenly, and by turns not fairly
Understood, ana their properly real estate is as II
were, IN iiaciuaiing scales, or spon pivot. The
Improvements beng made IN this city are on mag
nificent tcae, and worthy Of the undoubted future
emporium OF the Pacific A more enterprising set
OF men were never oODgregaied together, than are
mere IN san Francisco. the fruits OF which are vsi.
Die upon all Sides in the led growth of the
city, and lavish expenditure Of money for its inn
proyemcnt.
Yet one can but ask himself what this co Intry s
going To BE-, or how business ~ going TO work IT,
self INTO permanent and cafe chapnel, and what
that channel IN 20 be Al present IL 10 an enigma not
casiiy solved. Yet one argue the case for HIM
sei and That n, that this country will never be an
agricultural one, and that consequently IL must be
dept ndent upon otheTs. thereby prohi biting IL from
beng denseiy populated. The hundreds Of thou
sands here ~ this time. s guide for the future;
they are not permanent; and whai KEEPS them herei
the inducement at being anle 70 make their fortunes
from The mines. The mines ere now becoming
poor, and The prospects ior obtaining even a mode
rate compensation Tor lodi sidna enterprise are fact
Disappearing, end the Consequence s there will be
a decrease OF the population, ana soon there will
be among the mase here ~ present, only left those
WHO hoihln9 tur tiptAuFtj az reasonable
compensation. The time has now past for msny to
make iVriubes BY their individual researches and
labor al mining, 50 that business Taust work itself
into a permanent ana steady channel The agri-
cultural resources ~ the country can be placed at
nothing while its mineral wall be great Butts
aRTtt uiuTe alone that c m make California hume
.Ous In population There beng hiils or no land
IN Upper California capable, under natural dsad.
vaniaess, Of being improved. and the mines only
so BE- worked Ia a scientific manner, by capitalists
with machinery, and employing only a certain
numter OF men. the population must necessarily be
Iimiis d. and business, also. must follow aud be
limited IN proportion the inhabitants until a ma
tiOnai thoroughiare ~ opened across the country
There will be only few ilOurishrR towns and
trading posts. The principal sea port and great
emporium Of business u0on the Pacihc will be san
tiaucisco Mature has given Unnatural advantages.
over al Others, in Ne large ang safe harbor within
n lev miles OF the ocesn, and hae scite for the