The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-22

deliver her goods and 10 pay the duties at the port oil
lorisina bill reported by the Committee on Commerce.
that il was precisely the bill which the Committee on
Commerce reported TO establish po OF entry a. San
ancisco upon The south side OF the bay and al Rencia
on ne nolh side OF the bay leaving all places above the
bay and up the rivers Tor ports OF delivery; compelling
your vessels passing above oan ranciseo ~ Dene a
manifest and allow their goods TO be appraised ana heh
10 20 the foremost port or such po above
as they mig &c o spaa r. so%s other facilities offered
Il NAV be necessary by possibility That thefe shouid DC
apprasals at those ports above. mere may ne Some
modification OF the law necessary. But am inclined 70
think that the law as il stands will confer All Inc
facilities 10 those ports above that are necessary you
establish port upon either side OF me bay SO ha yod
do moi compel yes sci sail across IL that vessei
going 40 the San Joaquin shall moi go over to Benlca
and II going on the other sde shall not go down 10 san
Francisco shall, therefore, vote against ,nis m1o n
most assuredy and with much more certainly OF dong
right than mad in gong against that Oh my coeague
upon the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. SOULE My object in rising Is to satisfy The SEN
ato from New Hampshire [Mr HALEl upon The matters
embraced in the question which he has popounded the
chairman OF the Committee on Commerce mere nave
been several memorials before the committee connecteh
memorial signed by three hundred and eleven citizens oil
Bencia presented BY the senator from Michigan ihere
two other memorials which had the honor o. laying
before the Senate They bear the signatures OF two hundred
and fifty residents OF the same place. There " a memo
rial which was presented by the senator from New York
who sits near me, Mr. DIcKIssos signed BY forlysx
itself into Feather liver There another presented BY the
merchants and land-hoders Of the city of Sacramento
also praying Congress to establish port OF entry at Be
nica. There memorials from citizens residing IN the
cities of Fremont, Vernon, and Maysvlle. 10 the same
effect We have, besides the memorial OF the presidents
oil fifteen insurance Offices of Boston, setting forth that
from advces received from their correspondents and
agents in California they believe that the interests OF
commerce would be greatly promoted by the establishment
Of port of entry Benicia in the straits OF kaquinas
anu that immense saving would thereby be realized 10
the shippers and consumers from the much greater facility
and safety dischargng cagoes at Bencia than at San
Francisco And we have the memorial Of shipping mer-
chants and others interested in the commerce OF the Pa
chc. and residing in New York setting forth that. in
consequence OF the delay danger, difficulty, and enor-
expense Of reporting and dischagng ca.goes the
port OF San Francisco, serious losses have been invariably
sustained by those engaged the trade which may he
wholly avoided by establishing port OF entry at Bencia
in the straits OF Karquinas
There are, Mr.. President, many important consdera
tons which should induce and which will prompt am
sure, this Senate establish port of entry at Bencla
San Francisco has the monopoly OF the commerce
and trade which is made the waters OF the bay which
bears its name We are told by Com Jones, whose au-
horily entitled to much weighto these matters that
San Francisco became few years ago trading post for
hides and tallow; and there being no civilized in
habans, except the bay and at Suffers Fort, whose
chief occupation the rearing Of cattle, il had OF
course nlaLd trade. When the news OF the discov.
cry OF the gold mines went abroad, the commercial
world at home and in Europe, knowing no other
place the bay, made all their shipments to San Fran
cisco Owing these accdents--despite IFS natural in
conyeniences aud real dsadyanages-it absorbed and
is not exceeded by more than two or three OF our
Atlantic cities But the discovery Of the gold
mines the great valley OF the Sacramento and the San
joaquin awakened the spirit OF emigraton in pursuit Of
mineral wealth. surveys were made OF the waters
leading to those enchanted regions, and it was
soon discovered that the channel running from the
Golden Gate 10 the straits OF karquinas. with widths
| Of nowhere less than mile, and depth never be-
low thirty feet 2, The lowest stage Of the wsier was
the to the golden regions OF California II was also
found thai the approaches OF the port OF San Francisco
were studded with difficulties and dangers which rem
tered il more ineligible Tor ships trading in those waters
Ai,er passing The Golden Gale says Commodore Jones
10 one of his communications to the Secretary oil the
Navy, ships bound to The port OF San Francisco must
take 10 AVOID a sunken rock winch lays on the
southern side OF the channel of the Presdo, which
The bsrque Annetia struck, and received much damage
Further on, the side OF the channel and oil the
northern limits OF San Francisco Is dangerous sand
spit, winch many, vessels have struck and remained
several days, and one, the fine ship Tonqun, with val
liable cargo, lost last winter. TINS circumstances
gave the name OF Ion9uin shoaf, which is rapidly
croaching the channe here quite leaving but
little between II and the barren rock OF hbatraces
or Bird island the north side Of the channel This
rock, too, great impeachment 10 the navigation, partic
ulary to vessels leaving San Francisco whether going
10 proceeding to The straits of Karqunas. The
United States soop Of war St Mary was carried il
by The tide. and remained the rocks twenty-fou
hours" Nor these the only difficulties and dangers
which obstruct and render pelous its approach .The
anchorage is much exposed 10 winds from northwest to
SOUTH which prevail from October to March, and some
tunes blow with great force 10 all communica-
ton between the shore and shipping for several days
time The southwest winds, which blow from March
10 October, frequently IN the afternoon TO the
force OF tempest that communication with the shore
by merchant ships boats interrupted for several hours
every day The tide with great force in the San
Francisco roads, and the anchorage is in deep water
and averaging mile from the shore, when the winds
and tides adverse, there Is rough and is only
al particular stages OF the water that vessels bound 10
Benica can get under way. Ii vessel from any cause,
does not embrace The auspicious moment she must wait
another tweny-iour hours aud II, in the mean tme
nOJhT on, such drove the ship Barnstable
shore With three anchors down, or soufhsr, such
wrecked the brig Colonel Benton Aagel island the |
ceremony OF calling San Francisco may, very assuredy
would, the loss OF much property and OF many val
liable lives" There are still other considerations which
seen strongly TO recommend the establishment OF a |
port oil entry at Benicia. The city OF San francisco
affords but insufficient commodities to the shipping for
the unloading OF the cagoes not only OF the
limited number OF stores erected Shores but in conse
quence OF the expense 10 be incurred Tor trans
boarding goods launches in order put them shore
The fiat muds IN front Of The port keep the vessels al
distance OF no less than mile aud Informed that fully
two thirds OF the cargocs aoat until disposed OF
by those 10 whom they consigned Such state oil
Things favots all kinds Of rauds on the revenue, and
compeIs vessels 10 detention, which subjects them TO the
most vexaous delays and, when forced 10 unload when
the charter party requires 10 deliver on shore, 10
quent expenses, often absorbing than the whole
ireght earned 10 the voyage Neither OF those Dangers,
hniranees, and difficulties is to be encountered any
where along the road, from the 10 the straits of
kanIuiaa, "By the direct and natural route to Benicia
IRON The sea, through Racoon STRAITS you have free,
clear passage all the way thereby avoiding the risks and
dangers by which the circuious route San Francisco
Is thcky studded White insurance cannot be effected
in England France any vessel TO lay al San Fran
cisco, be effected vessels lay Benicia the