The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-20

The steamship Illinois, Capt Hartstein, has
Just arrived from Chagres. She brings nine
days later news from California. The accounts
are to the 18th ultimo.
The Illinois made the passage out in eight
days three hours; the Brother Jonathan, next
day, in nine days six hours. On the return pas
sage the Illinois made the passage to Kingston,
from Chagres, in forty-seven hours from King
ston TO New York in five days and seventeen
hours; making the total passage home, via King
ston, in seven days sixteen hours running time,
being much the quickest passage on record.
She brings three hundred and seventy four
passengers, and vi ,S57,35S in dust, on manifest
and in hands Of passengers also, the California
mails OF the 18th ultimo.
The Brother Jonathan left Chagres with very
few passengers for San Juan on the evening of
the 7th. Senator Gwinn and lady came passen
gers in the Illinois.
The connection of the Panama Railroad to
Gatino, undoubtedly took place on Friday, Oct.
10th, or Saturday, Oct. 18th, AS, at the time OF
the sailing of the Illinois, there remained only
four hundred feet to be filled in, and they were
making that distance daily. The engineers con-
fidently expected to travel the track laid, and
the locomotive through to Gatno, on Sunday,
the 10Th inst The absence of the usual amount
of rain, has enabled them to push the road
through with dispatch. We understand that the
whole of the force will now be put on the line
above Gatno, in order to finish TO Gorgona as
soon as passibe. Among the passengers per
Illinois seven persons who have made at the
Mines 100000 each.
The leading event of interest, and one which
has been the chief topic of discussion in political
circles during the past fortnight, is the election
for State and county officers, which was held on
h. 4 H. IA, L. H..
are about equally divided. The returns from
several of the frontier counties have not vet been
received, and there is still doubt as to the result
for governor. The vote is very close both
parties claim the victory, and the official returns
can alone decide the question. The remainder
of the Democratic State ticket, including Messrs.
f. G. Marshall and McCorkle, for Congress, are
elected. The legislature will be Democratic in
both branches, aud will no doubt elect Demo
crat to the United States Senate, Immediately
after organizing. The vote throughout the State
is small
most destructive fire visited Marysville on
the night of the 3Oth of August, by which three
entire squares, including upwards of eighty
houses and property valued at $500000, were
consumed-On the 10th Of September, the same
place was again visited by disastrous fire,
which destroyed twenty five buildings and a
large amount of valuable merchandise Both
fires supposed to have been the work of in
cendiaries
The Nicaragua route has been opened by the
arrival of the steamer Pacific from San Juan in
little over Is days. She left again for San
Juan on the 9th instant.
most important step has been taken by the
inhabitants Of the Southern counties, DESTROYS
of dividing the State and forming a territorial
hat Nuo odAroooae
have been issued to secure concert of action,
and convention of delegates has been called to
assemble in Santa Barbara on the third Monday
in October. Delegates have already been ap
pointed to attend from Santa Clara San Diego,
and other counties All the members of the
legislature recently elected from that section of
the State are pledged to urge division at the
ensuing session.
Crime has most sensibly dimished throughout
the State, and no execution has taken place,
either here or in the INTERIOR since the sailing of
the last steamer The Indians in the southern
part of the State are quiet; those in the North,
in Trinidad and Klamath counties, are becoming
somewhat troublesome.
The gold diggings continue to yield rich re-
turns to the labors of the mines. The auriferous
quartz veins are being extensively worked, and
generally With great success. The amount
shipped by the steamer Panama. which leaves to-
day, 81 100000 exhibits no falling off in the
production of gold in our State. In the dry dig.
gings, miners are only waiting for the rainy
season, tn take out large amounts Of gold.
San Francisco has recovered from the two
great conhagrations of May and June, and has
been rebuilt in far better style than before.
Numerous fire, proof brick and stone buildings
have been erected, ard many others have been
commenced. Altogether, the condition of af
fairs in our State is highly satisfactory-H
aid, 18Th Sept.