Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-06
Oregon Correspondence Of the Eastern Times
A Wanderers Notes.


Loneliness Of California; Correction -Suisan
and San Pablo Bays-.Ndkedness Of the
shores-Wid Oats-Paper Cnies-Spect-
lation and Stuindles-Gen. Valejo-Remoral
of the seat of gOrrnmcnt-Gen. VS. liberal
ity-Sacramento rirer-Hs golden sands-
Scientific opiniOns-Drudgins for gold
Life on the Saerdmento-S1eaners, dc.
PORTLAND, OREeoN, Nov. 10, 1850.
DEAR TINES Although hailing from this
northern region-about the latitude of your
own State Capital-where the cold fogs and
drizzling autumnal rains forcibly remind one
of his "Down East home-where the ever
constant notes of the goose, the brant and the
swan, as at times they almost darken the air
with their numbers, impress the mind with an
idea of plenty, and of profusion in the distrbu-
tion of natures blessings, yet the business of
this brief paper is with region farther south
ward, where, of all places of Gods fair earth,
person is forced to feel and confess his loneli-
ness. 1t is the remark of some one, that, to
stranger, no place is more lonely than the
crowded street of large city. l think the
author of the remark had never penetrated the.
mountain gorges or traversed the semi-nude
plains of California-had never travelled be-
meath broiling summer sun over her dried up
regions, parched with thirst, suffocated with
dust, weak in limb from protracted illness, and
suffering from the ailments incident to the
country, and which are almost sure to fasten
themselves upon all newly arrived immigrants.
1t Is TO this reglon-to a trip from San
Francisco towards the interior-to which the
attention of your readers is invited. | would
remark, en- passdrt, that since closing my last,
in which | spoke of the city expenses of San
Francisco, | have seen the Alta California,
from an article in which find that in few
particulars my statistics were at fault. The
mayor, it seems, has no salary, and all attempts
to give him one thus far, have been defeated
by the Aldermen as an offset to his veto upon
their own salary ordinance. The board of
Assistant Aldermen-equivalent to your Com
mon Council-were provided for previous to
the mayors veto, so that the amount of city
expenses as given in my figures is to be less
ened some $50 900, to wit-the mayors sal
ary, $40, 900, and seven Aldermen at Sc, 900
each. Thus much by way of correction
From San Francisco to Sacramento is about
one hundred and fifty miles. Leaving the for
mer city and winding around to escape from
the fleet of vessels in the harbor, you find your
self in the spacious bay, which you pass by
narrow strait into the the bay of San Pablo,
and from that through another strait in Suisan
bay, into which are poured the waters of the
Sacramento, San Joaquin and Sanwaukeag
rivers. Near the mouth of the latter river is
New York paper city of "some pump
kins, back of which looms up Mount Diablo,
the most prominent mark in all this section of
country. A short distance above New York
is the entrance to the Sacramento, whose low
marshy banks, covered with tule and small
shrubs, and overrun in many places with vines,
are prolific sources of disease, owing to the
malaria which fills the atmosphere. Skirt
ing the bays above named are numerous high
hills, denuded of all trees, and in midsummer,
presenting the appearance of naked sand heaps
They are not sand heaps, however, but their
singular appearance is owing to the growth of
wild oats, all dried as crisp from the long con-
tinued drought. During the early spring
months this entire region is decked off in civ
ing green,' and affords pleasing view to the
eve, batting the entire absence of all that pleas
ing variety given to any landscape by the pres
ence of tree and forest. Nothing can be more
completely barren and unwelcome to the eye,
than the yellowish white, monotonous appear
ance every where met with in this vicinity,
during the long interval of time between the
months Of Nav and Decemher TIE snn nours
down its scorching heat without so much as
leaf to reflect 1t back upon the upper air, or to
afford shelter from its rays to the weary way
farer. Here and there, scattered over the
barren waste may be seen the rude cabin of
the Iudians-the most miserable of their race
and ever and anon the eye meets small
cump of buildings carelessly thrown together,
the nucleus of some future city, destined to
have its "rise and fall" however, in the mani
ac brain of the silly fools who have wasted
their time and money land expended their breath
in efforts to cry ii into notice, and convert their
paper ideal into thing of reality. This mis-
cradle specializing mania which has palsied
the arm of legitimate, honest industry the land
over, what has it not to answer for what mis-
chief has it not wrought And still the end
is not yet. | know that he who breathes a
word against the all engrossing interest of the
day, and endeavors to face the army of those
who are treading the ruinous paths of adven-
ture, is almost sure to be denounced as dis
appointed, homesick fellow, who has lost his
wav. and whose "ma am don't know of his
being out - but still, at the risk of all such
obloquy, | bear my testimony against that
wild, fanatical, relentless spirit, which has
overrun our country, tearing asunder the most
closely cemented circles, making sport of the
best interests of all classes, and bsgettlng dis
content with all the rational and stald pursuits
of life. Even Californians-the sane portion
of them, are beginning to have their eyes
opened, and to take just view Of the sublime
hoax which has turned the heads, and wasted
the substance and even destroyed the lives ofso
many of our people. To show that am borne