The southern press., 1851-10-22

Office, Pennsylpania .dvesus, bet,oeen Third snd
Fotr-and-G-haLf streets.
To the Editors of the Southern Press:
BATH, MAINE, Oct. 10, 1851.
The following extracts from letter received
from Lieut.. Cong Alden contain matter OF in
terest in relation to Humboldt Harbor and Trim
idad Bay, in California, and are at your service
for publication. Yours, respectfully,
AZ (Signed) A. d. BACHE.
Extracts from letter Of Lieut.. Cong JAS. Al
DEN, " s. NJ, Assistant in the Coast Survey
10 Prof A. d. BACHE, Superintendent, relating
to Humboldt Harbor and Trinidad Bay, Cal
Jornia.
u. 8. SURVEYING ScHR. EWING,
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 81, 1851.
DEAR Sir:
We left San Francisco on the oath of June,
and after an exceedingly boisterous passage OF
ten days, arrived at Trinidad. This anchorage
is, during six months of the year, perfectly safe
and comfortable 1t ia acme twenty mileeto the
Woodward of the entrance to Humboldt; and,
as the wind was unfavorable for US to 60 there
at the time, we employed ourselves during the
detention of two or three days in making a
chart Of the bay. IL is sen; with the others,
and hope II will meet with your appreciation.
The mines in the vicinity of Trinidad have made
it quite an important location; it serves as a
resting place for the miners, and is the source
whence all their supplies are derived.
There are about one hundred houses in the
village, and the land in the vicinity, for agricul-
tural purposes, can hardly be surpassed. The
gigantic red wood abounds there in all its mag
nifcence, always affording to the hardy settler
the readest and most lasting material for neat
and appropriate buildings. The fibre of this
wood ia 80 straight and so easily separated that
it is split with comparatively little trouble into
all the different forms required for an unpre.
tending dwelling in new country. The depre
dations of the Indians in that quarter have been,
am sorry to say, a serious drawback to their
farming operations; so much 40, indeed, that
most Of them have been compelled 10 leave their
all, and go into the town for protection.
On the 10th July, we left Trinidad with fair
wind, and in few hours were at anchor in
Humboldt Bav. We were employed about four
weeks in making the survey of that place. Find.
ing it much better in every respect than it had
been represented, gave it more care and made
a closer examination than an ordinary recon.
naissance required.
This body of water partakes more of the
character of lagoon than an ordinary bay. IL
is sixteen miles long, and from one to five
broad Il is broadcast at either extremity, where
it is but great grassy fiat, washed with about
one foot of water, (when the tide il out) and
broken here and there by navigable sluces
The entrance is practicable, except in very bad
weather, when the sea breaks entirely across it.
There is twenty-one feet on the bar at low
water, and the ordinary strength of the tide
does not exceed two knots. Under favorable
circumstances, at low water, and with very
light breeze blowing directly in the channel, this
schooner went TO sea without difficulty. The
two sea walls or narrow necks of land, which so
nearly shut out the sea, are covered with sand
hills, ranging from ten to forty and fifty feet in
height. On the North Spit have marked the
place where, think, the Lighthouse should be
located. II is the nearest point TO the entrance,
and is therefore Jess liable to be obscured by
fog; and with beacon farther back, the two
would form the best range TO pass between The
north and south hreskers-not that II should be
attempted at night unless under the most favor
able circumstances.
As Humboldt is rather ont Of the way Of
vessels passing up and down the coast, | have
thought that a light OF the second or third class
would anss or all the purposes required at that
point, and be sufficiently large for vessels bound
In to maintain their position during the night
The country is hily almost mountainous, in the
vicinity Of Humboldt The fir and the red wood
predominant in the forests, and am informed
that the lard possess every requisite for farming
purposes. The cattle luxurate the year round
10 green grass and the tallest clover ] ever saw,
The temperature is very equable; they haye
slight frost in the fall and the winter only differs
from the summer in being more pleasant. Elk
and deer are found 10 abundance. and msny var
cites Of wild fowl frequent the bay. There are
no less than four villages or settlements on the
bay. Humboldt, at the entrance, has thirteen
houses Eureka M many. Bucksport Is just
taking a start, and its location Is thought 10 be
superior IN all the others, from the fhct that u
has better water, and more room for commercial
purposes. Uniontown is the largest, having
about one hundred houses. II Is located In the
north end Of the bay. Its proximity TO the
mines is the only advantage IL has over the
Others, yhile the difficulty Of Transporting sup
plies from the Eureka seems TO be almost an in
surmountable objection 10 it, ever becoming
place Of much importance. Everything has TO
be carried in small boats up very narrow sluice,
and that only at high water, while the nearest
point Of water communication Is a mile from
The town. A road can be cut from either Of the
other towns 10 communicate with the one from
Union TO the mines, with bot little expense or
trouble.
(Sgned) JAMES ALDEN.
Lieut.. Com. u. y. N. and Asst Coast Survey
Prof. A. ID. BAcHE,
C-....l.., N q Co.st S,.yoy