The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-23
The Commercial Aspect OF California-The
Prospects for Oregon.

Selections from the commercial departments Of
the various California newspapers will be found in
our columns. They commend themselves to the
attention Of every who is in the habit Of export
ing goods from the Atlantic board, and, if well
examined, may save many hap hazard speculator
from loss. In tracing the common history Of de
mand and supply in California, we lind that the
market citations often state that certain kinds Of
staples and goods are scarce. Such information
stimulates the enterprise Of the Atlantic cities,
and the fast sailing clippers, such as the Eclipse,
the Sea Serpent, and other vessels Of similar ton
mage and model, are Immediately freighted, at an
expense Of oAe dollar and twenty-five cents per
foot = seventy.hve cents more thau the usual
charge-snd the consequence -, that when these
vessels have arrived a. San Francisco, the market
j. found TO be gIutied with the article which had
been said TO be scarce The result, then, is pre-
cisely that which any business man must antic.
pate-a loss or, al the least, profit The freight
charges are high, and the storage bills heavy
California commission merchants are fast men, and
sales are forced Auctions are resorted to, and
the shipper soon learns that his goods have been
cold 70 pay the charges attending their transports-
ZION 10 and d,rosi, n California How spectators
Ia the California markets manage TO take sdvan-
,sge Of such circumstances. and buy wisely and
well, making profit Ont Of the misfortunes Of the
Atlantic shippers, Of any one il able 10 con-
lecture II 10 no likely that thoee who are the
best Judges Of the markets are liable 10 make such
ssd mistakes a. the simple shipper, who il obliged
fo enter into the expectation lottery on The meres
chance
in this business, the parties Who prsfii most ~
the California trade are the knowing oaes" OF
Saa Francisco, and the owners II the fest.
sailing clip ers, which run around Cape Horn
with wonderful ease and speed such clippers /
are built for about eighty thousand dollars
each, and having taken f1ll freight 70 California
at a hundred and twenty-five cents d cubic foot \
receive a cons derabe sum. and then steering away
for a cargo 70 the last ladies' eventually 10 be 4
,ransrored 10 London the irsi cruise pays fot the
entire bottom, and, 10 some cases, gives a surplus
profit 10 the owners. THIS l. decidedly good I
business and makes he contrast with he misfor. 4
tunes of the shipper much more pointed and sig
nifcant. Lut the result Of his 70 the nation IS
Food. i gives us fleet Of magnificent clipper 4
atl5s such a. the world never before saw. ani I
such T. 90 other country can boast q or excel
w do noi intend to BE very censurable ia these /
remarks upon III business men Of California; bat I
" must confess that there i perfect looseness Ia
the lures which they hold out Is Atlantic shippers,
and a. aysfeous tieh;ness r. the purchasing pro-
Psntines which they dsg.sy towards the goods
winch sontnsuie % form TIE glui II the Pacific
market i e suggested BY somf shippers who have
susertd from forced sales II sal Franeisco ina,
there are conmisss'n merchants ia nat territory.
who have very agreeable ard pfohtaSle under.
standing With those who purchase largely at suc.
dion, and otherwise, sad that the shipper i asualy
made the victim q such sdfoit psactice Th.ssioo
severe, really. We are letb to believe thai any
Parties IN that county can ts guilty y any mer