The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-17
DEAR Sir:

We LETT San Francisco on the Zltn OF June, ana
after an exceedingly boisterous passage of ten
days, arrived at Trinidad. This anchorage Is,
during 81 K months Of the year, perfectly safe and
comfortable 1t is some twenty miles TO the north
ward of the entrance to Humboldt; and, the
wind was unfayorable for to go there at the
time, we employed ourselves during the detention
of two or three days in making a chart OF the bay
1t is sent with the others, and hope it will meet
with your appreciation. The mines in the vicinity
of Trinidad have made it quite an important loca-
ton; 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 viii
lage, and the land in the vicinity, for agricultural
purposes can hardly be surpassed The gigantic
red wood abounds there in all its magnfcence,
always afiording to the hardy settler the readiest
and most lasting material for neat and appropriate
buildings The fibre of this wood is straight
and 80 easily separated that it is split with com
parayely little trouble into all the different forms
required for an uppretendng dwelling in new
country. The depredations Of the Indians in that
quarter have been, am sorry TO say, aserious draw
back to their farming operations; so much 80, in
deed, that most of them have been compelled to
leave their all and go into the town for protection
On the 10Th July left Trinidad with fair
wind, and in few hours were at anchor in Hum
boldt Bay. We were employed about four weeks
in making the survey of that place. Finding il
much better in every respect than it had been re-
presented, gave it more care and made closer
examination than ordinary reconnaissance re-
quired.
This body of water partakes of the charac-
ter of lagoon than an ordinary bay. II is sixteen
miles long and from to five broad. II is broad
| eat at either extremity, where it is but great
| grassy fiat, washed with about one foot of water,
(whcn the tide is out,) and broken here and there
by navigable sluices. The entrance ID practical
ble except in very bad weather, when the sea
breaks entirely across it There is twenty-one
| feet the bar at low water, and the ordinary
strength of the tide, does not exceed two knots.
Under unfavorable circumstances, at low water,
and with very light breeze blowing directly in
the channel this schooner went TO without diff
fculty. The two walls necks OF
land, which so nearly shut out the sea, 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. 1t is the nearest point to
the entrance, and is therefore less liable to be OBJ
scured by fog; and with beacon farther back, the
two would form the best range to pass between the
north and south breakers-not that it should be
attempted al night unless under the most favorable
7 circumstances AS Humboldt is rather out of the
way of vessels passing up and down the coast,
have thought that light of the second or third
class would answer 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 billy, almost mountainous,
in the vicinity of Humboldt. The fir and the red
wood predominant in the forests, and am informed
that the land possesses every requisite for farming
purposes. The cattle luxuriate the year round in
green grass and the talest clover ever The
temperature, is very equable; they have slight
frost in tho fall, and the winter only differs from
the summer in being more pleasant. Elk and deer
are found in abundance, and many varieties of
wild fowl frequent the bay. There no less than
four villages or settlements the bay. Humboldt,
al the entrance, has thirteen houses; Eureka as
many. Bucksport is just taking start, and
its location is thought TO be superior to all the
others, from the fact that it has better water
and more room for commercial purposes. Union
town is the largest, having about one hundred
houses. 1t is located in the north end Of the
bay. Its proximity TO the mines is the only adj
vantage it has the others, while the diff
Guilty of transporting supplies from the depot at
Eureka seems to be almost an insurmountable OBJ
| lection to its ever becoming place of much inn
portance Every thing has to be carried in small
boats up a very narrow sluice, and that only at
high water, while the nearest point of water COM
munication lie mile from the town. A road can
be cut from either of the other towns TO communi-
cate with the one from Union to the mines, with
but little expense trouble.
am sir, very truly and respectfully, yours, Sc,
(Signed) JAMES ALDEN,
Lieut. Com. u S. N. and Asst Coast Survey
Prof. A. d. BAcHE,
Superintendent u s. Coast Survey.