The republic., 1851-01-24
CALIFORNIA NEWS.
Summary Of Two Wssks' News.
E~<-. sl. p..;H. N.... T<~ IA


SILvER.-Since the last steamer sailed from our
shores for the Atlantic coast nothing OF especial
interest has occurred to attract partc ular atten
ton, either at home or abroad. The near approach
of the time for the assembling of the State Legisa
ture, occasions some little speculation to what
that body will do towards relieving the State from
the financial einbarrassments which weigh heavily
upon her, and which might have been removed by
prompt and decisive action on the part of the Exc
cutive III calling an extra session of the Legisla-
ture, and negotiating loan. Such action is now,
OF course, out Of the question The time has passed.
and IT only remains TO be seen what the approach
ing session will accomplish in the premises What
they would like 10 do, and what they do,
quite two different things. Their power to legs-
late, with the view of improving financial con-
dition IN way In which it would have been most
successful is limited by the constitution, and they
can only pass such acts, 10 meet the emergency, as
circumscribed powers will permit.
One important matter which will come before the
Legislature is the election of United States Sena
tor, to fill the vacancy which will occur by the ex
piration Of Mr.. FIemonts term Of Office on the 4th
of March next. number Of candidates al
ready in the ficld-gentlcmen well qualified for 80
distinguished position, and who will do honor to
the State and to the Senate. The assembling of the
Legislature alone can determine its political
plexion, and Of course the party affnities OF the
United States Senator.
San Francisco is steadily progressing In every
branch of local improvement-the most important
apd attractive OF which 10 the grading, planking,
and ering of the streets Our city now presents
a greater extent Of planked streets probably than
any other city in the Union, If not in the world
Since these improvements commenced, over 10, 900
feet, or above seven and half miles Of street. have
been graded; 1880 feet have been planked; and
over 5000 feet Of grading, and 900 feet of plank
ing, are now under contract, and will shortly be
completed. All this has been accomplished in the
moet substantial manner; and even though the
heavensshoudo open their floodgates and drench the
earth with rain, our city streets will yet remain
comparatively dry and comfortable The Califor-
Man of last winter would hardly recognise the city
in its new garb
The miners are still hard at work, and their la
bors are yielding fair return. Thousands are
winteriDg in the mines, preparatory to commenc-
ing operations early in the spring, and improving
the opportunity afforded by the temporary cessa
tion Of the rains to work sufficiently to pay ex.
penses That the diggings are still rich If not in
cxhaustble, ia evident by the large amounts of
treasure which go forward to the Atlantic States
by every steamer, especially the first of every
month, when commercial men usually make their
heaviest remittances.
In addition to our gold placers, California is
likely to prove rich in siirer We haze heretofore
had occasion to notice the disc0rery Of tDo three
rery uncomfortable mines. Another has been dis.
cOUered JeiD leagues from MOntereu, tphich pro-
misses to be exceedingly rich. Portions of the
Ca nave been taken ou. and ossayed; and worked up
for the purpose Of N9rking the mine upon an ex.
that it will prove good investment
The commercial news from this section ia not
important. No material changes have taken place
in prices of merchandise. A fair supply Of almost
every article is in market, and the constant ship
ments which are being made from the Old and the
New World, give us reason to anticipate that the.
supply will continue adequate to the increasing
wants of the country.
A strong tide of emigration is now settling to-
wards the Atlantic States. Hundreds who came
early to California, and we're numbered amongst
those individuals so often referred to "the Oldest
inhahiMnt," are returning to the scene of their
early associations, their families and friends. We
tfo Il
nerating reward for the> iabors, and whatever
privations they may have encountered, nearly
all with the most favorable Impressions of our
But while hundreds are returning home, not q few
of those who have spent year in California, and
waited the States for season, making their ap-
pearance amongst US upon the arrival of every
steamer They come back satisfied that California
is the most glorious place under the sun for the
transaction OF q remunerating business.
We are rejoiced to be able to assure friends
in the Atlantic States that the fatal scourge which
made such havoc amongst our citizens has finally
disappeared. The lastreport Of tn city sexton ex-
hibited but one death, and no; cases 1t has
spent its malgnancy at Sa~ ITO also, and its
footsteps are no longer marked ID the social bu
siness circle This will be cheering to the thousands
at home who have friends in California.
The acknowledged hcalthiness of the climate Of
California the fertility Of her scil, evidenced in
her valley lands the past year, invite and warrant
the emigration of families for permanent resi-
dence, leaving out of view entirely the abundance
OF her mineral resources. No other country in the
world offers such encouraging prospects for farni
lies, and glad to that this fact is bccom-
ing understood and appreciated in the older States
From the Sacramento Transcript.
INTELLIGENcE FROM THE MINss-GoLD AT RAss
VALLEY.-We have already alluded to the exten-
sive diggings found in the vicinity of Nevada and
Grass Valley, where the gold is scattered promis
cuously through the earth, as well as found in
leads along the channels Of ravines. BY recent in
formation. we learn that discoveries have been
made at Grass Valley Of an immense vein of
quartz, which bears gold go strongly that good
wages have been made by men with common
hammer, who broke up the rock and picked out the
gold in Jumps, varying in value from bit to one
dollar. The quortz bears gold sor strongly that
many miners have deserted old claims and located
new ones on this vein We have several spe-
cimens at the Missouri hotel, which are quite rich,
though we are assured they are rather poor speci-
mems Of the vein. Not having any means of tcst-
ing their value we are unable TO give the per
cent; but should think The specimens exhibited to
about four times as rich as quartz which is
worked in the North Carolina mines, and
sidered rich. The whole vein is already staked off
In claims OF not over ten feet square, and many
calculating on making their ''piles" out Of these
claims in the course of the winter. a. +.
From the Stockton Journal, Nop. 80.
The BURNs QUARTz REeIoN,-A few days since
we had the pleasure of conversation with Dr.
veitch, gentleman engaged in mining at of
the new quartz discoveries, near Burns's diggings.
AT. v. not only confirms previous reports In re-
gard TO the discoveries in that region, but an
nounces new, and, if possible, richer deposits of
gold in quartz. On an accurately-drawn MAP of
the basin formed by the hills near Burns's, DR.. V.
pointed out to the site of fifteen discoveries of
distinct veins. II is his opinion that, when min
ing fairly commences upon these deposits, noun
tain town will grow up in the valley and he
states that the finest water in the mountains flows
through this basin. Wood is also abundant. Be-
sides the rich deposits in the rock usually s the
case in the neighborhood of rich quartz, the placer
diggings are highly productive II is thought that
ten thousand men can mine prohtably for half
century in and about Burns's. Thesc-are gratify-
ing facts, attested to by of ackn ,wledged in
telhgencc. Who, then, shall hereafter be believed
when they announce the failure of the gold mines
From the San Francisco Balance, Dec. IS.
MINES AND MINERs.-At no period since the fl irst
lump OF gold was picked up in the of Suttcr's
saw-mill, at Cooma, have the mines been worked
with SO much energy and industry as at present
what are termed the "dry diggins'' are now
ceiving the whole attention OF the miners, the
cent rains having enabled them to ind sufficient
water to wash the large quantity of earth thrown