The republic., 1851-04-10

with loss 70 ksr ownsrp = IN (o4 m, ana tho
Hartford injured 70 the e1iSa( II 4o j6o0. Ihers
were Two men burned u dcaAh q ~ santa c)nva,
and her fret clerk was badly iuiSsd n ~ eHbrts
to save the boats papers. This mssning . fire
broke out in Bush street in an unoccupied house,
the work of an incendiary Of course. and consumed
property valued ct $4,000 before It was mr.
rested.
Ihave seen quite number of former residents
OF Washington here, among them John Edwards.
John Thaw, and Messrs. Bryant and Richie.
They, with the rest of your boys, all well, and
either doing or likely to do wcll because they arc
all prudent and industrious The papers which l
send you with this will give you the items Of news
Of any interest.
Summary or News.
From the San francisco Staadavd. March s.
The mines hold, az usual, the hrst place in our
summary of California news since the last mail
The weather has continued, A. heretofore, re-
markably fno, and in numerous places In the dry
diggngs the miners, after waiting in vain for the
expected rains with which TO wash tho earth, have
at last set to work TO supply the deficiency by art
fetal means. This has especially been the case in
conduits made, and mountains tunnelled where
necessary, to divert the water from its natural
channels. In ono instance canal has been con-
structed nine miles in LENGTH part which is tun-
nelled through mountain and there are numer-
Gus similar works Of smaller dimensions.
Wherever the miners have been successful in
bringing water to their diggings, they have rca-
sed from sns, ~ss:hisgs There was
the early part of the season, owing to the fine wea
ther, which enabled the miners to work more con-
stantly. There 10 no doubt that had the country
produce Of gold dust would have been larger than
in the previous winters. But great numbers of the
miners finding that the rain did not come, and that
the rivers and streams were unusually low, have
ing the bars in the streams, whore they generally
realize good wages; and. in some eases, very large
returns.
These heaps of dirt which have been abandoned
by the miners will remain until the summer,
when the Mexican and Chilian miners will proba-
bly, dry wash Gas il is called) much of it, by rub
bing tho earth in their hands, and then blowing
away the dust, leaving the gold behind. At the
ingly low. so that they can be worked 70 greater
advantage than ever before, and will probably
yield more largely. Thus the prospect is good for
large yield Of gold from both these sources
New diggings have also been discovered on
Scott's and Klamath river, both of which are near
the northern boundary of the State. and there the
mines are reported 70 yield abundantly. the gold
Quartz rock mining and crushing BY machinery
il being prosecuted with great vigor. New dis
coveries Of the gold bearing quartz have been made
in various locations, the rock containing largo
proportion Of gold, and being easily crushed. Nu-
merous orders have been given for crushing ma.
chimes. and in the coming season the yield from
this source ia expected to be very large.
The following summary Of news 10 taken from
the Alto California Of March s:
No election has been had of United States Sem
ator. After one hundred and forty-two ballotings,
the joint convention adjourned till the first Of jan
uary next. So California will hAvc but one Sena-
tor in Congress next session until the next Legia-
lature shall have met and elected one. On the LIST
ballot the vote stood for Fremont 8, King Is,
Heydenfeldt ls. Geasy 4, Weller 4, Collier 7; ne
mont 13, King Is, Heydenfeldt l6, Geary {. On
the last ballot Fremont had 8, King 20, Weller l5.
Geary l..
ing. The great scarcity of water has been = sore
disappointment. Tho great rush for the last two
months has been for the Trinidad, klamath, and
Scott's rivers In Oregon the excitement is equal
ly great respecting the mines on and near those
Steam communication along our coast 10 ON the
increase. From the Columbia river to San Diego
the means of communication are quite plentiful.
We are hoping for steam communication with Chi
ma soon, and are looking with expectant attention
To the motions Of Congress in this respect.
The Pacific NesCs, Of March 4th, contains the val
edictory of Mr.. Winchester, ono Of its editors and
proprietors, who retres from the press, having sold
out his ntercst in the Nssps. The great fire Of Sep
tember last, and other adverse fortunes, appear to
have been the cause.
The steamship California left San Francisco with
large mail and full list Of passengers. There was
entered for transport about @700,00O in gold dust,
expected to sum up near q million. Adams & Co.
had about $4,000 900; Gregory, $65,OOO; and
Dodge x Co., $30,00
MINERs FaosEN TO DEArH-The Times states,
on tho authority of gentleman just from Red
ding's diggings. that large number Of miners
have perished in the snow upon the mountains in
that vicinity. Z heavy fall Of snow having covered
men and mules az they were crossing the noun
tains.
The miners are doing good business upon the
American river near Auburn.
There have been several small fires in San Fran
cisco, some Of them imputed to incendiaries.
Mr.. James Holmes. formerly of New York, COM
mitted suicide by shooting himself with pistol
had been for some time under pecuniary embar-
rassments He was highly esteemed by his friends.