Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-11-20
SUMMARY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS.
From the San Francisco PicaYune. Oct. IA

FROM The San FRANCISCO Plcayune, Oct. IA
The last fortnight has been unusually barren fexci
ting news; and il California continues in the common
place way she has done for the last month as is gene
rally believed, we ear that the lovers OF the marvel
lous and the startling on the Atlantic side, will begin
TO think that we have our wild oats and are now
settled down into SOBER staid manhood vastly wiser
and better from our late juvenile escapades The
deeds OF high emprlse which in days OF yore used to
the columns OF our steamer papers, redounding
the glory shadowing forth the misiortunes of our
city, have entirely ceased; and the only extra animation
we have evnced OF e, apart from that usually con-
sequent on our every day energy and enterprise,
but reflection OF the excitement occasoued in other
parts Of the Union by the reports oil the unfortunate
petition to Cuba. Great haus, beautiful specimens,
new and extensive dggings and quartz discoveries
together with wharf and city Improvements, massive
IRE proof buildings OF brick, iron and stone, a0d in
creased facilities for ocomotion by land and water
now absorb public attention, to the exclusion of dread
lul coniiagrations, daring robberies, and summary
hangings. The Vigilance Committee is no longer
needed; and as consequence of this state of things,
business is resumng its wonled activity, and the busy
hum OF industry is heard in every city and village on
the banks OF every river, along the slope of every
mountain and IN the depths OF every gulch and valley
The Southern Convention for the division of the
State is TO be held on the 20th inst. Those favorable
to the project have at length united on Santa Barbara
as the place where the delegates to assemble
San Diego Los Angeles San Luis Obispo Monterey
Santa Cruz San Joaquin and other counties, have
elected their delegates. Several addr, -es have been
published in support OF the movement The prime ipa
grounds upon which its orgnatots rely stated in the
following extract from the address OF the Monterey
delegates TO their constituents
The products OF the mines and pacers of California,
for three years, are estimated by as high $50
millions odoars 1t would be curious subject of in
quiry to know how much the diggers OF this vast
amount OF money have put into the treasury OF the
State, and what proportion the States burhens these
fortunate men have borne. If they should say as has
been the argument OF many that they are living and
working government land, which the State has no
right to tax, the same principle would apply to
ton of country, titles to land are unacknow-
edged by the United States and by parity of reason
ing we ought also to be exempt from State taxation.
But while the actual miners have not paid more than
an one-hundreth part of ttxes, they willing, and
their representatives have been most desrous in effect
II not IN words, to throw the great burhen of respon
sbily on the shoulders of their poor neghbors, the
grazers, merchants and landholders. They had the
power, and they u, d it oppressively.
Some idea of The traffic between San Francisco
and the southern mines may be formed from the tact
that there are at this moment ten steamers plying be-
tween San Francisco and Stockton There are ten
also plying between San Francisco and Sacramento
The latter are for the most part of larger size than
those on the San Joaquin river and make the trip of
about one hundred and twenty miles ia from seven to
eight hours. In the elegance OF their accommoda-
tons, and the l1xures of their harder, they might
compare favoraby with any passenger vessels in the
world. There are ten other steamers plying from
Sacramento to different places above that city. One
year ago there was but one steamboat in Oregon, the
Columbla-now there are eleven steamboats, of dit
teTent kinds running the Columbia and Willamette
rivers; not including the Pacific steamers Sea Gull
and Columbia, running between Oregon and Califor-
MIA.
Stockton, in the early part of this month, became
the scene OF outfagPs OF similar character to those
which, some time since, disgraced San Francisco -
On the 30 INST, three men were shot in the vicinity
OF Stockton; on Saturday evening an attempt was
made to shoot two others, without provoca ton; on
the same night, d Mexican was most inhumanIv
butchered in house the outskirts of the city; and
on Sunday morning, an attempt made to shoot
gentleman, for no reason thathe could imagine. This
Is most unprecedented state of things in that city,
and has excited considerable sensation in that com
munIty.
The steamer Miner, loaded with hay, was complete
~ destroyed by tire last week, while entering the Su
ism bay, from the Slough Just below New York A
spark from the smoke-stack lit upon the hay, and, in
moment, the whole was enveoped in flames. One
man was burned to death, and another dangerously
burned The boat was a total loss.
The Mormons have at length Ia zen possession OF the
rancho OF San Bernardno, near Los Angee7 for which
they paid one hundred and two thousand dollars
Twenty-Five thousand dollars was paid down. and the
remainder is to be paid in two equal annual payments
1t is said to be their intention to build great city
there and railroad to Salt Lake is confidently spoken
o. Il is also said that the heads of the church in De-
seret have gwen directions to the Mormons in Europe
that all the emigration to this country must in futu.
come by the way OF the lsthmus OF Panama to San
Dago.
The population ofSan Bernari limo is to be Increased
by hve thousand within the next six months. 1t con
tal1s within It's boundaries more Than eighty thou
s9nd acres OF excellent land great part OF which can
De irrigated ne oantd anna river runs through It,
furnishing large; and unalling supply OF pure water
ald having excellent mill Seats he mountains near
are covered with pines sufficient to supply with lum~
Der all Southern California for years The improve
ments 10 be Immediately made will be of great bene-
TIT to Los Ange les county The settlement commands
the Calon Pass, and will protect the valley from fur
thef Indian lncursons. Touring mill and several
saw mills will be erected there during the rainy sea-
SON The tract OF land included within the Limits of
San bernardno embraces about sixteen lea gues-
Inc Mormon emigration from Liverpool, it is said,
amounts TO thirteen thousand. Salt Lake City, the
head quarters OF the Motmons, contains a population
OF 5000, and the other settlements in the territory
about as many more.
Judge Murray, late Judge of the Superior Court
has been appointed by the Governor Associate Judge
OF the Supreme Court IN place of Judge Bennett, re
signed.
Intelligence has been received from Hong Kong,
to the I'd of August, by the ship Heber rs DAYS from
Whampoa. Steps are being taken to induce the Chi
nese to run an electric telegraph on the coast The
rebel forces have had several skirmishes with the i'm.
perlal troeps and have been rather successful.
An attempt Is again being made to establish steam
communication between the Sandwich Islands and
San Francisco and the first steamer is expected to be
placed upon the route in about month
The weather, throughout Oregon and Upper and
Lower California Is delightful The northwest wind
has completely died away, and nature never wore a
more smiling aspect under an Italian sky.
The agricultural, mining mechanical and CONNER
cla interests are in the full tide Of prosperous career
Mechanics readily obtain steady employment, at So
per day, and common laborors SIS; and. from the
large number OF buildings In progress it is prob able
they will be all engaged for the next SIX months.
ONO