The Nevada journal., 1852-07-24
Correspondence Of the Journal.
Nission Of Santa Cruz,
.Jufv 18th. 1852.

your TtaueTS, away up tncIc, SeNtTul
thousand feet above our heads, and all
involved in the multifarious phases Of
gold-fnding, or rather gold seeking,
will take much interest in anything
pertaining 10 our little corner Of the
"Great State" where the only shadow
Of golden hue is to be found in the
color Of the ripening grain. But l am
inclined to believe that after all, when
you learn that there Is bond between
us, of which perhaps, you have not
thought, in the shape Of the delectable
early "murphies," and odoriferous 'in.
gems" which appear on your mountain
tables, you will not refuse to listen a
blief while with attentive ear, to a
voice from the farm-region, where
sturdy arms are toiling that the gold
hunter may be fed.
As you know, l had promised "lang
sync," that n stray leaf from my note
book, should occasionally find its way
to your columns--but one thing and
another, and a multiplicity of occupa-
tions, have thus far prevented me.
And now, am reminded Of my post.
poned correspondence, by seeing a
quantity Of produce shipped direc,
from here to the "mountain city"
We are just commencing to reap the
reward of our summers toll in this
section; the waving barley is fast be-
ing laid low. Two Of the patent reap
ers, which comparatively a short while
since, SO astonished the farmers Of
England, are now in full operation
here--some trifle of 5000 or 1000
miles distant from that scene of their
triumph. Quite quantity Of early
potatoes have been dug and shipped,
and few onions.
In regard to the last two articles, we
don't "cave" TO any region, in our
State, and when the whole crop is off
and sold, the statistics Of this years
production will astonish "all creation"
You must know that this Mission
is stationed right at the shore Of the
Bay of Monterey, some 90 miles 5. of
San Francisco. There is a large
quantity of fine land in its vicinity.
land capable of yielding 800 arrobas
(25 lbs. each) of potatoes. The po-
tatoc land. however. comprises but n
small part Of the whole. On the plain
bordering tire Bay are thousands Of
acres capable Of raising the finest grain
which have never yet been turned
with plow.
There were q number Of settlers
from the trans montane states here
in '46, and ever since that time, and
especially during the last three years,
there has been a steady increase OF
agriculturalists. Now there are some
hundreds of permanent American set
tiers with their families, or intending
to have them with them soon. The
state of society is fast becoming SINH
lar to that of the other parts of our Re
public. We have permanent religious
bodies, good s. hools, and Division OF
the Sons of Temperance, numbering
some 100 members.
Farmers are fast surrounding their
homes with the necessary improve
ments and accessions for u comforta'
BILE residence. They consider this
country as their home, and they are
endeayoring to make it pleasant
home.
This county bids fair to become a
wealthy and Aourishing region. II
the land monopoly can only be b' oxen
up, whether by the failure Of the hol.
ders Of large Mexican grants to sub
stantiate their claim, or by the subai.
vision and sale of these tracts Of land
there is no question that very few
years will witness here a community
Of comfortable, independent agricultu'
ralists in the possession of all the
amenities and social comforts Of life.
1
said there was no gold here.
was wrong; at certain ravine but
few miles from the Mission, it has been
found, in small quantities. Not sufii
ciently abundant, however, to tempt
the tillers of the soil to leave Their
search for that treasure which lie;
within foot of the surface.
But although it seems like living in
a land far distant from the rugged
tern-up region of hidden gold, yet We
are much interested in every thing re-
garding that region. In the first place
many and most Of US have "tried oul
hand" there, once upon a time, our
selves; and the recollections of thai
exciting, eventful past, which rushes
by US like mingled dream, are still