The weekly Placer herald., 1853-01-29
The s.. F. Herald's Washinoton Co.,

The S. F. Herald's Washington cor.
respondent says: One of the great inca
sures to which the attention of CongresS
will be called this winter, is of special in
terest to your readers. refer to the lono-
talked of Pacific Railroad and the steam
line to China. There is a very general
sentiment in favor of these enterprises
although the details proposed have given
rise to embarrassing disagreements which
have prevented definite action heretorore
Conflicting private interests have also
tended to retard the grand results at which
they aimed. But plan is now mat,,rinr
which it is believed will combine the
friends of all the several measures. and
secure their passage during the present
session. The main features of the com
blhatiOn Is consolidation of the Asa
Whitney railroad scheme, together with
the other schemes of similar character
and the line of steamers between San
Francisco and Shanghae. This latter
measure has troop of friends, who will
never vote for the railroad except in con- =.
Junction with their own schemes. It is i,
f%aGd fwo: af afsfentla e therefore to combine the .
ful. Mr.. Gwin is now preparing Il prrr {
n carry out the plan. 1t proposes to run 5
the railroad through the Rocky Noun J.
t,ins at a point in 35 deg. 80 sec. north Il
latitude, through the new pass more re- f
reutlv discovered in that vicinity. Having i
nossed the mountains, it is proposed that i
the road shall divide,-one line running /
off to the northward for Upper Calfor- /
mia and Oregon, and the other to the
snuthward. The steamers for the China ,
line are to be of the first class, very large, f
constructed to he of large capacity for S
passengers and freight, with superior sail
lnr qualities. 1t seems hazardous to as t
sert that the measure will pass during I
this short session, yet | am glad to say
that have strong hopes of its success.
The Board appointed during the last
session of Congress, to examine into Ger
tain California claims, will probably make
a report tomorrow, relieving Colonel
Fremont, and providing for the payment
of his drafts upon the government which
were dishonored, because not provided c
for bv law. 1t will be remembered that
Col. Fremont was arrested IN London and \
held to bail for some Of these debts. | {
learn that the Colonel is in Paris, on pa 4
role of honor, and that he will not go be- {
yond reach of his bail. Of course the
settlement by Congress of the debts for Z
which he is now held personally respon-
sible, will relieve him from duress and
enable him to return to his country soon.
The Colonel has made a settlement with
MIR. Sargent, who bought his MarpOsa
estate from Colonel Benton, in behalf of {
his son-in-law. Sargent, you know, paid
down to Colonel Benton a large sum of
money, as the first instalment of the pnr-
chase money, but Colonel Fremont re-
fused to ratify the bargain. He settles
with Sargent by refunding the sum al
ready paid, together with his costs. Co.
onel Benton argues that Fremont is too
shrewd to have refused a mil ion unless
perfectly sure Of something better; and
therefore that he has some operation in
view by which his Mariposa claim will
bring him much more than the million
dollars offered by Sargent.
The nomination of Beverly G. Sanders.
rs Collector Of the Port of San Francis
CO, has not yet been sent to the Senate,
but it will he soon, and will be confirmed
unanimously. AS friend of Mr.. S.
am happy in being able to say that his APP
polntment gives universal satisfaction to
all parties. He is as unive sally popular
here with those who know hin,.as he is
in San Francisco. 1t is a pity that the
Administration just going out of power
was not wise enough to make more OF
such appointments. Had they done so,
their party undoubtedly would have stood
cn better footing on the Pacific.
DrgD.-At the Auburn house on Thurs