Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-01-26
CALIFORNIA AND OREGON.

NAV refer to the case Of Shasta City. BY cer-
tain vague rumors, we had heard that destruc-
tive fire occurred there on the night OF the 27th
Nov, vet the communication has been so imper-
feet that it was not till last evening that an au-
thentic account of the disaster reached us.
BY an arrival from Honolulu, some two weeks
since, we received intelligence of the total loss
of the ships Superior and Huntress the loss OF
the American ship George, and French ship LII
ancourt, were reported short time previously,
while it is not more than four months since the
whale ship Huntress was wrecked on the coast
of Kamschatka. Now we have to add to this
list the further loss Of the whale ship Bramin,
and the serious damage of other vessels. Before
the close of the season we shall probably hear
of further disasters.
In 1850, there were eleven wrecks among the
whalers of the North Pacific, and from present
appearances, the losses will be quite as severe
this season. These disasters are mainly attrib-
utable to bad charts, and an imperfect knowledge
Of the hidden dangers which beset the Northern
seas. A proposition has been before Congress
to have a new survey of the waters most fire.
quented by our whaling fleets, and the accumu-
latng number of disasters call loudly for the hui
name consideration of our government.
MINING lTEMs.-We have heard of a number
of handsome specimens Of gold having been
found on the surface about Columbia, since the
heavy rains of last week. The largest piece
thus found weighed about four ounces.
The miners on the hill and in the gulch near
the graveyard are doing well.
There is a small gulch just above Columbia,
few hundred yards to the left of Lofings gar
den, where the miners are making more than
twenty dollars per day to the hand. Most Of
the claims on this gulch are paying splendidly.
The flats around with the exception of some
favorite claims, are not paying as was anticipat-
ed, on account of the difficulty of getting suf-
ficient fall of water across the level country to
wash the dirt. The gold, however, is in the flat,
and our enterprising miners will soon devise
plan to get it out. Many of the miners on
Shaw's flat, near Gray's store are doing WE'LL
Some of the claims pay to a considerable depth,
and are considered very valuable.
Flour is still selling in Columbia at $50 per
barrel.
The roads between Columbia and Stockton
are so bad that stages have been dispensed with
altogether. The express lines bring baggage
and passengers through on horseback.
Our dates from Oregon are to the 4th. Dec.
There was no news of Importance. The Legis-
lature was to meet December Is. December
9th was to be observed as thanksgiving day.
The immigrants, it is said are all, or nearly all,
at the Dalles, and have entered the valley. The
whole number who have entered Oregon the
present year, is placed at ten thousand. Those
who have come in this year, for the most part,
are men who have brought their families, and
intend to become permanent citizens. Their
ideas seem to be correctly formed, for the most
part, as to what course will ensure them success
and permanent happiness. Claims are sought
for, thousands of head of cattle and horses have
come through to stock them, and the hardy pi-
oneer of the west is searching out his location
in Oregon, in favored spots, where fancy and in
terest combined, may attract his attention.
In referring to the beneficial effects of this
large immigration, the Statesman has the follow
ing cheerful language:
The effect of the ingress Of so many thou
sands into Oregon, is visible everywhere, from
one end of the valley to the other, giving an air
of life and business to our city which we have
never before witnessed. We observe, too, the
effect the immigration has had upon the crusty
bachelors. The information that not less than
thousand unmarried ladies-all blooming (not
Bloomers)-have come to Oregon, has worked
like charm upon those crusty disciples of Zim-
mermann. Their faces look smiling; their ward
robe is now carefully looked after; and their
wrinkles and burrows are smoothed down to
bland faces. We are disposed to think, on the
whole, that if this state of improvement contin-
ues, Oregon will be blessed, after a while with
a society not second to that in the States-we
will continue to hope so, at any rate.
RAILROAD TO THE PAcTIc.-Mr. Gwin, Sem
ator from California, has introduced into the u
S. Senate bill for the construction of this road
His project differs from those of Mr. Whitney
and Mr.. Benton in several important particulars
He proposes to authorize the President to put
out the contract to the lowest bidders, and the
contractors are to be a perpetual corporation
There is to be compound system of roads, all
united in one across the Rocky Mountains
From the East one road commences in Louisiana
and runs through Texas; another through Ar
kansas to a point on Red River, near the South
west corner; third through Missouri and a
fourth through Iowa; all to meet on the Plains.
Beyond the mountains one road is to run thro'
Oregon to the most convenient seaport having
draft of water for the largest vessels; and the
other through California to San Francisco
Congress reserves the power to regulate fares
and freights, but not to make them lower than
the average of those of first-class roads in the
United States Every alternate section for a
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