New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-09-15
THE sEAPoRTs OF CALIFORNIA.

Correspondence OF The N. Y. Tribune.
SAN FRANCISCO, Tuesday, Aug. |, 1854.
This State has coast of nearly one thousand
miles in extent. Its general character is noun
famous, though it has many good harbors and road
steads. That the reader may gather a more spe-
cifc idea of the coast than he could probably from
the Gazetteers, will give a brief description of
all the maritime towns in the State, together with
the principal places in the interior. | shall not
pretend to entire accuracy in every particular
but the information | think will be generally cor
rect
SAN DIEGO, the most southern town in the
State, lies in latitude so 4V, and at the western
point of the boundary line between the United
States and Mexico. The harbOr is not large, but
it is secure, and has plenty of water. The place
has population of about two thousand, with a
large extent of country in the interior which must
eventually be populated In case an inter oceanic
railway should be constructed through Texas its
natural terminus would be at San Diego. 1t is
also said to be the best point to terminate great
road from Utah. These, and some other adyan-
tages, may render il an important place at some
future period
SAN PEDRO lies in latitude 33o AS. This is the
port for the Los Angeles country one OF the most
fertile and beautiful sections in the world. The
harbor ia open to the south winds, the anchorage
is fair but all goods have TO be carried 10 the shore
in lighters. The harbOr might be improved but
with some expense. The town is small.
SANTA BARBARA is in latitude $40 81 Its har-
Dor is similar to that OF San Pedro The town was
first settled in l7sO, and has now population OF
about one thousand.
SAN LUIS OBIsPo is in latitude 30 10y. It's pop
ulsiiOn is all.
SAN SIMEON ia in latitude $50 81 and is sim
liar to Obispo.
MONTEREY is in latitude $50 50. The harbor is
open TO north winds, but il is protected from tne
south The water is deep and anchorage go0d'
The trade of the Salinas Valley VIII be az inns
point. This place was formerly the caPital OF the
State. II now has about two thousand Inhabitants.
SasTA CRU is in latitude 3D. open harbOr,
and poor anchorage. II ga trading point Tor sew
eral small and fertile valleys.
HALF Moon BAY near Santa Cruz is small
harbOr protected by reef
SAW FRAyCIsco harbor is in lat. 80 A.. The
entrance from the ocean to the city is through q
strait called the Golden Gate, with high hills Oh
each side This strait ia about five miles in length,
and twice the width Of the Hudson River at New
York. connecting the waters of the ocean with
those of the bay, on which the City Of San Fran
cisco lies. The bay is large, and the hsrbOr Sc
cure, and accessible to vessels drawing thirty feet
Of water II is the natural market for the State
all the great rivers in the interior emptying
their waters into the bay, and unquestiOni
ably one OF the finest ports in the world. The
place where the city now stands, was first called
Yerba Buena Cove, and there was village here
which consisted Of few abode houses called
Yerbs Buens until March 1S47. 1t w,s in July,
1s46, that the Americans first took possession Of
California. San Francisco was first incorporated
as city in April, 1e50. Its present population is
estimated at from fifty 10 sixty thousand.
SIR FRANCIS BRAKES Bay, in latitude 3S', Is
small, and at present unimportant:
BoDEGA AND ToMALEs are in latitude 3c' 10.
These places are on opposite sides Of an inlet,
three miles from each other. Bodega Is the more
frequented in summer; Tomales in winter.
HUMBOLDT BAY ID iQlatitVde 40 so, has . Lar.