The true Democrat., 1854-08-02
News from California, Oregon and
 Washington Territories.

News from California, Oregon and
 Washington Territories
 The U S. mail steamship United States Capt. Schneck, arrived at New Orleans on the 2Oth July.
 The following is a summary of news:
 The city of San Francisco is rapidly pro- gressing, and can at the present moment boast of as fine and as substantial buildings as any city in the East, New York not excepted. Not- withstanding the depression of the times a large number of beautiful new structures have been erected, and many more are contemplated. The probability of the adoption by the city council of the modified grades, has given fresh impetus to building operations, and the progress oi the city during the next six months will, in all probability, exceed that of any previous years. Most of our readers at the East are aware that the city of San Francisco is built upon very uneven surface. The Hoadlev Grades, or the official grades of the city up to the present time, were nothing more than arbi- trary arrangements, by which all the hills were to be cut down, and the whole city reduced as far as it was possible to dead level. The heavy expense entailed on the property owners by the excavations which were commenced in accordance with this plan, and besides there being no inducement to build substantial struc- lures, as in many parts of the city, the esta- blished grade could not be reached for years retarded improvement, and kept hundreds of mechanics and laborers out of emplovment.- The merit of the new, or as they are termed the remodlhed grades, consists in the fact that the grade of the streets, as far as possible, are left as they are, and no excavations are to be made but those which are absolutely necessary
 The news from the mining regions has been tor the most part of very favorable character, and without descending into particulars, we feel Justlhed In saying that miners generally are dong as we'll as they did in any of the pre- vlous years New discoveries were constantly announced, but at the same time, it must be borne In mind that nothing but the "big strikes'' are heralded forth by the press of the interior, and that we have no means of ascertaining the dlsappolntments and failures which necessarily must take place. There was decrease of something like half million in the last ship ment of specie from this port, but this must not be taken as an evidence of the poverty of our mines by our Eastern neighbors but rather o1 our growing prosperity as State. The time has gone by when it was necessary to send away the entire yield of our mines to pay for articles shipped atthe East for our consum ption here. We have raised during the last year a large proportion of our own breadstuffs, and it Is calculated that more wheat has been grown the present year than we can consume in eigh- teen months. As our internal resources increase our dependence on the East is lessened, and the specie which by this means is retained in the country Is so much clear profit
 From the South we have news of the arrival oc o1 ( n
 The party left San Antonio on the 1st of Janu- ary, and examined the whole route in the vii cinity of the 32d parallel The whole route was deemed practicable for railroad and some fine country met with, although deserts were encountered. The most favorable advices have also been received from the Tejoin, and Lieu tenant Beale's policy towards the Indians has been attended with the greatest success.
 The U. 5. revenue cutter w. l.. Marcy, ar rived on the 25th of une from Guaymas, which place she left on the Sd. She brought up 33 passengers-the same who went down from here in the Petrita-were made prisoners and treated with such cruelty by the Mexicans.- Six of them were taken from the British sloop- of-war Dido; the rest were released, on com pulsion, by the Mexican authorities at Mazat- Ian. The French expedition, which left here on the Challenge, numbering about 45O men, had been regularly enrolled in the Mexican service. We learn, however, that they are on- ly awaiting the arrival of Count Racusset Boulbon, to rise against the authorities and re- volutionze the State of Sonora. He left here about the first of June, in a small boat, for Guaymas which place he has probably reach ed by this time. We may therefore anticipate some stirring news from that quarter.
 Wm. B. Sheppard, convicted of the murder of Henry c. Day, has been sentenced to be hung on the 26th of July. James Macfarlane Foley, who killed J. H. Dunn, editor of the Police Gazette, pleaded "guilty of manslaugh- ter" and was sentenced to three years mpri- sonment.
 By late arrival from Australia, we learn that considerable apprehension is felt through out the Colonies, In consequence of their eX- posed state in case of attack from Russian fleet. The harbor defences are considered no protection at all, and prompt measures are to be taken for their future security.
 By an arrival from Salt Lake, we learn that the Mormons have taken extraordinary mea- sures for the dissemination of the gospel of Joe Smith. The city wall is progressing rapidly, and the greatest prosperity is enjoyed in the settlement.
 In the early part of last week Capt Alex. Matthews, of the British ship Lord Dufferan was killed by the carpenter, nameI John Me- Gowan, some quarrel having arisen between them, in consequence of the latter having gone ashore without leave.
 From letter addressed to gentleman in this city, dated Fort Yuma, June 16, we extract the following items of interest:
 "The prospects of freshet sufficiently large to inundate the banks and bottom lands of the Colorado, are just now but slim The river is not rising rapidly. It comes up for day or two, and then down it goes again. It is now about three feet lower than usual in this month, and two feet lower than when I arrived here. It usually attains it's greatest height from the 1st to the 10th of July. If it does not over- flow this season, and l am afraid it will not, it will be hard for all living on the river and the overland emigration by the Southern route, which is larger, understand, this year.
 The bed of New river, which is crossed by the immigration on their road from this place to San Diego, is now dry. It is dependant on the freshet in the Colorado for its supply of water. After the freshet has subsded species of grass snrnps up on the banks of New river which