The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-01-04
From California.
MY ELRSr LETTBR.

Wherever man establishes himself the whole fac
of surrounding nature is destined to undergo
mighty change, even those extraordinary lOcalitie
which seem most calculated to withstand destructiy
innovation, are forced to succumb to the triumphan
march of progress and civilization the vallcySin Cal
iiornia are situated in the midst Of the mountains
and are enclosed by almost inaccessible hills is stn
king illustration Of the truth OF the foregoing remark
it is very short time since this wild region was Gov
cred with dense forests which formed an impenetra
BILE retreat for sayages and wild beasts But Inter
est, that potent motive power attracted man to thi
barren wilderness for it was discovered that withil
these threatning wds and dismal chasms, was con
tanned more precious metal than Silver, that o
Cold the discovery was the signal for the advance
of civilization and industry, at once fertilizing ant
creative, yet destructive, the remote and unknown
valleys were invaded by man and wondrous was the
speedy change wrought in its appearance, as sec
this day, whilst the miner penetrated the bowels ol
the earth without the sweet bright light Of heaven
gift womans smile, TO cheer his toll a change was
and is rapidly taking place in the valleys the forests
Of fir and pine are being cut down and they disap-
pear the virgin SOIL even where most sterile is taught
to bring forth food for the conqueror whose dwell
| ings aud manufactures and workshops are swelling
into villages and towns, aud the mct0morphoss is
being complete. Southeast, / aAbounded by the
majestic cone Of the coast range nearly ten thousand
feet above the ocean, east by SOUTH by the Sierra Ne
yada range, aud west by the flowning crests which
form the Spanish Peaks. But not on these Objects
or the beautiful valleys beneath or the rCsplcndent
picture Of the rosy tinted, snow-clad peaks around
as they appear in glory borrowed from the descend
ing orb Of day, do mans eyes long dwell. But up
on the passing events Of each successive day which
are in themselves calculated to call off the mind from
viewing that which is beautiful and sublime, the
haudiwork Of God. Travellers are very apt in their
description of countries, to give coloring which
proceeds oft times from the region Of the magma
ton, than that OF fact it is very natural that one
interested in country which he attempts to describe,
aud possessing taste for the beautiful, should tnge
with the colorng Of his fancy, that which he would
not have appear disugreeabe to his readers, but not
SO here for nothing but the eyes Of the reader to rest
upon the magnificent scenery around him, can con-
vey to the mind Of man, so impressive, the omnipo-
tcnce Of God California is one Of the very few
exceptions to the gencal rule that countries paicu
larly rich in agricultural aud mineral wealth, are us
ually unhealthy, while here there is ample evidence
that the climate is as saubrious as the mountain gor
gcs are rich in gold aud the soil Of the valleys agri
cultularly productive.
Iron ore Of good quality is being found in abun
dance; there has also been found quicksilver butow-
ing to the low price Of that article the mines will not
be worked until the people can live cheaper than at the
present time there has also been found coppc mines
which are very Iic stone coal has been discovered
in the table mountains the veins are 21a feet thick
md arc now being worked but this much desired ar.
tclo have good reason to believe will never be found
in sufficient quantities to supply the demands Of the
country but whilst there is an evident lack of stone
coal there is ample provision in TIMBER which will
last for ages, though aconyeyRnce of the same to ma.
Va }
lrC not SO many varieties Of timber in this country
Is there are in the States the principal timber is the
r, the cedar, spruce, ana yellow or sugar pine, live
,ak, cotton wood aud red wood here will statc as
correctly us can the enormous size and height Of the
ugar pine aud the rcd wood the largest pines are
10, Il aud IL feet in diameter, some Of the tallcst
lrc over 300 feet can you imagine the number Of
eet that that tree will turn out in clear lumber, if so
here is still larger tree the red wood that one tree
will turn out ono hundred thousand feet of clear {
umber; that one tree is sufficient in itself to build
wo houses each fifty feet square furnishing all the
quare timber, boards shingles, and everything else
oquislte for their entire completion. This would
rarcely be credited in theAtantic States. II is my
rm opinion that one hundred years hence, there will
e more miners in Calionia,L than there now or has
cen, at any previous time so cxtcnsvoare tho mines
nat such must necessarily be the case. But gold is
OF SO certain as the gospel for all who seek do not
nd. 4;
The whole history Of California has never been
riLten aud it may be reasonably asserted that it il
as the result would appear in the shape of mum.
'r Of astounding developments more striking to the
ord ut large and less agreeable to the actors con.
ined in them, than any of more extraordinary cir nj
lated incidents in her history since the memorable n
y when the annexation Of California to the United o
aCs was first made public on the plaza yea many III
individual, the odor of whose name N
$ pleasant smell in the nostrils of society and "
10 has carried away with him to the eastward some Ii
Ilon of The auTierous products of the soil aud be
ndle OF stories to the discredt of the Virgin State VI
ch he rctals with immense satisfaction to this ye II.
day Yould figure in different light from that in m
ich he himself figures, ii the true history of his wi
ceedmg during his temporary career on these shores raj
re made generally known. th
A few days ago, five men started from this place an
their way home, they were from China on their no
Y across the mountain they were met by two men fy
horses, when they had closely approached each eat
er, the hoDemen without moments warning Oh. vii
ID deadly fire upon the five men on foot killing bu
&c on the spot aud wounding the fourth one by wh
passing into the cheek and coming ont near the fro
ular vein of the neck The wounded and the fifth ma
'cted their escape the three killed were rcd of ha,
IT hard earnings one Of murdorelS was caught tho
other effected his escape all this was done in Lu,
N day when they knew that there were five horse. onc
but short distance behind them. do not der
Ntion this as being extraordinary Or unparalleled or
that yon may see in what bold manner crime him
erpct0lcd IN this country this butonc Of the mn. stot
crimes that are daily occurring Fran all ,,a,,. =