The Shasta courier., 1855-09-01
A. ]. STEVENSON g. co.
THE SHASTA COURIER

An ENGLISH EDITORS OPINION OF CALIFoR
NiA.-The following extract from late num-
ber of the London Family Herald is in
answer to correspondent who asks for can
did comparison between Australia and Caliior-
MIA theatres for iiie isnprov emeni of the hI-
man race. To the taany supercilious and jeal-
Gus expressions Of opiaiaa enanating from the
British press, ibis is refreshing exception. aud
we give il place ia oar columns as a truthful
exposition ct The cause of California unparallel
ed prosperity compared with the stagnalion
and want OF enterprise aasong our trans-Pucifc
neglbers:
:" Few people take up book upon California
without sssucaiing Australia aud its gold fields
with ise subject; but, beyond certain similar
geographical strata, there is little similarity be-
tween The countries aud iiie.r productions, and
Infinitely less between their respective pol,ula-
tons. Australia, eAccping slIe settled districts.
is one vast Unimproved extent of gun-tree and
granite. shepherds aud sheep; bat California is
of the finest countries on The surface of the
glO5e--a healthy Ciimate. Il nsagniticentiy pic
turesque scenery splendid rivers productive
soil, and population The most energetic and
progressive that the world has ever seen; and
never was this energy more remarkably display-
Several times destroyed more or less by fire. il
has risen after each destruction greater and
more magnificent Than ever; and Row after
about SIX years growth. city siaifds. with
every comfort and convenience. bridges roads.
aqueuuc,s. churches. schools. theatres. clubs,
and las., not leas., dense population and an
enor!iious trade.
Ia another point ais, is Australia in the back
ground. In science, in simple mechanical
tua al, aa1 E.,li
are far beyond the Australian gold-,liggers. la
California every foot of soil is worked by large
bodies OF miners combining together and work
ing up an immense space OF ground. and ,lIis
system Of combination is the real secret why
Calf rna. poorer gold field than Ausiralia, is
yet able to extract twenty millions sterling a
year. employing some hundred and forty thou
sand diggeIs al kisier average ihar, our colony
can show forii hundred thousand This sys-
tenn I combination is carried into every branch
connected with gold digging in California If,
for instance. water fails at any digging a com
pany form instantly among the miners 10 bring
water from the nearest source to supply the
body al lhed 2gers at so much dav To ench
races are cut, sluces made. and turned into
aqueductS over the valleys. and water is brought
in this way for miles across hill and dale to sup
ply the digging. sao saaa
Bnt in Australia every man digs for himself
in hole twelve feet square, and if such want
asthe ahove is experienced, John Bui! piles up
his washing snff. sqnas upon his hams. smokes
his pipe and waits upon Providence aud The
rainy scnson-for combination has never yet
succee led among the English diggers. Not ten
Engli>hmen will work together for a week
without iialt and fall out, while fifty Ameri-
cans will work for months, all independent, yet
all pay ng strict submission to the rules for the
attainment of the common end; aud this is the
reason why in California mountains tun-
neled rivers are turned, aqueducis built, roads
made, quartz veins worked, and saw mills and
steam ioundrcs erected on the spot; and the
want ot Tins principle why such things have moi
been done iii Australia We have had plenty
of gold from Australia. it is true, but we shall
have much more as soon some system of COM
bination su?ersedes the system OF individual
digging.