The weekly Columbian. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne Co., Cal.) 1856-1???, 1856-12-27
Columbia at Home and Abroad.


to be laboring under an unpleasant reverse of
fortune of late, aud has fallen upon decidedly
evil days.
ave never saw such dull times as at present
exist in Columbia says the Gazette Even the
fall and winter of '52 were active business sea-
sons in comparison with the present"
The Tribune uses this extract as a text, justify
ing differences which it drawsof the horrible
condition of affairs in Columbia, and also quotes
from q correspondence in one of the San Fran
cisco papers, which, abiding to the double
tragedy of murder and suicide which transpired
in Columbia on the 18th ult., says :: that the
state of society there. as indicated by gambling
saloons, with their Accomplishments of female
monte-dealers, rowdyism, intoxicatiOn, &C., is
at this present time worse than even during the
days of Isl and 49,"
Now while we have much to regret in conse-
quence of the pressure of the hard times"
which certainly does set like an incubus on the
slumbering energies of our town and vicinity,
yet, we opine that in none of these particulars
are we worse off than our neighbors! The diff
ference is simply this; we of Columbia are I'M
used to such misfortunes, and are now frank in
expressing them we know the disease and
have the cure already in our possession We are
not so poor that we cannot get plenty of the
substantial to eat-build fire-proOf brick build
ings and expend hundreds of thousands of the
genuine coin, in building Canals and bitches.
and in making extensive preparation for all
time to come.
We know that we shall not again suffer as we
now do for want of &c water" Two of the lar
gest and most magnificent bitches in the State,
throughout the dry season of another year like
the :. River of Life" will spread their waters
around US in thousand ripping streamlets
giving animation and activity to the industry
of our numerous miners. This year we have
not been the recipients of these faEors. and we
suffer; not in consequence Of the poverty of
our mines. every one acquainted. knows they
are rich but because we have lacked the means
the arater, with which to work them. We suf-
fer, because in consequence of confident eX-
pectaton of early rains, and the large and GER
tain product of gold dust merchants and ira
ders have adopted credit system. which upon
delay of time, proves disastrous to the business
of the place. We do not wish it understood,
however that Columbia is bankrupt. If by
another year there is a town or city in the noun
tains in California or the Government, that can
be fonnd in more fourishing Or prospecting
condition than Columbia, we shall only then be
willing to acknowledge what we now believe
impossible. The press of Columbia, unlike
many other papers Of the day, is frank enough
to confess its misfortunes but when the jour-
nails of other localities sympathise with us.
many Of which will never again put forth the
leaves of their prosperity with the opening
rains, ue think it high time to repel the SANDER
of their sickly commisseration and to all our
troubles cry out as did Christian to Apollyon,
" Rejoice not over me, mine enemy! for
though fall shall arise again ~
Concerning the morals of Columbia, we have
but little of which to boast; but we never
the-less call to mind the fact that our town was
the pioneer of the recent steps taken by the la
dies Of the different localities throughout the
State, in securing better observance of the
Sabbath We have Churches also, that are well
attended, and if there are three or four gam
bling saloons in this place, fact to be regret
ted, we would inform the Editors of the Tribune
that their loss is not always our gain, as
two of the above mentioned saloons are kept by
men who were formerly residents Of San Jose
Between the city of San Jose and Columbia, we
have every reason to believe that the utmost
cordiality and friendship exists. ewould not
advise the citizens Of that beautiful city and
lovely valley to leave the homes for which ma
ture has been 80 lavish in its adornments, but
we do heartily persist in the assertion, and de-
fy contradiction, that the laborer in leaving
San Jose, cannot find a better place than Co.
lumbia soon acin be, this side of heaven.