The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-06-13
Rmirratiou to California.

The prospects of an overland emigration
to the sh ores Of the Pacific this Spring are
not so favorable as the friends Of California
desire, nor SO fair as the inducements held
out to emigrants in that region have war
ranted them so expecting. We do not learn
that any considerable body are gathering at
the points on the Missouri from which trains
usually start, and it is probable that less
than the number which crossed the Plains
last year will take their depai ture this sea-
son, though the facilities for safe and COM
Portable journey are better now than they
have ever been before. The Government
has at last turned its attention to the sub
ject of overland communication with our
Territories on the Pacific, and under the ap-
preparations made by the last Congress,
three surveying parties are now in readiness
to start out with escorts Of troops, to con-
struct the wagon roads from the Missouri
river, and the points designated in the South
and New Mexico. Other movements of
troops across the plains this season will aid
further to secure the emigyant routes against
the danger of Indian invasions, and enable
the trains to pass with safety and despatch.
The decline of the emigrating interest to-
ward both Oregon and California, is doubt
less owing to the unsurpassing attractions oil
Kansas at this time; and perhaps to the still
insuperable objection Of Observation-Disclosures
as measured by weary miles and leagues; for
in point of space, the New England emigrant
traverses the entire length OF the journey.
from Kansas to California, in going to the
former territory. And then, no DOUBT, the
advantages Of California to the class that are
seeking their homes in Kansas, are too rare
y or imperfectly understood among them.
1t is the prevalent opinion that land is diff
cult to be obtained in California, or that
where purchased, there are perilous uncer-
tainties Of title.
1t appears, however. that there never was
a tin in that State when land was so abun-
dant in the market, or could be had for such
reasonable prices. Most of the holders of
Spanish grants are being forced to sell by
accommodating taxes and some OF the most
fertile tracts In tue State. on which the I'll
ties have been confirmed, are offered it is
said, at prces even lower than the prairie
lands of our Western States. Besides, the
Government land is just now coming into
market. The q. S. surveyor reports twenty
millions of acres ready for sale. The whole
amount of public land in the State is reported
to be nearly one hundred milliuns tf acres
The entire amount of land under cultivation
in California, or enclosed for agricultural pur-
poses, is little over six hundred thousand
acres only.
Still another cause of the decrease of en-
igration to the Golden Stat is, that the ex-
haustless wealth imputed to her, is said to
be giving out. If this were even so, there
would yet remain-in the astonishing fer
tlity of her soil. the luxuriance Of her eli
mate, and those other resources for which
she is famous. but which lie untouched under
the superior fascin atoms Of her gold-the
most substantial elements of prosperity
The accounts Of the productions Of the soil.
both in variety and growth, seem almost as
fabulous as the early stories of the mines.
But it does not appear to be true that her
gold product is dimlnishing-the alleged
grounds for presuming so being the dmin
shed exports, wien it Is well known that
during the years with which the present is
compared, California sent abroad to buy the
flour, barley, and even potatoes, lumber,
bricks, &C.. which ale now raised and man
ufactured at home. This cry of the failure
of tue gold mines seems to have originated
III some DI the New lpTk papers, diu Tue
persistency with which it is continued from
time to time, leaves room for suspicion that
it is only meant to serve stock. jobbing pur-
poses, some important movements in Cali
fornia bonds having come It. light recently.
California is greatly in want ofpopulation.
Late accounts represent every species of
trade and pursuit as lan4uishing for the
want of hands to labor and months to fill
A magnificent future ia opening to her in the
operations Of the great nation Of Europe on
the shores of Asia, at Suez, and In The Pacif-
ic dominions of the Gar. 1t is time our ia
ton responded with her Pacific Railroad
To fix basis for the sure and speedy con-
summation of this work, it seems necessary
that we should settle the fortunes Of Ca!iior
MIA and her sister Territories on a foundation
more solid even than her gold mines. and
open her lands to tillage and settlement, pre-
cisely as orr Western States were o,erad
We shall hal! the announcement Of her pub
lie lands being ready for sale, as l'arbingeI
OF new and better era for California.