Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-07-04
$500 $50.

nor even how many they have received from the
General Government for carrying back and forth
the letters written by parties resident here and
on the Atlantic border, who were more cr loss
remotely interested in the welfare of the Pacific
coast Of the Union. 1t is enough to know that
that the sums paid out for passage money count
by tens Of millions. and that the residents of Cal
iiornia are taxed two hundred per cent more on
their letters than those residing in any State from
Maine to Texas--a blessing which owe in a
great measure TO the Company named above
With the past we care not to deal, bat with the
present we have few words to say, and to them
we call the earnest and immediate attention Of
every person who feels the slightest interest in
the future welfare and prosperity OF our State.
AS a heading for this short article we have
placed the figures representing the rates charged
for passage to this country from New York by
the Mail Company at the present time, and we
ask our readers, not merely in this city but
throughout the counlry-merchants. traders
miners farmers-to say what they think OF them.
The price demanded for bringing person out in
the first cabin is $500 ; in the sacond cabin $3.50
in the steerage $3.50. with the chances decidedly
greater for still further advance than for any
reduction. We ask. what do they think Of them?
For our own part we think them exorbitant-
We look upon them an advantage taken of
whole people, 10y Company who have been
brought into existence and fostered into activity
by most generous public. and who now
taking advantage Of peculiar state Of affairs to
fill their own pockets at the expense of those who
have made them what they are. We think the
present rates charged violence done the people
of this State, and disgrace to the directors who
impose them.
For years past we have been endeavoring to
develop the resources of the Pacific slope of the
continent, and more particularly of California,
by inducing stream Of immigration towards our
borders We have formed societies. called public
meetings, constituted committees and gone
through all the formulas even to subscribing
liberal sums OF money, which ought to have been
successful in inducing persons to visit our shores
and settle in our fertile valleys, and work our
inexhaustble fields of gold. We have written,
one and another and talked and worked. and
still we have not with all our advantages added
TO our population in a ratio corresponding TO the
Oldest aud most worn out city Of the East. And
why? Because, simply, despite the advantages
offered TO parties abroad to immigrate to Califor-
MIA, the expenses Of getting here have been so
heavy that the journey was put out Of the power
of the very classes who were desirous to take up
their abode among US, and whose presence was
not only most desired but was absolutely neccs-
sary to the advancement if not the existence Of
the State.
We do not so much feel disposed to quarrel
with the Mail Company regarding their cabin
fare Of $500 as we do for their rate Of steerage
passage at $3.50. We can very well get along
without the $500 assengers-merchauts clerks,
professional men, &c.-but we do want the farm
hands, the mechanics, the general laborers, the
servant girls, who have to come in the second
cabin aud steerage, and who are prevented from
immigrating now by the rate demanded for pas
sage. Take the case Of a simple field hand who
is able to save by extraordinary eXertion SIS per
month in the Eastern States. To enable him to
come TO California be must have at least Sl7j-
say $50 for passage money. 10 for incidental
expenses. baggage charges Isthmus money. &c.
and SIS wherewith to arrive here so as not to be
thrown absolutely destitute on our shores To
obtain this sum he must work twenty two months
or nearly ttc0 entire gears, saving every cent
meantime! What encouragement does this pre-
sent to him, when for S35 or $40 he can ifnni-
CRATE to Iowa. Minnesota Nebraska or Kansas {?
None whatever; and the consequence is that
while every steamer brings accounts Of a cease
less tide pouring into the States and Terrific
ries of the West we in California are merely
holding our own, or at best adding but a few
hundred monthly to our population. Were the
option given to every able bodied emigrant in
the United States to go to Kansas FOR $50 or to
California for So, we believe thirds at least
of all would choose California-and the Same
with the other new States and Territories but
the present rates demanded for reaching the Pa
cfc put the Journey completely out of the reach
OF the general laborng population. We may rs
tablish as many lmmi grant Ala Associations as
we like we may eXpatiate to the fullest extent
upon the value of our gold deposits and the pro
ductiveness of our soil 3fhe beauty of our coun
NY ana lne SaluDlity OT our climate may all be
dlated upon, but as long as those Ominous fg-
--$3OO-& $3.50 $3.50 stare us in the
face, we need expect no extended immigration
TO California. We have insaaccd merely the
case OF the field laborer, but the general appica-
tion pertains 10 all classes the miner who wishes
to send for his wife and children, and who will
not have them in the steorage and the enter
prislng clerk, whose pride will not suffer him to
emigrate except as first class passenger. This
rule inexorable as it is, applies to all alike
We might suggest remedies for this state Of
affairs, and might offer advice to the mail Com
pany regarding their present conduct were it
likely that the one would produce any combined
action, the other meet with the least attention.
We have not we confess. the sii ghtest confidence
that either result would b. produced, but we
nevertheless feel it duty to call public atten-
tion to the subject, and for the rest the public
must act for themselves There has been talk of
the establishment Of new steamship line but
the directors, as far as we can Judge have proved
themselves incompetent to take advantage of the
present state of affairs We look to the building
Of the wagon roads across the continent as the
main source Of relief from the $50 nightmare
which is crushing us We know the men who are
engaged on some Of these, and have confidence
in them to do their work properly. Immigrant
Aid Societies may after that accomplish some
good.-Saa Francisco Prices Current.