The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-14

dropped
The French brig ofwar Raeur went to sea on the 18th
inst, after visit to this harbor Of nearly month.
She proceeds to Tahiti Another French vessel frgae,
is expected to arrive at any moment is the opinion OF
well informed persons that are to be visited by
small English squadron in a few weeks
SEIZURE OF DLAMoNDs-A SLIGHT MISTAKE.
by the last steamer from Panama man named Sole
came passenger He had with him large quantity OF
diamonds, &c, which were seized contraband by the
Custom House officers after investigation, it was found
that mistake made. city paper says;-Ihe party
against whom this groundess charge was made is Mr.
Leopold See, lately in business in New York CITY, and
agent for the house Of Faek No II rue LATTE Paris
When the seizure made, Mr. s. stated that the dia
monds not subject to duty but his statement was
not credited. Mr. Collector Rankin, however, made
caused the goods seized to be returned, at the
same time taking tho prccauton to receive
from Mr.. seile written disclaimer OF hs
ntenon to- hold the government for damages In conse-
quence Of the faur pas committed The seizure was
wholly illegal and unauthorized and the person or persons
connected herewith showed great ignorance Of their du
ties. So positive they that good haul had been
made, that on Monday last grea spread was set out
Misrepresentation Also is be laid at their door for
they magnhed the small value Of the seizure-about
81 900 ALTO $40 COO. Mr.. Sele states that Mr.. Ran
kin behaved very gentemany to him which no doubt he
did and charges all the troubles which beset him to pri
vate malice. Mr. S. Is unmarried the statements made
by the Custom House officials in reference to the wife, who
said to have made successful landing with petit
coat Cali over" diamond pins, was wholly imaginary.
The French merchants Of this city complain that the
officers in the Appraisers Department retain an I'M
necessary amount Of goods from the that go TO
the Custom House. In instances they have shown
that oneeah Of the amount OF goods has been extracted
and kept by subordinates The Collector promises TO
check the abuse.
Trm LINE POINT TRACT
twill be remembered that about three years since
Congress passed act authorizing the purchase Of tract
OF land the entrance the harbor Of San Francisco
for the erection Of fort and appropriated 5000 900 for
the purpose. The late Senator Broderck was mainly in
strumena in defeating the purchase the property
fact not worth thing like the sum then proposed TO
be paid for IT, He declared that its value was not beyond
IS 000 The United States government Is most anxious
obtain the tract for the purpose OF defence and In
futherance Of its views Legislature passed IN act
empowering agents proceed and have It condemned
good deal of litigation has grown out of the matter
which finally settled by Supreme Court in favor
of the government Recently the matter was tried before
jury who assessed the value at 1926 000 which is con-
sdered most exravagant valuation The land ID barren
and Of scarcely Of whatever except for military
occupation The owners, however, intend To appeal.
What thought of the matter may DO learned from the
following parapraph:-
Messrs. Lewis Matthewson, Beikerstad Miller and Capt
AcPherson u A. concurred In estimating the value or
the 900 acres being under $40 900; whc Mcssrs
Teschmacher ayor of San Francisco Snton Urea! estate
autoneer) Vassau Glib and Feck estimated il being
worth from $3.50 900 to $500 600 Mfr. Sinon said, Gin
my Judgment the water Is elegant from end to the
other mean the depth throughout the frontage, &c he
does not tell Of the beauty Of tho land its splendid per-
pendcuar cliffs Of rock from 100 to 200 feet high that
extend along tho line Of tho shore nearly tho whole dis
possible to rescue hcr from the heavy swells that
base Of these ors with strength that bids defiance
to the power Of man. Mr.. Glib valued IL as worth
900 $50 COO for agricultural purposes but thought
II worth additio 5000 900 for commercial pur
posesa fine place for docks wharves and warehouses,
truly. San Francisco might grow until its population
counted by millions, and limo Point unless used by
government, would stand rs now bleak, wave beaten
rock, unappropriated except for pasturng goats and
cattle.
The track consists Of $3.50 acres From the evidence
Of William j. Lewis, a surveyor and civil engineer, we
learn that the tract selected by the United States
vernment, under the direction Of Capt Glmer In Horse
shoe Cove there about forty Of fine arabic land
the sides Of the hills afford good grazing about onethrd
twothirds arc fit for grazing There is no timber Mr.
Lewis values the land capable Of cultivation at $50 pei
| acre, and the balance at 50.
| PROGRESS OF THE PACIFIC TELEGRAPH.
from the Alta California, July 2O.l
On Wednesday last tho State Telegraph Company des
patched Of their best operators Mr. John Yonz &c
the end Of the telegraph line building east towards
Salt Lake to receive and transmit the pony from the
outer station The company have some fifty miles
of the line constructed east of Fort Churchill and have
nearly fifty wagons engaged in transporting poles and
wire out to and beyond the outer station which enables
them to push the work forward with great rapidity
Every week, from this time, will extend the wire and
shorten the time of the pony At tho Same moment, Mr.
James Street. the agent of the company at Salt Lake is
pushing forward this way, having two hundred
fifty miles of poles contracted for and which be
ing and hauled westward from Salt Lake. The wire
and nsuators for that end of the limo were purchased
the East and on the out to Salt Lake. to be
readiness when the poles are set up to put the line in
working order
In few days messages be sent to overtakc the
pony two days after it has left San Francisco,
ceVeu mere TWO before the arrival OIL tAe pony
m town. Each month day more will be gained, and II
accident happens TO the teams employed tho work
the first will not fall in the valleys before the west
half Of the overland line from San Francisco Salt
Lake will be in working order.
On the other side the Eastern company pushing
westward and by tho Is. Of August tho wire WILDE uT
TO ulesburg, which ia two hundred miles Of Fort
Kearny thus shortening the pony time day
that end They have also large number Of and
teams engaged in hauling out poles and WIRE and put
ting forth their best efforts TO complete their half quickly
as the western half Awork Of this magnitude in
wolves great expense together with than ordinary
amount OF labov and risk for should Indians drive Of
the stock while out on the mid pans almost irreparabie
delay would ensie Every precaution and il taken
to guard against accident of kind and should unforc
msorsane arise, the work Ill be above
stated. We should have mentioned that the operator
travels with the workmcn engaged east of Fort Churchill
and fast the line is put up he sets his Instrument
AZ the end and communicates with the chief Office
Francisco that almost every day he 10 farther off
shortening the time OF tho pony He will reach the
OF the wire in time TO telegraph the Of the pom,
! due on Tuesday next
THE STARS AND STRIPES ON THE NOUN
TAIN TOPS.
On Tuesday Of this week, says the AHd California
July 90 Messrs Peck Fowler Evey and other citizens
the upper part Of Napa Valley, raised and Ameri
eau flag on the summit Of Mount ST Helena, hcat
of the valley. Several ladies present havin.
climbed to the highest peak Of this grand old sentinel
which Is nearly 900 feet above the level the