The Placer herald., 1862-02-08
SACRAMENTO CORRESPONDING
SACRAMENTO. Feb. 7.


Editors Heyald:-It seems quite odd to address
you in new and brighter introductory-plea
ant weather being the theme instead OF ''fOOds"
'hOods." | can obtain the best of evidence, if
my veracty is questioned, to the fact that up to
this date. we have had several pleasant days-say
three or four-and Tor which ure most truly
grateful. We have thought that the wrath of
Heaven was truly upon u.s. but during the past
two or three duys we have peaked from about the
corners OF our hiding places. and dared to hope
there might be slight mistake about it, and that
we were to have Il few more years of grace.
BUSINESS SLIGHTLY IMPROVING
Notwithstanding we know our destiny (another
overtow) in case of heavy Storm business is
daily improving. There is IN increased amount
Of goods going into the country. The steamers
Sam Soue and Gov. Dana. plying daily between
us aud 'Mtchville" (head of navigation) carry
increased freight bills. Blythe by, the Califor-
MIA Steam Navigation Company is making very
good thing on this short route, the tariff being
SlOper ton. If the business should continue
any length Of time, the Company under these
freight charges. will lie able to make good spec
ulation over and above the loss incident to run
ming the Gem" through the crevasse. Our mer-
chants think this u heavy tariff-but l suppose
they are easily appeased when they reflect that the
burden of expense has to be footed by the con-
sumcrs in the mines. The Company can hardly
be expected to run their steamers on this dan
gerons route without extra prices. The naviga:
tlon Of the American is not only very difficult.
but extremely hazardous. and it would not be
surprising if the Company lost or greatly dam
aged other steamers before the route is abandoned
The bridging of the slough ut the head of street
together with the natural Improvement of the
roads outside the city leading to it, will however
soon do away with the Steamer business on the
American provided always. the weather is pro-
ptious.
WHAT Is TO BE DONE.
This is the Queston-"to be or not to be-:
| wp thp oit tbn al of
Land District No. 2? Shall these levees be what
levces ought to be, or shall they be what they
have been? Between the removal Of the Capitol
and the removal of the evees by the floods, the
citizens (those who own real estae) are perfectly
conouuded. They have means sufficient to build
proper levees but they differ as to the locality
and rs to how the money shall be raised for such
object. Some think we should pen in the city
from a line of | street on the North, Fourteenth
street on the East. and leet on the South.
Others that the levee on the North should extend
East five or six miles, or until it reaches high
| ground. This difference grows out of a conflict
between city and cOunty-cOrner lots and ranch
es; and where such multiplicity of opinion ex-
lists. there will be found the confcton of person
al interest. Surveyor Leet is engag ged at present
in making an official survey of Swamp Land
District No 2, in which he will embrace the City.
| His report, when made. may have q tendency to
unite and mlngle the tund-already existing for
levee purposes. as well rs to bring all parties to-
/
Fund and the Citizens Fund would make an ac- |
gregate of about 81 900. The work is a great |
one. and it is bound 10 tax all the means and tai
ents OF this community to perfectit.
PLENTY OF WORK FOR LABoRERs
| The building of our levees the coming Summer |
is destined to give steady employment to a |
large number of laborers. we'll as mechanics. |
| The work must be erected in few months after |
commencement. and it cannot be completed in |
season without afOrdng work for thousands |
The levee will necessarily be divided in small |
sections. thus also giving chance for contractors
If not so divided and given out in one great mo-
nopozng contract, it will follow as a conse- |
qucnce that it must be sub-contracted. In either
event thousands Of men will find employment in |
Sacramento next summer. SO you Placer men
can prepare your teams, picks and spades, and
come down and stay with us whenever the season
shall open. The work will be DONE if every citi-
zen has to be ''dratted'' to accomplish it. Every
man. woman and child here feels now that levee
must be erected. Every interest hangs upon it,
Heretofore we have felt secure from fools not
because we had levecs TO protect us. but because
we had no floods. The tlfng emblnkmcnts here
toiore surrounding us have been only Of use in
one sense we supposed they would protect the
city. But tie dream has passed away. They
We're only playthings for the waters to lift and
| scatter about
WAR on THE RAILROAD.
Our famous Board of Supervisors have ordered
that suit shall be Immediately commenced
against the Sacramento Valley Railroad. 1t
seems that the company by the repairing of the
R street levec have thus brought upon it the
wrath OF the Supervisors. Whether this suit is
commenced or not. it all amounts to nothing.
The Company had rights before the floods, and
they can repair the road and hold them in spite
of our Supervisors.
HARD on THE LANDLORDS.
The unexpected removal Of the Capitol has had
most ruinous effect upon the financial prospects
Of our Mine Hosts" Several changes have al
ready occurred in consequence. Hardenbcrgh
goes out of the 'St. George" and Patten d Tubbs
leave the Golden Eagle" and the old proprietor,
d. b. Callahan assumes control In some of the
smaller houses gentlemen have also been found
not liable to keep hotel" Query. Have not
all these late propretors good cause of action
for damages against the members of the Lsgis.
lature? | think so, but then they would probably |
be beaten in the execution.
GOOD OUT OF TINE.
Our merchants and traders are all being COM
PEELED by late Ordinance to take in their signs
swing signs. (No reference to those who swing
red nosc.) The change will add very much to
our prospect at the next flooding of the city
which the Supervisors must have had in view
when this Ordinance was passed. In ordinary
times, the order would have been we'll received
but at the close of an overflow, and when another
may be anticipated, hardly think the passage
and enforcement proper
PROVISIONS HIGH.
There has been considerable panic gotten up
since the floods in the price of several of the main
articles of consumpton-the two most prominent
being -four and potatoes. As regards the former
the advance price is considered entirely specula-
tive-but potatoes are scarce. Flour sells here
for Sc per 100 lbs, and potatoes So so and 81 90
per 100 lbs Pinkeys. for seed sell as high as
So per hundred. Merchants here express u belief
that -four will fall back to Sc and 81. IT is de-
sirable that prices should correspond more with
the times.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY