The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-23
Decrease of Population i'm California
From the Nevada Daily Standard.

From the Nevada Daily Standard.
The vote at the recent election shows
that California is being rapidly depleted of
her population. There is but little doubt
that the vote was full one, as it followed
an exciting campaign, in which both par
ties exerted themselves to their utmost to
bring out their party strength. The cities
and towns throughout the State, with the
exception of San Francisco, show the effects
of the depletion. They are barren, dull
and declining. Business houses may be
seen on every hand with closed doors
Property has declined at fearful rate, and
may be bought almost for song. The
causes of this depletion a, numerous. The
most powerful one is the discovery of rich
and extensive mines of silver and gold out
side Of the limits of the State. There has
for the past two years been perfect exo-
dus to Nevada Territory from all parts of
California. Probably not less than thirty
thousand people are now residents of this
territory, who came here from California
The discovery of rich mines in Idaho Ter
rtory has attracted thousands to that To-
cality. The Colorado mines, now coming
into n,toriety, are taking off hundreds, and
will, in all probability, carry away thou
sands another year. In addition to this,
many have gone to Mexico, and engaged
in mining there. Several thousand soldiers
have also been taken. from the State
Taking all together, it probably would not
be extravagant to say that the last two
years does not fall short of fifty thousand
souls 1t is true that there has been a con-
tinuOus stream of emigration to that State
from the East; but the amount of immi-
grafton is probably not one-third as much
rs the emigration. Hence the decline of
the cities and towns, and the dullness
which is apparent throughout the
State. The only hope we see for re-
turn of the prosperity which marked
the career of that ate is in the copper
mines which are being vigorously pros
pected throughout its length. If they
prove rich and extensive, they will attract
large population, and will give employ
,ne:.t to thousands of laboring men. This,
in turn, will give fresh impetus to trade.
and sustain the cities and villages. The
Placer mines, which were such q sudden
source of wealth few years ago, are ex-
hausted; and now gold mining is confined
almost entirely to quartz and hy-
draulicking, both of which require cap
itall, and are, therefore, confined to rnonied
men and companies. These ere not
extensive enough to employ SO large s
population as the Placer diggings formerly
did. This exhaustion of surface diggings
created surplus of population, which has
been taken away by new discoveries else
where. AS much as California has suffered
in this respect, the drain will continue for
years to come. Nevada Territory is but
yet very partially prospectsd. Her rich
fields must :ttract many more thousands
of the enterprising; and they will come
principally from California The same
may be said with reference to Arizona.
But Providence has wisely created a
dependence Of the surrounding country ON
the fertile lands of California They must
feed the miners and in this way there is
a partial recompense for the losses sus-
tained. Not many years will elapse before
there will be necessity for the cultivation
of every foot of arabic land in the great
valleys lying between her mountains. The
tule lands, if they can be reclaimed, will
be made to yield to the plowshare.