The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-05-11
ON THE OCEAN WAVE.
San Francisco to Panama.-Steam-
ship Georgia.--Southern Cal
ifOrnia and Mexico.

just as the clock struck twelve the gong sound
: ed for those on bQsrd not going to be getting
ashore. In moment all was confusion; hasty
= farewells, sweet good bycs and loving adios's
c were exchanged by dear ones that may never
meet again. The fast escaping steam, the rat.
Ting Of chains and running up and down the
deck Of men, the casting off and Stacking up OF
lines and all such necessaries for departure, ere.
ate a scene that is bcwdering to the rustic, but
amusing to the "bach. of many voyages" Amid
such scene and such excitement, at few min
utes past twelve O'Clock on Friday, April 9Th,
1873,
THE STEAMER GEORGIA,
of the Pacific mail, was loOscd from her moor
iags and was soon steaxing down the beautiful
bay, through the Golden Gate and out into the
blue waters Of the proud Pacific. The day was
all that could be wished for--bvlsht, clear and
balmy; while the seemingly good humor and jol.
ly appearance of the passengers inspired all with
the belief that n pleasant time was before them,
and the long voyage of over 5000 miles would
pass quickly and pleasantly. The first few days
passed quietly, The weather was little hazy
and somewhat inclined to be unpleasant. The
passengers had not become acquainted with each
other-that is, they had not learned each others
business from whence they came and whittier
bound, and all those little prcliminarics which
seem necessary APPENDICES to a good pair OF
sea legs. The good ship Georgia was no plungcr,
diver or roller, but one Of those gems Of crafts
that pillow along steady and gracefully, without
going through the motion of happening shark
with her jib-boom or rolling passengers out Of
bed. The usual amuscments had not been intro.
duced; there were no tricks attempted and pas.
scngers passed and re-passcd each other on the
quarter deck with the GOODNESS Of cucumbcrs.
We had mcnageric on board consisting of a
huge grizzly bear cows, sheep, chickens and
other rare objects, which afforded the lovers Of
natural history grand opportunity for study,
In this way time rolled on and days passed dull
enough. Contrary to our hopes and expecta-
tions, there was not that mngling and sOcabiity
among the passengers which is necessary to in
sure good time. There is always some fool in
pettcoats or pantaloons that is sure to spoil the
pleasure and harmony of everybody. They seem
to have no regard for the feelings aud comfort Of
others If they can succeed in making themselves
the observed Of all observers ! regret to say
that We had few Of that class of people with us,
whose sole aim seemed to be to make themselves
as obnoxious as possible to those who had litfl"
common sclisr respect Tor themselves, which
they had not.
CAFE ST. LUCAS,
the most extreme south point. Of Southern Cali
fornia This seems to be dreary, Godforsakcn
T spot--a high, barren mountain range, with not a
blade Of grass, verdure or the faintcst spcck OF
civilization. Along the shore and close down to
the waters edge yellow sand, with bold promon-
tory rocks are seen, while high up the mountain
range and along their rugged peaks large guam
titles of alkali and sagc-b brush are visible, rcscm
bling more the appearance of snow-clad peaks
than that of a tropical mountain range.
OF Southern California there is perhaps, less
known than Of regions more remote; and yet
from what can be learned, it is of far more i'm
portance and value, and must in time become one
of our great states of the Pacific coast. Southern
or Baja California is Immediately south of The
state of California, aud divided from ii only by
the boundary line, which was run in accordance
with the treaty of Gaudaloupc llidalgo, a terrific
rial possession of Mexico, from which it was sep
aratcd by the Gulf Of California for its entire dis
lance. II extends from Cape st. Lucas, in lati
tudc - degrees north, to latitude y degrees y
minutes north, or nine degrees - minutes, equa
to 5G2 miles in length, with an average breadth
, of So mile" From the era of Mexican ndcpcnd
:, cnce to the present date its political history ha
been even little more irregular and unsatistac
tory than that OF the supreme government; an'
" so long as it continues to bc Mexican posses
o sion it will remain an unproductivc mine of grca
natural weath-a country of unsurpassed posi-
!. bnitics, without industrial development On tn
y Pacific as well as along the Gulf of California
the peninsula is indcntcd with naturally fine har
d bors, and some of them very superior, aud other
II capable Of being rendered all that could rcasoua
II bly, be needed ut comparatively small cost. The
}. interior is literally without inhabitants, there he
Ii ing no settlement further than fifty miles fron
the coast In mineral wealth it is cXtrcmc
', rich although its capacities in this respect hay
u scarcely been more tlal commenced to be asccr
:, tanned. At present its chief industry and mail
>, dependence is in its mines, of which there ar
e quite Il number in active operation and yielding
., big, the ores seldom aSSayng less than two o
h three hundred dollars TO the ton, and sometime
e mounting up into the thousands. Magnifcen
bonanzas of almost pure silver have OCCASIONAL
E., rewarded the miner in this district, and prospect
:, of again coming upon them grow brighter rs ih
10 depth increases. The copper mining Interest
At are of prominent Importance, and from all IT
ports have been doing well during the past FEY
Il. years The best SO far discovered are at Mutcjt
!. where a Tine harbor is to bc found. This place
5. situated in the Gulf of California
az CARMEN ISLAND,
at in the Gulf has long been celebrated for it, cno
nc nous deposits OF rock salt, large quantities {
which find their way Ia san Francisco, and AZ
used in the cod and salmon fisheries, as well d
for the preservation of meats. A. Nentana Ba
there are extensive salt lagoons, which are sal
to be vary profitable.
Few people have any idea Of the quantity
crude, unrefined sugar, called panoche 10y III
Mcxicans, that is manufactured in the Valleys
= Of aft