Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-03
Confined from nrst page.l
snrrve OF RIVERS IN CALIFORNIA

hlnR up with the debris or tsilings produced by
hydraulic mining. Rich agricultural lands al
90 being subjected to an irrepsrsble injury owing
to the detection of rivers from their natural chan
nels in consequence of the raising of their beds,
and, ~ the result thousands and tens of thous-
snds Of acres of the most fertile lands in the State
are being ruined BY the deposit Of silt. | have
spent considerable line on the Feather river and
have noticed that the rise 10 its bed is verv great
in some places there being some thirty or forty
feet OF tsiings. The bed of the Yuba river at
Roses bar has arisen $50 feet, and, at Marysvle,
on the same river, the bed has arisen % feet Old
Caiifornisns in Augusta, will remember when
steamboats, used to run from Msrysvile up the
Feather to Oroville; now If would be a difficult
matter TO get scow mp, unless there ex-
traordinary rise of water, and nav gston has been
abandoned entirely. The bed of the Feather has
been elevated to such an altitude that its
mouth is beyond the influence of the tide from
the bays below. The Sacramento river at Sacra-
mento, in consequence of the tides, formerly had
rise and fall OF several feet but now il is beyond
the reach of any tidal influence. The bed has
arisen four feet. There are fears expressed by
some that, at the rate the Sacramento river is fill
ing up, notwithstanding the levees and dams at
Sacramento, that city may be swept away by an
overflow OF water at no distant day, and its sur
rounding country over vast area devastated, I'M
less the skill of engineering is brought into use to
avert such calamity.
SAN Francisco POLICE.
The police Of this city is composed of stawart
class of men, but they not as efficient and re La
BILE Is they should be. Under the present policy
system there are fragrant abuses, such as would not
be tolerated one moment with us at the East The
special police force is a curse, as it has been re-
peatedly shown that such officers are nearly all
the pimps and creatures of law breakers 1t is well
known that members of the regular force receive
handsome compensation from the keepers of
houses Of prostitution and gambling dens to
screen and protect them in their nfracions of the
law. The social evil which prevails to such an
extent, seems to be under their special guardian.
ship. I hear il stated that over Sl3 900 a month
s paid to policemen and other city officials to wink
ct gambling and other crimes in Chinatown alone.
In politics the police are great power, and no
other class of men more active than they in
promoting the interests of Office seekers or Office
holders. In consequence Of the nefficiency of
gard for Law or order. Rniiians have it all their
own way. Street robberies frequent, and
crimes Of the most stfocious character are com
United, even in the very glare of the MONDAY sun
In short, life and property are insecure, and the
city u disgrsced by its police force.
CuRIosITIEs OF CRIMINALS.
Visitors to this city particularly struck with
the innumerable cnriosities in the property clerks
office of the police department. All the weapons
found IN the possession OF thieves and cutlhroats
who are captured, or which they have used in he
perpetration of their crimes are found on exhibit
ton. The number of pistols is very large, en-
brscing all kinds from the small pocket Derrinyer
to the large navy revolver. There are hundreds
Of these shooters which the desperate and hardened
have used In taking the lives of their victims
Some OF them are rusty and battered, while Others
look Is bright as The day when they were made
The display of knives is almos, endless. and
they range from the common pocket UP to the
ugly looking sheath knife and dirk Thi, kind of
cutlery has done more or less mischief in the
hands Of sangninsry ruffans. and not a lew OF
these knives bear rusty blood stains of their VIC
Tins. One that was used 10 scalping man weighs
nearly i've pounds. The weapons taken from
Chinese criminals embrace long knives, hatchets,
IRON osrs ana other singular but dangerous look
ing instruments Tor killing man. One can hard
~ look 81 them without experiencing a cold chill
Counterfeters dies and bur lars tools are largely
represented. Bogus gold and silver bars used by
sWindiers meet your gaze, and you almost believe
them to be genuine at the first blush, so clever "a
the Imitation. Bottles containing poison and
chiosedssm which have played their part. in tray
edies In real life are numerous. Articles of level
ry, silver ware watches and other yalusbles take,
from thieves and barglars are to be seen. many of
which are elegant and expensive. Some of these
sf"oies oeiong to thieves and are kept for them
ourinR tnen Incarceration in prison; but the
sreseer portion are spoils which the rigbtful own.
era have never come forward and claimed. Thar
are piles Of old clothes, bed clothing, boots and
snoes, and innumerab.e other article, To he sson
winch nave been stolen. A large number of n
kinds OF canes which have been used in assarl,.
are dispayed. In short, every species of prom.
eHy recovered, aud the implements of ,b;eves
burglars, murderers and all other criminals 40.
tured are to be seen. All are caref.llv ,rasauup,
and Marked.
CALIFORNIA; WHEAT CROP.
Inc chief agricultural productions of this State
are wheat and barley. The annual yaIue of the
wheat crop exceeds that of the product of gold
Ihe climate is exceedingly favorable for its pro.
dnction' Inc cultivation of wheat on the Pacific
coast since Its commencement has been wonder.
iai AT the present time there are nearly .OOO.-
wv acres IN the State given up to wheat culture.
Inc wheai farms are generally of enormous pro-
portions. have often wished that some of our
Maine farmers could see them. One wheat grow
er alone, cultivates nearly 10000 acres. Mschip.
cry is employed to SOW, cut and thresh the grain.
1t Is all bagged 10 the field, aud generally shipped
rs soon as 1t is harvested, to this city. Nearly
the whole Of the entire crop goes to Europe.
Barley stands as the next leading cereal for which
the Eastern and Eug:h demand is large and in
creasing. The cultivation of oats corn and rye
is small, but, am told, is increasing yearly.
The harvesting season is now over. and the
yieh efgrain crops has been largely in excess of
last years products. The movement of the new
wheat crop FOR foreign market commenced sew
efai weeks ago. The present month will probably