Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-02-13


The HERALD is the official paper Of tho city
atIos Angeles. The city delinquent tax lists
and all other municipal notices appear oniy
In It's columns
ar, d. N. Rowe is the Santa Ana agent Of
the HERALD.
A Timely Retrospect.
One Of the consequences OF our
war with Mexico was the acquisition
of Alta-California and the immediate
extension Of our territory for more
than a thousand miles along the
shores OF the Pacific Ocean. Under
ordinary circumstances the acquisi-
ton was, or seemed, valueless. BY
land il was inapproachable from the
rest of our already imperial posses
sions. A vast scope Of desert wastes
and wild mountainous regions, occu-
pied by savage Indians, INTERVIEWED
between the newly acquired territory
and the settled States OF the Union.
Commercially without the least I'M
portanee, California seemed destined
10 remain in that condition for cen
tury or more, and to offer little II any
announcement to settlers for agricul-
tural ends in competition with other
parts Of our national territory, rs yet
uncultured, but much nearer the
mass OF our population and to do
nestle and foreign markets. But, as
II providentially foreordained, only a
few months after the vast region now
embraced in the State Of California
was incorporated with our national
domain, or in 1s4S, the world was
stirred with the tidings that gold had
been discovered on the Sacramento
river. within a short distance OF the
bay and port Of San Francisco, Soon
IL became known that the gold belt
there brought TO the knowledge oil
man embraced an area OF five hun
dred by from forty to fifty miles
everywhere teeming with this most
precious OF the precious metals.
People from all lands began immedi-
ately 10 flock thither by every posi-
BILE route from this side Of our CONT
nent, across the plains and over the
double mountain ranges, around the
Horn and by way Of the Isthmus OF
Darien. Europe sent her most enter
prising sons; the west coast OF Africa
did the same, and even China was
attracted and poured out her contri-
button to the population OF gold seek
ers who so soon thronged and viviied
the foothills and gulches OF Caliior-
mia.
Within twelve months after the
first discovery of gold at Suffers
creek three hundred vessels were
tied up in San Francisco harbor that
had been deserted by their officers
and crews, who had joined in the
eager pursuit OF fortune, which some
Of them gained almost in day.
The impulse that was at once given
1, the industry and agriculture, man
ufacturing and maritime interests Of
this country by this event is simply
indescribable. Our monetary circu-
lation was Immediately expanded
upon sblid foundations and to cor
responding extent were our CONNER
cial operations enlarged Our ship
ping having earned large freights in
transporting passengers and mer-
chandise to California, could af
ford to go thence in ballast to
India and China for homeward
freights taken at rates ruinous to
English shipments. Virtually, our
newly acquired Pacific Coast possess
sions become at once the base of a
: fareA, profitable trade and commerce
westward between our countrymen
and the Indian Ocean, as well as with
the North Pacific, and the tonnage OF
our commercial marine by 1860 had
nearly reached that OF Great Britain,
The rewards of industry in all its de-
partments were soon enhanced
Throughout our whole land, stimu-
lated by the increased ability Of the
industrial classes to consume, be-
cause of the early diffusion among
the masses of the large results oil the
newly discovered gold mines in Cali
fornia. Thus ensued an epoch OF ex-
traordinary production, OF industrial
activity, and Of speculation. The inn
mer,se addition to the actual capital
OF the country-at the same time 80
rich in virgin soil. traversed by navi-
gable water courses, and more rich in
the ceaseless activity and quick intel
ligence Of our people-wrought down
right prodigies of economic develop
ment and progress. By 1856 twenty
four thousand miles OF railways and
fifty thousand miles OF telegraphic
lines had been constructed. That is
TO say, three times as many as in
England, and six times as many miles
as in France. The commercial and
railway movements Of the country
had been increased thirty-three and
one-third per cent. in the ten years
ending with 1856. The number OF
banks was increased from 700 in 1916
10 LAG in 1856, with capital of
about $376, 100000. In fine, each and
every branch of business and indus
try of our people felt the effect, and
was made wonderfully fruitful by the
efflux of gold from the placers Of Cal
ifornia, so recently placed under tine
flag of the United States and within
the reach of our people by the re-
suits of the war with Mexico.
In the eight years Immediately fol-
lowing the discovery of gold in Cali
fornia, that State and the British col
ony Of Australia had sent as much as
$500, 000, 900 in gold to Europe, and in
1856 England alone imported $685.
2lS,O00 in gold and silver. The in
fiux of gold to the amount of $780,
100000 in so short time, gave an
extraordinary stimulus to every de-
partment of European industry, trade
and interstate commerce. The pro.
duction OF iron, coal and OF wooden
and cotton fabrics, was prodigiously
augmented. English commerce
importations and exportations-
which in ls4S had aggregated about
5000, 0O0, 900, during 1856 footed up
81 400, 900, 900. Nor was the indus