THOS. AP C. JONES, _Comdr. U. S. N._
EDW. A. KING, _Harbor Master_.
Next to the port of San Francisco, in maritime importance, we must
put the Bay of Monterey, with its two ancient towns of Monterey and
Santa Cruz lying on the opposite shores of the bay. At present the
mining operations being confined to the north of the Bay of San
Francisco, the whole commerce is concentrated in that port; but ere
long they will go farther south, and then the town of Monterey will
be likewise benefitted by the trade with the mines, as its facility
of communicating by land with all the points south of San Francisco
promises it.
Monterey was, and is, as yet, the capital of the country, contains
about two thousand inhabitants, principally natives and old established
families of foreigners, who have not neglected to improve opportunities
of making themselves rich. The soil in the neighborhood is good--the
climate a hundred per cent. better than that of San Francisco. The
situation of the town is very picturesque.
On the North side of the Bay lie the Mission and town of Santa Cruz,
with a rich soil abounding in water and timber, as in its neighborhood,
in the mountains, there are six saw-mills in operation. Building timber
is easily and cheaply obtained here; land for building lots can be also
procured at moderate prices. It is an excellent spot for mechanics to
settle upon, as the sea offers them facilities for sending the produce
of their hands into any portion of the country, while at the same
time living is cheap, for everything in the way of provisions can be
produced in the town.
Pueblo de San Jose is another old settlement, and has more than a
thousand inhabitants within its jurisdiction, and is growing rapidly.
By its position, in a magnificent valley, seventy miles in length at
the head of the Bay of San Francisco, approachable by water to vessels
as large as brigs, being a thoroughfare between the North and South of
the country, possessing a rich soil, a mild and salubrious climate,
beautiful landscape, and every facility for cheap and comfortable
living, it cannot but grow rapidly; and we have no doubt that in a few
years, when California shall be a little more settled and organized, it
will become the seat of the State Government, being a more central and
accessible point from all parts of the country than Monterey.
The town of South San Francisco, about three miles South of the city
of San Francisco, possesses the same advantages of the harbor as the
latter, for all classes of vessels, with the superiority of being more
sheltered from the prevailing winds and of having an abundant supply of
water, not only for the use of its inhabitants, but for the shipping.
The same depth of water extends along the shore from one town to the
other. The country is picturesque, the site of the town is more regular
than that of San Francisco; it commands a quarry of stone suitable for
buildings, and it lies on the road from San Francisco to Pueblo de
San Jose. Had the original settlers of San Francisco exercised their
judgment before settling on that windy spot, they would have put their
houses on the site of South San Francisco.--We have no doubt but it
will soon have its share in the commerce of the Bay.
Benicia is a town situated on the north side of the strait of
Carquinez, with great depth of water; ships can discharge there close
to the shore without the aid of wharves. It met with the approbation
of naval and military officers as a good spot for a naval and military
depot; and we understand that it has been recommended by the same to
the government for the erection of government buildings, upon its site.
It has a ferry boat which plies across the strait, and thus keeps the
two portions of the country in constant communication, benefitting the
public while it remunerates the efforts of the enterprising owners of
the town.
Martinez is a projected town on the opposite side to Benicia, and of
which we have already spoken above.
Suisun is a town just springing up into existence on the north side
of the bay of Suisun and right bank of the Sacramento; it is very
advantageously situated for both commercial and agricultural purposes.
It is eighty-five miles distant from San Francisco and fifty from
Benicia; it has a rich soil and is well wooded; it possesses good water
in abundance, and building stone is found in the neighborhood. The
depth of water is sufficient to admit barks to lie close to the shore.
Its importance soon will be felt when the beautiful neighborhood of the
Clear Lake shall be settled by enterprising farmers and miners. Its
climate is mild and healthy.
Sacramento City, once the exclusive property of the well known and
remembered by every stranger who appreciates hospitality, Capt. J. A.
SUTTER, is situated on the east bank of the Sacramento river; vessels
of seven hundred tons are lying close to the shore in the stream. To
show its growth and importance we need only state that on the first
of May last it contained about fifteen houses and tents, the whole
business with the mines being done at the Fort, which is about two
miles distant from the city, and on the first of August it had more
than a hundred houses and numerous tents, probably comprising about
five thousand souls.
The town of Boston is situated in the fork made by the Sacramento and
the American rivers in their junction, and its site extends along the
shores of both of them. Its situation is a little elevated and free
from inundation; the land is rich and well wooded; the same class of
vessels that comes up to Sacramento City, can lie here with equal ease,
being but a mile above the latter; the road that crosses the American
river and leads to the Feather river, the Bear Creek and the Yuba
goes through the town. It is laid out on the old site of an Indian
_Rancheria_, a portion of which they still occupy.
The town of Washington is very beautifully situated on the same bank
with Sacramento City, from which it is only nine miles distant up the
river. The spot is well selected for an inland town where agriculture
and trade with the mines must flourish; it is well provided with timber
and a brook runs through it. The river craft and a steamboat run up to
it.
Springfield is a town in project, close to the town of Vernon.--Vernon
is at the junction of the Feather river with the Sacramento. It is in
the vicinity of many “diggings,” with which it carries on a lively
trade. At any season of the year there is four feet of water in the
river, but for eight months the depth of water is eight feet.--River
craft and a steamboat are constantly plying up to this place. Its
vicinity is a rich and well wooded agricultural country.
The town of Sutter, situated two miles below, and on the same bank with
Sacramento City, possesses the same advantages of the river and soil as
the latter. It has already several houses put up.
New York of the Pacific, at the mouth of the San Joaquin, has been
already spoken of above.
Stockton is a spot happily selected for an inland town of
great importance, and already its present augurs well for the
future.--Situated high up on the San Joaquin, accessible to river craft
at all seasons of the year, cut through in different directions by four
channels communicating with the river, and admitting close to the shore
vessels of the class of barks and brigs, of which thirteen are moored
there at this very moment, surrounded by rich soil and extensive wood
land, contiguous to numerous rich “diggings,” Stockton offers great
advantages to a new settler, and many have already availed themselves
of them. Its proprietor, Mr. Chas. M. Weber, by his liberal provisions
for the public wants of the town, cannot fail to accelerate its
prosperity.
The town of San Joaquin, situated on the river of the same name, at
the highest point to which river steamers can come up at all seasons
of the year, in the neighborhood of the rich mines of the Merced and
Mariposa, to which a good waggon road can be easily made, offers
superior advantages to settlers; its situation is picturesque, as it is
on a rising ground; it is abundantly supplied with good water and grass
all the year through, and its climate is salubrious. Its geographical
position to the surrounding mining district guarantees it the command
as a trading post, to at least one third of the gold region.