CALIFORNIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 241, 13 October 1869, Page 2

CALIFORNIA.

A correspondent of the Argus, writing from San Francisco on June 15, says : — Earthquakes being over and the smallpox having subsided, the priucipal topic in this part of the world is the opening of the Pacific railroad to New York. This I line of railway is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary in the world. Its length, from the shores of the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans, is 3300 miles. The length from Sacramento to Omaha, which may he considered as the Pacific portion, is 1727 miles, of which distance 1300 miles are 3500 ft., and 160 miles are 5000 ft. above the level of the sea. Two gr at mountain chains are surmounted at elevations of 7000 ft., and for 700 miles the road runs across tlie basin of Utah territory It. reduces the journey between New York and San Francisco from twenty-two to five or six days; and in connection with the. China and Japan steamers will make this city a large depot for Asiatic commerce, not only for the Eastern and Southern States, but for London and other Europeau ports. At a point where it crosses the Sierra Nevada Mountains a continuous snow-shed has been erected twenty-two miles in length. This road has been rapidly built. Iv 1863, the work was commenced in a small way, but not much was dove at either cud till after the close of the war. With the return of peace and confidence, and the rise in the value of bonds, the means of the companies were of course increased. The Central Company, having very costly grading on the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas, made rather slow progress. Before Dec. 1867, 615 miles were built; in 1868, 497 more were completed ; and this year, 350 were added. Within sixteen mouths 1112 miles hage been finished, being an average of 69 miles per month. About 20,000 laborers, a large portiou of whom are Chinese, who have proved themselves to be first-rate road-makers, were employed on the work, and the greatest feat of raillaying on one section was sixteen miles iv one day. An immense number of rivers, streams, and precipices are crossed, and the length of the bridges alone is computed at 200 miles. The road was opener! on the Bth May last, when the last spike was driveu — a gold spike driven with a gold hammer — and great celebrations took place both in this city and New York. The trains from the east have been crowded, and the influx of population into California will be enormous. The accommodation for refre hmeut and the sleepiug cars are pronounced satisfactory. There are 130 powerful locomotives on the road, which in some portions has a steep incline. The total cost of the line may be estimated at about 150,000,000 dollars. Ihe enterprise has turned out a very profitable one to the | companies, for, independent of the traffic i gains, which have been considerable, the United States Government made free grants of land ia the alternate sections tea miles each side of the line, as m bonus and reward for the sompletion of the road within a certain time, which has been accomplished, and they are now selling this land to settlers at good prices per acre, thus clearing in this waj millions of dollars. The rates of fare have not been finally settled, but they may be stated as, for ordinary fares to New York, 120 dol. Emigrant trains will bring passengers for

50 dollars, probably less. There is, however, one drawback to this road. la the winter it gets blocked with snow on the heights near the Rocky Mountains, and it is calculated that no less than 160 miles of snow sheds will have to be erected. This fact, Rnd also the consideration that the southern portion of this vast territory requires to be opened up, have induced the formation of another railroad enterprise — that of building another road to the Atlantic, having a southern route. This will doubtless be done, and ere long there will be two lines ot railroad from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Branches are already in course of construction to Oregon and other points in the uorthern nnd southern portions of the Pacific slojto. The hitherto isolated Mormons, with their system of polygamy, were taken by surprise, for the road passes through their territory and to within a few miles ot Salt Lake City. Their peculiar system bids fair to be encroached upon by the Gentiles, and will probably be destroyed. It should be mentioned as a truth, that although Salt Lake City numbers not far short of 200,000 persons, the commission of a crime is seldom, knowo, and they have an excellent system of secular educatiou. Brigham Young, the head of the tabernacle, rules supreme, and any infraction of his laws or the commission of any of the vices known among the "Gentiles," is visited with puuishment of a fearful kind. One month's reigu of Brigham in Melbourne would do a deal ot good ; the Supreme Courts and Police Courts would have to put up their shutters. As I purpose going over the road on a visit to the Niagara Falls, I shall take an opportunity of making myself better acquainted with these singular people, and will give you some further particulars regarding them. There is also another railway project on foot — the building of a road from New York to a point on the extreme end of the American coast, from which steamers can make the passage to Queeustown, in Ireland in four day3. This is quite feasible, and when done will bring San Francisco and London within twelve days of each other. As all this railroad enterprise may lead you to the prosperity of this city is going on at an uuprecedectedly rapid rate; indeed, no city in the world, not even that wonderful place Chicago, has ever progressed so fast. New streets are being cut out, wharves built, and houses going up, and the fine hotels and theatres are well patronised. Our population is of a very mixed character, coming, as it does, from almost every part of the world. In this State there are 75,000 Chinese, whose principal employment is to till the soil, make cijjars and slippers. They are fine mechanics, but are prohibited (virtually) from working at the higher trades. They make good cooks, nurses, and domestic servants. Had it not been for their labor, the railway would never have been built in the short time it has. It cannot be expected that I can within the compass of 8 letter give you any further or detailed description of the Pacific and Atlautic Kailroau", or of the scenery through which it passes. The lofty heights of snow crowned mountains hare been surmounted, deep abysses have been spanned, and rugged hillsides ascended. Tbe locomotive now traverses overhanging and almost inaccessible cliffs, where the mountain goat could scarcely maintain a foothold, yet the passenger, looking down from his lofty eyrie iuto the impenetrable gulf of blacknsas beneath, reposes securely in the triumphant achievements of science. Broad and swift rirera have been crossed ; the steam whistle awakes the echoes of interminable deserts, and the smoke of the panting engine curls up ever regions of eternal ice and snow. The railroad train here climbs precipitous hills, it dashes through ravines and gorges, it plunges into the very heart of rock-ribbed mountains, and emmerges again upou aunny plains covered with the primeval verdure of creation, carrying with it the richest and rarest productions of the earth. Upon the establishment of a line of steamers between this city and Sydney doubtless many in the colonies will pass over it on their rapid transit to their old homes. The mineral and agricultural resources of this state are prospering. The White Pine Silvernainea are developing prolifically, especially the Eberhard mine, which is fabulously rich. On the other hand, there is a good deal of "wild, cat" stock in the market.