CALIFORNIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 431, 1 October 1869, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

- — ■ — ♦ A correspondent of the Argus, writing Jtom San Francisco on June 15, says:— ' Earthquakes' being over and the small-pox having subsided, the principal topic in this part of the world is the opening of the Pacific Railroad to New York. This fine of railway is undoubtedly one of the most extraordinary in the' world, Its length, irom' the' ehdfes of

the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans, is 3300 miles. The length from Sacramento to Omaha, which may re 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 great mountain chains are surmounted at e'evaiions of 7000 ft., and for 700 miles the road runs across the basin of Utah v territory. It reduces the journey between New York and San Krancisco 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 European ports. At a point where it crosses the Sierra Nevada Mountains a continuous snow-3hed has been erected twenty-two miles in lungth. This road has been rapidly built. In 1863. the work was commenced in a small way, but not much was done at either end till after the close of the war. With the return of peace and confidepce, 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 wes'ern slope of the Sierra Nevadas. made r.ither slow progress. Before December, 1867,615 miles were built; in 1868,497 more were completed ; and this year, 3iO were added. Within sixteen months 1112 miles have been finished, being an average of sixty-nine miles per month. About 20,000 labourers, a large portion of whom were Chinese, who have proved themselves to be first-rate roadmakers, were employed on the work, and the greatest feat of rail-laying on one section wns sixteen miles in one day. An immense number of rivers, streams, and precipices are crossed, and the length of the bridges a : one is computed at, 200 miles. The road. was formally opened on the Bth May lasr, when the last spike was driven— a gold spike driven with a gold hammer — and great celebrations took place both in this city and New York. The trains from theeast have been crowded, and the influx of population into California will he enormous. The accommodation for refreshment and the sleeping cars are pronounced satisfactory. There are 130 powerful locomotives on the road, which in some portions has a Bteep incline. The total cost of the line may be estimated at about 150,000,000 J01. The enterprise has turned out a very profitable one to the companies, for, independent of th« traffic gains, which have been considerable, the United States Government made free grants of land in alternate sections ten rni'es each side of the line, as a bonu3 and reward for the completion of the road within a certain time, which has bet-n accomplished, and they sre now selling this land to settlers at good prices per acre, thus clearing in this way millions of dollars. The rates of fare have not been finally settled, but they may be stated as, for ordinary fares to New York, 120dol, Emigrant ttraina will bring passengers for 50dol, probably less. There is, however, one drawback to this road. In the winter it gets blocked with snow on the heights i.ear the Rocky Mountains, and it is calculated that no less than 160 miles of snowsheda will have to be erected. This fact, and also the consideration that the southern portion of this vagt 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 of railroad from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Branches are already in course of construction to Oregon and other points in the northern and southern portions of the Pacific slope. 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 of 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 fur short of 200,000 persons, the commission of a crime is seldom known, and they have an excellent system of secular education' .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 punishment of a fearful kind. One month's reign of Brigham in Melbourne would do a deal of good ; the Supreme Courts and police courts would have to put up the shutters. As I purpose going over the road on a visit to Niagara Falls, I shall take an opportunity of making myself better acquainted with these singular people, and will give you aome 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 Queenstown, in Ireland, in four days. This is quite feasible, and when done will bring San Frnncisco and London within twelve days of each other. Ab all this railroad enterprise may lead you to suppose, the prosperity of this city is going on at an unprecedentedly 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 aud 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 cigars 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 labour, the railway would never have been built in the short time it has. It cannot be expected that I can within the compass of a letter give you any further or detailed description of the Pacific and Atlantic Kailroad.or of the scenery through which it passes. The lofty heights of snow-crowned mountains have been - surmounted, deep abysses nave been spanned, and rugged hill-

sides ascended. The locomotive now traverses overhanging and almost inaccessible' cliffs, where the mountttiu goat could scarcely maintain a foothold, yet the passenger, looking down from his lofty eyrie into the impenetrable gulf of blackness beneath, reposes bceurely in the triumphant achievements of science. Broad and swift rivers have been crossed ; tlie steam whistle awakes the echoes of interminable deserts, and the smoke of the panting engine curls up over 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 emerges again upon sunny 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 aud Sydney doubtless many in the colonies will pass over it on their rapid transit to their old homes. j The mineral and agricultural resources of this state are prospering. The White Pine Siivermines aye developing prolincally, especially the Eberhard mine, which is fabulously rich. On the other hnnd, there is a good deal of "wildcat" stock in the market. The snles of real estate in this city during the past month have amounted to over one million of dollars — I forget the exact amount. Speculation runs very high here.