California as it is, and as it may be : $b or, A guide to the gold regionWierzbicki, Felix Paul
History
California as it is, and as it may be : $b or, A guide to the gold region
Wierzbicki, Felix Paul
California -- Description and travel; California -- Gold discoveries
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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