California Star & Californian, Volume 2, Number 29, 23 December 1848 — Untitled [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

☞ ADVERTISERS are advised, that to ensure the publication of advertisements in the new paper, they should immediately notify its proprietors. ——————

TO THE PUBLIC.—With this number the publication of the "California Star and Californian" will cease. The subscriber has entered into business arrangements with Messrs. GILBERT AND HUBBARD of this town, under the name and firm of Gilbert, KemBLE AND HUBBARD, and by them a new paper, entitled "ALTA CALIFORNIA," will be published at San Francisco, U. California, the first number of which will appear on Thursday, January 4, 1849. This new sheet will be improved to the extent of the limited facilities now existing in the country, and arrangements have been made to secure its regular and continued issue. Measures have been taken to enlarge the newspaper and the book and job establishment connected with it, so soon as the necessary materials can be procured. The business of the establishment will be transacted on the "payment in advance" principle entirely, and though the first number of the new paper will be sent to all the subscribers to the "California Star and Californian," no subsequent number will be despatched unless the subscription be forwarded. The reasons for this course are so obvious, that they need not be repeated. The unsettled accounts of the "Star & Californian" will be attended to by the subscriber at the present place of business, on Washington street, Portsmouth Square. Advertisers who may wish their announcements

to appear in the first number of the new paper are requested to make such fact known at the earliest practicable moment. A large edition of the first number will be printed in order to supply subscribers with back numbers. It is nevertheless advisable, that in view of the preservation of complete files, copies be secured upon publication, or as soon thereafter as opportunities will permit. For terms of subscription, advertising rates, etc., the reader is referred to the "prospectus" presented in another column.

It is fair to presume many of the obstacles encountered in newspaper publication at this time, by an intelligent reading community as ours is, justly appreciated, nor can it be denied that a paper published under circumstances similar to the present, leads other than a precarious existence. It is gratifying though, to reflect that its many patrons, correct in their perception of the undertaking, remain firm in a generous support, and that the proprietor is assured of continued and boundless good will. How sincere is the return of thanks, let his future exertions, united with those of his co-laborers prove. EDW. C. KEMBLE. ——————

"The extensive gold region of California has been traversed and re-traversed by Mexicans, by many of the Catholic clergy, by Russians, and by the gentlemen and servants of the Hudson Bay Company, and now just as California is incorporated into the "model republic," the rich garnered treasures of gold are discovered!!" This is a striking fact if we reject the numerous traditions of the country, and deny the latent wisdom of the "oldest inhabitant." It must ever appear a little remarkable, as the "Oregon Spectator" suggests, that until this time the country has remained so profoundly ignorant of its wealth in gold. Trappers have trapped on the mountain streams, through which they flow. Scientific adventurers have traversed the grounds comprising

the present placer, but until the present year there has been no announced discovery of gold—no indications of its existence any where, made known. Since the wonderful

results of direct researches have been reported, there have sprung up numberless legendary tales and traditions, by which it would appear that the knowledge of gold in the country has for a number of years existed. The Indians of the Tulere valley, upon being shown the glittering treasure, readily identified it, it is said, with a substance with which for years they had been familiar. There is an instance within the recollection of the older residents at Fort Sacramento, of a New Mexican having returned from a range through the mountains, and reported gold upon a tributary of the Sacramento. The man offered to conduct others to the spot, but some political breeze withdrew attention from the subject, and until June last, it was no more thought of. These stories would have been more seasonable a twelve month ago, and yet it is difficult to believe the natives of the country have ever been altogether without knowledge of the "shining metal's" abundance on the various streams from which they derive their principal article of food. The old ballad very liberally discloses the riches of "Californe." And when we come before the king, If we will make so bold, I wot he'll give to every man A mine of the precious gold! —————— EXECUTION.—The trial of Davis, Campbell and Freer, for highway robbery and attempt to murder, took place in the village of San Jose, on Saturday, 16th inst., before Judge Kimball H. Dimmick, Alcalde of that District. The jury empannelled in the case, brought in a verdict of guilty and sentenced them to be hanged. On the following Monday, the unhappy men expiated their crimes upon the gallows, in presence of a large concourse of citizens, having previously confessed their guilt and embraced the catholic faith. Three men, named Henry Woolard, John Cotton, and Lee, are in custody, charged with participation in the same crime. The trial of Cotton came off on Monday evening last; the prisoner pleaded guilty to a part of the specifications, and begged the mercy of the court. He was sentenced to receive fifty lashes and confinement for one month. Tuesday eve., Dec. 18, 1848. "The trials of Woolard and Lee, implicated in the late crime, and also charged with perjury, have just been terminated; the jury sentenced them to receive 18 lashes each, upon the first charge, and 40 lashes each, with one months confinement in the stocks, on the last charge" H. —————— ACQUITTAL OF C. E. PICKETT.—We learn verbally, from gentlemen late arrived in this place from Fort Sacramento, that the trial of Mr. Pickett, charged with the murder of Mr. Alderman, resulted in his acquittal and discharge by the jury. —————— THE NEW TOWN OF SACRAMENTO.—It will be found by referring to our advertising columns, that the proprietor of this admirable town site designs offering the lots included in the survey recently made, at Public Auction, on the eighth day of January next. All of our readers who have visited Fort Sacramento, will concur with us in the opinion that no portion of the great Sacramento valley could have been selected, so eminently favored, with advantages so well calculated to the founding of a city, promising of first magnitude, as the grounds and premises of the Fort. It is superior as an elevated and therefore healthy position, if desirable as a central location, and one of great beauty, capable of accommodating the population of years. To the Sacramento mining district it has been and must continue to be a point of infinite importance, whence are chiefly derived supplies, and where, during the past season, an almost incredible amount of business has been transacted. Some twenty stores have vigorously flourished, and shipments of goods from this town taken place every day. The Sacramento is navigable in all its stages to the embarcadaro included in the survey of the town, and vessels of eighty and an hundred tons burthen, have this summer held that point in communication with San Francisco.

We will not attempt to enumerate the advantages, or depict the natural endowments so choice a locality possesses; we must believe them readily appreciated at a glance, and the site generally admitted favorable to a commercial city of the first water. ——————

☞ A great amount of valuable matter has been crowded out of this paper to admit of the reports of recent meetings. Publication has been delayed to this hour in consequence.

[image: symbol]