A small breach was discovered early yesterday morning in the new levee, near Dudley's farm, but it was repaired before any damage was done.
There was a rumor prevailing last evening that Lisle's bridge had been swept away, but could be traced to no reliable source.
Every body is busily engaged in making preparations to meet the anticipated flood. Merchants and shopkeepers, and all having property on the ground floor, are raising them above high water mark—boats are moored at the doors—vehicles of every description, stock, grain, tents, hay, provisions and people, are crowded together on the public square, and every available dry nook and corner is occupied.
The Marysville Express of the 20th, says: "The water is within three or four inches as high as it was at the last flood, when it was 6½ inches higher than ever known before. The rain is still falling heavily, and when we consider the enormous, almost frightful, quantity of snow in the mountains, the most alarming fears may most reasonably be entertained. All seem to join in the belief that the present will exceed any previous flood known."
The accounts we receive from the mining districts are really heart rending; death by cold and starvation has visited many poor unfortunates, while as yet the tale of horrors is but half told. It was feared that as intelligence should be received from the mountains, we shall have to record the sad fate of many more.
Great quantities of gold are still obtained in California. The average value of the gold dust brought by each steamer of the Panama line is about $500,000. This is an astonishing production; and we are almost ready to believe the enthusiastic declarations of the first adventurers in this El Dorado, that the gold region is inexhaustible.
Emigration to California continues to be extensive. Most of those who intend to become permanent settlers proceed by the overland route, from Independence, Missouri, to Sacramento City. Late in the summer of every year, a relief train is sent from the settled portion of California, to meet the emigrants. Many persons are thus saved from death by starvation. The expense of the relief train is a consideration of little importance, when its object is borne in mind. Had the same measure been adopted soon after the gold discovery, many of those whose bones are bleaching on the plains, would have survived to become useful citizens of California.
Interesting proceedings have taken place in the United States Senate, in regard to the Tehuantepec route to California. The Mexican government has shown a disposition to prevent the construction of a road across Tehuantepec, which some senators think should be promptly rebuked. In a recent speech upon the subject, Mr. Mason, of Virginia, said that the acquisition of California and the intervening territory, placed this Government in the position of having some of its dependencies almost inaccessible. The discovery of the gold in California, made the subject of a communication with that region, of the deepest importance, and has naturally drawn the eyes of the world to the necessity of securing some safe, reliable, and speedy right of way to the Pacific Ocean. Panama has been sought, and it has been used as a place of transit, without any serious objection on the part of any government there. Mexico alone has interposed an obstacle to this desired communication with the Pacific. Mexico, from whom our territory was derived, and who is our neighbor and sister Republic, has alone refused the right of way to the world, and has not only refused the right of transit to other nations, but has also set aside an existing grant of that right. For years, enterprises have been projected to connect the two Oceans at Tehuantepec. In view of the vast importance of this connection, the minds of the people of the United States have been concentrated upon the discovery of that plan which shall be the least expensive, and at the same time the most certain and efficient, to unite the two Oceans by means of travel or transportation. Mr. Mason read a table showing the distance between New York and San Francisco by the Chagres route, to be 6650 miles; between New Orleans and San Francisco, by way of Chagres, 5675 miles; between New York and San Francisco, by the Tehuantepec route, 4970; between New Orleans and San Francisco, by the Tehuantepec, 3740 miles. The average time from New York to San Francisco, by the Chagres route, was 28 days, and the shortest 24 days. The average time by the Tehuantepec route was 19 days, and the shortest 15. From New Orleans, by way of Tehuantepec, the average time would be 14 days and the shortest 12 days.
It is believed that spirited action on the part of our government will secure from Mexico the recognition of a right of way across Tehuantepec, which, according to Senator Mason's able representation, is but a matter of justice. Mexico is at present almost ready to fall to pieces, most of its states, or provinces, being in successful rebellion. She is not, therefore, in a condition to resist a formidable foreign power. It is lamentable when a government is weak, and yet dares to be unjust. The people of California have a considerable stake in the decision of the Tehuantepec question.
The gold region is constantly being extended by new discoveries—especially in the north-eastern section of the state. In the meantime the old mines continue to yield a good profit to industrious laborers. Before the recent flood, the mining news from the Mariposa diggings was very favorable—the miners averaging from $25 to $30 a day. On Cottonwood Creek, Shosta Valley, operations were also well rewarded—one company making $100 per day to the hand. The number of persons engaged in mining and crushing the gold-bearing quartz is very large, and the yield rewards the toil.