470 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



Captain Folsom. All this labor is done by the volun 

 teers, so that the improvements will be macle at very 

 little expense to the government. The price of lum 

 ber at San Francisco is $50 per M. ; but Captain 

 Folsom says that he has it sawed and delivered, by 

 the labor of the volunteers and his own machinery, at 

 about $16. The mill is placed in the timber known as 

 the Red Woods, near the mission of San Rafael, on 

 the west and north sides of the bay, where any amount 

 can be had. If the government design to erect per 

 manent structures to any extent in this country, it 

 would be advisable to send out a steam engine, with 

 all the necessary frames and iron-work to adapt it to 

 immediate use in connexion with the saw and grist 

 mills now in possession of the quartermaster's depart 

 ment here. The site at present selected by Captain 

 Folsom is well adapted, as easy water communication 

 is had with the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers as 

 well as the parts of the country south of San Francisco. 



At San Francisco I found all the powder, arms, 

 accoutrements, and perishable ordnance property well 

 stored in a building prepared for the purpose at the 

 presidio barracks ; but the guns, mortars, carriages, 

 shot, and shells are in the town in the open air, pro 

 tected by paint alone. The great difficulty of hauling 

 such articles over the rugged hills between the town 

 and presidio will prevent their being hauled to the 

 latter place this season. 



I did design to continue my tour of inspection to 

 Sonoma and the Sacramento River, but was recalled 

 by hearing of the arrival of the bearer of despatches 

 at Monterey. 



When on my way up to San Francisco, I was over 

 taken by Captain Brown, of the Mormon battalion, 



