168 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



commerce on the Pacific to promote the employment 

 of ocean steamers is of much importance as connected 

 with the defence of our extensive line of coast from 

 latitude 32° to 49°, the protection of the whale 

 fishery, and other branches of trade on that ocean. 

 The establishment of a line of heavy steamers to 

 China would promote all these objects ; increase our 

 intercourse with that country, and probably be the 

 means of opening communications with Japan. Money 

 wisely employed in promoting these objects, it is 

 believed, would add more to the power and prosperity 

 of the country than its expenditure on any general 

 system of fortification at the present prices of labor 

 and materials. There is one point, however, of such 

 vast importance that no time should be lost in taking 

 the necessary steps to render it perfectly impregnable 

 — that is, the entrance to the harbor of San Francisco. 

 On the strength of the works which may be erected 

 to defend that passage will depend the safety of Cali- 

 fornia in time of war with a maritime power. Permit 

 a hostile fleet to cast anchor in the harbor of San 

 Francisco, and the country would be virtually con- 

 quered. 



" The coast has not been surveyed, nor has its out- 

 line been correctly ascertained. There are many 

 rocks above and below the water-line, and small 

 islands not mentioned or indicated on any chart, which 

 render navigation near the land, especially at night, 

 extremely dangerous. 



" An accurate survey of the coast, to commence at* 

 the most important points, the construction of light- 

 houses, and the placing of buoys in proper positions, 

 are objects of much importance, and, it is not doubted, 

 will attract the early attention of Government." 



