HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 231 



was only saved by the greatest exertion. The entire 

 loss is estimated at from three to four millions of 

 dollars. This event occurring so soon after the pre- 

 vious fire, has had a depressing and gloomy effect upon 

 the business operations, not only of San Francisco, 

 but of Sacramento City also. Many of the heaviest 

 trading houses have been entirely ruined ; and others 

 brought to the verge of it. Several individuals, includ- 

 ing the Mayor of the city, distinguished themselves 

 by their noble and generous exertions to arrest the 

 progress of the fire and save property. 



The emigration to California by way of the over- 

 land route is six times as great during the present 

 year as it was in 1849. The last company left Coun- 

 cil Bluffs, on the loth of June. They brought up the 

 rear of near four thousand wagons, ten or twelve 

 thousand persons, and about twenty thousand head of 

 horses and cattle. The continued success of the gold- 

 diggers and the extraordinary prospect in regard to 

 the quantity that will be obtained during the mining 

 season of 1850, serves to keep up the excitement and 

 to allure the emigrant to the golden land. 



There is a prospect that the seat of government of 

 California will be removed from San Jose to the pro- 

 posed new city of Vallejo, about twenty miles above 

 San Francisco, near the Straits of Carquinez, and at 

 the junction of the Napa and San Pablo Bays. 

 The new city has already been surveyed, and a 

 company of influential capitalists organized, with the 

 determination to "go ahead," whether the capital is 

 or is not established at this point. The site no doubt 

 presents many advantages for a large commercial city, 

 not possessed by San Francisco. The distance from 



