254 LEWIS A. MCARTHUR
ability of our usefulness on this coast. Capt. Williams has as yet done nothing and Heaven only knows when he may be able to proceed with his labors. I have abandoned the hope of his being able to do anything. I feel confident that no work can go on at the present wages of the country as it would require the whole of the Coast Survey appropriation to keep a party together. Wages are still from five to twelve dollars per day, and if anything still rising as the mining sea- son opens. I have written to the Professor and laid my views fully before him.
"In a few days I go to the mouth of the Columbia River and shall make a reconnaissance of the coast both on my way up and returning. I propose also to choose Points for a Light house, Buoys, etc., at the mouth of that river. I shall then be at the end of my tether. It will take about 3 months to perform what is at present required of me and the Superin- tendent in that time will perceive how utterly vain it is to think of carrying on work here. I am now under the im- pression that we may be recalled or ordered to disband here in less than six months.
"The country is improving very much in this vicinity and I do not doubt but that San Francisco will be a large and beautiful city, already it has its public Square and churches and other Public Buildings which give it an air of importance. The country is becoming daily more settled and improved, but not so much as might be supposed from the great number of immigrants."
On April 13 he wrote Commander Young from Trinidad Bay as follows : "I may safely say that the only happy days I have spent in the country have been spent since we started. I am at last at work and most usefully employed in making a recon- naissance of the Coast as we go up. Great success has so far attended the undertaking, and I must say that I shall have good cause to congratulate myself if I am permitted to com- plete the work to the Columbia River. I am operating on my
