CALIFORNIA.

Southland Times, Issue 891, 31 January 1868, Page 2

CALIFORNIA.

Politicians have had a great gathering at Sacra* mento on the occasion of the new Governor's inauguration. Party feeling was running Terr high, and many important changes were anticipated under the new administration. The usual amount of murders, outrages and accidents of all kind, are not wanting in the Californian papers. As something novel, we mention the killing of three men and wounding of one by an explosion of a powder mill, about twenty miles from San Francisco, where the report was distinctly heard, and the shock made the windows rattle. Another accident, both singular and sad, ii thus related in the Virginia Enterprise, of Norem* ber 26 : — " A day or two since, a blacksmith in the employ of the Railroad Company, near the Summit, had both hands torn by the accidental and moat singular explosion of nitro-glycerine. The accident occurred as follows : An iron tube, some four or five feet long, -which in process of blasting for the railroad near by, is used to introduce the requisite charge of nitro- glycerine into the drill-hole, had become bent and clogged up inside. In order to straighten it, the glycerine was cleansed out as much at possible, until it wai thought there was none remaining. The blacksmith then placed the tube in the fire, in order to heat and straighten it. His attention was suddenly attracted by the tube commencing to writhe and twist about in a most singular manner, and he caught hold of it to throw it upon the floor, when before he could let it go, it exploded, tearing his hands to pieces in a most shocking manner, so that he will probably loom them both.

Pboobess op thr Pacific R.ul-w iy.— The Virginia City Trespass has the latest news of the progress of the railway in the Sierras. We clip the following:— From Coburn Station to Camp 24, five miles west of Crystal Peak, the track on the Central Pacific Ttailroad has been laid, and the road is in good running condition— a locomotive and several cars passing over the route, a distance of twenty miles, daily, with average speed. If the Company would transport passengers and freight over that section it would be a great saving to horseflesh and human patience. From Cobura Station to the Summit four miles of track has been laid, and a lar i& force of laborers [in fact, the whole corps formerly at work on the side of the Summit] are employed inlaying track, and making the road fit for use. It is hoped, and ■within the range of probability, that the road to the Summit tunnel will be completed within the coming thirty days, and if the winter storms do not commence before Christmas, it is probable that a locomotive and cars will run from Cisco to Camp twenty-four, on the Truckee, before January Ist, 1868.