The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-21


We are indebted to our esteemed felow-citizen,
Henry N. Hooper, Esq, for second letter from
his brother, William Hooper, Esq, partner in one
Of the principal mercantile houses of San francisco
This letter bears date twenty-one days later than
any published accounts from San Francisco. 1t
will be that Gen. Smith, the new military
commandant in California, had arrived at San Fran
cisco, and been waited upon by the citizens. There
was no falling-of in the golden influx from the
"dlgglngs." The writer confirms the statements
made in his letter of January 20, from San Fran
cisco. Those statements were so remarkable, in
the impressions they conveyed of the abundance Of
gold IN California that their truthfulness has been
questioned. The Ne,cburyport Herald intimates
that we were over-credulous in publishing them.
We need only reply by inviting those who question
the reliability of these letters, to come to Boston
and inquire in regard to the character and position
of the writer and the recipient All doubts will
then be disspated.
The sublolned letter came by the way of Mazat-
Ian, Vera Cruz and New Orleans and bears date
SAN TRANcisco, (U. c. Feb. g. 1910.
A brig sails tomorrow for Mazatlan, affording
the opportunity Of dropping you line announcing
to you the arrival OF the California steamer from
Panama. She brings large mail, but no letters
tor me. l hope you are aware that you can drop
letter in the post office for me any day, and it will
come safe | suggest that you write once
month-the day before the steamer sails.
BY the steamer we have late dates from the Uni
ted States. The California gold fever appears
gng among you and well it may, for surely there
never was discovery like it. Every day emily
adds to my astonishment.. Yesterday weighed
l20 lbs. Oft. Rea estate is going up rapidly. In
this place good sites sell at $50 the square yard.
There is reduction in the prices of most articles,
owing to the expected arrivals from the United
States.
At present flour Is SIS; pilot bread, $l2; pork,
$50. OF all things lumber goes the highest. |
paid to-day $400 the thousand feet The smallest
room rents for 800 per month. Advise your friends
ready to put up They will bring 800 per cent adj
vance on the cost for the next two years Cooks
wages are 800 per month; eggs So per dozen; sala
ratus, SO per b.; butter, 81 80; cheese, IS cents
each; frewood, $50 per cord; milk, 81 per bottle;
board for mechanics, $40 per week. Common
laborers can earn $6 day; carpenters, IS.
Our sales tor the last tour months amount to
nearly three quarters of a million of dollars It is
not an uncommon thing to cart gold dust from one
store to another.
paid my respects to Gen. Smith to-day, intro
duced by my old and warm friend, Commsdore
Jones' Gen. S: has the appearance of firm man,
and one well calculated for this country.
THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO.
In the "Aito Californian" published ia San
Franclsco,) OF February ls an interesting account
In June, lS47, it contained four hundred and fifty
nine souls. In the previous year thirty houses
were built, and aborers received from two to three
dears per day. In July and August following
the population had increased to eight hundred and
twelve, (whies,) being an increase of one hundred
per cent in eight months.
In april, 1913, the people were gold struck, and
the whole population rushed to the mines The ef-
fects Of these rumors about the wealth of the mines
described, but these are familiar themes. Sick
ness having broken out in the mines they were
nearly deserted in August and September, and the
people crowded to San Francisco, and business be-
gan to revive. In November, when the fruits of
the miners labor began to be reaped, San Francis
co began to engthen her strides to prosperity and
greatness
Other advantages are claimed for the town. 1t
is said to possess the safest, largest, and
cessble harbor on the whole coast. The situation
of the town is picturesque, and only four miles from
the sea-. The bay of San Francisco is navigable
for medium sized vessels, also the Sacrament
to and San Joaquin The climate is healthy. The
population has increased since March last to about
two thousand souls. Real estate has risen in va
lue from one hundred to one thousand per cent
The export of gold dust since May last is supposed
to exceed two millions The importation of coin
for the purchase Of gold dust in ls4s amounted
probably to one million of dollars. The imports of
merchandise for the same period were equal in va
lue to one million of dollars. The duties collected
in 1913 amounted to $196,O74 &c. The number of
buildings erected in the year lS48 was more than
fifty. Passengers arriving by sea one thousand.