The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-06-23
From The ~ y. Journal ofC musrce
FROM CALIFORNIA.

The follow ing letter from an intelligent cor
respondent, is OF the very latest date from San
Francisco.
SAN Francisco. May ], lS40
The number OF passengers who have arrived
here by sea during the last four months, is very
great. The .ctual population of the country at
this time, cannot accurately be estimated, but
may be thirty thousand. 1t consists of Ameri-
cans, English, French, Mexicans, Chienos, Pc
ruvians and indeed OF almost all nations and Ian.
guages; but those named are the numerous elias
ses. The Americans, at this time, comprise less
than one hal:.
Lodgings at San Francisco are very difficult 10
be obtained. The greater part of the floating
population live in tents There are perhaps four
hundred houses here, of the poorest description
generally, but as many thousand would scarcely
be sufficient, even now, to afford all a shelter
Lumber is very much in demand. 1t has been
sold at $500 per thousand, aud is now held at
about 500 per thousand; but it is difficult to be
obtained al that price.
There are in California men of all trades and
professions, but the physicians are most numer,
Gus. One may sit down in any place in San
Francisco, and he shall see Doctor pass by once
minute all day long. There ara certainly TWEEN.
T. doctors to one patient Mechanics are also
numerous, but there are scarcely any engaged in
their trades, except a few carpenters, who get
$40 day for their labor. Agriculture is entire
| ly abandoned.
The ordinary occupations here are gold dig.
ging, regular trading, specializing. and gambling.
/ Farm lois in San Francisco are held at from
| s.. 600 to 81, GOA. Several other towns have
been laid out, as Penecia, Stockton, Sacramento
| City, &c, and the lots sold at very high prices
! Titles are but little inquired into. There is no
doubt that they are generally bad. Here man
/ will do almost anything to make money, because
/ there is no power TO call him to account. Even
official and professionally employments are assum.
ed by those not having the least rightful preten.
sions to them, who in this way extort thousands
Of dollars per month from the muItitudes OF sran.
gers who come here. Every man is devoted to
one pursuit, the acquisition OF goj, and is not
scrupulous as TO the means employed
There is no society, no such thing as friend.
ship, no pleasure Of any kind; there is no reiig-
ion recognized in practice. and no Divinity tcor.
shipped but gold, and TO its shrine multitudes oil
| pilgrims are daily flocking.
Every man goes well armed, and as great in
suits and injuries pretty sure to be fol low ed
by instant revenge, without any chance OF escape
by the claws delay" they are not very frequent
ly committed. Murders, lai*enies, and robber-
les, if the offender Is caught, are punished with
| great severity, after trial by jury IN due form
At tue hiiles ds the nave 10 prisons, hanging Is
the only mode Of punishment
The "diggers" are generally very successful.
1t is hazardous business, however. Some are
robbed; some lose their health, and some their
| lives.
| In California there is an utter subverson Of
the order OF society as it exists in the old States
The toughest looking "eustomers," and the most
/ hardy and laborious, likely to have the most
OF the 'dust" here, and as this commands respect
they are the aristocracy of California A cook
or house steward, commands, in this country. a
| higher salary than the Governor Sfsese w York,
and an industrious dray man, with his cart and
mule, is better paid than the Secretary Of the
United States. The salary OF the Postmaster at
San Francisco, is less than the laundress would
exact for washing his linen, and good carpenter
gets higher compensation for his labor than the
Commander-in-Chief of the squadron.
| The climate OF San Francisco and other plac
es on the coast, is the most disagreeable that |
know OF. Cold winds prevail during all seasons,
and the temperature varies sometimes 40d in a
/ day. The summers are worse than the winters
Every body suffers greatly on first arriving here.