Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-12-24


We have news from California so days old, bv
which find that all the reports about the guam
tlty OF gold which have heard in the Statesare
confirmed; SO that California gold is no longer
humbug. We shall leave this place On Sunday
the 10Th, anticpatinga quick and pleasant voy-
age to San Francisco.
Yours, aflectionately,
JAMES W. MORRISON.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Nov. l.
My DEAR PARENTS
1t gives me much pleasure to inform YOU
that, after long and tiresome voyage of six
months at sea, have arrived well and hearty
in the city of San Francisco. We arrived on
Friday the 18th Of Oct, having been out from
Valparaiso about so daIsand from New Orleans
nearly six months. When was at Valparaiso
wrote letter giving you briet sketch of our
voyage up to that point but after writing it and
ENDURING OF the American Consul at that place
about the facilities OF conveying letters to the
U. S., found it would not be likely to reach
you much sooner than letter written from this
city, 40 or 80 days later. l. therefore, retained
it and now enclose it along with this 1t will
give you slight touch of Cape Horn where saw
"thc Elephont," or in other words pretty hard
times, That letter together with two others
written from Rio Ianeiro will give you the prin-
cipal incidents of our voyage to Valparaiso. 1t
now only remains for me 10 give YOU brief ac-
count OF the remainder OF the voyage together
with some OF the most interesting California
items that have CLEANED during my short stay
here.
We had fine wind and weather after leaving
Valparaiso until we got within two or three DAYS
sail OF this place-but then commenced our
bad lack; we were baffled and delayed by adj
verse winds and Gains for about 1 or 20 DAYS
This was OF course exceedingly annoying to IL,
whose impaienee and anxiety to know the issue
OF our adventure We're becoming very great
Our water casks having leaked on the voyage
we were put on short allowance of a quart per
day for about two weeks. This Arrangement,
however, did not annoy me at all, as found
quart amply sufficient for my own use. There
would have been suffering if we had been out
many days longer, for we were on our last cask
of water when we arrived. But as it turned out
we never suffered for any thing to eat or drink
Our ship was well provisioned and think she
has afforded her passengers better accommda-
tons than nineteen out of twenty of the vessels
that lett the United States for this port. Altho'
we have had longer passage than we expected
and although we had to encounter good deal
of rough weather together with much to vex and
annoy us, yet we haye much reason 10 rejoice
that we have given the Cape Horn route the pref.
erence to all others. have seen persons here
who came through by the different! land routes
and find that their suffering for want of water
and provision was very great. Many of them
died on the way. There are thousands vet on
the way and intelligence has Just reached here
that many Of these are in distress among the
mountains that form the eastern boundary of this
country Those who left New Orleans about
the same time did and came here by way of
the stfmus OF Darien, it is true, got here two or
three months before us, but many who took that
route fell victims to the unhealthy climate of
Chagres and Panama, While we, on the other
hand, enjoyed fine health all the time and land
ed here fat and hearty in good condition to 90
to Business.
must now tell you something about this great
country OF CaEforna-ab the gold, &c. As
baVe not been here but a few DAYS my own
personal knowledge is of course limited to what
pertains to the City of San Francisco | have.
however, seen and conversed with many per-
sons from the interior part of the country and
the mining districts. | think that | have OBJ
tanned information that can be relied on That
there is.plenty of gold in this country, there is
no mistake. That the country is richer IN the
precious metals than any country now known |
think there is little doubt | behold the eviden-
ces OF the abundance of gold all around me.
see those evidences in the rapid rise of this city
and the enterprsing spirit of It's population. |
see evidences of the same facts in the demand
for, and the high price of labor. And see bet
ter proofs than all these in the article itself oil
which there is no small amount in circulation
The city OF San Francisco Is or IS months ago
was nothing more than small number of in
different buildings scattered over the hills, with
a population OF some 500 or 1000 Ii is now a
thriving city containing many very good build
ings with population OF between and 10 900
Inhabitants, and going ahead at an astonishing
rate. Common laborers are making from So to
$S per day. Carpenters and Bricklayers are
very much in demand. They get Ss12 per day,
Town property sells enormously high. Almost
any sort of a honse in the business part of the
city rents for 500 or $1,000 per month. Goods
at retail are very high, but at auction they are
low. Boarding in the best Hotels costs $16G
per month. The accommodations received even
at those prices are very ordinary. Washing costs
SO per doz. and every thing else in proportion
Many persons here are making fortunes, but
they are men who have capital. There never
was place, suppose, which offered better
field for capitalists. 1t is true, a man without
capital can, by industry and economy, soon gel
start, but the cost OF living is so great that il
requires some time for him to get few thousan1
dollars ahead, unless he goes to the mines an,
happens to be one OF Tie lacky ones From
what can learn there is good deal of luck a
bout this gold digging business. We frequentl,
hear OF man or G company of men, flor ii seems
they succeed best in companies of or 6) max
ing on an average for weeks and months togeth
er two or three ounces each per day
Sometimes we hear of men striking ricl
vein and making three, four and five hundred
dollars per day. These instances, however, are
rare, and last only day or two. From one to
two ounces per day seems 10 be a very ordinary
AVERAGE Weld for a hard DAVIS work man,