The Arkansas banner., 1849-05-22
CnIilornia--SlngnInr ainte of ANnira.


 gives the most elsar connected and graphic descrp ton have yet read of the condition of affairs in the new Ei Dorado. The character of the writer enables to vOueh for the perfect accuracy of his statements. Truly. Is the condition of this new State most singular and unparalleled We hope, however, ih4t affairs will soon settle down into quiet and order, and the great resources of the country be developed in a peaceful and gradual 
 SAN FRANcIsco, March 3, lSlg.
 We sailed from Panama on the lst February aHd arrived here on the 2eth February. touching at Acapulco, San Bias. Mazatlan and Monterey We had board more than four handred souls, with only fuel sufficient to reach Monterey, where we remained five days 10 get wood enough to run us to this port. Most fortunately we had calm weather nearly the whole, passage, or we should have run short of fuel many hunded miles south of this, which would have placed us in a very un- pleasant situation as the California does not work well under sail.
 most singular state of things prevails here. It is believe without precedent in the history of the world. The cold weather and snow have driven ali the miners from the mines into this place and Mon- terey. They are devising all sorts of modes of spending their gold and killing time, of which gambling appears to be most in vogue. In fact. there Is nothing going on here bat gambling and drinking. Everything is selling very high at re- tail; wholesale prices more moderate. Flour
  thick clothing very dear cioaks at retail $lO0, pants Sl5 10 SIS per pair anne shirts $5 to e each; shoes S9 to SIP per pair hOots to S2S blankets S30 to 40 butter $l per lb; brandy $7 to Si0 per gallon; milk S per gallon; cut nails % cents per b.; wrought do. 50 cents; lumber $500 per 1000 feet. There in this harbor about forty merchant vessels, ships. brgs, schOoners. many with cargoes aboard, there being few places on shore for storage. The greater portion of these vessels are from the South American Pacific coast, snd freighted with flour and assorted dry goods and groceries some are from the Sandwich Islands. with sugar, fruit, &c. The variety of flags among the shipping strikes one with surPrise-there are American. English, Hungarian. spanish, French. German, EcHador, Peruvian, ChiliaR, Russian and Mexican vessels, all huddled together. Labor, especially mechanical. is high; carpenters command from S7 to $9 per day; man with horse and cart can earn from $i0 to $50 per day. Board is quite reasonable under the circumstances-SS and $l per day being the usual price washing is $6 per dozen-Ss is frequently paid. A seamsirrss can easily make 500 $50 per day. making pants. Wood is $30 per cord. Nearly all the vessels in port without men, their sails bent and slowed away in the hold with perhaps the captain aud mate aboard, as ship-keepers. The California has been in port fonr days and the crew have all left, engi- and all, with the exception of the boatswain, cook and steward. who, in all probability, will soon fellow. The condition of the ships here like that 
 the river Styx, and were condemned 10 wander for its bAslks, looking in vain for the of recrossiug it. It Is probable that shall have all the Compaay's steamers here in abanch, like box of bad herrngs. It would be easy matter to frame advertisement to the probable date of the Cafornis's departure. Sailors have offered to ship for Oregon, short trips to southern ports for SlOD per month. Jack appears to delight in the atmosphere of California, and generally refuses to go beyond it's influence. All We heard ia the States about the gold mines is fully confirmed here. There is gold in abundance. All who go to the mues do weIl-some return with fortunes; new discoveries are made every day. The millennium, so far plenty of gold is concerled, cannot be far of. That this mining region, extensive and rich, -and traveied over by Indian hunters for hundreds of years, should so long have remained secret, is certainly astonishing. l have seen single lump of gold, found the Middle Fork, valued at $2.l00. l might regale you with many other gold stories, but fear you would think me somewhat flighty. from the effects of the quinine which took the Isihntus 10 of the Pa mama fever, which. by the bye, did not leave ne until made the latitude of Upper California.
 Flour has been sold at the mines at $4 per h., $500 per bb shoes $50 per pair; pants Si0; whis- ky or brandy g drink. aud net allowed to help yourself Prices are now a little reduced, though yet very high but will fall considerably on the arr- val of the stocks from the States yet believe all
 
 settlers the Sacramento is terribly high; Sl2 per bbI for flour, SIS for pork and other things in pro- portion psltry launch of few teHs earns $l 200 $I ,500 in few days. O. for steamboat. hatboai, anything with a steam engine in il! saw SS,000 refused for old lesky launch of about six tons. which faight sell in the States for Sl00 Sl50. There are plenty of foreign schooners here, but Commodore Jones will no, al low them to run up the Sacramento. hence the high rates of transportation.
 small iron steamer, to run coastwise between here and Oregon, on The north. and san Diego San Angelos, Monterey, &e. on the south, would do a splendid business As the existence of coal in this region is doubtful, steamer should be built that wood might be used to make steam.
 l am greatly disappointed in the much vaunted climate of San Francisco. Since my arrival the weather has been very dsagreeable-chilly and cold; and the worst of s that il remains during the entire summer. am writing in my state room on board the California thy cloak wrapped around me, and my hands and feet cold us charity. Snow may be upon the distant mountains and hills iii almost every direction. In this town winter clothing is required the whole year round. During the summer the mornings are warm and pleasant until ten o'clock, when the usual winds from the north set in. changing the weather 10 u piercing cold. Confound such a climate. am told. how ever, that short distance from the coast the cline is more genial. Several new towns. Beniad Stock ton etc, situated at the head of the bay are coming into notice.
 am of the opinion that this place is not favora- ply situated fer large commercial city. Besides the uBpieasaniness of the cold winds, there is no wood in the viciniiy, and all the provisions from the country are brought long distance and at U heavy expense These disadvantages are not en- conntered by the towns located at the head of the bay. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, lots here eoniinae to advance Prepery, which short time age sold for hundreds, nov brings thousands.
 Government pays ten thousand dollars year rent for good nothing little warehouse. which would not rent in New Orleans for five hundred dollars. The most miserable shed of dwelling house rents for fifteen to twenty-five hundred dol lars year The town is snrrsunded by high, na- 1 ked hills and the fiat inclination at the base Is so that there is not room 10 build city of any magnitude, unless by cuaing away the hilis
 Commodore Jones is here, with the Ohio (74). 1 sOops St. Mary. Warren, Pale. Psebie. aud the storeships Relief and Southampton. The rainy I season is not yet over. Ii will probably continue