Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1849-08-18
CalifOrnia-Late.
From the New Orleans Picayune of Aug. 5.

llon with Mr. fenry -. Cooke, a gentleman from
san Francisco the I'd July, who came hithcr the
Falcon. He corroborates the information we former
ly published as to tie genial nature Of the climate
and the abundant resources of the country, which
are as yet but very little developed. Mr. Cook is
native of Philadelphia, and had for the last three
years been trading on the coast of California, his
principal commercial relations having been with
Valparaiso; consequently his experience extends
the whole time that has elapsed since occupa-
ton. According to his testimony the climate in the
interior is delightful, although on the coast atmos
pheric changes as is natural to all spots in the tenn
perate and in the vicinity of the sea,
sionally sudden and extreme. The great valleys ly
ing between the Sacramento and San Joaquin
FERTILE virgin lands must always be, and offer the
finest prospects for agricultural labor. From the
few water courses that exist the hand Of art will be
required for purposes of irrigation.
Much of the dark coloring which the pictures of
California, drawn by the Mexicans bore, is attri
butabe to the general disappointment OF operators at
the mines, which occurred at the time Mr.. Juan
Reddirg wrote, and which was occasoned by the
rainy and the consequent foundations, that
prevented the diggers from continuing on the pla-
GERS except at the loss of health, and with made
Quate returns for their toll The waters subsiding,
digging had recommended with the abundant
reward before. Mr. Cooke represents the coun-
try as offering the greatest inducements to all who
are willing to work. Hundreds however, unaccus-
toned to great bodily eXertion-young men of ten
der rearing with little natural energy-have tried
the digging, and became disguised with it, turning
their attention to other channel of industry
Hence there is at San Francisco at the present
ment a great number of unemployed clerks for whom
situations cannot be readily obtained in consequence
of the comparative paucity of stores and counting
houses there. They have, however,, never failing
resource in manual labor, which is extraordinarily
remunerated. Those who in employ paid at
the rate of 500 or $3.50 month. Book keepers
have occasionally from $4,000 to $4,000 year
Iandicraftsmen, masons, SC. receive SIS day
washing had fallen from 50 to Sc a dozen lumber
from $500 the 1000 feet two months previously was
selling at $780, brick brought from 50 to 500 per
l0O0 according to the quality.
We learn from courteous informant that the
quantity of gold in the hands of individuas-the
diggers principally-in California, is immense. 1t
is believed that within the last three four months,
nay, perhaps for still longer time, the opinion has
been extensively entertained by the diggers and
others, knowing little about the operations of money
exchange, that their gold is worth SIS an
Under this impression they only part with barely
sufficient to purchase necessares the rest they hoard
for better time coming, which they anticipate. 1t
is estimated that only onethird of the gold collected
is actually exported the remaining two-thrds being
retained as a rest No wonder that prices Of lots are
SO high since gold is always at hand to exchange
therefor. Mr.. Cooke gives us the following state
ment of the amounts of gold dust shipped within the
five weeks preceding the list July
On the Oregon, S4S0,000
DrltlSn lflgdlG lncOllStanl,. 0Uu,btU
U. S. sloop st. Narys, .......... 225,OOO
Total, ...Sl ,OOJ,uUU
The price of gold at San Francisco is $3.50 to
SIC the ounce.
We learn from him also that most of the large
companies that went out from the States broke up
on their arrival in California, from very natural
cause-t was easier for men to get along alone,
few banded together than in heavy parties. All the
machinery, large and small, that had been taken
out by adventures had been Abandoned and the new
diggers resorted after trial so, to the old wash
PAM the cradle, pick and jack-knife, which were the
most effective.
Gen. Smiths famous order intcrdictng foreigners
from working at the mines, remains dead letter,
and it is not deemed probable that it will be
vived while California remains Territory. For
eigners are only those Who are ulacquanted wthour
language; English, Irish and Scotch, whose
cular is the same own, have the rights Of
American citizens mhesitatingly conceded to them.
But it appears that the Chilenos and Pervians, who
there in the greatest numbers, have adopted a
plan by which they seem to be protected from any
Jealous visitation on the part of the Government
Many of them imported laborers-peons-wh work
for themyat the placers and in order to give APP
pearance OF something American to their enterprise,
they hire an American citizen, at handsome APP
pointments, species OF overseer. This invests
the with quasi national character, and all
satisfied; the overseer represents it to the
thories If General Smiths order is spoken of, and
in consideration pockets portion of the dust the
poems are continually excavating and washing. As
to the collision which it said hourly
pected between Americans and foreigners, hear
that the report very broad eXaggeraton, if not
positively an invention. Among the poor and needy
of the two certain jealousy existed, but it
not a general sentiment.
Immense sums, Mr. Cooke informs us, have been
made in buying and selling town lots at San Francis
co. Dr. Powell, U. S. N is one among many cx-
r,rIas In nf INN airpbh na
he obtained leave of absence, and took up his resi-
dence for time at that port. Whilst there, he
practsed, and laid out few hundred dollars in the
purchase of land within the town. He died prema-
turely on his way back to the States, but his real
estate at San Francisco has been lately sod and an
account of sales sent to his widow, exhibiting sum
of not less than $4,000 in his favor. Trade is also
a means by which very large sums have been made
in short time. gentleman who came hither on
the Falcon, started at San Francisco in June, 1915
on a small capital of S26l. Mr.. Cooke sold him his
first venture of goods. That person is in pos
session of $4,000 to $4,000, the returns Of his
S261. Domestic servants at hotels, stores SC. earn
in San Francisco from 500 to $50 per month;
stewards get $1,000 year.
Another letter to the New York Tribune, says:-
Over 10000 tons of shipping are now lying at
anchor in front of this town, which, added to that
of $50 vessels now their way from different parts
of the world, will swell the amount of tonnage in
the harbor of San Francisco beyond that of New
York or Liverpool.
The Legislative Assembly of this District have
recently incorporated Company, who about
erecting magnificent wharf, where vessels may
lie and discharge their cargoes. Several other
wharves have already been commenced, and the
great bugbear, the fiat in front of the town, which
spectators in Bencia" and that worst of hum
bugs, g New York of the Pacific lots, have made
such hue and cry about, will disappear and
leave them (the SPECTATORS their vctms) fiat on
their backs.
The high price of town lots i'll San Francisco will |
necessarily have the tendency, however, to drive
many young and enterprsing men from the place
to other towns. But that can't be helped. Lots
which cost two years ago SIC, are now worth
$4,000 and even $4,000.