The North-Carolinian., 1850-08-24
From the n O. Delta.
A PRACTICAL LETTER FROM
CALIFORNIA.

CALIFORNIA.
The following excellent and interesting letter
a kindly loaned to by friend, to whom it
was written: 1t will be found to contain,a great
deal of valuable information respecting the pre-
sent state of affairs in CalIfornia-being the i'm
pressions and observations of practical and
observing gentleman.
San FRANcIsco, June 80, 1850.
| landed here on the 9th instant, after
a trip of twenty days from Panama and
with short residence here | am not
prepared to judge Of matters and things
as find them, in reference to the future ;
and the most would dare do, were to
fill volume, would be to state facts. and
leave you to draw your own conclusions.
There is 40 mistaking one thing, which is
apparent to all new corners, and that this
is most wonderful city, and country, and
people By the journals you will have
learned that the fires Of 4th May and l4th
June have done a vast amount of damage.
| was turned out Of my lodging on the
18th, and lost some of my clothes, ETC..
and was somewhat scorched III an attempt
to save them but [ must confess | never
before saw fire to compare with this, and
the rapidity with which such a fire sweeps
over a city, is really incredible. In the
long dry season, when every thing is par
ched, and with city built entirely ofwood,
you may suppose, that with the strong
winds which pravail here, it must make
quick work. But, if people are turned
out here, they will not stay turned out !;
and cannot picture to you the energy with
which they drive up new improvements.
Just one week after the fire, l counted
eighty one new tenements up and going up,
of which number some ten or twelve were
open and doing business, and l presume
a still larger number have been commenc-
ed since.
When landed. looked about at the i'm
mense7crowds and the hustle of business,
and learned the enormous rates of rents
and every thing else. could not but re-
fleet t!laetwo years ago, this city of from
forty to fifty thousand people, with her
five to.six hundred ships, and forty to
fifty steamers, and her five daily newspa-
pers, and seven churches, and her various
banks and other public buildings, was but
California or Mexican Rancho. ltseem
ed to me like a stupendous humbug; like
an immense bubble, just ready to burst.
But time effects great changes, and l find
Though it is hard to feel it to be So that
the basis on which all this rests is. perhaps,
sufficient to warrant its continuance.
1t will not do to credit all the stories
told in the United States about California,
for there are certainly two sides to the pic
ture, and | am inclined to think the dark
est is kept out of sight, to great degree.
at home but here it must be seen. |
make no question but the mineral wealth OF
California is GREATS immense-and,
perhaps, exhaustless; but the labor, health.
and life that must be necessarily expended
in bringing it out of the bowels ofthe earth,
are not, in my opinion, properly estimated
in the States. People are dazzled by the
large arrival of gold going home, but they
do not consider the vast number OF people
who are wasting away the robust con-
stitutions, and vigorous health with which
they left comfortable homes and families,
to deIve into the earth for yellow gold.
1t is true that very many are fortunate,
and find a rich and speedy return for their
toll, and think most who can retain good
health, mig ght do well, but for the fact that
large portion of those who come here,
come with such vague ideas as to the size
and ferocity of the IS Elephant" they all
come to see. that they directly get dis
appointed and disgusted unless they hit
upon some lucky spot, and fill their leather
pouches with the yellow dust at once.
would say, in all sincerity to all who can
get Soou HFiES dt ho'"S' "IAS '..''
where you can get some. if not all, the
comforts of life. But you may talk ever so
much to people, of the hardships OF the un-
dertaking. and of the uncertainty OF the
result, aud it will do no good, for they
think :: they read their title clear If not
Ito mansions in the skles,' at any rate,
to rich drawn prize, and to mansions
built out of the returns. Oh, how sadly
disappointed have seen many who came
here with high hopes!-but l cannot go
into details, for am making too long
a story Of what fear will fail to interest.
You NAV not be aware that, though |
usually say little, am inclined to believe
| think as much as most men, and try to
make myself acquainted with causes and
results of what meets my eye and ear. l
have gathered some information here. re-
lative to the country and thsstate OF things
in the interior, from reliable sources, and
am confirmed in the opinion l entertained
before coming here, relative to the facility
of making money here, in mining or any
other occupation, but l am happily dis
appointed in relation to some matters con-
nected with the country and its resources,
aside from minerals. l lately met with a
man with whom have been long acquaint-
ed, and in whose judgment and opinion.
touchiug any matter connected with a new
country, repose great confidence. lie
had Just returned from tour to the head
waters of the Sacramento, seventy or eigh-
ty miles beyond where the gold digsers
have penetrated-and previously he had