The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-01-17

hCtc are SOillG lew COOI-uoauGu
men IN possession of capital who, availing
themselves of the fluctuations in prices,
will succeed in making money; but, be-
lieVe me, the present prosperity of San
Francisco is apparent, not real, and that
most here will be ruined.
The daily deluges Of rain remind us that
the rainy season has set in, and as there
is not seaioUse in the whole town that does
not leak, and since many people is house
less, and since the dust of the summer has
become the mud of winter, and the whole
site of the town has been turned into
slough of half liquid mud, into which you
penetrate at every step TO the height of
your knees, 1t is likely that the nha bitants
of San Francisco will become, as Mantili-
III threatened to make himself, ''demnition
cold mOlr bodles,' and remain so till the
return of summer. Men go about plung-
ing into the mud puddles, for there are no
pavements, and it is useless labor to at
tempt to pick their way, with their legs
encased IL enormous boots, like Prince
Albert's, about which Punch has let off so
many jokes Boots and heavy brogans,
as.you will see by the price current, have
risen into very considerable commercial
importance, and are quoted at enormously
high prices, and with an upward tendency
as the merchants say.
There is quite range of buildings from
ting the town, which are now, since the
commencement of the rain, only connected
with the main lands by means of narrow
wooden bridges, and which bid fair, before
the winter is over, to declare their lnde-
pendence, and establish a town of their
own on the opposite side of the bay. A
strong southeastern y gale has been blowing
for some days, stirring up the habor, caus-
ing the ships to drag their anchors and
bring them together to their manifest
disadvantage. All communication be-
tween ship and shore was cut off for
several days, in consequence of the storm
"a frequent occurrence at this season, it
is said.
There is a dock called the Central wharf
brick house or two, nightly perform
ance of some circus riders, new hotels, and
new pine houses rising by the dozen, ev-
cry day or so, and other evidence of de-
velopement There is the steamboat SEN
ator, too, that reminds one Of the \ North
river, playing daily between San Francisco
and Sacramento City. The Town of San
Francisco has certainly made much pro-
gress during the last two months, partly
from the necessity of things, and partly
under the stimulus of artificial prosperity.
There must be nearly two thousand
houses, besides tents, which are still spread
in numbers, giving the outskirts of the town
the appearance of military encampment.
And what do you suppose to be the rental,
the yearly value of this card house city?
No less, it is said, than twelve millions of
dollars, and this with population of about
twelve thousand New York, with its
five hundred thousand inhabitants, does
not give a rental of much more than this,
if as much.
The rainy season is floating the popula-
ton Of the mines and of the interior towns
into San Francisco. Stockton and Sacra-
mento, ION the site of the latter Gen. Val
ejo told me he had frequently sailed in a
boat,) as they situated on sloughs generally
overhown in the rainy season, and as man
is not an amphibious animal, must of course
be deserted by their inhabitants during the
winter.
There are some forebodiugs of famine;
there is in truth reason TO fear that many
of them in the mines, and the Immigrants
by land, may die of hunger, as all cOmmu-
nication will probably be cut off between
them and the towns where supplies are
| alone to be had.
/ | have seen some of the miners, who
! have told me that it is with utmost diff
Guilty that they succeeded in reaching The
river towns, as this is the beginning of th(
rainy season, such was the state of tht
rivers and passes. Provisions, too, ar,
said TO be very scarce even in San Francis
co; the prices of them are certainly very
high. Pork sells at siXty-five dollars
barrel, and flour at forty, though it i
doubtful how far these prices are owing tt
scarcity or to the juggling of the specula
tors. The loaf OF bread about the size O
breakfast roll, which was selling at 2;
cents, rose in price in single day to fifty
cents, and beef from one shilling to two
| shillings. This looks as if the Speculation
had been at their tricks. The fact is, the
whole town is converted into one mighty
| gambling hell; it is not only thecard deale
who is shuffling cards at the faro and mont'
tables, but the merchant and land specula
tor as well, that prey upon the community
they are gamblers all.
There is necessarily great demand oil
the part of the newly arrived immigrant
for shelter for themselves and property
The dealers in houses and land, buvin,
! their wood and buildinr their crazy WOO