Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-08-30
For THE Enquirer.
Extracts Of a letter from a merchant in California 10 his
brother IN this city.

FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Extracts Of a letter from a merchant in California 10 his
brother IN This city.
SAN FRAScIsco, June 30th, 1850.
| wrote you on the 18th inst, giving you an account OF the
destructive fire Of the Nth. l can now inform you that this
city is rapidly recovering from its baneful effects, although
some persons have been rnined b. il; but in thirty days
more il will he all rebuilt. A great many fine fire proof
buildings are in progress Of erection, in one Of which, l have
a store, which | hope 10 move into, in eight or ten days,
when / will not have such a dread OF fire. There is no news
here of importance; business is getting much better, and We
all anticipate n brisk time, in five ar six weeks. All, or n
greater part of the Virginia boys are at the mines, and the
accounts from them are not of an encouraging nature: il is al
most too early, the waters being as yet high.
The rush TO this country is as great even greater than ever,
and ii is really l~aughable 10 see some after they arrive, who
find things very different from what they expected. In many
cases they are objects OF pity. They come with the brightest
expectations, but finding themselves so much disappointed,
little balance of cash may be left, when they have 10 GO a.
any kind OF labor that offers. This causes many OF all pro-
fes>ions 10 change occupations; for instance, you sometimes
see n Doctor, Lawyer or professor ringing an auction bell,
driving a cart, or digging dirt. There is very little sympa-
thy here for 4 man that is broken, unless lie is sick, then he
is sent 10 the hospital, but if he is well, go TO work is TIE
reply from every one he asks for Il favor.
There is still plenty of money TO be made here, but il re-
quircs money TO do il. Money is the best stock a person
can bring, but if he comes without il he must expect to hoe
a pretty hard row 10 accumulate a oi.une.
Ii 4 man goes 10 the mines and gets 4 or s., 1000, he is con-
sidered extremely lucky. Now JUS, Imagine a man leaves
home, spends $500 To 81 900 10 get here, undergoes all the
hardships you can imagine, absent probably two years, re-
turns, i ! many Instances, with n shattered constitution, and
say $1,000. What has he made? answer nothing. Now
not one IN ten can get any sum like even Si,000. These are
facts which you may rely upon. | have learnt them from
my own observation within the last nine mon,hs-all the
stories you hear about large amounts being picked out in
one day, are nineteen times in twenty lies, got up by per-
sons having stores or otherwise interested in the spot where
they wish 10 attract the crowd, 10 sell their goods, &C.
and, in many cases, the poor fellows who get their s and $40
per day are induced to travel from 10 10 100 miles TO be dis
appointed, and find it all a humbug. II is certainly a great
country for n young man who has no ties and can 90 TO hard
work, for in a great many cases he may make fortune; but
really | do seriously think, a man who has a family, and is
a unnI LIVING in The Stofpa ia cartaiply ~
come here.
R.,r,cu n n Ar.noro DC