The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-22
The Dark Side of California,
FROM ENGLISH CoRREsPoSDENTs.
From the London Times, September 80
Ep Inlu ri III


From the London Times, September 80
SAN Francisco, July 81, 1850.
am, as you may see, in the regions OF The gold
diegngs, but am going 10 attempt visiting the
real oiggngs, as the accounts very unfavorable
from that quarter from those who have been there.
II we were TO believe all that we read in the news
papers, we should make our fortunes there in
few months but the fact is, the different papers
have different interests in the different mines the
propnetors OF each are more or less Spectators In
The different new cities and townships, and their
different pufis have deceived many thousands OF
emigrants, and caused much distress among them.
Some few have made much money at the mines,
but know many who have lost hundreds OF dol
lars by going there. The kardships there are very
great, and the risk of life and property more 50:
Lately, twenty-seven people have been murdered
at the Stockton mines by the Mexicans and Sono-
fens. The country here, at present, may be con-
sidered healthy, generally speaking. II is general
~ believed that, next year, The diggings will great
~ TALL oil III their produce OF gold as nearly the
whole OF the geld digging country is now taken up
by upwards of one hundred thousand diggers, who
will lind all that is 10 be found before November
next, which is the commencement Of the wet sea-
son. You will see, by some papers / have seat to
the Times, more than ! can tell you here. This
place lately has increased greatly IN size IN fact,
great part of the town is built on the water, upon
piles. For six hours in the day the sand blows
about TO that degree that you could not observe
friend across the street ii is far worse than driv-
ing TO Ascot or EPSON 10 the races, on very
dusty day, just behind lot of omnibuses. Nearly
the whole city of San Francisco IS built upon loose
sand. Ii is not the diggngs OF gold that has made
this place, but II has been made by the ruin OF
thousands of British, French United States, Nc,
merchants, who have sent their goods here never
to be accounted for. Whenever ire takes place,
hundreds take advantage of il, and close consign-
ments in consequence, whether they are burnt out
or not. Those days are now drawing TO an end, and
unless gold dust Is sent home IN sucient QUANTITIES.
TO pay the exporter. which cannot be the case II
the digging fails, San Francisco will fall more
rapidly than il has risen, there is nothing 10 the
country 10 export i'll any quantity, but there Is little
doubt that the country around, more especially
Oregon, will he fine field for agriculture. Those
diegefs who have been fortunate enough in collect
ing their pile, II is termed, seldom winter here,
but clear out Immediately from The country. Many
OF the merchants here live extensively, but, IN
reality, upon other peoples property. Meat IS IRON
I'd. 10 Is. per h.; flour, f22 per ton potatoes, sd.
per lb.-they nave been, since | have been here,
(two months ago. Is. per Id ; and onions have
been 5s Cd per Id, now Is 81. to Is 3D.; fish not
numerous, but about double the value OF meat.
Labor, 30 day, but rather scarce, on account OF
The immense daily arrivals OF emigration they not
being able TO go Ia the mines on account OF the
enormous tax OF go month Board and lodging
is from Sos. 10 Sos a week House rent from 500
TO $4,000 month, according to the house and
situation. Gambling is carried on 10 an enormous
extent, but latteriy, am happy 10 say, II has been
discontinued on Sundays, which was the grand
day of days in the week This place has been
patty burnt down three times, but been ON tire
several times. saw parties actually building the
same day OF the fire, on the same ground that
were cared of the ground. never saw such GO
ahead people in my life. This city may fairly be
called hell upon earth. The worst Characters from
ali parts OF the globe are here and all the known
vices are carr ed out To the greatest extent. left
New Zealand in February last, and was left upon
Fcairn's Island, inhabited BY the descendants OF
the mutineers OF her Majesty ship Bounty; four
other pnssenger were lett there with me. Two OF
us-Mr. Carleton end scif-were there 10 days, the
remaining three, II days. IL was most Infamous
attain; but here we cannot obtain any redress
-. IL. e L..
arrived here 81 days before the vessel that left
upon the island. We were well out Of her,
as they were six weeks on pint of water
day, and hardly any provisions | landed
and enc pair Of trousers, besides those had on,
everything had being on board the vessel lett IN
New Zealand IN II will, therefore, be a hard case
II DO no. leave THIS country richer than IN
came into It, You may with ,.y,n wrte against
people coming here fro, Old EnpIand Great dis.
.rt.s ana 's'ufeances are anticipated here in the
W seeS~n, when the miners come down from the
"".aes days work may be done then for a loaf
OF bread, and perhaps less They have just com
meRced TO pave the streets here with three.inch
plaDks all over. The mud last winter was In some
Of The streets Fix feet deep The city 10 about
soOO,oOO IN debt, and no one will lend them any
money, so that many intended improve nents are
only half finished. Colonial people are looked very
closely after, especially those from Sydney. Ships
are not so numerous as they were. A large nnm-
ter have gone to New South Wales for Goals
place and the rivers inside the heads OF this har-
bots.
The quickest news from England has been 81
days, which was up TO June D. Money bears an
interest of 10 per cent per month on good sccnry
six weeks ago II was 10 per cent. Nothing Is
much done without money; those who have mo-
ney are making large fortunes. Some of the gam
bling rooms are 100 feet long 60 feet wide and 20
feet high, very handsomely furnished, and rent
about $4,000 year. Parties have been frequent.
~ shot IN these rooms, on account of disputes re-
gaTdiDg the gambling, and 40 more notice of the
affair taken than il rat had been killed. This
place ~ horrid hole-very cold in the morning
and evening, and warm IN the middle Of the day
and generally half gale q wind from the 5. w.
from 10 A M. TO L. VI. every day during the
summer months. The winter Is much warmer
than the sumner, bat there is much rain and sell
dom any wind TO speak of. Large ships are bought
here often for $500 to 81 600, in good order aud
well found in everything. The smaller vessels,
such schooners, baltimore chppers) as those of
from 100 TO 200 tons which were tw months ago
worth Sl2OOO, are now only worth $1,000 TO
s5,OUO,-the steamers btiag now so numerous that
they take away all the liver trade from them. A
steamer was launced here yesterday that had been
building only seven weeks. There appears TO be a
very jealous eye, and great wish to ge! posses.
zion of the Sandwich Islends, by the Yankees; and
II there IL a chance of getting holt OF them they
Will not allow hem TO slip through their hngers
No English man-or-war has been here since the
steamer Driver, three months ago, which IL very
strange, considering the enormous quantity Of En-
glish shipping in the port, and no consul here
The Msxicans and Sonoriaus that have lately left
the southern mines tStockton) are going TO the
northern mines, where great disturbance is ex-
pected will take place shortly. IL clever man
had time, he could compile one Of the most anus
ing works ever written relative to this place. The
various and extraordinary ways in which gentle |
men employed here you would hardly credit. |
RINeGoLp, Ell DoKADo CO., Call, Aug I.
MY DkAR AuNrs-I have tried the mines in all |
parts Of California, but as was never used to hard
woIk. must give IL 10, perfectly satisfied that
cannot make money in the mines. | worked five |
weeks steadily IN creek, and averaged five dol |
Cars Of duet per day; the highest ever made at |
mining, was ten dollars in one day, working six |
hours per dayihree hours after sunrise, and three
hours before sunset. | often think OF your words |
TO me -" John, know you cannot stand seeing |
me working at the mines, and Eot try II yourself" |
Indeed, auni, could not help Il ; the gold fever |
was 80 strong on me, that, not content with doing
well at Sen Francisco, must starr for the mines.