Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-02-23
From The ". o. Crescent, Tth inst.
CALIFORNIA NEWS.

OhlLlr OhNlA NEWS.
We are greatly indebted to an esteem
ed friend, who came passenger by the
Falcon, for the interesting details below.
The steamship Oregon left San Francis
co, Jan. L., at 8 Il. M. having on board
one hundred cabin and about two hun
dred steerage passengers, with freight
list OF gold dust amounting to over ST.
100000. The entire amount of pold
dust and freight list is estimated at about
S3,O00,0O0. Business at San Francisco
is rather dull on account of the rains. and
merchants preferred investing in land and
real estate. Gold dust, the day previous
to the Oregon's leaving was in demand at
SIG TO the ounce for shipment, and must
continue to command that price until af-
ter the rainy season.
refer you to the papers for the local
news, among which will be seen an ac-
count of the destruction by fire of a large
amount of property. AT the time of nv
leaving, some 8 or A of the ruins were
nearly rebuilt, and were under contract
to be ready to move in by the 9th. Of
these may mention the Dennison House
and El Dorado.
We passed the propeller Hartford be-
low Santa Barbara, making hei up finely
to San Francisco. This boat has had a
hard time oft, having got out of coal,
and has been lying at Acapulco for some
two months.
The Bay of San Francisco is being en-
livened by steamboats,. The propeller
McKim, formerly'of New Orleans, has
been proftably employed as repulnl
packet between San Francisco and Sacra-
mento city. The Senator is also in the
same trade. A new boat of Aspinwall's
line called FL Doradu, is nearly completed
for the same trade. I1 h- a
The bay of San francisco contains
some three hundred sail of vessels, of
which some two hundred are idle, and
without crews. Previous to the Oregons
leaving labor was much reduced in value
and especially seamen's wages. Seamer
were shipping for voyages to the Sand.
wich Islands at nominal wages--not owe,
$50 per month; to Panama 20 to 80; tc
Oregon rs; on the rivers from San Fran
cisco bay 60. This is great reduction
as only some two months since no seaman
would accept less than 100; and then la
borers readily commanded from 6 to s
per day. This change is owing to tht
accession of laborers constantly arriving
and the continued rains which prevent
out-' oor labor to great extent
The Town Council of San francisco
have had three large sales of town lots
which have realized one million of dol
lars; and were to have another sale O,
the 3lst of January. They have open
\ ed City Hospital, and are making grea
Improvements on the streets. Rents col
tinue high, and buildings of every kind
style and condition, are being erected
L doubt whether there is one hour in th,
twenty-four that the sound of the ham
mer or saw is not heard in the town o
San Francisco certainly not for tn,
five months of my residence.
twill he seen by the papers that Cal
ifornia is democratic in her late vote
There was no attempt to adopt froe-soil
ism or Wilmot-provisoism in the contest
The constitution of California has wisel,
settled tn ,se disturbing sentiments SO fa
as regards Il State of California. Wha
position in aspect 10 these parties thu
California delegation will take, / am una
Bile to say; but it is hoped that may keer
aloof from all sectional and embitterinaa
conflicts, and support the Constitution
and the Union 5N'
WEDB's ExpEDTIoN.-Severali individ
uals who were attached to the ill-fatet
expedition led by Webb and Audubon
have arrived in San Francisco, having
reached that place in December last. Ouj
informant does not recollect any of th,
names except that of Henry O. Mallory
They suffered very severely on the route
and passed through many hardships.
I THE TWO PRESIDENTS,
A letter from a member of Congress.
Il EAII