Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-02-07
California Letter.

| from Pork House at 81 cts. Whiskey Il cts Nav
| igason still impeded.
California Letter.
The following letter is from former and well
known citizen of Burlington. 1t was written to a
relative Of his and copy it from the Iowa States
man:
SACRAMENTO ClTr, Nov. Is. 1919.
FRIEND ALBRIGHT Through the hur-
nv and hustle of business, snatch few
moments to write TO you. The last time |
wrote you was by the first U. S. Mail; |
was then in Oregon, ! left for this place on
the 18th of May, and arrived at this place
on The Sd Of July; making my second trip
by land from Oregon.
On leaving for Oregon last January, l
was partner with Bergman Jennings
and Adolphus B. Hammer, who | left in
the mines but in different sections of the
country. A short time after left, Ham
ner left the mines and commenced selling
goods in this place; Jennings remained in
the mines until the LIST Of February, then
returned TO this place and commenced sell
ling goods, in a small way with Hammer;
waiting my return before they would set
tie permanently in business Immediate
ly on my arrival l was taken sick and was
for some time unable to advise i'm business
matters during which time we made per-
manent partnership for the three. Jen-
nings Immediately left for San Francisco
to replenish our stock of goods, but before
his return my health had so far improved
that had been able TO get the run Of spec
ulaiion; we sold what goods we had on
hand for town property, and commenced
preparing to build; about this time We
took in as a partner Geo. w. Bell and
started our firm Hammer, Jennings & Co.,
they being most known in business and
expecting | would return 10 Oregon soon,
Jennings & Hammer had purchased seve->
raj lots in this place previous to my re-
turn which had risen much in value when
l reached here. Mr. Bell had purchased
one lot in San Francisco and built house
previous to the partnership and had
also purchased thirty acres Of land adjon-
ing the town Of Monterey, which with the
property purchased by the other partners
was all put into general stock. Our at
tention has been partially turned TO build
ing since the last arrangements. Our
monthly rents for buildings is 81, s75,and
for ground rent $3.50, making So, 2O5 per
month, always payable in advance. We
have also an interest in two barques Of
about 800 tons burthen each, which we
keep running in the Oregon trade; also a
schooner Of % tons burthelr, running from
San Francisco to this City.
Adolph b. Hammer is Sheriff Of this
district which makes employment for two
of us, Hammer and myself, when we are
both in the city. The proceeds Of the Of
flee is at this time about 81, 500 per
month. Our fees for serving process
in town is $40 and 81 per mile for trave-
ling.
The mines remain as good as when
wrote you, the Oregon men have done
well all summer, and fall; their average
has been about $50 per day, and many
have made over 800 per day, while at
the same time the Eastern Gentlemen whe
are afraid to dirty their hands or soil their
clothes are daily returning to the State
with the story that the mines have failed,
or that it is all hour, though it is well
known that no other class of people have
succeeded as we'll as the Oregon men in
mining. This l can attribute to two eau
SEES only, first gold cannot be got without
labor and the Oregon men are working
men. and secondly man should be ac-
quainted with back woe,ts fare, to search
the mountains until he finds a suitable
place.
Merchandise Of all kinds is OH the rise,
the advance has been one hundred per
cent. within the past mouth, it is caused
by the great rush to get winters stock
to the mines while the roads are passabe.
The winter rains set in about the first OF
the month, though the hauling TO the mines
is not entirely cut Of yet. Sacramento
City is one of the most Hourishing towns
on record; it has even gone ahead of San
Francisco since it commenced. Its first
improvements were about the first of
March last, and now has more business
done in it ihan st Louis had when left
for Oregon. Ffo1 gambling and drinking
Liquor California beats the world. 1t is
estimated that 500, 900 pass owners at the
card tables daily; more than one half the
houses in all the towns are liquor shops
and gambling houses. From four TO six
tables may be seen daily engaged in
house from morning till morning, hardly
taking time TO eat their meals.
Bergman spends the greater portion of
His time in San Francisco in attending to
the business connected with our vessels.
| think of giving my attention to the bust
ness of the company for about one year
then shall settle on my farm in Oregon
for life. | am. with respect, Yours &c.
5. S. WHITE.