Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-03-28
From the Boston Journal
California Correspondence.
SAN Francisco, Jan. 8. 1850.

Dear Sir: Here have been STAYING since
the last OF December, trying To obtain for
myself and few friends our letters from the
Pont Office. have spent seven days in
constant attendance at The office, going into
the line and applying, name 10y name. and
have al last so Tar succeeded that shall re-
Iurn to Stockton tomorrow. Let me give
you an idea Of the extent Of the business in
the Post Office establishment in this place.
The steamer which arrived Dec. 2Sth, Lru't
10000 letters. aud there were mailed AT this
office for the steamer Of Jan. /, 22,000.-
they began TO deliver letters Monday, Dec
81, and Notwithstanding there are about one
thousand private boxes. there were for the
first two or three days from one hundred To
two hundred persons waiting their turn. end
up 10 this day there has nut been much
smaller number of applicants in attendance.
] have myself been through the line forty
Ave times. The lowest number have seen
waiting when the window was closed, al
sundowI, was about fifty. For few days,
the clerks delivered nothing but what came
by the last steamer; since then they deliv-
er all received since last July.
The complaints against the government of
the United States for the Inefficient iacii-
ties afforded us for getting our letters, are
loud and deep. They have nm efficient off,
Ger, but their appropriations for this office
are SO sIinted, that he is unable 10 extend
but moiety OF the conveniencrs which are
demanded by the extended and important
business Of the place. | trust the govern
n,ent will move in this matter, and not lei
the cream ol the mail carrying business he
forced upon private enterprise. ! have 10
doubt that thousands of letters went by pri-
vate ami express conveyunces in the last
steamer which would have goue through the
proper channel, had government taken such
measures as would have ensured more
speedy mid prompt fuliment OF its trust.
lett the milies for THIS place Dec. 231,
after a severe rain Of thirteen days. The
roads were i,npassahle for anything but
man. | left INV mule 20 miles from where
started, tired and jaded out, although he car
ried me not more than one third of the way.
footed it so miles TO Stockton, with INV
blanket and India rnbl,er poucho n my back.
We had considerable rain in October, aud.
very Unexpectedly To every one, the rain in
November, was SO severe, that all mining
operations were suspended for long time
They were resumed for few days, but ut
the close of the month, il was evident to all.
that the rainy season had commenced in
good earnest. Up to Dec. Is, we dhl hot
have a week Of fair weather in the moarh.
Many persons in the mines being unprepared
for this early emfree of ,IIe rainy seasnn.
started for San Francisco, flooding that place
with surplus population entirely unpre-
pared for The severity of the winter, and
thereby occasioning much suffering and dis
tress. Those remaining in the mines (about
three-fourIhs Of the whole) wilt do besr, all
though it was feared, and with much good
reason. that the early setting in of rnin pre-
vented sufficient supply Of provisions be-
ing sent to the mines TO last till spring
Should the rainy season end and fair wealth
er set in BY the middle or last of February.
as y confidently eFpscsed, no ainrrss will