Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-04-22
to Father specimen worth 81 is. l would
send larger piece if thought it would go safe
Yours, afectlonatery, w. w. II.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, !
March Lei 1250 Z


just arrived and have just experienced another
failure to receive any things from home TIL. Sc
repeated failures TO hear from you all has rem
dered my anxiety and uneaslness great indeed.
What can be the matter? Is it because YOUR
letters have miscarried or is it because none OF
you have written! | sometimes fear that the
latter is the case, for get letters from Alabama
from "A few friends made during my soourn
there-but from home, that place from which
most of all want TO receive tdines, am des-
tined so far to receive nothing no. not even a
newspaper. When first arrived here on the
I'd of October last, received one letter written
by brother Samuel in June last; about the time |
was in tsle city of Rio Janeifo, but since that
time have not heard a word from you, not
outstanding the arrival of some half dozen
steamers all bringing the U. S. mail
This is my third letter to you all from this
place-the first written soon after my arrival, !
directed TO Father, the second written some
months ago, directed to brother Samuel, and
now have concluded TO address this one to you
and let me beg OF you TO sit Gown and write to
me as soon as you get through reading it.
You need not think that because live in Cal
ifornia am out OF the world-out Of the pale OF
civilization, OR out OF reach of mails. 1t now re-
quires only 35 or 40 days to get intelligence
here from any part Of the United States. hope
then that after this letter comes 10 hand YOU all
will renew your correspondence as in days of
yore
In my previous letters home nave said a good
about California, and if this letter should con
tain a repetition OF things previously written YOU
must excuse me, as do not recollect what |
have heretofore said.
1t is very difficult for persons living in the old
States and accustomed to old and established
manners to realize the novel state of things in
C~Jf, A
and perpleAed With everything around him.
Upon entering our large and beautiful harbor,
the first thing that meets his astonished vision is
some or 500 sail Of vessels from all quarters
Of the globe. ANXIOUS, once more, to place his
feet OIL Terra Firma, he bounds from the ship
that brought him here into a little yaMl, and af-
ter winding his serpentine course among the
shipping and paying the boatman So, he lands
upon one of the Wharves and finds himself in
the midst of busy throng and OH the threshold
of a large and flourishilg city. Where some 10
or Is months ago stood a little, insignificant
Spanish village, he now bcholds large and rap
idly improving city containing a population Of
some 10000 inhabitants. He puts up at Hotel
and finds that he has to pay S or rs Der day for
board, and upon enquiry into the cause of these
high prices, he learns that his landlord has 10
pay about as much for ones month rent as he
would have to pay for tw else at home. In short,
he finds that he must estimate everything by an
entirely new standard-that everything is in
proportion-that if board and rents are high, la
Dor and merchandise are also high If t9le mer-
chant has to pay or s or 10 hundred dollars
per month Tor rent, he sells his goods at profits
that enable ham to pay his rents. If the me-
chanic or the laborer has to pay high board, he
receives compensation for his aal or that ena-
bles him to pay IT. A common aborer here can
bot rcs,r}3|Efo G2 nor "A do
make from ~ to- SIG Times here are not so
good as they have been during the winter The
long rainy season has just closed and the rush
TO the diggings for the last twog@r three weeks
has been very great, leaving San Francisco with
only small amount of floating population
During the rainy season, which lasted from the
1st of Nov. to the 1st of Feb, our city was
crowded to excess with persons from the mines
spending the winter, consequently business was
better. There will doubtless be vast quantities
Of gold taken out OF the mines during thepresent
men 10 dig for it. The facilities, too, for OBJ
tanning it are better than they have been. Men
are becoming better acquainted with the pro-
cess OF obtaining the precious d,lst-but Still
there is a great deal depending on luck and still
more OIL hard work for man anywhere in the
mining region can, with industry, make fair
wages, say some 6, 8, or $40 per day.
! have frequently heard the average earnings
in the mines estimated at an ounce pes day, but
now am inclined to think that is an oyer-esti-
mate. 1t is true that fortunes have been made
and are still to be made in the Mines in COM
paratively short time. 1t has frequently hap
pened that men have found rich spots and have
taken out large quantities Of gold in few
months. have seen a good many Of the big
Jumps that Nave been brought down here, but
still have never been particularly anxious to
try my luck. Sosne facn come down cursing
the mines, while others who have had better
luck say there is no place Like them for making
money SO that between all the conflicting ac-
counts it is difficult to form very correct opin-
ion OF the true state Of the matter. One thing
is pretty certain, that mining is very laborious
business, and generally speaking a very profita-
BILE one. AS for myself don't expect to do
much digging, for think | can make as much
in an easier way.
am still engaged in the mercantile business,
with my friend HUTcHrNs. We commenced bu-
siness here about the LIST of Janiary, with cap
ital olabout $1,000, (50e1 each, and now our
stock in trade has about doubled itself We deal
i'll q little of everything that will pay but prin-
cipally in Groceries. We have jus: paid 5000
in Advance, for one months rent of our little cs-
Enlistment, about as much the whole concern
would be worth in Waynesboro' but we can pay
III ana pay our BOARD ana Sill make S2UO apiece
per month. This know looks strange, but il
is even so. I do all the outdoor business, such
as buying and traaicking, While my partner,
who is good salesman and very popular fell
low does pretty much all the selling. 1t FREE
quently happens that we sell 100 ora $a5o PER;
day, and our average sales arc from ~ 10 SEQ
Our profits are 100 per cent. on most articles.
No credit here. AS long as can do as we'll
here as am now doing shall not go to the
mines, unless 90 forthe purpose of trading with
the miners There is no difficulty il. making
money here il a man has money, but it is get
ting TO be good deal harder for poor man to
get start here, than it was a few months ago.
n know 2 great many persons now in the city in
quest OF work without being able to get it. Your
trade has been first rate here, but now it is rath
er dull. There are now in this city at least 25
or 80 Tin shops.
]. w. MORRISON.