The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-01-23
CALIFORNIA.
Letter from Bayard Taylor.

Messrs. Greeley f. AcElrath:
The world never witnessed a more wonder
full growth than that of this place. lett here
for the Sacramento country on the I'd ult. and
returned on the 24th,-yet in that interval
the city was so changed that no longer re-
cognized the streets. The small, one-story
wooden buildings which replaced the tents
standing when first landed in August, had
been moved to the suburbs, and spacious three
and four story houses built up in their stead.
The vacant spaces had been filled up; fronts
of brick began to make their appearance );
large hotels and restaurants, showily furnish
ed stared at me in unaccustomed places );
the throng in the streets seemed doubled and
all the hurry, confusion and noise of great
city was so well initiated, that on landing
from the Senator on a clear moonlight eve
ming. | could see little difference between
Clark's Point and Pier No. l, Montgomery
street and the lower part of Broadway, or
Portsmouth-square and the Park. A year
ago, there might have been 500 inhabitants
calculation, upwards of 10000.
The rains have rendered the streets in the
lower part of this city next to impossible
The mire is in places two feet deep, and mules
are constantly being stuck. with their loads.
When the rain was worst there was no re-
source but to wade. High topped boots
brought and still bring, six ounces.
Prices are higher than ever. and there is no
probability of their ailing, before Spring; at
least, Provisions of all kinds, am informed,
are more expensive than they were at this
time last year, Notwithstanding the supplies
constantly coming in from Chill, Mexico and
the Sandwich Islands. There is no variation
in the cost ofliving, except that lodgings may
be had at a cheaper rate. Houses are fitted
up now, ship fashion, with state-rooms. each
of which contains four berths. In this way
an ordinary room will lodge twenty or thirty
persons. The cost of lodging in this style is
Sc per week. Boarding, of plain kind, may
be had at $l4 and Is per week. but almost of
the ca Lighthouses it is $40 and $25. see no
probability fmuch reduction in prices, for a
year to cone. In view of the enormous ex-
pense living, event the simplest way, there
should be immediate provision made by the
General Government for the proper remune-
ration and support of the Army, Navy, and
all the civil officers.
Laborers' wages have slightly decreased
since last wrote. The carpenters have had
"a strike here. as well as III Sacramento City,
and gained their point. Walters get $3.50
per month. Many persons have come down
from the mines, seeking employment for the
winter | have no doubt there will be cases
of want and restitution here, as everywhere.
Several suicides have been committed through
and dependency. Physicians
who are connected with the hospitals here.
inform me that they have frequent cases of
lunacy under their charge, some caused by
the sudden accumulation of gold, and others
by the lack of it. Poor human nature
The amount of business transacted here
would astonish our New York merchants
The commerce of the place. entirely exclu-
sive of the vessels from the Atlantic, is al
ready very important During the month
Just closed, there were seventy departure S
from this port two of whirh only were for
Atlantic ports. The commerce the Pacific
reaching to Australia, India. and China, is
already concentrating to this metropolis OF
Western America.
The gambling houses still continue to do a
fourishing business. They are more densey
packed Of nights than ever Notwithstanding
Rowe's Circus offers a much more rational
place Of amusement. The principal build
ings around Portsmouth square are occupied
by monte. faro, roulette, rouge-et-noir and
vingt-et-un tables, and whatever other infer
nal form the passion for gaming may take.
The sums lost and won would almost exceed
OGllCl; COulu LIIty NC CAcCIly hllONI. AS TIC
city grows, however, and places of innocent
recreation become more frequent, this class of
society will rapidly diminish.
Mr. Moore, the interchangeable Postmaster, is
kept at work day aud night by the rapidly
accommodating business of the Office The
Panama took from here about $4,000 letters,
and the Unicorn will take about 11,00O.-
From sunrise until after dark there is a con-
slant throng at the office windows and the
queues formed when the mail is first opened,
reached down the hill, into Portsmouth
square.
In the pIacers at present there is a good
deal of work. About 10000 persons will
winter in the mines, the greater portion OF
them upon the Rio Americana, the Stanis-
Iaus and Mariposa. The yield Of gold seems
to be on the increase, and from all appearan-
| ces there will be large quantity dug during
the Winter. The diggings on Feather Riv-
er, the Yuba. Bear Creek, the North Fork
and the Stanislaus have been unusually rich,
and the companies of miners who have gone
to the unex plored rivers south Of the Mari
posa are confident of good luck. Nearly
! 900 emigrants, who crossed the Sierra Ne.
vada by Lawson's Pass and the Bear Greek
route, have stopped on the upper waters of
the Feather and Yuba rivers. and will there
winter. The supplies of provisions through
out the golden region are very scamy, and
unless the past few days ofdry weather have
again rendered the 70 tus passable, there will
be suffering for lack of food Deer are very
abundant, however; miner. late from the