The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-01
A Picture or San Fr,no,.co.

The following letter, (says the New York CONNER
eiai Aduertiser,) from young man who went from
this city to California, has been handed to ms for
publication. Glowing and hopeful for the future as
its contents are, the hand that wrote them ia al
ready cold in death. The writer sleep. in a stran.
gers grave, having fallen a victim, we believe, to
acclmation and exposure.
SAN Francisco, Jan. 18th, 1850.
Having promised in n previous letter TO give
yeu description Of our Furnishing town, ] will
without farther preliminares proceed 10 my task.
This being the rainy season, and the soil principally
OF the nature Of clay IL IL almost useless 10 add that
all things have very muddy appearance. By day
men are. Obliged TO grope their way with sticks,
and at night with lanterns. Mud and curses mu.
SIC and demoniac yells Of gamblers meet you
everywhere. greater number Of gamblers never
were collected in any one spot and every means is
resortcd 10 70 entrap all who pass by the door Men
enter gambling houses with their tbousa nds and
come out pcnnilcss. and rice versa Scarcely one
man here follows his legitimate business Here
may be seen the lawyer and the doctor, and even
the minister, side by side digging a sand bank and
making roads one of our New York music Sellers
who bad quite extensive business at home IL now
porter in store; while Of gentlemen's sons
arc bar-tenders and walters, and many are paying
telers Tor the gamblers at monte, faro, rondo, and
other games.
Among others is gentleman Of high repute,
who st home was president Of college, but now IL
ox-tcam driver. Meantime, those whose bust
trunks, boxes, &c, &C, through the streets upon
their shoulders, while your humble servant amuses
himself by working silver mine, in the shape of
digging In a sand bank, until the season will allow
him 70 go up TO the gold mines.
"Tbcre Is no distinction Of classes here, as at
home; for let a man be a laborer, or a gentleman
at large, the one is likely 10 be the none yed
man az the other, expenses are the same 10 each
II is impossible 10 get board at under S25 per week
unless Il be in a tent, where you stand a good
chance Of getting good shower bath, Free about
once in every twenty four hours. The population
now numbers about 60,OO0; Of this number New
York city is represented about as strongly AZ any
other ten places you can mention. Only think
what motley miSture--Americans, French, Eng
sh, Chilians, Mexicans, Germans Sandwich Isl
afders, Chinese, and those of many other nations
Still the utmost harmony prevails, and theft is
thing, although property Is more exposed here
than in any other place know Of
1.-THE houses are built Of various materials. Some
are of wood, with roofs; others of canvas
with wooden roofs; some Of iron and wood: few
Of brick; some Of OK hides and poles; while tents
not few, are scattered through the place.
"Ihc public conveyances arc few, and these
wagons and carts, drawn by most miserable half
starved mules and hard gosded oxen. These We
hices very frequently get begged doscn in the mud,
when, II the teamster is not buried in extricating
his animals. he is considered lucky fellow. Oc-
casonally may be some of the fair sex,
taking ride in Of these same carts. The price
Of cart here is about ten times the price Of
rage at home"