New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-27

MT RooLs and BroOms-C alifornia Homes
t-Cbeating on the other side-Frauds in
Shippers-Prosperity OF the Miners. &c.
San FRANCISCO wednesday Ma H. 1851
Fd,fors Of The Ne,r- York Tribune
Truly NAV it be said, California is prc-doom-
ej You will receive bythe journals ior~ ardedby
the steamers of tomorrow, full accounts Of the
great calamity which has befallen this city
Ouito all the business portion OF San Francisco
has been swept away, as 1t were with the bosom
If destruction. And no sooner were the flames
here fairly extingushed, than the news came
that Stockton had shared a like fate. The pride
Of these thriving cities has suddenly departed
They are unlike Eastern towns, proud even IN
their ruins In casting the eye over the district
which has been thus fearfully visited, Instead of
presenting the appearance where, few days ago,
busy population were actively engaged IN the
pursuits of trade and commerce, II has the re-
semblance of newly cleared forest, over which
the first fires had but Just passed. There are seen
the charred piles, standing far out IN the bay, on
which stood extensive warehouses and stores,
with their planked streets here and there are
living the backened timbers and rubbish that re-
main ofmany a goody structure.
The business portion Of San Francisco could
not have been marked out, mathematicaIlyl with
more accuracy, that it has been designated by the
* It. ~ T;,s;s; - ~
ton Yhc Ere broke oaI ,ast above fhe center
of the business section, and spreading itself IN
opposite directions, until 1t well embraced that
whole district it marched forward with the Inv
peiuosity of a destroying army, leaving desoIate
!. ,.L Notb a..
IN ITS scope was saved 1t was truly atempest of
flame and smoke The roaring of the fiery blast
the crash Of the falling timbers and walls, the
loud shouts Of the fiTemen, combined with the
food of fire which was rolling over the fair por-
ton of the city, presented an exhibition truly
terrific.
The efforts of the fremeu to suppress the fire,
were utterly futile They Were unable even to
prescribe It's boundaries In one instance, how
ever they did by great eXertlOn succeed IN divert
ING It's course while on the north part, near
Clark's Point, the voluntary eXertlOns of few
Individuals by the use of ireengne and appa-
ratus. belonging 10 : Watkins q Co of your
ciiy which was here on sale saved the new
wharf IN the course of construction large guam
tlty of lumber, the /. : Bonded Warehouse and
It's contents and a number of ad accent stores
But the mass OF the people, who had no property
and when solicited to aid either in attempts to
quell the fire or save property, they refused with
utter dIsdaIn, requiring stipulated and eXorbl-
tant price for the most trlllng service, and 1t was
generally eXacted as soon as II was PERFORMED
Hundreds We're busy Ia plunderina, which they
did with equal lnpuuity a. tho hres IN ther Work
of obstruction
II is difficult TO estimate the amount OF proper
" DESTROYED boy this fearful disaster But little
within the scope OF the fire was saved. Goods
were removed from one store 10 another, only
the sooner ln many cases, 10 he CONSUMED Be
fore the fire, great confidence existed In regard
TO several hre-proO buildings, as they were es-
tecmed To these, vast quantities of merchan-
disc OF the most valuable character were con
Veycd hut with The exception OF TWO they ana
not withstand the destruction. Many yentured
even TO inirust their lives with their property IA
these buildings, and Were consumed with It.
There are some facts connected with TINS ca
lamlty IN which the business community IN the
Atlantic cities are deeply interested IN regard TO
which | venture TO say few words. The ques'
ton viii naturally arise as to the effects OF this
wholesale destruction on the market here With
them, | have no doubt, the impression VIII be
that our recently OverStOCked market IS now
drained. Under this impression many will ven
ture blndly to rush forward merchandise here.
as IN numerous Instances they have heretofore
done But few hours spent here, this illusion
IN the bay are heavily laden with all kinds of
merchandise, which have long been waiting
vacancy IN the market 10 find sale beside, there
are many vessels remaining yer unaden. II IS
true. the price Of many articles has materially
advanced, especially building materials but this,
1t Is believed, is merely temporary In fact, the
rates fixed Tor the most staple goods, which I'M
medlatey after the fire took a sudden and great
rise, have been as suddenly checked and reduced,
SO ample Is the supply. Never was market so
thoroughly oyersOcked as this, before this con-
hacratl0n. And another fact must be taken INTO
the account which Will have a great influence
ON prices and supply which Is, that vast quanil-
ties OF the goods destroyed consisted of remnants
of old stocks which have been accommodating. to-
gethCr with numerous undesirable articles never
M demand here, and probably never Will be
With desire TO dispose Of these, they were ever
at hand IN store, awaiting the first call, and con
seQUently were consumed So that the effort TO
advance prices falterS and offers hut triiie
above the former rates, before the ire, md ready
acceptance The vast quantities of goods await
ing IN the harbor the completion OF the stores, to
be exposed m the market, keep advanced prices
al q stand and fuctuatlng. I'm fact, the market
Is quite unsettled. This stock now ready 10 nil
the vacuum produced by this disaster. it is an
tcipated VIII very soon be abundantly replen
iShed by large arrivals daily expected Several
large clipper. ships have been due for some days
past, whose cargOeS must SenSlbly affect the
market II IS not now as formerly, when the de-
mand was great IN supplying the first wants
every new arrival affects prices. In view, there
fore, OF these facts, and others which might be
enumerated, It must be considered that the mar
ktt Is Yet thoroughly stocked.
In shipping 20 California. Eastern merchants
seem 70 have been actuated by an lnfatuation
bordering On frenzy The attention of the whole
commercial world has been directed TO Calitor
ma and it does not require a large share of It's
fleets, 10 supply a population Of two hundred
thouSand-the estimated population Of Calfor-
ma and Oregon But the fascination Of hundred
per cen, profits has rendered shippers blind. IN
regard 10 what others were doing TO the dangers
nj Tie .arllll--r .fI-L