The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN FRANCISCO, December

SAN FRANCISCO, December 81, 1850.
To the Editor Of The National Era:
DEAR SIR: On the last day of the dying year,
it may not be improper to take glance at the
changes which have occurred in our young en-
pre. since the entrance of the year eighteen hun
dred and fifty. Credibility itself would be
severely puzzled, could it awake from twelve
months sleep and look at San Francisco now in
comparison TO what San Francisco was on the
first of January of the present year. Then our
city was just recovering from severe confagra-
ton, and the houses which were not burned were
built of light material which offered an easy prey
to the destructive element. Since that time three
more large fires have swept destruction over the
fairest portions of our town, yet, Phenix-like,
it has arisen, and to day San Francisco contains
treble the number of houses and inhabitants it did
one year ago Where the tent or single shanty
stood magnificent brick buildings have arisen as
if by magic, streets have been regularly laid out
and planked, hospitals have been erected, police
department scarcely excelled in the world been
established, the arts and amusements introduced
The refnements of civilized society spread
amongst US, and San Francisco, instead of being
as then mere sojoirning place, has become city
of permanent residence as pleasant as any other
in the world
California during the present year has been
acknowledged as a sovereign State of our Union,
and in her borders are found law-loving and law
abiding citizens. The little broils that have for
a moment disturbed our political peace have been
promptly quelled, and everything now bids fair
with promise and hope. The sturdy farmers from
the West, East North, and South, have come
among us with their wives and families, and our
rich, virgin soil has been upturned by the plow-
share Fields of grain are waving where, year
since, wild cattle were rowing uncontrolled, and
gardens green with culinary vegetables Of every
variety supply the place of a wild unfenced
prairie. The old adobe buildings of the Califor-
MIA rancheros have given place to neat and pretty
m-houses, around which hang the smiles of con-
tentment and peace. Never was SO large ter.
ritory so completely transformed and regenerated
as has been California within the present year
May she continue to progress until she has ful-
filled her great mission, in the spread of free and
enlightened principles along the whole length and
breadth Of the Pacific coast.
Tired of the eternal din of our city, started q
few days since, armed and equipped in true Cali
fornia style, for a land excursion to San Jose
About ten miles from San Francisco, the road
which has previously passed through rugged hills
breaks upon broad plain covered with green
carpet with occasional groves of large and spread
ing oak trees, among which cattle and horses
were grazing. All along the road, the spirit of
Yankee enterprise is plainly exhibited. The
broad, watered bottoms have been fenced, and are
under cultivation, and little cottages are springing
up on every hill side. We stopped at night at a
hotel newly established about forty miles from
San Francisco, where we RECALLED ourselves upon
wild game, fresh butter, eggs and other little lux
uries which are not to be afforded in the city.
Our bill was nice item in horseback travelling
that night, and will astonish one unused to Cali
fornia prices IL Was az follows