The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-01-18
LETTER IRON CALIFORNIA.

I ~ 'fN'fff'
LETTER PROM CALIFORNIA.
The following l. the main portion ola let
tor from Mr D. G., PfAHopy, now ia Cali
fornia 10 relative in tbis County, The
"riter n disposed 70 exhibit the "sunny side"
Of anairs, bat Il Il evident from his own ex-
porirncc that there IL dark side 20 the pie
ture,
SAs FaANcisco, Nov ~, 1850.
"Therhwas nothing particularly new or
I interesting iu the mines when | lon aud ia
regard to this city ! suppo,c you daily read
batter descriptions tliaa l,ceald Fivrs
/ From what had heard ! was disposed 10
believe san Francbco to be quito liule city,
hut when saw her spacious bay crowded
with yessols from every quarter Of the globe,
and the almost infinite variety Of goods which
flood her streets aud the busy thousands hur-
rying to and iro the spcndor Of her saloons
and gambling house,, tho design aud erection
Of her public works, the enterprise aud pub
lic spirit Of the private cirizcusi | wa lost ia
establishments
.t-yi1 NOT know what IDEAS YOU may have
formed in regard "a this country or-ghat re-
ports are current among you in respect to it,
agricultural, mineral, and commercial rcsour-
ccs; or If my opinion concur with that Of
others who have had an equal opportunity
Of Judging. speak of it only ~ il appears
to me. A. AN agricultural country, IL can
never equal the Western Atlantic State on
even the valley Of the Connecticut Many
parts, however, arr extremely fertile, parIic-
ularly in the valley .of the lula Lake,, aud
perhaps there Is not a better grazing country
than these fertile portions Of California. The
imports Of the country will for long time be-
immense it. exports, excepting the prrclous
i,t,.tal- with -r-ir rruvr Il they have not atfCS.
dy done so. H. mines are far from being en-
haustcd, perhaps not 1.-THE has been taken,
The mines rcseuhc corn6eld ia which a
hungry herd OF cattle have riotcd; IN some
portions lttle remains Ia be- done. in others
the work j. hut partial, ia others nothing has
been tourhrd Every year new mines will
be- discovered and half whispered tales will
reach the settlements and men in good bust
.
ofcoursc be for the most part disappointed.
The average of wages, after dcducting ncces-
rary uxpUuscs, will continue Ia IL less in the
mines than in the settlements, and for two
reasons, first, men choose TO work for them.
selves, second, each has great confidence in
his luck, and hopes 10 Toe one Of the favored
few who make fortune in a day There
are now, 10 pass the wet scasonin the settle
mcnts more men than work, still wages are
fair. have not heard of ones working for
less than two or thrco dollars per day, or If
not found, four or six. Rents continue enor-
mously high, for the room in which sit, 5000
is paid per month in the same building one
PAYS for Il chamber 2 ia.t ~ without fur
IsitrITV7 -rFsu-PcF month. tn The course OF the
winter rents must come down. Mercantile
business is growing dull and that has kept
rents uphill now business has been remark
ably good and almost cycry man who year
since had a little capital, and conducted his
affairs with any skill either here or in the
mines made money.
In the spring business will he brisk again +.
the mines which are now full will then b.
empty Of provision, &c, and there will be
greater number ofconsumcrs than ever there.
The Indians, ms they become acquainted with
the whites adopt their vices, drinking, smok- (
'ng, gambling, &c, and rs game becomes |
scarce are obliged 10 dig TO support them. !
selves aud habits. They are always fond of .
fine clothing and you would be amused to see .
them wear il.
Perhaps suit is owned by the family, one
wears shirt, one the pants one the vest, an
other the coat, another struts round camp
with pair of boots and the last has nothing
but high stock Or vide handkerchief tied IN
the latest style.
At home, We see them often perfectly max
I'd, but they seldom come to camp without
aa'e preteHtions to gcntiiity.
Sickness IS scarcely known them,
'ct, and they are probably the happiest peo-
,le in California 5
Higher in the mountains they arc hostile yet,
Z Is said there is a tribe at the hcadof King's
River, whittier than the Americans; several c
# my friends say they have seen them Since t
left the States have seen somany wonders .
hat haze ceased to believe anything impos- ;
iblG, and when see them myself, shall feel r
'ound to believe in the truth of these re- j
orts
My knowledge of the French and Spanish !,
ave me employment at small wages when o
rrived in the city and still remain at the c
'me place. have almost nothing to do but c
,tcrpret, receive the money and pay daily !,
Spanses and keep the books all straight. / i,
sight perhaps do better at something else a
nan to stay here at IS per day in some store II
r in business for myself bat must have a
tile better acquaintance with the place. and a
Il rents, &c, get settled before involve the 3,
tile dust carry in my pocket now. This W
orning l stood a long time on the wharf &c
If a mind to step on to a boat, ready TO leave m,
u the States bat like EambtoT who has al hi
lady lost, determined to try one throw NOR, ::