Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-07
LIFE IN CALIFORNIA.
cORRrsrOsDrscr OF THE nocHrsrrR DEMOCRAT.

SAN Francisco, MARCH 81, 1853
This city i growing rapidly, consequence Of the
rapid settlement Of the country and development Of its
natural resources It is said by parties competent to
Judge that the city now contains about forty thousand in
habants and that there will be more building done the
coming than before Most of the buildings
being erected and in contemplation will be Of brick
and granite other substantial building stone which
with our efficient fire department. will render us indie
pendent Of the insurance companies, and increase our
confidence in security from large fires.
The city extending in every direction, well into
the water into the country; and there many who
seek extend the city front six hundred feet further into
the bay where the water is twenty-five to fifty feet Deep
and which would cost millions millions fill up SO as
to build upon. Many millions have already been ex-
pended in filling up lots in the bay where large vessels
anchored three years ago. You the old huks of
sells in different parts of the city with large brick
several blocks further into the bay OF course the lots
on which these brick buildings arc erected are filed in
with sand to make foundation for them. Some filed
by rail cars descending from the sand hills and others
by teams bringing cart load at time and dumping it
in The lot for the custom-house is being filed in
and piles driven make it firm 1t will take long time
and cost an immense to complete it,
Although there inconvenience and dscomforts
attending residence here yet there some of the
comforts of life to be found here which you do get in
many of the Eastern cities at the same The
markets are well supplied all winter with vegetables such
as cabbage beets urnips, onions radishes CELERY let
tuce squashes &c. and in short time new potatoes, U
have seen them in market aready,) green peas BEANS
tomatoes and other similar luxuries will be abundant
| Fish of all kinds plenty, especially salmon, sur
geon and herring and nowhere they found of better
quality than here. Oysters and CLANS crawfsh, crabs
&C. plenty and soon the market will be surfeited with
IF ;olrA +ha Jatl,ac
islands along the Immense quantities of herring
taken here by the Chinese and dried Tropical fruits
to be had at all times and pears and grapes album
dant in autumn. You obtain bouquet of wild flow
ers at any tme but the flower is just beginning
and the hills around viii be covered with them.
There is large number Of Chinese in this city The
number in the State is estimated at 25 900. There
none arriving lately, they having ceased coming
count of the excitement against them here last year.
They are peaceable and Industrious and very seldom
drunk, disorderly, and vicious Some are engaged in
trade, most of whom on Sacramento street. above
Kearney but there many scattered through the city
engaged in washing Their signs stck ou every where,
and their names some of them funny enough. There
is Chinese theatre here where their peculiar character
music, dress, &C. are exhibited
The emigration from this place to Australia is extern
sve. There half dozen vessels advertised to
The from there contradictory like those
received from this country; but most Of those going have
friends there from whom they have heard favorable &C
counts.
Mining here continues about as usual; some do WELL
while many do not; but all do something and, whether
they make anything above expenses not they help
swell the amount sent away and the produced is
not likely to diminish for years.
Many are turning their attention to the certain
and profitable business Of farming and this year large
quantities of grain potatoes and other produce win be
produced. Large fields of wheat have been sown, and
there pleaty Of mills to manufacture and what is
brought from Chill which is very large amount. The
consumption in California is about fifteen hundred bar
rels day. nearly all Of which passes through this
ket II would take all the -four from the Rochester
mills to supply California this year After this year the
supply required from the E@st COM
paratively small unless the opening Of trade with Japan
should furnish market for the surplus here Con-
siderable quantities being shipped Australia
| from this port and also to Oregon.
4 ~ WnAan l1nA - D. NNxN