The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-06-29
c.rr.,pondencs Of the Journal.
San FRANcIsco, May %, 1853

San FRANCISCO, May %, 1908
All. SANDERS, Eso:-Once again on terra !
frma. Tossed for four weeks on the restless
waves of two oceans, feel a relief better
than described, at finding myself
at length safely moored in a comfortable ho-
tel in this world.renowned and wondrous city.
Well may it be called wondrous. have
seen many cities, but none that excite in the
mind of the beholder such emotions as he
feels at the first view he obtains Of San
Francisco. The sun had just risen in cloud
les, splcndor yesterday morning, when the
steamer "Brother Jonathan" of the Nicara-
qua Line, following close in the wake CT the
Northerner aud Columbus from Panama, each
with about 400 passengers, passed the Gold
en- Gate and moved up the Bay to their moor
ing before the city. The immense amount
of shipping in the hurbor, the green hills
stretching far away in the distance, the city
rising gradually from the waters edge along
the slopes of the hills which sweep like the
seats of an amphtheatre around the bay, all
together formed seem Of beauty and sublim-
ity which more than repaid us for weeks Of
conf nement on board crowded ship, and
made every bosom dismiss those regrets and
pinngs for friends and home, which the voy.
ager always feels as the distance increases
between him and those he left behind. On
entering the Bay and beholding the wei!
known stars and stripes floating conspicuous
" from the SUBMITS of the fortress-crowned
hills and the mast heads Of many noble
ship, the first feeling was that of wanderer
from distant lands returning to his native
shores. "Here,'' we said to ourseh es, Eve
are not strangers or exiles in strange land,
pining for home and mingling our home-sick
tears with the briny waves that roll at our
feet. Here the came banner floats above US
that rustled over our boyish heads. Here we
stand on American soil, in the confines of the
great Republic. Though mountains rise and
oceans roll between US and tine plaza of our
birth, we are still in our country. We have
changed our chamber in the paternal mansion
but we are still at home"
| IItraversing the city of San Francisco Gas
| have kept myself employed in doing to-day
and yesterday have been astonished, not
withstanding the high expecta tons | had
formed, 10 behold it's great extent, the archi-
tectural taste and beauty of many Of its
buildings, public and private, the variety and
richness of the merchandise displayed for
sale, and the immense crowds of people that
throng its streets. One who forms his OPT
Mon from what he has seen in New York or
New Orieans, can have no idea of the tides
Of human life which ebb and flow through
tbs streets Of San Francisco. And what is
most surprising. is the healthy and almost
universally genteel appearance Of the i'm.
mense throngs. Nvpaupers; no mendicants
begging aims; no poverty -stri cken wretches
appealing to tn, compassion and sympathy of
the stranger, while they excite his loathing
and disgust by their filth. Proba no 20.
pulation in the world of the same number
presents the same general appearance OF
thrift and comfort.
That San Franciscois designed to become
an immense city-the London of the Pacific
Il cannot entertain doubt. Why should
1t not! California, besides its boundless min
eral wealth, has as much tillabe land as the
state OF New York. So am informed BY
many intelligent Californans with whom /
conversed during the voyage. OF course
the trade Of California must centre at San
Fra ncisco. Besides this, it will have the
trade Of Oregon. of Washington Territory
Of Vancouvers Island, of Utah, of the West.
ern states of Mexico, of the Sandwich Is.
lanes, and of other regions of the Pacific
When we consider all these advantage with
It's unrivaled climate, see no reason why
San Francisco shall not be to the Pacific
what London is to the Atlantic. There NAV
De persons now living, who will find il as diff
hcult ifty years hence to realize what San
Fra ncisco was in the year 1853, (great as il
nov is) as we now find it difficult to realize
what it will be when the present century
shall be completed and be numbered by pos
teri'y With the ages that are past.
Having mentioned the climate of his place
l will say that if to-day and yesterday are to
be taken rs criterion by which to form an
opinion with regard to it, it fully merits all
the praise that it has received. Nothing that
that have experienced in the old states con
compare with the balmy freshness and (f I
may use the expression) the exhilarating soft.
ness OF the atmosphere, the bright azure of
the sky, and the genial warmth of the sun.