Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-18
From the 81. Louis Tntcligencer.
EXTRACTS FROM ONE OF MR. oRoOKETTsLETTERs
RAN I'm AMMAN Nav 40 IS59

SAN FRANCISCO, MAY 30, 1853.
One Of tho most startling facts connected
with California, Is the enormously high
rents which property In favorable local..
ties commands. Notwithstanding tho rap.
| i'd multiplication oil houses In all the chief
towns, rents have abnted very lttlo from
the highest point to which they have ever
attained since the discovery OF gold in ihiRI
region, A few months ago the Union TO-
tel, wooden structure in this city, was
consumed by fire, The proprietor ho,I
erected upon the same sitS magnificent
fire. proof, brick building, four stories high,
and which Is furnished with elegance md
good taste which would do credit to New
York or Boston, Indeed, | have rarely
seen a moro imposing structure any where.
This building has just been completed at a
cost, lOurn, Of about seventy.live thous.
and dollars, and Is now under tent at six
thousand dollars per month. A vondcr of
cigars has n little stand in ono corner of
tho main saloon or bar.room, for which hoI
pays u rent OF $500 per month, us appears
from the following extract from one Of the
morning Gpers:
llIGn RENTs.-The lessee of tho cigar
stand in tho saloon of the Union Hotel
pays a monthly rent Of 5000 for tho priv.
ilego Of his corner This fact may give an
idea Of the immense amount Of business
transacted by the establishment, which is
thronged at all hours by "all sorts Of peo.
Iple" The tables In the billiard saloon IRE
| in almost constant demand. Notwlth.
standing the high rent paid for the Union
Hotel, amounting We understand to three
times the income Of the President OF the
United States, the lcssSos have every pros.
pect Of reaping u golden harvest.
The basement is appropriated TO stores,
the next floor to an immense bar.room or
saloon, and magnificent biliard.room,
which arc fitted up with degree OF spen.
dor, almost unknown IN such establish.
ments, ON the Atlantic coast. On the
third floors ARE lawyers aud doctors offices,
and tho fourth is used for lodging looms,
which are let by the day. week or month !;
each of which rents at the rate Of 100 per
month, or four dollars per day, il taken by
the day, AT these rates, it may easily be
seen how the lessee can afford 10 pay So.
900 per month for the entire building. The
property is owned exclusively by John
Middleton, Esq, formerly of Philadelphia,
and is leased by Isaac n. Hall, Of New
i York.
The Mormons are gaining ioothold in
the Southern part of this State, which OK.
cites fear with some that after while
thoy may DO found to DO mconvenent
neighbors,
The Chinese part of our population Of.
ford most interesting subject OF observo.
ton. Their appearance, dress, habits,
modes of life, religion and government Ure
so wholly diSsimilar from ours, and the
world has heretofore known so little of
either, that when one has an opportunity
to observe them narrowly, he leels that he
is treOding upon comparatively new ground.
The first impression made upon the mind,
in beholding n crowd of Cinnamon, IL that
they are an exceedingly supplemented,
cheerful, contented and harmless race
. They chatter away with volubility truly
|, marvellous, and apparently are full of fun
+ and good humor. Their predominant vico
\ appears TO be love OF gaming. They
$ have almost countless number Of gam.
! bling houses scattered through the city, and
which are generally crowded to excess, es.
peCially at night. They do not use cards,
? or any OF our gaming devices; but simply
smuli pieces Of brass about as large us a
: dime, with hole through tho center.
4 The banker, OF dealer, takes up a double
handful OF these and throws them upon
the table, and so fur as | comprehend tho
matter, il appears that tho bets are upon