Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-02

siding at San Francisco, the following extracts from
which may possess interest for your readers L.
San Francisco, May 8, 1854
This is q unique country, and in many respects with
out precedent or parallel regards the country ITSELF
its productions, capabilities, and business well the
practices which rife among The political dema
gogsm and the corruption far outstrip any thing of
the kind in the Atlantic States Politics here inter-
woven into schemes of corruption They almost al
ways used TO aid project Of land lot jobbing
Office creating What think you Of bill creating the
Office of inspector Of lumber the fees of which
gulsed that for this port alone they viii yield 100000
per annum 1t is well understood who is to be the APP
pointee, if becomes law, and also among whom the
income will be divided. 1t has already passed House,
and viii doubtless pass the other. The amount which
has been expended aud the promises and engagements
which have been made in connexon with the struggle
in the Legislature to bring on the election Of United
States Senator at this session would hardly be credited
on your side. Among other developments it appears
that banking firm in this city, which have been very
active and indefagable in favor Of making the election
at this session with the view defeat Dr. GwIN are
sureties many bonds of State officers that the
aggregate is three millions of dollars Talk of the purity
OF the non 6ang party and the corruption Of Incorporated
banks Many here are getting heartily sick Of the
sttuonal prohibition Of banks, which prevents capital
from coming into the country and which would
competition and lower the present exorbtant in
terest which have such crushing and whitening effect
upon business of every kind
Loans can readily be made here the best kind of
real estate with FIRE proof buildings at two-hirds the
lowest cash value with fire policies as additional SECURE
y ct two to two and half per cent per month"; and for
term OF years The fire premium the best brick
buildings is one-auarter per per ,nos,6 which 10
anoat the annual rate in New York aud Philadelphia
The above IS considered very moderate rate Of inter-
est ana money can be obtained these terms only
the very best kind of real estate security the
principle that good real estate in New York you can
obtain money on mortgage OF six per cent. per annum
when ut the same time the undoubted commercial
paper may be and half or two per cent per month
on the street. The following instances Of shaving"
are within my own knowledge within the last few days.
good note having only hrywo days to run, sold at
discount OF eighteen per cent for that period from the
face OF the note For another Of thousand dollars
good, good-haying fourteen days to run, check was
given for nine hundred dollars Transient loans, good
to Indifferent, made the rate Of
per cent per day. have known fifty dollars given for
the loan Of check for ST. 900 for three days. How the
mouths OF the Wall street shavers would water at such
chances! small house and lot-a bakerywas recent
~ sold for twelve hundred dollars and rented back to the
seller at one hundred dollars per month
All the above may be considered, in great degree, as
the practical working of the prohbtory banking clause
IN the constitution it tends greatly to lessen
petition in oanng money and leaves the poor and needy
man to the tender mercy Of the bloated capitalist and
grasping shaver. Had they allowed banks, and pro-
hbited them from issuing any paper money it would have
been OF vast benefit to the general community and the
business OF the country and such prohibition would
have confined all the operations Of the banks and the
currency Of the country exclusively to gold and silver
and would also have done away with the great andndeed
only objection to the banking system.
The great body Of opposed to this state
of things and were it left to them would strike
to what has heretofore been the cas it is the moneyd
men here who are the leading opponents to creating banks
MAY Is, 1854.
The scheme for eectng Senator this has been
defeated HAMMOND 1.-THE Colleotor in his glory at the
result. Had the election come off, BRoDERIcK would
undoubtedly have been chosen. Now DR.. GwIN may
have chances as new Legislature is to be chosen
in September.
The inspection lumber BILL it appears passed only one
house and was not reached in the other.
You may have heard that the banking agents Of the
State in this city neglected remit to New York the
funds meet the interest the State debt which
had been placed in their hands for that purpose and which
was payable there and that Duncan, Sherman s. Co., Of
New York. advanced the amount to the credit Of the
State What think you Of the State Senate rejecting the
bill to reimburse Duncan Sherman Co., the plea that
the State had already placed the funds for the purpose in
the hands Of its agents in this city, So Duncan Sher
man Co. cannot obtain the money from the deaulting
agents Of the State here, they must lose the amount
There is State honesty for you.
The discrepancies in prices here are remarkable.
caulhower that would not go into your hat is sold at
twenty-five CENTS salmon land such salmon Of thirty
pounds for dollar potatoes of unusual quality at
twenty cents per bushel whilst for Christmas turkey
one pays twelve to fifteen dollars chickens three to six
dollars perpair, and eggs and half to two dollars
per dozen. We want scientific farmer to find out
what there is in the soil which kills poultry
Wheat land produces thirty, thirty fve and forty bush
els per acre. What will not California become when
SanZed on the principles OF common honesty Sucn
health, tool The physicians starving from want of
practice there is such universal health and is
that hot night has been known; sleep is
freshng The thermometer this morning at SO, at
noon ~, at P M. 60. We shall have rain until No
vember and all summer the COOL not to say cold wind
sets in at to o'clock and renders overcoats and fires
acceptable. Russia Hil which part of the city is
built is 30 feet above the water and Telegraph Hill
nearly 200 feet The view of the bay and lower city from
these heights is beautiful beyond description and
dered singular from the absence Of trees the
nearest mountains.
Had we any real commerce 1--WE have only Imports be-
sides the gold fields which actually better this year
than ever what country this would be! Should the Ja
panese ports be opened, we shall have tremendous
trade, particularly if get, probably shall in
few years, half million more people here. In esti-
mating the energy and producing capabilities of pre-
small portion Of and children and that though
we may number only 100000 to 100000 souls lin the
State, the adult male population in that number is eqsa
to what is usually found in general population Of mil
lion that has the usual number of and children
JUNE l. 1854.
Nothing new here of consequence The last fire swept
of forty houses 1t perfectly calm. Had the wind
blown hard five hundred thousand wooden houses
would have gone; but have the most effective fire de-
parment have seen. The main body Of the city
nearly all brick and many houses perfectly fire.
proof than those Of New York. Rents are declining
marketing also, and wages.
If we had laborers and horses we could grow wheat
enough for all mankind Thirty forty bushels per
the ordinary produce, and only planting in tro
and at times in three years but the expense Of labor
the farmers present prices with the enormous
freirhts hence to England.