San Andreas independent., 1858-04-10
LETTER FROM sAN FRANCISCO.
LEON.

Mr. Editor -" Moments fly apace,
and impulsively grab few of them, to
apologize for not writing more regularly.
The fact is, that when the physical frame
is .jostled and jaded, the mental system
becomes weary and inactive. But, sir,
do not imagine | am trying to impress
upon your mind an idea that | believe 1t
requires any extraordinary strainlng and
exercise of the mental functions, to tran
scribe hurriedly, few observations picked
up en- pdssdnt.
Those who would be pleased to see
SPECULATION" written on the retina of
mems eyes, and the streaked principles
of "cheat' stamped on their hearts, ought
to visit this city. Those who are pleased
to see their fellow men steadily, busily
and proftably employed, would fail to
find that pleasure here. Rotten wharves
and mutilated sand hills, afford ample
evidence of lack of spirit and perma-
nency. A sort of gloomy reserve, betray-
ing slippery intentions, hang over the
countenances of men; and a strong dis
position evinced by our Z" big 'uns, to
harness and hold down the working mass.
Stick to the mountains, boys; the
pallid and vacant stare of disappointment
and distress (Which often breeds idle in
difference J in these regions, shows not on
the countenances of our "rural kings. :"
Keep away from our scores of putrid
scoundrels, who "carry fate and physic in
their eye;" those arrant grabsters who
endeavor to feed the million on certain
quality of food, in order that pills may
also find a market-who, arm in arm with
+" That quack, long versed in human ills,
Who first insults the victim whom he kills, y
goes chuckling along trying to compel
the honest crowd to ''pay for their love
and friendship"
Without any exaggeration, Mr.. Editor,
[ truly believe that there is, at the pres
ent moment, more destitution and distress
in this city. than the world may ever
knew of. 1t is also a DIRTY city; proba-
bly, more so than was ever known in the
history of man, among an equally intelli-
gent people. Many may repudatc this
belief, but let such once visit and stroll
round and examine for themselves, if
they want to be convinced.
The city is comparatively crammed
with laboring men, who barely subsist-
men with families, who are necessarily
compelled to remain from inability to re-
move. There is no public enterprise 60
ing on giving permanent employment to
laboring men.
"We've no huge buildings, where incessant
noise
Is made by springs and spindles. girls and
boys;
Where, mid such laundering sounds, the
maiden's song
Is harmony in uproar' all day long
The No. / mechanic-bear fashion,
may suck his raw, for the Jotches and
nibblers (nibbling it isl does pretty much
all the work, probably in consequence OF
their cheapness, rushing and roughness.
We have sufficient " Jeremy -diddlers'
among us to set all the dogs on the con-
tinent bowling.
AS you will be in possession of the pa
pers by the last steamer before this reach
es you, / will not attempt even, to allude
to the news, further than comment or
so, upon the fragrant insult given to the
people of this State by the withdrawal of
the OPPOSITION" line-so called-at a
moment when hundreds have arrived in
this city, to accept of the advantages Of
fered them of a cheap passage home
This, in fact, is one of the most heartless
and faithless tricks that an impudent and
treachcrous league of deceivers ever per-
petrated upon an honest miner. In ap-
parent intention, what has equaled this
mean trick in this country? Adams &
Co. (lucky dogs sloped with consider
able" Their actions were Jold, COM
pared with this. They stole, to be sure /;
but left those who lost their money in the
places where they had earned it. Here
many a poor fellow has arrived in San
Francisco with barely sufficient funds to
pay his passage eastward, at the profered
rates-having sold claim, cabin and tools,
rendering himself HOMELESS. The one
was a more sweeping and universal ca
| ldulily, Dut lOI IOW COuttu ptIDlilly, lHIS
last dirty dodge is unrivaled. l suppose
the money circulated in this city in con-
sequence of the disappointment of many,
will help the city-perhaps cause, event
ually, an appropriation of so-much to
mend the wharves.
There was quite crowd of men-cvi-
IDENTIFY intent upon going castward-met
in the Plaza this afternoon, endeavoring
to organize party, charter a ship to San
San Diego, thence go across to San Anto-
Mo, Texas | think, however, the scheme
in this instance, will not be carried
through.
"Steamer day" is near at hand again
curse steamer day." Would it not
be well to withdraw this line of steamers
too? Would not about two departures
be quite enough each year, for, say two
years to come? Would it not be God
send to the country to burst the whole
institution, shut up that gigantic mouth
which, like yawning gulph, swallows
the treasure of the land once fortnight?
But should " Gwin" happen to slide into
the claws of old Mortality, we would have