The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-06-10
Commercial Advertiser.


IT was in the summer Of Is49 that we strolled
~u<she warehouse of G. B. Post & Co., located at
Ie then terminus Of California street. San Fran
isco, along the beach distance of half a mile or
more, to Rncon Point, without meeting a building
TO obstruct course, though few rough cottages
and tents scattered over what was then and is
still called Happy Valley An original sketch Of the
town it appeared at that tme is still preserved in
sanctum a memento of the pioneer days Of 49,
ince then most wonderful change has taken place
every feature Of the city. From few scattering
ses, which constituted the chrysalis state of San
rancsco in 40. it has been transformed to a
ensely settled city, stretching in every direction
ver and beyond the amphitheater of hills which
hen enclosed it,; but which are now .oithia 1T.
sppy Valley and Rncon Hill, which then were an
,roken thickef, Of wild shrubbery, and only
led with white canvass tents, covered
h stately mansions and blocks of stores and manu-
ories. And the Identical spot where
spent two or three days taking sketch of the
! ace uine years ago, stands the United States
Iospital, lofty building of extensive dimensions,
and ornament to the city. San Francisco of 1849
from a small town Of four five thousand, has ex-
panded a city of at least 60 900 inhabitants. To
witness and realize this change fills with wonder
at the almost omnpoent power of god for gold alone
has been the agent which has wrought it
There is no question that California is destined to
be q wealthy and powerful State, and San Francisco
a commercial mart of no ordinary size and import
This is apparent at . glance. 1t is the i'm
mense traffic created by her gold thke has given her
the impetus which she has received, ana ia
destined to impel her forward with still greater
strides But though her gold has created it. yet not
that alone, but the agricultural which
she possesses constitute the power which is destined
to sustain that progress and make her truly great.
The present growth of the city is apparently as
great at any former period, though the imprsye-
ments mostly to be found in the suburhssS1zne
number of stores erected is probably of the
a,tual demands Of the trade, and a necessary
sequence find that the of in all parts of
the city is rapidly decreasing. Good re-proof
for retail purposes, be had in favorable
locations at from 500 to $50 per month and for
wholesale trade. from $50 to $500 per month, ac-
cordins to the size and storage room attached All
who acquainted with the heavy rents paid there
only three four years ago, win notice great
change But in the rents of dwellings the fall has
been still more marked Good hard-fnished brick
dwellings now be obtained at from $50 to SIS
per month"; while weil-fnished frame houses in the
suburbs be had at from $50 to $50 per month.
But rapid is the growth of the city, it would be
still greater the facilities for immigration in
creased Much complaint is made, and very justly,
too, against the monopoly of the steamer travel
to and from New York, which unquestionably tends
to check immigration, by the exorbitant prices
now demanded This monopoly. though detested and
complained of by the public, is easy matter to
get The opposition line, which Of looks
for its interest. is bought of, and their
steamers viii probably remain Sc laid up in full
view of the town long they continue to receive
half a million per annum for so doing
The cost of passage through to New York, including
incidentals, is 5000. The steamer of April 20
took not far from 400 passengers They do not
report many, the company is liable to fine for
any excess Of passengers over the legal rate The
last from Panama reported to have brought
over l5O0 passengers A gentleman purchased
e9Syg state-rOom in the May 5th steamer, for him.
If and family 90 New York, for s675, and
offered $1,000 for the four days after he pur-
chased it. All the state-rooms in the steamer to sail
that day taken up days before her sailing
at is the crowd of travel this route. 1t
,ears very doubtful whether any permanent rival
Of steamers will be established before the expira-
of the contract with the present mail. company,
Though it is matter of vital Importance to the
AEth of that State, as well as the other Pacific
Stasas*bat the price Of passage to and from New
York be plssSso low as to allow the working classes
to come and brIr g,zith them their families. These
the classes that deses >She wealth of the cous-
try. and whatever tends to sfssSsn out is opposed
to its true interest.
But it is not simply in the appear. the city
that discovers n marvellous chang % -ys Of
scarcity and high prices fast pasisa.. and
abundance. not only of the necessaries of lifet Of
its Injuries is everywhere found This is pe-
IL l. ~
Washington Market will find the various stalls as
fully supplied with every description of vegetables,
meats, Sc, the best market in Boston or New
York If in anything the soil of California excels
it is in the production of vegetables and fruits for
these are the finest in the world, whether it regards
flavor size The prices have been lowering every
season, till kinds of vegetables be had
about cheaply as in Boston or New York Meats
Of all kinds, however, yet command high prices,
stock growing being still behind the demands Of
the country The markets are supplied mostly by
German gardeners, who bring in their products in
wagons from the country around San Francisco,
which is admirably adapted to growing vegetables.
Many Of the vegetables and fruits are, however,
raised the bay, and brought the city by the
ferries large supply of fruits viii from the
valley Of the Sacramento during the coming summer
The supplies of fresh butter large, and it does
good to witness the piles of golden butter equal
If not superior to the best Orange county The price
at present is from 35 to 40 cents per pound but is
said to vary much with the different seasons
This great change from the scarcity and exorbi-
tant prices which prevailed there few years since,
Is in measure owing to steam, which enables the
gardeners, fruit-growers and farmers, at trifing
expense, to bring in their products with little
1elay and loss from their gardens scattered along the
-hores Of the large bay of San Francisco and we
4 never expect to see any substantial progress in
orparkefing or fruit-raising here at the Islands,
e have steam introduced
10 .ngsr. the streets of San Francisco present
sPPosuce (partcuIarly in the lower sectionsl