The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-05-03
-orrssnonaenss OF the Pacific Commercial Advertiser.
Letter from Sam Frnncisco.

Letter Groru San FrnnciscO.
SAN FRANcIsco, April 10, 1860.
Mn. EDIToR For the past two or three weeks,
the weather has been unusually stormy and disa-
greeable. Rain has fallen in great quantities, with
but little intermission, during that period. Our
April rains are not like your tropical showers, which
drop gently from sthe weeping skies, " in clear sun
light, but real sunless storms, with chilly southeast
winds. san Francisco is a cherries, gloomy place
in stormy weather.
THE BUIKHEAp BILL
Passed the Senate on the evening Of the 4th inst,
by a vote Of 10 to lG. This result was feared, but
hardly expected, by the people of San Francisco, who
are most interested in the matter. The Bill is now
under consideration in the House Of Assembly, and
WILL, without doubt, pass that body. The only hope
which remains is, that Governor Downcy will inter-
pose his reio, and save the city from the threatened
blow.
This Bill cedes to one Levi Parsons, and his COL
leagues, the whole possession and control of the city
front, some five miles in extent, with all the revenues
accruing therefrom, for the next fifty years, provided
they build a substantial stone wall around a certain
part of the city front, about n mile in extent, and
erect ten stone piers, GOO feet long. The work to be
accomplished within six years. Another company of
responsible capitalists have offered to do the same
work within thirty months, for one-hfth Of the whole
city front, viz from Folsom to Vallejo street wharf,
for the term of twenty years, at the end of which
time all the works must revert to the city. The cost
of the proposed work is estimated at S2,23O,OOO.
Now the present net revenue of that portion of the
city front alone, is $3.50, 900 per annum. This would
leave the contractors u profit of 81, 10000, inclusive
of interest. How materially different is the Parsons
scheme The contractors have control of the Jrhoie
city front for half a century. They would cxpend
,r ut,rc .I,p 81 7n0 2Dl aud rarp7yp ot pTpScut
rates of Wharfage, $50, 500, 900, making a profit of
81 .a-n."nn -. e ~ "I.~aIy ter-buIde"vd. ""I
almost bankrupt, city, to say nothing Of the other
powers and privileges which the Bill grants them,
and which would help to swell their gains at the ex-
pcnse of the city's commercial interests. Here then
is the difference between the two proposals The
acceptance of the second would be n saving to the
city Of thirty years time, and at least -, $780, 900 in
money
In view of these plain facts, which were all fully
understood, it is surprising that a majority could be
found in the Senate to favor so monstrous a swindle
as this Bill evidently is. The necessity of a bulkhead
has never been demonstrated No official surveys of
the harbor along the city front have been made.
But even supposiEg the time had arrived when the
work was necessary, the lowest hids-other things
being cqual-ought to be accepted. The Bill is evil
IDENTIFY a pet measure designed to enrich a few at the
expense of the whole. The most charitable-minded
men can hardly look at the manner in which the Bill
was forced so imprudently through the Senate, with
out feeling that there is corruption somewhere.
Public virtue must be at a low ebb when a few for
capitalists control the Senate and Assembly.
Money is powerful. The energy and boldness dis
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