The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-14


COW in town" and some tortelias which he
would serve for US. He gave us good cup
of coffee with cognac for milk, and we got
along pretty we'll. The town is small
affair. The houses are all low and rooted
with tiles. The streets about ten or
twelve feet wide. It looks old, dilapidated
and not worth the trouble of capture
The harbor is the best ever saw, and had
the Mexicans put Fort San Diego in the
right place the French might have been
troubled to get in. The old Fort is laugh
able affair in these days of warlike i'm
provement Had Romulus constructed it
to protect his infant settlement, it could
not have looked more ancient. The Greas-
ers had spiked the guns before they ran off,
and left the place useless except for bar
racks. Weall brought off copper grape
shot as relic, and our thoughts REQUIRED
to General Shields.
SAN FRANCISCO.
The run to San Francisco was without
incident save an occasional school of
whales or some such wonders. This place
is too we'll known to bear description.
1t is however, splendid city with splen-
did future. / remained here three days,
and enjoyed every hour of the time. There
are some European features in the customs
of the inhabitants that strike people from
the States with a little surprise. The
Theatres are open on Sundays, and peo-
pie seem to play billiards and transact
business on that day with as little concern
as if tie fourth commandment had never
been promulgated. However, I can re-
member on the Mississippi when there was
no Sunday above Galena. l met Charles
81. Parker, of St. Paul memory here. He
is practicing law, and looks prosperous.
My old friend, Judge Fleet F. Strother,
looking so sleek and contented that I
should have mistaken him for retired
banker who only came to town to see that
his buildings were all standing and tenant
ed. He reported good prospects ahead
and solid present. I also met Caldwell
and several other Minnesotians. All greet
ed me pleasantly, and wished me God
speed.
SAN FRANCISCO TO NAvADA.
The run up the Bay and Sacramento
River was delightful, strong opposition
and hard racing all the way, fare fifty
cents, the only cheap thing I have yet
found on this coast Judge North and his
wife were passengers on the steamer. The
Judge looked rather feeble. BE had been
to California for his health. He seems
very confident of the future of Neveda,
and from what learn has done very well
in money point of view. The run over
the mountains was without exception the
most exciting and interesting drive ever
took. The coaches are all drawn by
splendid six horse teams, and the drivers
excel in their art. l rode on the box
about hundred miles, and the way they
went up and down the grades and around
the sharp turns on full run surpassed
anything in the Jehu line I ever witnessed.
CARSON CITY M1NNEsoTIANs
Arrived at Carson City l found Judge
Atwater and William S Chapman, of
Minneapolis. Here l decided to locate
for the present. 1t is the capital of the
Territory and very prettily and pleasantly
situated in Carson Valley in an amphi-
theatre of mountains. 1t has about three
thousand inhabitants, and is very good
place to live in. 1t is dusty and dry, but
is carried on by means of irrigation, and
depends solely on such artifce for success.
This place has a good market, plenty of
everything Fruit abounds, and Of the
choicest kinds, all of which is brought
from California. Everything sells by the
pound, from peaches to potatoes. The
weather has been quite warm since my
arrival but pleasantly so. The water is
good and there is plenty of it. do not
see why it should not be as healthy place
as any on the globe.
CONDITION OF NEVADA.
I have gone into business with Judge
Atwater here, and so far we have done
very we'll. Everything, however, on the
Pacific coast is very dull compared with
what it has been, and on this side of the
Sierras it is felt very severely. All chan
nels of business are depressed and down,
and most Of the money upon which the
prosperity of the country has heretofore
rested, and business been transacted, has
been retired. This must seem singular to
parties abroad, and people are very apt to
say that all the golden promise of the
mines is mythical and unsubstantial. Such,
however, is not the case. The mines are
as rich as they ever were, and are pro-
ducing nearly as much bullion as formerly,
and many rich leads are constantly being
discovered. What, then, you will ask, is
the matter?
CAUSES OF DEPRESSION.
Ny brief residence in the country will
probably detract from the authority of NV
views on the subject, yet venture the fol-
lowing theories, not as original by any
means, but as the result of my own obser-
walton, coupled with the expressed senti-
ments of experienced men who have lived
here from the beginning. The first and
radical reason is the unprecedented specu-
lation which has ragged here for the past