The weekly Arizona miner., 1868-11-07
Gossip from San Francisco.
SAN FRAscIsco, Oct. l2, 1868.
tPEov AN OLD AEIzoNjAN.l

DEAR MINER:-AGcr many days, l am be ginning to redeem my promise of writing you an occasional bit of gossip about what is zoe ing on in this busy and growing city, the Commercial Centcr' of the Pacific coast. You must know that have but recently ar rived here, owing to the fact that l fell in love with the orange groves and vineyards of Los Angeles, and fingered in that pleasant and prosperous town until its beauties became less inviting to my eyes, and longcd, in the spirit and the flesh, for "the old paths of the City of Saint Francis.
 The spirit of progression is wonderfully ap- parent in Southern California. Su Bernardo no, in the matter of buildings, s greatly i'm proved, and business is probably better; but it is San Bcnardino still. Los Angeles i- ad- vancing with rapid strides. All the material in lustrics of the county are being developed, and lands and property are consequently ri- sing in value. The same may be said of San ! Diego, San Luis Obispo Santa Barbara. and other points. Indeed, the lower portion of the State, as an entirety, is attracting that attention which it deserves, and bids fair to become, in time, the leading agricultural sec ton.
 ] san Francisco, to ono who has been absent l for a couple of years, shows astonishing eyi- dences of improvement. At the Mission, a little city has grown up, and all that portion ofthe city is going ahead with railroad speed California street looks like street in New York, Philadelphia, or Boston; and in all sections of the city, splendid buildings meet l the eye. kearny street is nearly built up, since its widening and is fine thoroughfare. The city's population is estimated at 10000, and the promise of the future is brilliant. THE SMALLPOX l Has been raging to an alarming extent. Many of its victims have been laid in the cold. cold ground, and the Pest House is still crowded, while the waving of the yellow flag in many places throughout the city procaims that many patients are being treated at their homes. Public vaccination has been ordered, but I don't think it can be very generally carried out. It is to be hoped that the dread scourge may speedily be removed.
 THE PRINTERS.
 The "art preservatiye" is in good condi- ton. There are about 23O printers here. The "rats," under the recent "proclamation of amnesty are coming in. The Bulletin. Alta and CaR may be said to be the only per manently established daiies. The friends of the Times claim that it is success. and will be a permanency Alvinza Hayward. the Crnsus, owns it, it is said. It is paying a, present. The Chronicle, the new bit paper is spicy, and may succeed. The Examiner i. established; but its revenue is small. The DisPateh is shaky on its pins The Golden Cay is now the hest of the literary papers.
 IDENTITIES.
 North Beach is not improving That DOT ton of the city seems to stand still At tho Beach, the same old monkeys, bears and bath houses are to be found
 The lager beer cellars seem to be falling in- to disrepute. The "beer. .jerkersn are not the power they were, among the fast youth
 The gambling hells flourish The police seem to make no effort to close them.
 The "Grecian bend g has appeared among the fashionable ladies. IL is universally abu- sed by the men, and, no doubt, will be uni yersally adopted by the ladies.
 The Parepa- Rosa season of opera has closed Madame Rosa's singing was magnificent, but nearly all the rest of the troupe were inferior artists. There is nothing good at the thea ters now.
 Our new Postmaster, Holland Smith, has entered upon his duties. He is a good man for tine place
 The opposition line of steamers to the East has been withdrawn, and there is no more cheap travelling.