The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-08

received from thelower coast steamer
and the Express Company delivering
silver and gold bars from the mines OF
tbe interior. We we're shown in the
vaults niles of silver and gold bricks
or bars some separate, others IN COM
bination. some of them being as high
/ in value as s., 900 to $4,000. We did
not see single Greenback passing
over the eountars in the way of bust
ness, although they are sometimes
bought and sold, as gold is by our
banks. The entire. force Of officers
and clerks is forty-two.
Next in order we visited the United
States Mint, a dingy contracted look
ing building, but within whose walls
more gold is coined annually than in
all the other branch minis In the coun-
try. | found in charge of the Mint
Gen. LaGrange, well-known in war
times to many Of our Indiana soldiers.
| We were shown by him the entire pro-
cess, from the time the gold dust is
| received. through all the stages of
melting, refining, molding into ingots
| beating into bars, cutting out the
rough pieces, moldiug milling, stamp
| ing, &C., till the bright, yellow mint
ready for circulation. Many of our
readers have seen the process for
themselves, and it would not be par
ticularly interesting to those who have
not to describe it in detail. When
they take their ride across the Cont
nent to San Francisco, they will not
fail to see it for themselves.
From the Mint we went through
Chinatown" or the Chinese quarter
of the city to the Josh House, or one
of the Chineseco operative houses and
Temples. The Josh House" is situa-
ted on a narrow street or alley, and the
approach to it is by no means prepos-
sessing. n-the lower story in front
were crowds of immigrants, Just arriv-
cd from the Celestial Empire, lounging
about smoking an opium and tobacco
mixture in the shape of cheroot, or
in q small pipe and In the back room
is the cook house or kitchen. On the
second floor In the front room was an
other crowd of Chinese immigrants,
who, under their charity or co opera
tive system, are provided with quarters
In the " Josh-House until they find
friends or employment. In the back
room is the Altar and the Idol. In front
/ H
which are placed various instruments
or articles of Chinese manufacture,
whose relation to the Altar or service
we could not understand. Between
the Altar and the Temple was sus-
pended lamp, which IS constantly
kept burning. The Idol is the image
of man OF not very comely mien, sit
ting cross legged, with folded arms !;
Il
! above IN kind of Chinese bower or
: frame work about twelve feet wide,
and reaching nearly to the ceiling.
On either side are row of poles or
slaves, on the tops of which are fasten-
ed different kind sof grotesque images
or characters. The walls, altar, and
with flags and fancy colored paper
with Chinese Inscriptions. There are
four such places In the city, but this
! is the principal one.
After getting all that it was pos
sible for US to gather IN the
way of Information from our inter
prefer, which was not very inter
!, ligible, we next visited one Of the
common Chinese restaurants, going
through the dining hall, where the
/
bowls and chop sticks, and taking a
look into the kitchen, which was pro-
nounced by the ladies of our party a
siekening, filthy establishment, and
they were about right; for the Chi
nose are, in their cooking and living
apartments, q dirty, sl0venly people,
although in their dress and general
appearance they are quite cleanly and
neat. After looking into some of
their shops and places of entertain
ment of lesser note, we were invited
into the store of one Of the leading
| Chinese mercantile firms Of the city,
| and were received by the proprl-
etors and clerks with a cordially
and politeness which would have
done credit to any establishment. In
broken English they explained to US
their various curiosities in goods and
wares, and while thus being agreeably
entertained a pot of choice tea had
been prepared, and the whole com
pany, numbering eight or ten, ladies
and gentlemen, were RECALLED with
| drink in genuine Chinese style, before
| bidding our hospital merchant friends
good-day. Several letters might be
written on the habits, character, pres
ent position, socially and politically,
and the future of the Chinese OF
California, but [ must postpone them
now.
Several hours had thus been pleas
antly and probably spent in looking
around the city, and the time had
arrived to fulfill an engagement to a
lunch on the China, one of the Pacific
Steamship Company's magnificent
japan and China steamers. Here in /
San Francisco the business people
and the hotels lunch at about one
o'clock, and take dinner from six to
eight PM. After looking over the
steamer. of grand proportions and
five thousand tons burthen, pleasant
company was gathered around the
Captains table in the main cabin,
and wha5 made it the more agreeable,
the guests proved to be mainly
Hoosiers, among whom were Vice
President Colfax, Gen. Coburn, of
Indianapolis; Gen. John l.. Miller,
Major Pope, aud their ladies.
Tomorrow | contemplate a trip
around the Bay and down the famous
Santa Clara Valley, and then [ turn
my way homeWaTd. j. w. E.