The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-31
THE GOLDEN STATE.

THE GOLDEN STATE.
A caroiinian's Imp, essions of San Fran
oisco-EIow the City Is Str1ding For
ward In w Wea1th and Importance-A
Wonderful People.
It WIS announced in THE NEWS few
months ago that a number OF Carolinians had
departed from their native State to make their
home in California. Colonel Johu 6. Press
ley, who was one Of the party, writes very
interesting letter to the Kingstree Star, giving
his impressions Of the metropolis of the Paci-
fic coast. He says:
This is land where wonders never cease.
No one from our sober and staid old State can
visit San Francisco without being astonisbed
at the strange things which be sees. You
have been in the mountains; we'll, just select
the most rugged and unprOmisipR place you
can think OF for the site Of city and you have
the seat Of the Queen City CT the West. The
energy, industry and enterprise OF the people
are perfectly wonderful. What do you think
OF having preaching in fine church, and
bearing the announcement that preaching
at the usual hour may be expected In this
house on next Sunday, but the house Will
be found half mile away on another
i
tune one may see half dozen houses in the
course Of mornings walk moviug through the
streets, sometimes with families and all their
household goods in them. Tnis is occasi0ned
by the rapid rise in real estate. house OF
ordinary proportions IS erected and In lew
years, perhaps months, the land becomes too
valuable to have any other than verV hne
building on il; away goes the first occupant,
to make room for more stately and conmo-
dious structure, to the suburbs where it stands
till the march of improv ment dlslodges 1t and
sends it further on. Nothing stands in the
way Of the progress of this great city; noun
tains are cut down, the sea is filed up. and
onward, onward. is the watchword. Large
ships q few years ago landed their cargoes
near where the Lick House now stands, one OF
the most magnificent hotels in the world, on
Montgomery-street, where land is now worth
$27OO front foot and which is three-fourths
OF mile from the present water front. A
large creek once ran up 10 that point. My
childish conception Of street was that it was was
OF this idea. The idewalks on many OF the
streets are staircases, mountain happens to
be in the way, the street goes over and the
honses go up, and there they stand till the
people are ready tn have the mountain come
down. The street is then cut through, and
sometimes the blocks of laud left for some
time longer. In Q or two places streets
may be seen from 6fty 10 one hundred feet
below the houses. One unfortunate indi-
vldual was killed short time ago who tum-
bled from the sidewalk into the street. Wb-n
the hill is not too s.eep TIE street is graded,
and plsnked With pieces nailed across on the
plapkine to prevent slipping. The most OF the
mountains. aud much OF it is made land. but
the fat land has loug since been filled and the
city has gone over the adjacent hills and
mountains. Land at this time In the suburbs
almost inaccessible commands fabulous prices.
I went with gentleman engaged IN land spec
ulations to look at piece Of land fifty BY one
hundred aad twenty feet in size. We found
that we could not drive horse and buggy up
the side Of the nil presenting the most grad
ual slope. This lot was held ct $3.50. saw
block OF land in the same vicinity containing
about two acres. but easy OF approach, which,
last summer was bought for $500. 1t DOW
sells for $14 600 On the outskirts Of the own
nothing 81 strikes the attention OF 5ne strang-
er as the great number OF new Buildings going
up. 1t reminds one Of q vast army receiving
reinforoements, which build AZ they pitch their
teuts. Vast sums OF money are being realized
in land speculations. The question with the
speculator is not whether the property offered
for sale will fall, butwhicb piece OF property
will rise in value most rapidly. Numerous
horse railroads penetrate the city, and these
are run several miles from. the heart OF the
town 80 that one may live long distance from
his place OF business. Rents are 80 high in the
older parts Of the city that this ls q necessity
with all Of the small operators. In the sub
urbs comfortable houses can be had at from
SIS to $50 month. The fear OF earthquakes
was not before the eyes OF the people when
San Francisco was built. The public build
ings, hotels and private residences are an
honor to any city. The damage done by the
great earthquake Of 1868, was either greatly
over estimated, or the present condition Of the
city indicates the most inconcelvable thrift.
Its effects cannot be perceived by q stranger.
A few cracks in the walls OF some OF the larg-
est buildings are the only signs that can now
be pointed out. The terror OF the inhabitants
during the convulsions beggars description, but
very few were in any Way injured. The highest
number, according to the account which one
now hears, is Blk, and one OF them 10 bis ter
ror jumped out cf a three story window. The
others were killed by the falling Of cornices.
None OF the bulldogs were thrown entirely
down.
The people Of San Francisco are the most
hospitable with whom stranger often meets.
They seem to be more ready to assist strangers
than any people whom have ever SEEN. Stop
any Of them and ask tor directions or informa-
ton, and the moment they find out that you are
stranger they go out OF Their way to serve
you, aud never give one short answer as
business men in large cities are too prone to
do The Difference and respect shown to ladies'
in the street cars, in public assemblies, and on
public conveyances reminds one Of Charleston
IN her days OF e. llantry, when the sentiment
OF the community was CO itrolled. by the South
en- gentleman.
The climate of oil the coast region Of Califor-
mia is delightful. There are no extremes Of
heat or cold. Nobody wears summer clothing,
and yet blanket ls necessary every night.
from our country would think tLat heavy
Sometimes fogs come over the city, aud one
shower would fall in few mioutes, but very
soon the fog disappears and the sun comes
out bright and beautiful. The further from
the coast the fewer Of these fo2s that are seen,
and after crossing 3 range of mountains they
| never mako their appearance. Everything
which money can purchase or taste require can
be had in San Francisco, aud the prices
Of most things are surprisingly low. Boarl can
be had In first class boarding houses ar from 81
to 81 so. The hotels charge from 81 80 to 81.
Restaurants OF the finest kind, where every
luxury known to the CUISINE can be founn, are
very plenty, and one can hire q furnished
room and 1--we cheaper than 10 any city I have
ever been 10 on the Atlatic coast. There are
great many things which stranger sees to
interest hlm, and which might write to you
about. but suppose your readers will not care
TO be bored any longer now, and, if Agreeable
WILL in another letter, have more to say about
that city, and something about the produc-
tlveness OF the country, price of land. &c. /
will only add now that I have found the most
highly colored accounts, which heard before
here true and still more wonderful ones Of