The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-10-08
SAN Francisco, CAL.
September, Is. 1869.


5re-a SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.
September, %, 1869.
Weeks can be proftably spent IN
and about San Francisco. I give in
| this letter few notes Of what saw
in single days ramble over the city:
Before breakfast walked down to
the old Washington Market, the best
for the display Of fruits and fish es-
pecially. All the market houses
which | have seen here are within the
squares, and not standing in the
streets; and from the street resem ble
any other one or two story buildings,
but they are open inside, running
through thesquare fromstreettos street,
and arc from one to two hundred feet
wide. 1 have in previous letters
alluded to the fruit of California. 1t
is the wonder of all Eastern visitors;
and here in the markets it is seen in
the greatest proiusion. The fish stalls
are attractive, presenting much the
same appearance as those of the
Eastern sea- board cities, but hav-
ing some varieties [ did not re-
member having seen there. Cali
fornia is so wonderfully prolific
in her productions that her citizens
greatly dislike to acknowledge their
inferiority in anything, but they are
forced to confess that they cannot
equal the oysters of the Atlantic
coast. None of the oysters which
have seen here would be considered
even passable with US. In the mar
kets and elsewhere almost everything
In the way of vegetables and fruits are
sold by the pound and not by measure
as with u.s.. including apples, pears,
potatoes, &c. Cents are unknown
here, FIVE cent pieces are never used,
and the smallest change seen is a
dime. A thing that is not worth ten
cents is considered not worth selling.
A bit is the smallest price upon
an article, and that nominally is
twelve and half cents, but is either
ten or fifteen cents, as the case may
be; if the price is bit and you
hand the market man ten cents, it
answers; but if you do not have dime
and hand him a quarter of q dollar,
he only returns you ten cents change.
AS no five cent pieces are used, he
gets the benefit of the odd change"
After breakfast-by the way, while
San Francisco is well supplied with
fine hotels, there is no city in the
United States, of half its population,
which has as many and as good restau-
rants; the cooking is well done; and
the charges quite reasonable. After
breakfast | went down to the Post
Office and received my mail less than
eight days out from home. Here in
the Government building in which
the Post Office is situated are to be
seen the effects of the earthquake Of
last year, In the cracked walls and
dlsjolnted columns. In the Custom
House looms above the entire cornice
and pIastering were broken off and
thrown down; and the building is now
considered unsafe.
Being In charge of prominent cit
lzen, thoroughly acquainted, one of
the Forty Miners, we drop in and
look through a number of public and
private buildings, about which there
is nothing so unusual from other large
cities as to require special mention.
But, here IS the Office Of Wells. Far |
go u Co. 5 Express Company-one Of !
the institutions of the Pacific coast |
and the building has history worth |
noticing. lt is of gray granite. two |
stories high, and when erected was |
considered the finest house in the |
city. 1t Is entirely the product of
Chinese labor; the stone taken from
quarry In China, the blocks were
cut and fitted in that country bv Chi
nese Workmen; brought to this coun-
try In ships, and put together by
Chlnese without the sound of hammer
OF troWei, each block, previously
marked by Chinese characters. fitting
exactly to its place. I doubt whether
tne 1rish Workmen of this city, who
oughly, could have done better
The Bank of California Is the great
money power of this coast and its
banking in this city Is visited
by all who want to see one If its roost
noted Institutions. By the kindness
of W. G.. Ralston, Esq, Cashier snd
one of the best business men in Aroor
lea, we were shown through ali IL
interior workings, including its coin
vaults. The constant ring of the nra-
cious metals indicates the character
Of its business. On the tellers' tables
are great trays piled full of gold eagles
and silver coin. At the Receiving
Counter stand a crowd Of depositors
with their bank books in one hand
ard heavy bag of gold in the other
or more usually swung over the shouI.
der; while the clerks are busy in
counting and raking in the deposits
by the shovel full. While often, as
to day, outside on the pavement are
seen great freight wagons unloading
scores Of boxes of Mexican dollars Just