The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-09-01
Sam Frnneiseo Chnrres.

James Medill, the principal editor Of the
Chicago Tribune, and who was one of the
Chicago commercial party, has written TO
his paper some very thoughtful letters about
California The following remarks, In one
of his late letters, will doubtless be appreci-
ated by many of your readers who have Wis
tied this city:
"San Francisco Is undoubtedly dear city
Business is transacted exclusively on a coin
basis, and Il dollar in gold here has less than
the purchasing power of green6ack down
in Chicago, for nearly every commodity or
service, except wheat, fruits, vegetables and
Chinese labor. Money goes but Il small way
for things else. A bootblack asks a silver
quarter for putting shine on your boots, the
barber ditto for smoothing your face, the bar
tender u quarter for any drink the tobac-
conist the same for a weed of moderate quail
ty, or paper OF finecut. A paper collar or
bunch OF tooth-pieks cost silver quarter
The baggage-smasher charges half dollar
for handling your trunk or valise; and the
whole Jehu tribe bleed their victims in like
manner. The railroads exact six to eight
cents per mile, and the stages from 15 to 25
cents per mile. The newsboys ask "bit''-
i. e., dime-for city paper, and if you hand
them quarter they invariably return only a
"bit'' in change. No smaller coin than a
dime is seen. II you buy an apple, apricot,
pear or peach, the price is bitn although
you can have pound or more of the same
for dime. The poorest people, as well as
the richest, must pay silver dime for the
smallest article in the market or grocery. A
stick of candy costs cline, and in all cases
where quarter is rendered for anything sold
at bit, the seller cheats you out of five
cents in making change. The sole exception
to dearness-the only cheap thing to be in
San Francisco is riding on the horse cars,
which only costs quarter for four rides, but
if you hand the driver a quarter for single
ride he gives you back a "bit," and keeps
10 cents. 1t would seem rather steep" in
Chicago to have TO pay 35 cents in greenbacks
for cigar, a shave, "smash," lager or
lemonade, or 10 cents for copy of the 7fi-
6line, an apple, or peach, or n row of pins.
There is no necessity or justification for these
charges, save that of habit and the innate love
of extortion. San Francisco should be as
cheap a city to live in as Chicago, and must
be made much if her people would retain or
extend their trade and commerce. The day
for exorbitant charges has gone by, and the
people here should recognize the fact, and
comport themselves accordingly. In city
supplied with bread, meat, fruits, vegetables,
tish, game, as cheap as any other large city in
the Union, it is simply absurd for mechanics,
servants and laborers to demand the wages
ers, tobacconists, hackmen, stage-owners,
railroads, hotel and boarding house keepers,
to make the charges they do"
More about that Los Angeles Meat shower.
Science-kind and patient science-has
come forward and furnished a solution to
the wonderful fesh-and- blood shower story,
which hasten to give to your readers.
Old Californans state that the shower was
caused by California vultures, which, having
gorged themselves with dead horse, and risen
high in the air, eject it from their stomachs,
either from sickness or in battle with the
eagle. These birds are very large, like the
South American yulture, and can take into
their stomachs vast quantity of carrion.
In this way, is the singular story accounted
for. "Only this, and nothing more"
Other Things.
DIR. Stebbins has returned from his East
ern trip with d. D. attached.
The eclipse on the 7th passed off to the
satisfaction of every one, and according to
time table.
Vice-President Colfax is expected in this
city tomorrow.
The shipment of fruit to the East, via Pa
cifc Railroad, is going to prove successful.
The rates of fare by the Overland road
have been reduced to $50, greenbacks, to
New York, first class; and $50 ditto for
second class, from Sacramento TO Omaha.
Still further reductions will probably take
place before long.
The sun has been entirely obseured by
ATCATRAz