Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-10-15
OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
San FGANcIsco, October, C, 1870.
OFF FOR THE nsPRINGS -

has found it necessary to take trip to the
Springs" Z. c. Lovell, Of the firm of Lowell
Fisher, to whose financial ability San Fran
cisco is indebted for the incorporation Of many
of the wildcat Homestead Associations, about
which everyone went crazy year ago, has de-
parted in a shroud of obscurity for parts un-
known, leaving as many mourners as there are
stockholders in the various companies he formed.
With the disappearance Of one Of the chief pro-
moters of the Homestead mania, it may not be
uninteresting to show how completely that bub-
ble has burst.
noMEsTEADs FOR SALE.
In the Spring Of last year, the good people of
San Francisco, as on many previous occasions,
thought they had at length discovered how to
get rich in hurry. The opening of the Pacific
Railroad was going to pour such a food of pop
ulation on to the Coast, that the whole peninsula
laid out in lots and built on, wonld scarcely suf-
fee for the accommodation of the new comers.
So inaccessible tracts of land and swamp were
purchased by spectators whenever they could
be had, within twenty miles Of the Plaza, and az
ter being nicely mapped, blocked and incorpor-
desirous of investing in real estate" at an ad-
vance of eight and ten times on cost. The avar-
icious were ,od that their property would yearly
increase IN value, the credulous needed no in
ducements. Open scoffers were slenced by the
oft repeated story Of the doubling Thomases of
$40, who when land now in the centre Of the
city, could be had for n mere song would not
believe it would pay to buy, and the dubious
were frantlcly asked why they would continue
to pay rents, when by subscribing to n share in
the Promised Land Associations" each one
could live under his own vine and fig tree, and
forever laugh at landlords. So it came to pass
that the world and its wife went wild about
" Homesteads."
1t is only eighteen months ago, but what
falling off there las been, take up any of the
dailes and you will find half column of adver-
tisemeus offering shares for sale at one-fourth
the amount paid FOR them. The Homestead bub-
bic, like n good many other bubbles that pre-
ceeded it, and like many now that will follow,
has been pricked by time, and nicely litho-
graphed piece Of paper with n highly imagna-
tive view Of tour tract" as it will appear when
covered with streets, is all-save a small item of
wisdom-that the original shareholders have got
for their money.
NEW LEGISLATIVE sWINDLE.
An unclouded title to a nice piece of centrally
located property is one of the most desirable
things have, but like all worldly pos
sessions, and especially worldly possession stu
ated in San Francisco, the ownership often
brings with it its own peculiar cause for cursng
and vexation of spirit. The very best act passed
by that copclave niquity, termed by courtesy
" The California Legislature" has been discov-
cred within the last few days, to contain as
much raw material of yillainy as it was possible
TO cram into the limits Of single law. If it had
been styled "An act to rob property owners and
provide funds for the maintenance Of 4 Demo
cratic War Horse" it would have been literally
correct designation, for to all intents and pur-
poses, that is its scope and object.
LUCRATIVE OFFICE.
An "AssstNnt City and County Attorney" is
created whose sole duty it is to collect the as
sessments due contracts by property owners for
street work done, receiving for his fee fifteen
dollars in each case, and an additional fifteen
per cent. on the amount delinquent in all cases
where suit is commenced 1t is further ordered
that the money for commencing these suits, is to
be furnished the officers by the city, and even
when the assessments are declared invalid, the
city is compelled to pay him his allowed per-
ccntage. Sixty thousand dollars per annum is
the smallest sum it is computed that the new
| will NVb in du1
times must be considered very respectable prov
ender for the most rampant war horse. Mayor
Seby says the law is so iniqnitous that he is
satisfied it is unconstitutional, and the County
Treasurer is evidently Of the same opinion, for
he has refused to hand over So 600 TO the " AS
sistant" for the purpose OF inaugurating the war,
and the matter will quickly come before the
| Courts.
WHALE ASHORE.
whale of the species known as the Calfor-
nan hump-backed, came n shore yesterday, mi
nus head. His marine majesty is forty feet
long, and to Judge from the number of vehicles
that went out of town to-day, is destined to be-
come object of attraction.
WALL AFLoAT.
To knock a man down bleeding to the deck
strike him seven or eight times with IA club, pul
| him in irons for three days and furnish him ouy
one cup of water and n biscuit during that time,
was decided on Wednesday by San francisco
jury, to be no otfense against the laws. IN q
few days n murder will be tried before the
United States District Court that will reveal one
of the most horrible series OF outrages at sea
ever perpetrated, but Notwithstanding that the
evidence is said to be conclusive, it would he I'M
safe to predict conviction of the full crime, foI
after Qnnp's escape, it seems that murder has
ceased to be murder.
RUN on THE nIBERNIA.
At the hour Of opening the Ilibernia Savings
and Loan Societys office yesterday morning, a
crowd of depositors had assembled round the