Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-28
LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN Francisco, April Ia, 1871

tolook over the city and county. The all-ab-
sorbing interest just at this time is the murder
trial of Mrs. Laura Fair, who shot lawyer by
the name of A. P. Crttenden. She has been
married to four husbands, and shot Critten-
den because he would not abandon his own
wife and marry her. The plea of insanity is
| put in. The trial has lasted several weeks
and is now drawing to a close. She is a wom-
an of about thirty two years Of age, the vic
tim fifty. BY the testimony it appears that
an illicit intercourse had been INDUCED in for
a long time. 1t is feared that her sham plea
will prove available, and the majesty of the
law trampled upon, as has been usual in many
of our courts in like cases.
What strikes Yankee or New England
man as novelty, is the everlasting John
Chinaman. He is in all the private and pub
lie houses, and everywhere else that mental
service is required. American laborers treat
| them with disdain, for they cheaper labor.
| My predjudices against them are much les
| sened since seeing them. They are generally
neat and industrious, very few females are
among them, and but few wish for the right
of suffrage. One objection to them is that
all their surplus earnings are sent to China
and deposited with their fathers or elder
brothers, in accordance with their laws and
customs. They make no investments here
and consequently deprive the State of bnsi-
ness capital
After visiting Woodward's Gardens, the
great object Of attraction to strangers who
| come into this city, strolled into the Bank
of California, hoping that the sight of its
treasures might improve my eyes, but like
| Tantalus in the prison of Tartarus my desires
were blunted with the fact that could not
| possess them. Bars of silver and gold, like
| logs of wood, were trucked around in bank
| and on sidewalk. and then the coin was ham
| died with perfect recklessness. 1t is disposed
| of to customers by the shovelfull, no count is
made except by piles, five or ten hundred in
pile; the shovel runs under so many piles
for the required amount, is dumped into the
bags and carried off, and all done with per-
| feet accuracy. No banks issuing paper cur
| ency are established on the Pacific coast A
new system just inaugurated in regard TO
small change was put into operation last week
The bank received S. 600 in one, two and
three cent coin to put into circulation. Moth.
| ing less than dime has heretofore beer
used, that and twelve and half cent coin
are called bits Let a person buy an article
often cents amount and hand out a quarter OF
| dollar, all he receives back is ten cents; SO
you see that this system, especially to Kenne-
beckers, who are not presumed to roll in for
tunes Of millions, was quite annoying if not a
nuisance. The Pacific Railway has brought
the Coast and New England States into such
close proximity that currency and customs
must be alike-fabulous prices and fortunes
are injurious to the masses.
This season here is called by old residents
the coolest and dryest for many years. To
me the weather seems to be of about the same
temperature of the Northern Atlantic States
Whether the Railway causes this your depo-
nent saith not, yet vegetation is far ahead of
Maine-wheat is nearly ready to head, straw
berries, peas, new potatoes &C., are begin
ming to make their appearance in market.
This city and State seems to be fairly
sprinkled over with Kennebeckers, among
whom is Gen. Redington, so well known in
Augusta. His name see is prominent among
the list of candidates for governor of the
State in the Republican newspapers. His
qualifications and business habits admirably
qualify him for the position. Very few bust
ness men seek political promotion unless, as
the phrase is, they have an axe to grind; hence
unfit men obtain office. This fact reminds
me of the boy who wrote home to his father
that he "had better come out here for cussed
mean men obtain Office" intimating that he
might be elected.
The Maine Liquor Law is totally ignored
here. Spirituous liquors are INDUCED in with
but little or no restraint, and are emblazoned
in every street and corner all over the land in
gilded letters, while tipplers and guzzlers in
their faces advertise their shame. Temper
ance men come here and often fall from grace
by their associating with those who think it
ness, then endure, then embrace, and are too
apt to become "hail fellows well met"
SAN JOSE, Cal, April 18th, 1871
The first State government was established
in this city, now located at Sacramento 1t
is one of the most beautiful cities in the Union,
is fifty miles from San Francisco on the line
of the San Jose Railroad, is shire town of
Santa Clara county, numbers from fifteen to
twenty thousand inhabitants the State Nor
NAL School and several institutions Of learn
ing, make it a noted city. 1t is more like New
England than any place have visited. Ny
attention was attracted to the new granite
court house, by the chiseled inscriptions
standing out to view, Justieiae Dedicata, Jas
hciae ct eiementiae. From its cupola you have
a commanding view of the entire city, sur
rounding hills and plains. The symme-
try of its dwellings, stores and streets, to-
gether with its parks, gardens and shrub
cry and its illusions of flowers and fragrant
roses, all contribute to make it most lovely