Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-13
Letter From California.
BROWNSVILLE. March, 9Th.

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BROWNSVILLE, March, 9th.
Editor Rutland Herald :.--Since my last
letter to the HERALD, which was errone-
ously printed January 1st instead OF the
18th as it should have appeared, I have
absented myself from the mountains, and
taken q stroll into some of the more lively
portions Of the State, such as, San Fran
cisco, Oakland and Sacramento, and after
having been absent from them a year, L
could see improvements on every hand.
San Francisco has become 80 large and
important that the addition of building
here and there, of course, does not show
to as great an advantage as in smaller
cities. Oakland, for instance, with only
about II 600 inhabitants, has so ana told
erected in the last year nearly l,0OO
buildings. This, of course, in so small a
place, is quite visible change, and they
do not seem to slacken their determine
ton to become second to San Francisco
for at the present time they are erecting
buildings that would be an honor to any
city, no matter how large. During my
stay there the ground was broken for q
hotel, which in size and style is to be sur
passed by none. 1t was my good fortune
during my short visit there, to form the
pleasant acquaintance of some twelve
true Vermonters, and being 80 far from
the hills and valleys which in our child
hood days we learned to love and cherish,
it was but natural we should meet each
other with friendly greeting, and pass
friendly interview regarding the home
and friends most of us had left behind 30
reluctantly. The views of our different
minds, of course, were varied, some wish
ing they could but have one good meal OF
Vermont sugar ; others would desire a
good drink of cider, such as Vermont
alone could offer while others envied
the younger class, still remaining at home
the pleasure of skating, and even sliding
down hill, for the purpose of drawing
the sled back again.
| nuOhSst othCI tblbSo AiiSb - y
eye was new steam shovel. This, it is
said, will do the work of some ten COM
mon shovels with Irishmen hold of them
One poor son of the Emerald Isle was
heard to exclaim, with no small amount
of Indignation, "Arah you bloody muir
thern old theaf, you would rob an honest
man of his work, would yes" Then he
hesitated for a moment, and consola'
ton was offered to him, and be further
exclaimed, aye can scream, and shnort
and belher. but ye can't vote /"
This seemed to revive him, for appar.
emily he thought the old "theaf," would
were it able to "wote," cast Republican
ticket. This same Irishman is the kus
band of woman that lives over on the
Pacific Road, near Reno. One morning
she met one of her friends, when this bill
of dialogue took place:
Sarah. good morning, Mrs. McCarty.'
"Ah, good morning Mrs. McKibbens
Where is John nows'
"Oh he's above at the station"
"What is he doing there p
"Shoveling snow, sure"
"Wili he have that job all summer p
"Be iabbers he will for the boss likes
him."
At this point they both had to go home
to see if their cabbage and praties were
not boiling over. So, of course, heard
no more but like old Pickwick, thinking
it very remarkable that they should have
snow to shovel all summer, recorded the
| ,ertty.
Since writing in January, there ha.
rain fallen, so that crops in most place.
are looking better than usual, but miners
are still without enough to do much, fol-
it has fallen SO moderately that it has
nearly all soaked into the ground, and
they, of course, have to go without, except
now and then river claim. These have
enough to get along very well.
Last week we had about fourteen inches
OF snow, but now the ground is as bare az
in July. This is its general appearance
for Last winter we did not have over an
inch at any one time. Twelve miles
above here, they have, at the present time,
seven feet of snow, SO am told. As dc
not appreciate lengthy newspaper articles,
I will close till another time.
Yours with respect,
| B.F B.