The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-01
CALIFORNIA.

From letter to Wisconsin paper
written by gentleman now travelling IN
California, we make the following ex-
tracts:
San Francisco has a population of
18O. 900, which, combiued with that OF
Oakland, suburban city across the bay,
sustaining the same relation to san Fran
cisco that Brooklyn does to New York,
would reach two hundred thousand
comprising nearly one-third the entire
population of the state. Her citizens
live, to a greater extent than Is usual
elsewhere, in hotels and restaurants; the
mum Der and elegance of which are re-
markable. One of them, the Lick
House, is noted for having the largest
and most magnificent dining nall in the
United States. The charges are mod
crate, being three dollars day at the
best hotels, and at one of the finest
restaurants any three ordinary dishes
desired for meal are furnished for
twenty-five cents; though the usual
charge varies from twelve and half to
twenty-five cents a dish. The city is
thoroughly metropolitan in appearance
and activity, and also in society; and
possesses advantages and facilities of
every kind, equal to the largest Eastern
first in point of architecture, manifest
ing taste, however, for excessive orna-
mentation. In height, they seldom ex-
ceed three stories, and a large proper
ton are not MOI than two; precaution
observed in building for security in case
of earthquakes, which are regarded as
liable to occur at any time. AS an Offset
to this liability, indemnity from thun-
der storms is claimed, which are ex-
tremely rare. Curious statistics are re-
ferred to, showing that the damage and
loss of life occasioned by earthquakes
| in the state, bear only small pro-
portion to those resulting from
lightning in other portions of
the country; but have seen
nothing in which the relative terror
arising from the two causes is actually
compared. For additional security,
buildings constructed of brick have
heavy bars of iron interlaid with the
brick every few courses, and the walls
are firmly bound together from side to
side with Il framework of iron laid
under the floors. The churches, which
are not very numerous, are plain, with
few exceptions, and are generally
built without towers or spires, from the
same consideration. But few public
buildings of magnitude adorn the city
as yet. A city hall is in course of con
struction, covering several acres of
ground, now nearly in the outskirts of
the city, and has already cost upwards
of a million dollars, with it's walls not
more than ten feet above the ground.
The dwelling houses are nearly all
built of wood, and they abound in bay
windows-in front and on all sides, and
from every floor.
The city presents singular appear
ance, being built on as many hills as
was Rome, though of sufficient height
to be entitled to the dignity of noun
tains. A range, varying from 600 to
800 feet in height, thickiy covered with
| business blocks and dw ellings, extends
directly through the heart of the city
| for distance of nearly two miles, SO
steep that it is exceedingly difficult of
ascent, and streeL-cars are hauled up by
stationary steam apparatus at the
summit. Along the foot of this range
extends level track over half mile in
width-whlch has been artifcially made
by filling in the bay-on which lie five
| of the principal parallel business
streets-two important results having
been thus secured: deep water front
and level ground for business.
The trade of San Francisco is simply
astonishing. With population dou-
size of it's business blocks, the large
stocks of merchandise, and the activity
exhibited, indicate volume of busi-
ness certainly four or five times
| larger than our own. In foreign
| imports she ranks the fourth city in the
| Union, being surpassed only by New
York, Boston, and Baltimore. The
entire population of the states and ter
ritories lying west of the Rocky Noun
tains being less than that of the State
of Wisconsin, hardly million, this is
remarkable, and it is difficult to ac-
count for it. A partial explanation may
lie in the fact that the people spend
their money freely, and seem to take
very little :" thought for the morrow
an idea which frequently impresses one
point of regarding many as improvi-
dent and wasteful. A member of a
leading Wholesale dry goods house In
San Francisco stated to me that his
house sold upwards of 800, 600 worth
of the one article of kid gloves annual
| ly, which is merely an incidental item of
their trade. The great number of
iewelry stores, with large, handsomely
displayed stocks, attract ones atten-
tion, and indicate the liberal handed
character of the people.
San Francisco must take the palm
for the wealth of her citizens in pro-
| portion to her population, as she boasts
! upwards of a score who count their
wealth by millions, several of whom
reach from five to ten millions. Capt.
tai is abundant and the amount seek
ing investment is large, and is offered
on long time, at what have been con-
sidered, until recently, remarkably low
rates of interest, seven to eight per
cent. per annum. The usual bank rate
of discount for short paper is, however,
one per cent. a month. The deposits in
her savings banks aggregate nearly
| fifty millions of dollars, and she pos
sesses several commercial banks rang
| ing in capital from one to five millions.
The spirit of speculation, the great
bane of commercial life, is rife, and
seems to infect all classes of the COM
munity. Mining stocks are the princi-
pal medium, the rapidity and extent of
| the fluctuations in which have no par
allel, variations of fifty per cent. and
upwards often occurring in single
day; and not unfrequently an advance
of from one hundred up to five hum
dred per cent, or a corresponding de-
cline, in a few days. The mania ex-
tends to the women, even, and school
mistresses and dress makers are known