The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-14


days in tho city. He has recently re.
turned from u trips 10 California, and
gives us quite an interesting and in.
structive account Of what he saw during
the brief time he stopped on the Pacific
shores. The country has suffered fear.
fully from the drOnth this year. In fact
they have had no rain to speak Of for lG
months in California; consequently their
whca! crop is deplorably short this sea.
son. California is ordinarily a great
wheat State. Wheat and wool are her
staple products.
The country outside the cities is cover.
ed with dust and tie air II -HTTed with Il.
And yet despite this drouth, California
gives evidence Of decided prosperity.
San Francisco is growing with amazing
rapidity. She already claims Rome $780,.
900 people. Think Of that for locality
where only a few huts were to be seen in
40. 1t is not generation old, and yet
il is as large as Baltimore and
larger than Cincinnati. 1t is not, how.
ever, a city to compare with either of
these in comelIness and solidity, as lar as
iE houses are concerned. 1t il Il wooden
City-built almost entirely OF wood.
This ia owing to the fear Of earthquakes
among the people,. The earth quakes
very often in California, and all along
that coast, clear down to Central and
South America. A brick house il a dan.
gerous tenement during one Of these
quakes; it is apt to come down
about ones ears. Hence it is
II matter of self preservation to build
frame houses. We may therefore expect
a great Chicago FIRE in San Francisco
some OF these days. They had small
one the other day in which a million and
a half of property was burned up.
Another peculiarity Of the city ia the
fact that about one.halfot the population
live in boarding houses. People go
to the Pacific coast a. an experiment,
and they continue to live there
for years as an experiment. They so
there somewhat As the colonists came to
jamestown, to "dig gold, wash gold and
ship gold," and then return to England.
People go from the States TO California
TO make money, AMI to make it fast and
a pile OF it. They don'iteel settled, or il
they do they are averSe to incurring the
expenses Of the family method OF living.
Hence that good old style of bringing up
children is almost exceptional in San
Francisco, and therefore il is no wonder
that the city is fast. The Pacific coast
people are restless and unsettled in their
opinions relating to matters of time and
eternity. This is noticeable feature in
their character 10 visitor from the
States. Their cosmopolitan character lin
San Frnncisco) is also quite noticeable.
No one can fail to be impressed
by it. The indications Of their relations
TO two continents, the evidence Of their
commanding position midway between
Asia and Europe, are unmistakable. There
ia nothing local or provincial about the
city or its business. Mr.. Fisher comes
back with deep sense Of the commercial
Importance and coming greatness Of this
Golden Gate to the wealth Of two worlds.
We are happy to see that the trip has
agreed with the reverend gentleman. lie
looks brown and rugged, and AS il he
had gathered good stock Of health and
vitality. As yet he has made no definite
arrangements in regard to his future 10.
cation. Wherever he may conclude to
go his many friends here will join with us
in wishing him all possible happiness.