The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-10-18
FROM CALIFORNIA.
The Golden State-San Francisco-Pros
poets, &c.

| DAN hANC1oCO, O&AL.s JCpGs Souil'3 Ao's -
Messrs. Editors Vyginian:
After taking trip of $500 miles by the
overland route from Washington City, it il
quite relief on the night of the seventh day
to reach the queen Of cities on the Pacific
coast. 1t would be impossible for one te
describe the great variety and most magnl-
| ficent scenery chat is witnessed in jour-
ney by rail from the East to San Francisco
Therefore l shall attempt to give your read
ers brief description of the latter place.
San Francisco is beautifully situated or
the west side of San Francisco Bay, having
one of the finest harbors in the world; and
one can see flags of almost every nation Tin.
der the heaven flying from the mastheads Of
vessels lying at anchor in the bay. No city
in America or perhaps in the world has
grown so fast and become so wealthy as
this place. Only about twenty-five years age
the place upon which are erected some OF
| the finest buildings imaginable, and which
| subsists over 100000 souls was barren DIES.
ert Of sand. The city is handsomely laid
out, streets well paved the only objection
| being the clouds Of dust which is constantly
kept moving by the sea-breeze.
| San Francisco can boast of some of the
| finest hotels to be found in any country,
particularly the Palace Hotel, which cost ov-
er two millions of dollars. The furniture OF
this hotel is perfectly magnificent. The ho-
| tel is supplied with the most delicious food
and fruits that could tempt the appetite OF
mankind the terms too are very moderate,
from So to So so per day.
San Francisco is we'll supplied with thea
tres, Baldwin's being the finest.
The most striking fact Which is noticed by
any one first arriving from the East is the
mixed population nationallties being rep
| resented, and especially the Chinese. The
latter number about $4,000 to $4,000. The
laboring class of other nationalities and the
press generally of Cal. are very severe on
s'John Chinaman," and this will be one of
the most important things that Congress will
have to decide upon the approaching session.
What has been the result of the central
Flowering Kingdom" upon the material in
terest of the Pacific coast? Have they been
| a nuisance or a help?
| Among intelligent men there seems to be
no great difference Of opinion as to the be-
| nificial results OF their labors as railroad
builders, as miners, as gardeners, as agr-
culturists, as servants and assistants in man.
| ufacturirg establishments. Without the as
sistance of these almondeyed laborers the
vast wealth of Cal. could not have been devel-
oped fora quarter Of a century. Obedience and
| fidelity are the two leading traits of Chin
aman. r. w. Raymond, U. S. Commission
| er on mining statistics in an official report
says "Chinese put little faith in the prom
ises of the employers and are apt to stop if
not promptly paid. They are not reasona-
BILE in matter of wages. Chinese skilled
miners are quite equal to those Of any other
lace. In many instances they surpass white
men employed in the same mines. The
greatest superiority of good Chinese miners
nvo ic 10
Chinese portion of San Francisco occupies
| quite a number Of squares and is the most
novel sight seen in Cal. Chinese merchants
here carry on very extensive trade, i'm
porting over $50, 100000 worth of goods an
nually. Business men here who have dealt
with Cinnamon for years in almost every
capacity, as labOrers, renters as transactors
of business generally, declared that they had
never lost a dollar by Chinaman. Where he
engagest to do a thing for a certain price. there
need be no anxiety-he would certainly do
it. They have not learned to be bankrupt,
and get rich and SO to put themselves before
the eyes OF the law as to have nothing, and
still seem to possess all things that they
need.
There is one or two grave objections to
the Chinese in San francisco first, in the
manner in which they live they are always
each house; their houses as rule are very
dirty, poorly lighted and badly ventilated.
The Chinese population of the city is noto-
riously filthy and is likely to produce some
epidemic disease at any time. Chinese NOR
ais are too bad to mention, and then they
rarely ever become naturaliZed in the Uni
ted States.
Another striking popularity of this place
is the great amount of mining stocks that
are bought and sold every day. On Cal.
Street where most OF the brokers are found,
the street is packed with people all day,
watching the quotations of the different
stocks as they are put on the bulletin board.
1t reminds one OF an election day in some Of
the eastern cities. Stock speculation here
is considered respectable way of gambling
and is INDUCED in by all classes from the
millionaire down to the servant. Stocks
fluctuate so in price that fortunes are lost
and made very easy. Stock speculations,
though, I think have been curse
to a majority of people in California. Cali
fornia was first known to the world as a gold
producing country, and men are slow to
learn that while gold continues to be very
considerable product, it is far exceeded in
value and extent by other industries. The
product is obtained principally by quartz
mining, which requires large capital to con-
duct it. The average yield for the past sew
eral years has been $40, 100000 per annum.
AS a bullion producing State, including gold
and silver, California has fallen into the Sec
ond place. 1t is outmarked by Nevada,
which, in 1877, produced more than twice as
much as the Golden State. The increase,
though in agricultural products, has become
so rapid as to seem almost marvellous. Until
1861 flour was imported for home use. Now
California yields the largest wheat product
of any State in the Union, and second only
to New York in product OF fruit. The yield
Of wine alone in 1876 was over $4,000, 900
gallons. One-fifth of the wool grown in
United States is furnished by California !;
during the current year it is estimated that
the product will reach the enormous amount
of 100000 pounds. 10 return again to my
subject. San Francisco is by far the wealth.
lest city in America, in proportion to its
population. Her millionaires are numerous,
viz: Flood, Obrien, Mackey, Haggins, Te-
Wis, Croker, Stamford, Mills, &C. - Some Of
| the private residences of these rich men are
| perfectly gorgeous, built and furnished re-
CARELESS of expense, especially Crocker's
and StandfOrd's, which cost over a half mil
| lion of dollars each. San Francisco also
| goes ahead of any city in the world with the
wealth of her banks. The Nevada Bank, a
magnificent structure, occupying whole
block, has paid up capital of $40, 000,0 00
and surplus of $5,OO0,O00. This Bank is
owned by four men, Flood, Obrien, Mackey,
and McLaine. The firm has an income OF
| $20,OO0,0O0 per annum. San Francisco,
though with all her wealth, has great
many men of all occupations who are unable
to find anything to do. Business is very
dull. The residents of San Francisco are,
as rule, very hospitable and polite to stran.
gers. I have had the pleasure of meeting
| with great many Southern people here,
especially from Virginia and Kentucky,
The last, but not the least by any means, i:
the fair sex of San Francisco. 10 say that
they were pretty would convey but faint
idea of their great beauty and refnements
| Therefore, would advise all young men tc
come to California and see the fair damsels
of the Pacific slope, before entering upon
| the hardships of married life.
The latest excitement in the city and State
was the election which passed off very quiet
| ly with small majority for the democrats
| The latter result:was expected, as the State
has been run for the last several years by {
set of corrupt politicians, or as it is termed
by the San Francisco ':Chronicle," as the
"Federal Ring,'' which was presided ovel
by A. A. Sargent, U. S. Senator, Page, con
gresham, Gorham, Sect. U. S. Senate, ani
host Of others. The people Of California