Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-26
LETTER From CALIFORNIA.


A few days since we received private letter
from Toby Candor," now in California, of
most interesting character sn extract from which
we will give our readers:
California has almost every variety of climate
soil and scenery. " bile you have been subjected
TO the IigOrs of winter, out here vegetation has
been lux urious and the weather del ghtiul. The
resources OF California more varied than those
of any other state in the Union. The wheat
crop IS enormous over ten million Centas yearly;
although the past year, on account of the drouib,
there was heavy falling off There over
nine millions of dollars worth OF wool exported
yearly. All the vines Of continental Europe, and
all the fruis OF tropical clmes grown III the
State. Orange trees loaded down with
their golden fruit. | see one every daV that has
not less than 500 oranges on its branches. The
mountains hills and streams the repositories
of gold. This place (Orove) was a popu-
lous town, but now outside Of the Chinese who
outnumber the whites, only contains small pop
ulaton. Mining however, is still carried on.
Gold Is found IN the hills ana in the ground about
the town. There are quite IA number OF Maine
men who live here. Among the number is John
{. Gray, formerly of China, VINO is a pracucing
lawyer, and also editor and prop etor OF the Orc
Vile Mercury He is doing we'll Gray was a
graduate of Colby University in the same class
with W. +. Whuchouse, and Stanley L. Pulen.
The Chinese question IS being vigorously agltat-
ed in this state, and forms topic of daily discus
sion. There is an intense feeling against the
100000 MOngolans in the State, their presence
beng very obnoxious. We have over 800 OF
these pig-tais in this place. The Anglo Saxon
stands poor show TO get employ me Mt on account
of the cheapBess of Chinese labor, aud as the
result, there are at least 10 600 workingmen IN the
State day, who are dle and cannot find wo;k."
We notice that Toby has a letter in Saturdays
Boston journal, few items from which we may
add to this
Probably there Is no other State in the Union
that has 50 many visitors. They come here TO
behold the wonders OF the \ ose mite, the beautiful
lakes of Tahoe aud Bonner, the monster trees of
MarpOso, Calayaras and Fresno the geystrs ia
SOuoma. the marvellous productions Of its bouute-
Gus sol and the hundreds Of other wonders for
which the State Is noted, and to enjoy its delight
full climate. In san Francisco the visitor Will
behold metropolis grown up as 1t were by magic.
1t Is city brimmiDg with strange sights. Every
day | see something new. If in pIovcments 20 on
as they have since | was here many years ago,
II Will not take many years more tor san Fran
cisco to rank second to New York in size. The
wealth of the city to day Is enormous, the total
value OF real and personal property reaching prob
ably nearly, # not quite, $3.50, 100000. 1t costs
nearly four millions of dollars wear to run the
CIV Government. 1t costs over $1,000 a month
TO sweep the streets. The shipments of treasure
and of merchandise from here are pIodlgious,
amounting to many millions of dollars in value.
business and commercial activity are to be seen
on every hand.
London has its st. Giles, New York it, Five
Points ami Boston its Back sea. san Francisco
has It's barry toast--a locality in the very heart
OF the city, aud within stones throw Of the Cry
Hall 1t Is the plague spot OF the metropolis, and
tar ahead Of similar localities other great cites
IN vice and LlquIy. 1t Is on the BarOary Coast
wheie the thieves, cul-throats, murderers and
desperadJes OF all natlonalltIts may be found.
Every shop aud saloon is den OF cllme and in
fanny. Go into one Of these places at any tine OF
day OF night and you will be sure OF confronting
the most vlllainous human beings that ever
cheated justice of It's dues. la them are always
to be found short card shaTps plckpockets,
burglars, FOUNDERS, Prostitutes, and the most de-
PRAYED OF the criminal classes, always the alert,
like so many vultures, for then victims In
of these dens the fifth OF the Augtau stables Is no
comparison. Every pace Is Black Hole Of Cal
cutta. The almos phere iceAs with the vilest OF
hquor, and nothing but the rudest of lests and
most bolsterous OF Uatns fan upon the car The
walls OF many of thu ST dens are stained with the
blood OF hapless persons VINO have been klled 10
bfawis during drunken orgies, or shot down in
some ay over game Of monte, faro poker
dice. Whenever murder Is committed IN
these dens the efforts of the police OF
detectives to find Out the author of the TRACE
dy are generally batfed, and the murderer
escapes. Dragged liquors are always IN readi-
ness III these dens to aid Ia the work of VIZ
ialny. The mel0deon DIVES are open nearly all
night and IN them the Patisiau cau-Can is 10 be
seen III all its slaing enlrmities Tue audiences
in these places are composed of the most dssOlnte
and aeprayed, sn-blstefed IN every respect. One
half OF these audiences are generally made Up OF
boys Of the hoodum fraternity, many OF whom
have been inside the walls Of the industrial School
or County jail, more will peer thIoug the grated
bars OF San Quentin State Prison before they die,
and it is not unlikely that will end their lives
on the gallows. When poor Jack the unsophis-
tcated youth from the sage brush goes into one OF
these dens juggling his coin, he is invariably en-
shared by siren, and bumper of fusil oil gen
orally fixes him. The stranger who ventures upon
the BArbay Coast after nlghtfall is never safe an
less under the protection Of police officer One
knows but little of crime and infamy IN this city
unless he visits these lower regions and goes be-
hind the scenes"