Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-24
Letter from California.
SAN Francisco, Aug. 18th, 1873


SHIP BUILDING ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
Ship-building on this coast is an industry that is
gaining ground, but, as yet, is Of Insignificant
importance as compared with the same industry
on the coast of Maine. The single district Of
Bath in the Pine Tree State. builds more tonnage
in one year than was ever built the Pacific
coast 10 any five years. Occasionally q bark OF
ship is built this coast but it is of occur
ence. The industry lie almost entirely confined
to the building of schooners from twenty to three
hundred tons each. One would suppose by the
talk OF CalifornaDs tnat ship building is an indus
try that is prosecuted by them on most extensive
SCALE when the truth is It hardly amounts to any
thing. Oregon timber is mostly used in the con-
stucton of vessels, the yellow pine of that State
being principally used, which, ii is claimed, is
more durable and lasting than Eastern oak, be-.
sides being more buoyant. Yellow pine is very
good for spsrs, but l ente. tain serious doubts
whether it will ever supersede oak so long our
Eastern ship buiders can get it, Nor do | have
fears that any of our New England ship-bnilders
will transfer their yards to this coast many
Calilornsns predict aud try so hard to make one
believe.
THE CHINESE RAG PICKER.
From early morn to dewy eve the chiffoniers
or rag pickers of this city at work. There i.
a horde of them, mostly Italians and Cinnamon.
| In their search among rubbish heaps and piles of
garbage nothing escapes their eye that they want.
Old bones, old bottles old iron, bits of coal and
wood, refuse meat and vegetables. rags and paper,
all are eagerly collected by them and carried off
to their respective abodes, where everything is
sorted, and what is found of commercial value
sold. Some of these chfoniers have accumulated
handsome properties and enjoy healthy bank &C.
counts. Most OF them get good living. The
most industrious of the fraternity is John China
man. He is ever the 60 Ia the dark and
nosome alleys and in secluded streets he is inva-
riably to be found. lie carries with him two large
baskets sung on pole, and wields long handed
iron hook. Every rubbish heap is poked over by
him with this hook, aud every bit of CLOTH piece
of string and stub Of cigar that he finds goes into
his basket. He has use for everything he picks
up. His cigar stubs made into cigarettes. He
is never recognized by his countrymen excepting
those who are thieves and highblnders, with whom
he has business relations, for the Chinese rag
picker is thief himself. and plumbers whenever
the opportunity presents itself. He generally
moves along at a snail-hke pace. looking neither
to the right nor left when any body is near him,
but keeping his visual organs downward aud in
the most sneaking way looking for the miserable
refuse from which he makes his livelihood When
nobody Is round where he is lurking, and he is
satisfied that he is cot watched his emac lated and
impertuib babe sole leather counte nance immedi-
ately Lighters up with u sal donic smile, and he
looks with astonishing gu Ickness all about him to
if there is any booty within his reach. There
10 hatta al than tha .so1.
er, and in all his predatory operations be pro-
feent.
THE STAGE COACH IN CALIFORNIA.
Although the railroad facilities in this State are
| excellent for Travellers and there are over 900
miles OF IRON track by which com munication with
| the largest towns is had still the old fashioned
stage coach remains an institution. In the inte-
| rlor and among the northern mountain towns
| where have visited, it is 3 common sight to see
| this relct of the pas pulled by four aud even six
| wild, gsIoping Mustangs, climbing mountain
| sleeps tearing along iortuous roads, or rafting
| through canyons at a death neck speed. Such
skllful drivers, whether drunk or sober il is hard
| to fnd. There many veteran knights of the
| whip still 10 the like Hank Monk who
| drove Horace Greeley on his famous ride, aud
| who has been on the road twenty wears.
| Jabe Sawin, our old Maine Jehu, who died IN Au.
| gusta few years ago, used TO be fsmua. up IN
| Butte county, and many funny stories are told Of
| him which have heard
1t is real excitement to mount the Dor With one
OF these veteran drivers, aud see him urge his ani-
| mails forward with his ribbons between hi. teeth,
and cracking his whip with both haads. A mes.
senger of Wells, Fargo & Co.'S express sis by his
| side. armed with double barreled shot gun on
the constant lookout for those gentlemen Of the
road who suddenly spring forth from an ambus-
cade with shot guns leveled at your head and " 40
| cry out lustily Throw your hands up" About
that time cold chill is apt TO run all over yon.
What they after i the treasure box Of the et
| pr SIS company, for Wells, Fargo & Co. transport
nearly all the bullion from one place 70 another,
| amounting IN the aggregate 10 many millions OF
dollars annually. hese road agents rarely ii ever,
| rob passengers of their yaluabes. 1t is only the
treasure box they want, aud when that ia thrown
| them they are satisfied and 90 of WITH u. These
| hlghwsymen generally stop the Stage ia some mar
| row canyon, aud invariably in the daytime. They
| travel IN gangs of from Two to five, and all are
masked As general thing with piece Of gunny
sack or blanket. Their robberes of frequent
occurrence, and the express company suffer a
| heavy loss annually IN con-t queDce | have seen
| one driver who has been stopped five tunes 10 As
| many months. Its SOFT o use, he told me,
ito Try an git out OF the scrape, when Of the e
ere KIDD feliers SEXES yer leaders an unbuckles
the strap, an another gifts the drop on yer with
his shot gun. They've got the de ad- wood on yer,
| sure, bet yer life ont. ALI yerve got TO do is to
| toss 'em the treasure box pooly quick when they
| holler out throw up yer hands, an then x LAM
bout yer blsness. II you can GIT yer draw on EN-
hint. 9Si iisu', "ht Nti yti thb lhht so
| easy, cause yer don't know when they're coming
fer yer"
AS general thing these road agents make a
good haul, for the treasure box rarely contains
less than $500, and from that up TO thousands of
dollars worth of bullion. Ia all the hotel, in the
interior will be found plscsrded standing rewards
for the arrest and conviction of these modern Dick
Turpins, but 1t rs only now and then they cap
tured. WH
STAPLE IMr0RTs AND EXPORTS.
l. r
ceries are confined to rice, coffee, tea and sugar.