Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-09-23
NO. 225.
Letter from California.
SAN Francisco, Sept. IL, 1873.


are over 400 prisoners in the State prison at San
Quentin at the present time. For two years past
there has been gain Of thirty three per cent in
the number of prisoners. There has been gain
oil over 200 since last year. The ages of crmi-
mails 10 this State run from fourteen years up to
those who are IN the seventies. The principal
crimes committed are burglary, grand larceny.
murder, robbery and forgery. There are now not
less than l3O muIderers in the State prison. There
are more convicts confined there than in any other
penetentiary the United States. The Chinese out
number the ielons OF any single nationality. The
hoodium Class Is well represented. The number
Of juvenile Iawbreakers in this state constitutes
an army. Some OF them, especially in this city,
where society Is cursed with . large and incress-
ing hoodlum element, furnish examples of terri
Bile depravity. Theft, burglary, murder and kin
dred offences are committed by lads before they
are half out Of their teens. Their associations
are with the most hardened criminals of an elder
age, and they are schooled in all the degrees of
crime AS a profession to follow. The reclamation
Of these juvenile criminals is rarely attended
with success. The bolts and bars of San Quentin
have no terror for them. 1t is just so with other
criminals. There are convcts in the State prison
serving their fifth term who have committed every
kind OF crime from petit larceny upwards. The
lack Of proper educston, the influence Of evil as
sociations. the contempt for law, the difficulty in
proving convictions and the trivial sentences i'm
posed, all conspire to swell the ranks of the GRIM
inal class. Stock gambling is fruitful source of
crime. Mining shsrps, and rich men who are
known to be swindlers are, however, held in high
repute. In no New England city would rascab
be tolerated as they are here, from the wealthy
swindler of California street to the impecunous
ruftian Of the Barbary coast. Chinese criminals
seem to be the only criminals who are promptly
dealt with, aud for even minor offences their pun
ishment is swift and sure. When Chinese high
binder is confined in durance vile he rarely if ever,
gives any trouble to the officer in charge. There
is no other class Of prisoners more trsctable than
the Chinese This semi.barbaric race seem per-
fectly content if they can have something to eat
and place to sleep. and it don't make any differ
ence to them whether their wants are furnished
in pig pen or prison. Its 'allce same and
belly good" as they say.
ORNAMENTAL Trees AND SHRUBBERY.
There is prevalent taste among Californians, l
find, for ornamental trees and shrubbery. Where
towns located on cheerless, sandy waste,
with not tree to be seen in its surroundings, the
visitor will scarcely find garden or front yard
but what is full Of ornamental trees of some kind
which have been planted there. as well as . pro-
fusion Of shrubbery. have seen the dwellings Of
families entirely lost to view as passed them, in
mass of tangled shrubbery, while the street it
self was skirted either side with trees of many
rattaa r,r hAae., /.
in every city and town, and although it may be
carried to excess in numerous instances and show
great lack Of discrimination, stilli adds charm
to ones home. A yard Or garden without an Or
snge tree would be almost marvel, Is such
trees are grown for ornamental purposes as
well as for their fruit. To such extent they
grown that there are probably not less than five
millions of orange trees in the State. While, of
course, the larger number Of these trees cul-
tivated by those who make it their business to
raise oranges Tor the market, still everybody who
owns home feels it Imperative to grow at least
one orange tree There is also q great taste for
ing.semi-tropcal plants. The Eucalyptus. or
Australian gum tree, is extensively grown. 1t
grows rapidly to great height, -four ishes in any
kind Of soil. and while it equals in quality the oak
1t is tar more graceful in is proportions The
Central Pacific railroad company has planted
thousands Of these trees on each side of its track
on various portions OF its road. In Alameda
county for distance OF over thirty miles there is
double row OF these trees each side of its
track. They intended as q fire break. In
the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys tree
planting is continually going on. There is scarce
ly farmers house but what is hidden in grove
of locust, gum and other ornamental trees.
MIsCEGENATIoN IN CALIFORNIA.
Miscegenation in this State is not uncommon In
spite of the laws prohibiting internarriage among
the races. Whites intermarry with mulsttoes and
negroes. The cases are numerous of whites les
peci&N notices in the mountain towns,) who
have Indian .squsws for their wives, or who are
living with these "Mahalas" rs they are called.
and by them are raising up families of half breeds.
Greaser-Spansh women marry or live with white
men rs mstresses. A few American white We
men have married Cinnamon, among the number
Maine school teacher, but intermsrrisges be-
tween Cele stiss and native whites or aliens are
very uncommon. | know of q where white
man married Chinawoman, and presume there
are other cases of the kind, as l have seen China
good English their white plAymstes, but while
all their associations are with white boys they
cannot be induced to give up their Celestial Gus
toms. They wear their pigtsils but keep them
coiled aronnd their heads. Miscegenation is not
practised to that extent As it WAS in early times,
when race amagamation was thought nothing OF.
The cases Of mixed marriages among those Of
the Judac faith are rare.
PESTS OF THE FARMER.
The Colorado beetle has not yet scaled the
Sierras, still within the past year, potato worm
has made its appearance in this State, whose raw
ages are no less destructive. The insect pests of
California are more like those OF foreign eoun-
tries There is locust found in the foothills
which is very destructive and which bears q close
resemblance to q species found in Eastern Eu-
rope. The orange bug and philloxsna are yearly
becoming more destructive. But none of these
pests however, do as much damage rs the squir-
rel and the gopher, whose devsstAtions are very
injurious to growing crops. These rodents are
foes which the California farmer breads. I have