COMMERCIAL USAGES OF SAN FRANCISCO

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 469, 12 October 1850, Page 3

COMMERCIAL USAGES OF SAN FRANCISCO

The Chamber of Commerce, at a meeting held at the Exrhame, on Monday evening, adopted the annexed Tariff of Charges and Commissions :— Sun Fratioisco, August 12, 1850. Schedule First, Rates of cotnmiiiions on business with foreign countries, and with Atlantic States, where no special arrangement exists — ~ Commission on the sale of merchandize, with or without guarantee . 10 per cent Commission on purchase and shipment of merchandize, with funds in hand . 5 per cent Ditto, ditto, without fanda in band . 10 " Commission on goods received on consign* ments, and afterwards withdrawn— on invoice coit —» . . . . . . 5 " Commission for endorsing Bills .. .. 2\ " Commission for purchase or sale of vessels 5 " Commission for procuring freight for vessel 5 " Ditto for collecting .. ... ... 5 ° Ditto for collecting general average claims 5 " Commission for entering, clearing <fc tran* aactiog 1 ihips' business on vessels with cargo from foreign ports . . „ 205 <llrs. Di to ditto, from United States ports .. 100" Ditto ditto, on vtsse sin ballast .. 100 " Commission for collecting and remitting monies on sums over 500 dollars „ 5 per cent Ditto, on sums less than 500 dls. ..10 " Commission, fir collecting and remitting delayed or litigated accounts ..10 u Commission for receiving and paying or remitting monies from which no other companion is derived . . .. . . 2f u Commission for landing and re-shipping goods from vessels in distress, on invoice value, or in its absence, on market value 5 " Commissions for receiving, entering at Customs house, and forwarding goods, on invoice amount. ,. .. .. 2§ " Commitiion? for effecting marine insurances, on amount insured .. ... I " Rates of interest and discount «. 3 " Schedule Second. Rates of commissions on business within the States where no special agreement exists:— Conun ssion on the sa'e ot merchandise, with or without quarantine .. 10 per cent Commission on purchase and shipment of goods wiih funds or security in hand 5 " Ditto ditto, without ditto ditto 10 " Ditto on sale or purchase of specie, gold dust or bullion ... — ..1 " Conoomsion on sales of bills of Exchange, with endorsement ... .. 3| " Ditto on telling bills of Exchange .» 1 " Ditto on sale or purchase of vessels .. 5 " Ditto on chartering of vessels, or procuring freight .. 5 " Ditto on procuring or collecting freight 5 " Ditto on outfits of vessels or disbursements 5 " Ditto on collecting monies when no other commission is earned . . ••• 5 " Ditto on receiving and forwarding goods 2} " Ditto on bills protested or delayed, litigated accounts .. ••♦ ••• ..10 *• Brokerage * .. H " Schedule Third. Rates of Storage on Merchand ; ze— Measurement goods per month #4 per ton of 40 cubic feet— heavy ditto <6"3 per ton of 2240 lbs. The consignee to have the option of charging by weight or measurement. Schedule Fourth. Concarning delivery of Merchandize, Payment of Freight, &c— Wheo no express stipulation exists, per bill of lading, goods are to be considered nsjdeiiverable on shore. Freights on all goods to be paid or secured to the satisfaction of the captain or consignee of the vessel* prior to the delivery of goods. That the custom of this port, for the time within which goods must be received by the consignee, after notice being given of the ship's readiness to discharge, be fixed at 15 d«y», when aot otbcrniie stipulated in the bills of lading. That after the delivery to the purchaser of merchandize sold, no clairai for damages, deficiency or other cause shall be admirable, after goods sold and delivered have once left this city. Schedule Fifth. Concerning Rates of Tares— to be trowed as in New York.

San FaAHc/BCO Comuercial Intelligence. Tuesday, Auguit 13. No material alteration hat taken place in the price of flour to-day. A few sales arc reported at last quotations, but u<] heary transactiom. We have had a large arrival of coffee, but no alteration hai taken place in prices. A tale of Clnna sugar i* reported at 18c psr Ib. A quantity of cognac brandy was told at #1 65 per gallon. Gold dust brings from #16 to #16 25. The large tale of real esUte, by Kending, Wainwrigbt & Co., thovrs an advance on formir prices. Lots to the amount of #125,003 were sold.

SUFFERING ON THE PLAINS IN CALIFORNIA. We (Alia California) publish belovr a letter addrw■ed to the Editon of tbe Sacramento Transcript which we find in the columns of that paper of yesterday. The writer has very recently arrived in the S»cramento valley from the U.S. overland, and was an eye witneii of many of the circumstances narrated. Messrs. Editor* : Since my arrival in this city from the Plaim. I bate ■ten to my great joy and satisfaction , that the citizens, art m tome measure, acquainted with the suffering that prevails among the immigrants now crossing the plains. Though being informed to a cer» tain extent, they cannot realise it so fully as one these has seen it among (he adraaced trains. I perceived by the Transcript that liberal subscriptions were made on Thursday evening, on short notice. The number now an ihe plains is variously estimaed, from 5i>,000 to 100,000 touli, destined for this E dorado ; the one half of whom will not reach here with their aoimals, or enduring starvation. I have teen hundreds, more than 150 miles on the other side of the Sink of Mary's river, that were out of provisions, or had but a tew pounds to sustain a miserable and wretched existence, with animals that could never seach the Desert, by ressou of the scarcity of forage. Mary 'a river is lix or seven feet higher than ever it was known to be before ; the bottoms, where the only fedd grown, are almost entirely under water. Not being able myself for several days, to get graij oa tltit Hide of the river, I

hired some Indium for #15 to swim across and uoafc some over to keep ray animals from perishing. Had I been entirely destitute of mrani, as thousands are, I would hare suffered in th»t particular in the same manner. From this circumstance alone, it may be passible (hat three-fourths of the anim'li now on tlio plains must perish from hunger, and tho immigrant, wiih his scanty fare must foot it till life itself becomes a burthen. Those who started late will fare worse ; as the season becouis warmer, feed less, and provisions shorter. I saw one man with two small boys, 120 miles beyond the Sink, who had left his wagon and lint all his animals but one, and all the provisions he had was three or four pounds of rice ; another with his wife and children, I overtook seventy-five miles beyond the Sink, with four hoses that were just able to more with the empty wa;on, the wife walked ahead, in tho burning sand and the scorching sun, to relieve the poor laden nnimali, that were destined never to see the Sink. I saw, an the road side where slices hat been taken out of dead horses and mules to appead the gnawing appetite of immigrants. There are but few instances among hundreds thaj come under review in quick succession. I might enumerate many more incidents of distress and suffering that bare occurrred in my pilgrimage, did I deem it necessary to awaken the feelings and sympathy of those who are comfortably situated here. Is not this the time when the deepest sympathy of man for his fellow man should be «hown by acts of liberality ? Is not this the time when philanthropist should arouse and exert his influence in procuring relief for distressed humanity ; Is not this the time when any man is able to contribute, should do so to the utmost of his capacity ? Yours, Sec, W. Ckum.