SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 241, 10 February 1860, Page 2

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

(From the Melbourne Argus.) Few cities in modern times have attracted greater attention than San Francisco. Ten years ago it was composed of a few huts. The discovery of gold attracted crowds from all nations. In 1831 the population of California was estimated at 23,025. In 1849 it had reached 26,000, of whom 8000 were Americans; and in 1858 the total population was about 538,000. In Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, for July, there is a most valuable article, showing the progress of the City and State, from which we make the following extracts :— There are in the State 135 flouring mills, the aggregate capacity of which is upwards of 2,400,000 barrels per annum, and their assessed value is 1,500,000 dollars. Of saw mills there are 385, the value of which is estimated at 2.000,000 dollars, and their capacity at about 500,000,000 feet annually. The lumber furnished by these mills from the exhaustless forest of the coast range, the Sierra Nevada, and the Humboldt Bay region, not only supplies our own markets, but is rapidly becoming an important article to the ports of the Pacific. Large quantities of lumber are required in mining]operations. In the county of Tuolumne alone the yearly consumption amounts to 800,000 dollars. There are thirteen establishments for'the refining and assaying of gold and silver, several of which are of an extensive character.

In San Francisco there are two extensive sugar refineries, the value of which is estimated at 160,000 dollars, and their capacity at 15,600,000 pounds of sugar per annum, besides 300,000 gallons of syrup. The medical works near the Mission Dolores have an annual value of about 100,000 dollars.

The manufacturing of furniture is becoming a business of considerable importance. A large proportion of the best furniture used in the State is now manufactured in San Francisco. One establishment alone employs from thirty to fifty hands.

The manufacture of agricultural implements is principally located in San Francisco. Its machinery is of the most approved description, and 25 men are constantly employed by its proprietors in making ploughs, reapers, threshers, &c, which are considered superior to similar machines from the East.

A paper mill has been erected; is estimated at about 90,000 dollars, and with the present machinery it is capable of furnishing upwards of 300 tons of paper per annum. The San Francisco market is now abundantly supplied by California manufacturers with almost every variety of perfumery, which compares favorably with imported articles in the same line. A match factory has been recently completed, the capacity of which is believed to be sufficient to supply the demand in California. There are in the State thirty tanneries, of an aggregate capacity sufficient to supply the demand for leather. In different parts of the State there are extensive broom manufactories; their aggregate capacity is about 360,000 brooms per annum. The manufacturing of soap and candles^ is carried on to a considerable extent in various parts of California. The aggregate capacity of the soap factories is about 3,500,000 pounds per annum. There are two starch manufactories,;at whicli a superior article of starch is produced ia large quantities. The number of distilleries in the State is five, of an aggregate valuation of 200,000. The number1 of glue manufactories is four, of a capacity sufficient to supply the wants ofthe State. In San Francisco, there are several extensive oil and camphine manufacturing establishments; They are capable of refining upwards of 600,000 gallons of camphine per annum, besides a large quantity of oil. The importation of stoneware from the East has been almost entirely stopped by the potteries now in operation here. The building of steamers an 4 sailing vessels is carried on with considerable activity in San Francisco. The United States Government is now building a steamer at Mary Island, and a sloop-of-war is soon to be built at the same place. Timber suitable for the largest vessel is found in abundance in California and Oregon. The dry dock at Mary Island, which is of sufficient capacity to accomodate vessels of the largest class, has been made available to the merchant marine of the Pacific, at reasonable rates of dockage. The cost of constructing these works was 1,400,000 dollars.

The bridges constructed in different parts of this State are valued at about 725,000 dollars. Some •cf these are of Californian design, and highly creditable to the mechanical skill and ingenuity of the State. The number of ferries is about 140, of which three are operated by steam. The capital employed is 250,000 dollars.

The maccaroni and vermicelli manufactories not only supply the home demand, but furnish considerable quantities of their products for exportation.

A cordage and oakum manufactory has been in successful operation during the lasfc eighteen months.

There are in San Francisco two extensive steam barrel factories, the machinery of which is of California invention and manufacture. In addition to these, there is a large number of smaller establishments for the making of barrels, kegs, &c.

Waggons and carriages of the most substantial and ornamental character are extensively manufactured in all parts of the state.

' The stone and marble yards of San Francisco ; Sacramento form a prominent feature in the home ; industry of California. The vast marble quarries of El Dorado, Calveras, and Suisan furnish an abundance of the material; but the facility for sawing and transportation are inadequate. An extensive tub and pail factory has recently been put in operation in San Francisco. Its capacity is 500 pails per day. The machinery embraces the most recent improvements. The forests of Washington territory furnish an abundanceof timber well adapted to the making pf pails and tubs. The manufacture of woollen goods on a large scale is soon to be commenced in the vicinity of San Francisco. At present wool forms a large item in the list of exports, while woollen goods are among the heaviest items of import; and there can be no doubt that an establishment of this character will prove highly remunerative to those engaged in it, as well as highly beneficial to the state at large, for it will give employment to a large class of persons who are unable to endure the kind of labor required in mining and farming. It will afford employment to boys, who, without such facilities for procuring employment, will grow up in idleness and vice. The manufacture of pianafortes and other musical instruments, billiard tables, clothing, hats, boots and shoes; saddles and harness, trunks, tinware, candles, cigars, aad indeed of all staple articles, is carried on to a much greater extent than is generally supposed, and with satisfactory results. The successive annual fairs of the Mechanics' Institute have served to show, in a most conclusive manner, the inventive powers and the skill of her mechanics.

It is obvious that when 500,000 persons have arrived in the state, and have'establish'ed all these industries, that a vast amount of capital has been carried thither: and it is very probable that, although California has added to thegold currency of the world, it has not up to this time increased its capital.