SAN FRANSCISCO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81899, 4 December 1906, Page 3

SAN FRANSCISCO.

From a letter received by a New P.ymouUi resident irom a lady of San Jose, Ca.ifomia, we ate permitted lo make some exuacis. file writer "Can you inriglue over 2800 acres of ruins, where unce stood a 111:e ciiy." One has tj see such a sig. :t ;o ualisc the ihviul mess of ii all. There are enough brick; lying on tiie ground to reach round tu e world tluee limes. Our Sail J„se fnu uas controlled, but we had tne worst snake. It was like a dog shaking a iat tvery way at once. 1 did not leel alarmed; it was too sudden to realise. Great land dides took place •rl aiounti us, some carrying earth and big ledwoid trees t'ol over ha [. ami e. The crowded ci vo£ gl.ivand biick however, i, wheie the sulleiing was experienced. All clawes ol people were united and 111 sympatliy with one anoiner at the trme. T. w'as as one great brothernood, an 1 w; who are optimistic, pictuictt how long the universal good lee.ing would last. But it was njt long. The se ifisliue s shown was oppressive. Tile saloons welo clo.ed for six weeks 01 more, and the city was at peace and under control. The wives and motl'c'is and thinking men voted tor tiiem to be kepi c occd but the minis tcrial asiociatijn and the l'riests voted for high license. To-day in that burned city are two thuusan.l two bundled saloons and one thousand applications lor moie. Beloie tiie lite three thousand saloons was the highest number. The crime reselling from drunk-niie.s is far woise than rn tne old mining days, 5; years ago. The giecd lor money was tvspon ible for toe giving of high .icenses. In ihis matter tl.e mayors, olhcial- and parsons showed uieir weakness. . . Wages aie very high. Bricklayers are gelling 40; per day, and carpeuleis not quite so much, boys cleaning bucks are commanding 12; per day. The catastrophe ha,-, affecUd evoiyone., and 1 cannot help thinking tnere wil: be hard times in the luUU'e. Still the American is a wond.-iful being. He never says die."