USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The annals of San Francisco; containing a summary of the history of California, and a complete history of its great city: to which are added, biographical memoirs of some prominent citizens > Part 32
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ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
a considerable number of respectable and wealthy Chinese mer- chants and shopkeepers in San Francisco, who have extensive business premises in Sacramento street and in various other parts of the city. Their merchandise, as might be expected, is chiefly the goods of their own country. These are of the "upper ten " order, the Corinthian capital of the "celestial " pillar, and would be a credit to any community. They are polite, shrewd, and learned gentlemen ; and are sometimes generous. They can either talk the English language pretty fluently themselves, or by means of an interpreter can conduct any business transaction or private conversation. But the great mass of their country- men is of a very inferior description. Most of this class, who do really work, engage in the washing and dressing of clothes, for which they receive such wages as must appear to them noble re- muneration. The washing and drying are conducted at the dif- ferent lagoons and wells in the vicinity of the city, while in the smallest, meanest habitation in every street, the Chinaman may be seen diligently ironing and finishing the cleansed garment with his smooth-bottomed chafing-dish of burning coals. They are also employed as porters in warehouses and stores, and in vari- ous other kinds of inferior labor.
It appears, however, to most residents in San Francisco, a most curious thing how the great number of that people support themselves. The majority certainly seem to be quite idle, or only busy in gambling, which cannot be a very lucrative pursuit. A portion of the upper end of Sacramento street, and nearly all the eastern side of Dupont street, are occupied with Chinese gambling-houses, which night and day are filled with crowds of that people. The rooms, or " saloons," are generally small, each containing from three to half a dozen tables, or "banks." At the innermost end of some of the principal gambling places, there is an orchestra of five or six native musicians, who produce such extraordinary sounds from their curiously shaped instruments as severely torture the white man to listen to. Occasionally a songster adds his howl or shriek to the excruciating harmony. The wailings of a thousand love-lorn cats, the screams, gobblings, brayings, and barkings of as many peacocks, turkeys, donkeys, and dogs,-the "ear-piercing" noises of hundreds of botching
383
CHINESE GAMBLING AND MUSIC.
cork-cutters, knife-grinders, file-makers, and the like,-would not make a more discordant and agonizing concert than these Chinese musical performers in their gambling-houses. Heaven has ordered it, no doubt, for wise purposes, that the windy chaos is pleasant to the auricular nerves of the natives. Occasionally a few white men will venture into these places, and gaze with min-
Chinese Gambling-house.
gled contempt and wonder upon the grave, melancholy, strange faces of the gamblers, and their curious mode of playing. There seems to be only one game in vogue. A heap of brass counters is displayed on the plain mat-covered table, and the banker, with a long, slender stick, picks and counts them out one by one, while the stakers gaze with intense interest on the process. The game seems of the simplest nature, though white people scorn to know any thing about it. A few low guttural, gobbling sounds, are occasionally interchanged between the rapt players. A rank smell pervades the place, but that is submitted to for a while by the casual visitor. At last the diabolical music reaches some fortissimo passage of intense meaning, while the wild howls and
384
ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
screams of the singer swell even above the dreadful instrumental din, and then the " outside barbarian" is fain to fly.
While one large portion of the Chinese population of San Francisco seems to be constantly engaged in gambling, another, almost equally large,-the females of the race,-follow prostitu- tion as a trade. In 1851, there were only a few Chinese women in the city, among whom was the notorious Miss or Mrs. Atoy. Every body knew that famous or infamous character, who was alternately the laughing-stock and the plague of the place. Her advices home seem to have encouraged the sex to visit so delight- ful a spot as San Francisco, and by and by, notwithstanding all the efforts of the male Chinese to keep back their countrywomen, great numbers of the latter flocked to the city. It is perhaps only necessary to say that they are the most indecent and shame- less part of the population, without dwelling more particularly upon their manners and customs. Dupont street, and portions of Pacific, and other cross streets, are thickly peopled with these vile creatures.
Notwithstanding all the reputed industry of the Chinese, and which has somehow become a "household word" over the world, it must be confessed that prostitution and gambling seem, in fact, the steady business of the majority of that nation in San Francisco. The truly industrious, well behaved, and worthy part of the people are scattered over the city and its environs, and are seldom seen, while the gamblers, the frail nymphs, and the yellow loafer class are continually loitering about the streets, or in their own proper, open dens, and are every where visible.
In 1852, a regular Chinese dramatic company appeared and performed pieces in their native language. These performances were largely patronized by their countrymen, as well as by many of the white inhabitants, who were curious to witness a real play done by such actors. In 1853, another Chinese theatre was opened. Besides these exhibitions, these people have occasionally other ceremonies and amusements peculiar to themselves. At two periods of the year, in spring and autumn, they form grand processions, and march to Yerba Buena Cemetery with roasted pigs and goats, the smell of which seems grateful to the spirits of their dead lying there. After firing a multitude of crackers.
385
CHINESE SOCIETY.
burning mystic papers, and performing a variety of droll capers, they lift again the dainty meats, and march back in procession to town to feed heartily on them. Huge, gaudy standards, gilded dragons, with long tails, and a national orchestra, astonish and disgust the bystanders, but extravagantly delight the saffron- colored Johns. We have noticed above the nature of their in-
E.HOOPER.E
Chinese Females.
strumental and vocal music. Most of their national customs and doings are as little agreeable to white people as those horrible sounds which make the " celestial" harmony.
There seems to be some secret societies among this people, by means of which a few of their number have occasionally been found to grossly oppress their poorer brethren. The police have attempted to interfere and protect the injured, though seldom with much effect. The terror of these, lest vengeance should somehow befall them from their persecutors, have generally pre- vented full disclosures of the unlawful practices of the secret soci- eties. So proverbial is falsehood among all classes of the Chi- nese here, that one is quite at a loss to know any thing of their peculiar private associations and customs. One strange idea
25
386
ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
among them seems to be, that it is a matter of honor for a debtor who cannot pay his obligations to kill himself. Death cancels all debt, and clears scores with hard-hearted creditors. Even Chinese women, at different times, have poisoned themselves here with opium, to satisfy this curious code of honor. Some of the Chinese merchants are reputed to be pretty wealthy. They are now (in 1854) erecting a handsome building as a sort of Mer- chants' Exchange, specially for their own people. There is a Chinese mission in the city, and some of the race profess them- selves Christians.
The Chinese in San Francisco make an extraordinary feature of the city, and appeal very strongly to most organs of the stranger -to his eye, ear, and nose. They are seen in every street quietly passing along. The white immigrant, who may never before have met with specimens of the race, involuntarily stops, and gazes curiously upon this peculiar people, whose features are so remarkable, and whose raiment is so strange, yet unpretending, plain and useful. They are generally peaceable and contented among themselves, and seldom trouble the authorities except in case of mere ignorance of the municipal ordinances. As we have said, there are many most respectable merchants of their race. These are active and keen men in bargaining. They dress in a characteristic and sumptuous manner, and in their own exclusive circles, where no low-caste countryman is allowed to intrude, will no doubt have much refined and intellectual enjoyment. Such flowery grandees as luxuriate in wives are proud to let the white man know that their charmers have the little feet of ladies, not the great hoofs of the trolloping damsels who haunt the streets and lie in wait for the foolish stranger. Nearly the whole race, from the " upper ten" to the lower thousands, wear the time-hallowed tail ; while their every-day garb is the imme- morial clothing of Chinamen. Some, indeed, sport one or more articles of the white man's dress-his boots, trousers, coat, or hat ; but these are comparatively few. On occasions of public rejoicing, the Chinese muster in numerous bodies, while their banners, cars, and they themselves, in their most superb array, form striking and interesting features in procession, and the like. They are very fond of such shows, and among themselves appear to observe
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FLOATING DEBT OF THE STATE.
many national, or private holidays, at which an abundance of their famous crackers are discharged. Their dwellings, some of which are brought in frames direct from China, and erected by themselves, are small and incommodious, though extraordinary numbers somehow contrive to creep into them, and live very com- fortably. Over the fronts of many of these houses are nightly displayed the common colored paper lanterns of China.
SF
SU
Theventes
E.HOOPERSE
Chinese Merchants.
MAY 1st .- Act passed by the Legislature to fund the float- ing debt of the State, and to issue stock to the extent of $600,000, bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent. per an- num. The principal of the debt is declared payable in New York, or at the State Treasury, at the option of the parties re- ceiving the stock bonds, on the 1st day of March, 1870. The interest to be payable either in New York or at the office of the
388
ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
treasurer of the State. Particular provisions are made in regard to a sinking fund, and as to the annual interest.
MAY 3d .- Of this date acts were passed by the Legislature to amend certain acts which had been passed in the previous session relating to the establishment of a "State Marine Hospi- tal at San Francisco," and providing for its revenue, and also concerning passengers arriving in the ports of California. This hospital received such indigent sick as were objects of State char- ity, as well as such invalids as were properly chargeable on the city, upon payment of certain fees by the latter. Parties in good health could secure the advantages of the hospital for one year, in the event of sickness, upon payment of the sum of five dollars. Other parties, invalids at the time, might be admitted, after obtaining the certificate of the resident physician, and upon payment of such fees as should from time to time be fixed. The funds and management of the hospital were vested in a board of trustees, to be composed of seven persons, five of whom (resi- dents in San Francisco) were to be chosen annually by the Legis- lature, and the other two were to be the mayor and president of the chamber of commerce of that city for the time being. Of this board the mayor was declared president. The board was to choose a treasurer and inferior officials, while the Legislature was to appoint one resident and two visiting physicians for the term of two years, to each of whom a salary of five thousand dollars was allowed.
The revenue of the hospital was to be derived from various sources, such as-from a commutation tax upon all immigrants arriving in California by sea, being ten and five dollars upon each cabin and steerage passenger respectively, and which tax was divisible as follows, viz. : three-fifths to the State Marine Hospi- tal at San Francisco, one-fifth to the Sacramento State Hospital (since abolished), and one-fifth to the State Hospital at Stock- ton ; from a tax of one dollar upon each passenger, sailor, or mariner leaving the port of San Francisco,-from the one-half of all sums received by the city of San Francisco on account of licenses to hawkers and peddlers, and on account of auction sales and for licenses for gaming,-from the effects and pro- perty of all persons dying in the hospital, which might not be
389
ANNIVERSARY OF FIRES.
legally claimed by others,-from voluntary donations, and the sums paid by parties to secure the advantages of the institution, &c. An additional one-fourth of the sums received by the city on account of licenses for gaming was also payable by it to the board of trustees, to be applied by the latter, in the first in- stance, towards payment of the debt of the former " State Ma- rine Hospital ;" and after that debt was satisfied, to be set aside as a building fund.
In the following year, the Legislature passed an act materi- ally modifying the arrangements regarding this hospital and its revenues, which will be noticed under its proper date. As the acts particularly above mentioned, and those passed in the ses- sion of 1851, form the foundation of the subsequent legislation on the subject, we have thought fit to notice them in this place at some length.
MAY 4th .- Act passed by the Legislature authorizing the conversion of the floating debt of the County of San Francisco, to an amount not exceeding $400,000, into a seven per cent. stock. The interest of this funded debt is payable half yearly, and the principal is to be redeemed within ten years after the 1st day of July, 1852. Commissioners were appointed under this act to carry out its purposes, who should hold office until the first day of July, 1853, after which date the board of supervisors of the county should enter upon the farther management of the matters in question. Particular provisions are set forth in the act re- specting the raising of the annual interest becoming due upon the debt, and for the formation of a sinking fund to redeem the principal.
This day was the anniversary of the second and the fifth great fires. Considerable apprehension was entertained that some at- tempts would be made to set the city in flames about this time. The different fire companies were therefore on the alert, and took every precaution to provide against the dreaded danger. The men remained in close attendance both day and night, and had all their engines and tackle in instant working order. About ten o'clock at night, on the 4th, the fire-bell was heard loudly boom- ing, and with wonderful speed, "like greyhounds from the slips," the firemen hurried to the quarter announced. This proved a
390
ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
false alarm ; but the circumstance showed the efficiency of the fire-organization. The citizens had now some confidence in it, and a strong feeling of security that no conflagration on the scale of the former great ones would ever again happen.
The Vigilance Committee, which in the early part of this year had held several meetings, both of the executive committee and the general body of members, were again stirring at this time. A common impression existed that there was still an or- ganized band of thieves and incendiaries within the city. So the executive committee recommended the general members to organ- ize themselves into a "night patrol," while they took such other measures as were adequate to meet the emergency. Although this famous association had done many confessedly illegal acts, yet the tendency of these had been so good, and they seemed so justifiable in the terrible circumstances of the time, that the peo- ple were led to trust implicitly to their unwearied vigilance and decisive action, and could now lie down to rest at nights without feeling the old constant dread of having their houses robbed or burned before morning.
CHAPTER XXI.
1852.
Clipper Ships-Enormous Taxation .- Purchase of the Jenny Lind Theatre by the Common Council. -Times and Transcript removes to San Francisco .- Fourth of July celebration .- Great scarcity of printing paper .- Duel between Hon. Edward Gilbert and General Denver .- Custom of Dnel- ling .- Funeral ceremonies on occasion of the death of Henry Clay. - JUNE .- It appears from records kept by the late harbor master, Captain King, that seventy-four vessels claiming and entitled to be called " clipper ships," and averaging rather more than 1000 tons burden, had arrived in the port of San Francisco during the last three years. These records commence with the well known brig Col. Fremont, in May, 1849, and include the Aramingo, which arrived in May, 1852. The average passage was one hun- dred and twenty-five days. Some of the fleet, however, made
much more speedy voyages. The Flying Cloud, which arrived in August, 1851, performed the distance from New York in eighty-nine days. The Sword Fish, also from New York, ar- rived in February, 1852, after a passage of ninety days. The Surprise, arriving in March, 1851, the Sea Witch, in July, 1850, -both from New York,-and the Flying Fish, in February, 1852, from Boston, respectively accomplished the voyage in nine- ty-six, ninety-seven, and ninety-eight days.
The " clipper ship " is virtually the creation of San Francisco. The necessity of bearing merchandise as speedily as possible to so distant a market, one too which was so liable to be suddenly overstocked by goods, early forced merchants and ship-builders interested in the California trade to invent new and superior mo- dels of vessels. Hence the modern clipper with her great length, sharp lines of entrance and clearance, and flat bottom. These magnificent vessels now perform the longest regular voyage known in commerce, running along both coasts of the Americas,
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ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
in about four months ; while the ordinary. ships of older models used to take seven and eight months to accomplish the same dis- tance. The contrast is very striking between the short, clumsy vessels, of a few hundred tons burden, which brought the early European navigators to the coast of California, and the large and beautifully lined marine palaces, often of two thousand tons, that
Clipper Ship.
are now continually gliding through the Golden Gate. These are like the white-winged masses of cloud that majestically soar upon the summer breeze. In another part of this work we have given an illustration of the galleon, or sea-going armed merchant- man of Drake's day ; here we lay before the reader a representa- tion of one of the finest modern California traders, a clipper ship bound for San Francisco. While these noble vessels have revolu- tionized, in every maritime country, the model and style of long- voyage ships, they have also introduced a much happier marine nomenclature. The old-fashioned, humdrum Julias and Mary Anns, the Trusties and Actives are fast disappearing. The very names of our modern clippers have poetry and music in them, and convey a wonderful sense of swiftness. They confer even dignity on the dry details of the "marine reporter," where the simple words shine like golden particles in the Californian miner's sands.
393
ENORMOUS TAXATION.
San Francisco was certainly a wealthy city, yet the amount of taxation laid upon it was enormous. We give here some sta- tistics taken from official documents, showing the amount of cash which had been paid by the citizens during the year previous to this date.
DIRECT TAXES.
Amount collected from City Licenses, from June 1st, 1851, to May 31st, 1852, .
$275,873 14
Amount collected from City Taxes, between said dates, 262,665 23
$538,538 37
Amount collected from State and County Taxes, from May 18th, 1851, to May 18th, 1852, .
$231,348 85
Amount of direct taxes paid by the people of San Francisco during the past year,
$769,887 22
INDIRECT TAXES.
Duties collected at the Custom House for six months, ending Dec. 31st, 1851,. $1,012,128 94
Duties collected for three months, ending March 31st, 1852, for the fourth quarter (estimated,) 484,056 81
. 450,041 50
For the year ending June 30th, 1852, . $1,946,227 25
Direct Taxes, as above, 769,887 22
Amount in cash actually contributed by San Francisco for sup- port of City, State, County and National Governments for one year, $2,716,114 47
These statistics show only the amount actually paid ; but there were arrears of direct taxes which would certainly be recov- ered (since they were secured upon property), and which would swell the amount chargeable on the year to $1,053,773. Adding the last sum to the amount of custom-house duties, it will be seen that about three millions of dollars were drawn, as taxes, from San Francisco in one year. If the population be estimated at 30,000, this would show that the amount of local direct taxa- tion was about $35 per head. In regard to the goods paying custom-house duties, it will be borne in mind that a fair propor- tion of the necessaries, and at least one-half of the luxuries used in the State were consumed in this city. If we estimate there- fore the population of the former at quarter of a million, it may be supposed that the sum of, at least, $300,000 was actually con-
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ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO.
tributed in indirect taxation by the inhabitants of the latter. This is at the rate of $10 per head. Add this to the sum of $35 above mentioned ; and it appears that the total amount of direct and indirect taxation for a single year upon each inhabitant, male or female, infant or adult, of San Francisco, was $45. This is an amount of taxation which few cities or countries can show. But besides these sums, the holders of city real estate were as- sessed in two-thirds of the expense of grading and planking the streets opposite their properties ; while the general citizens volun- tarily incurred a vast amount of additional expense, in the ap- pointment of special police to guard particular localities, in the gratuitous services of firemen, in lighting, watering, cleansing and repairing the public streets, in opening drains and sewers, and in many other ways, the duty of attending to which naturally falls, in the cities of other lands, upon the municipal authorities.
JUNE 4th .- We have already had occasion to mention the unexpected manner in which the common council existing at this time managed to get into office. They never enjoyed the confidence of the people, by whom in reality they were not chosen. Perhaps on that very account, they were the more determined to neglect the public interests and attend solely to their own. Had Mayor Harris not continually been a thorn in their side, much additional mischief would have been perpetrated. Though this gentleman was on their ticket, and came into office in the same doubtful manner with themselves, there existed a marked differ- ence in their public acts. Dr. Harris was a man of undoubted personal integrity, and possessed in a high degree the confidence and esteem of the citizens. By his care and faithfulness, the city was saved from many heavy burdens that would recklessly have been laid upon it by the common council of this year. One noted instance was his refusal to approve of the aldermen's ordinance accepting the terms of the act of the Legislature which relin- quished the State claims to the water lots, upon the city recog- nizing and confirming certain of the old obnoxious "Cotton Grants."
The purchase of the new Jenny Lind Theatre and Parker House for the purposes of a City Hall was another of the common coun- cil jobs which excited very much angry discussion at the time,
395
PURCHASE OF THE JENNY LIND THEATRE.
and which afforded interesting and amusing "matter" for the newspapers-(the "Jenny Lind Swindle," or sometimes " Juggle," they facetiously called it),-during half a year. The old City Hall having been destroyed in the fire of 22d June, 1851, the various municipal officials were compelled to get business cham- bers where they could, for which very high rents had to be paid. As the different publie offices were now located in separate parts of the town, mueh inconvenience was experienced. This arrange- ment could only be temporary. The rents, which were somewhere about forty thousand dollars per annum, formed a heavy tax upon the public ; while ground could be bought and a proper building erected by the city itself for about four or five times that amount. Several desirable sites could be had in the town on moderate terms, and responsible contractors were ready to undertake the construction of the proposed building at fixed rates, which would certainly have reduced the total cost below two hundred thousand dollars. In these circumstances, the common council, for rea- sons, as the saying is, best known to themselves, and in spite of the indignant eries of the citizens, and the general remonstranees of the press, determined,-in conjunction with the board of super- visors of the county, who were to pay half the cost,-to purchase the Jenny Lind Theatre, and convert it into the proposed City Hall. The purchase-money of the building as it stood was to be $200,000 ; while to remove all the inside walls, leaving only the outer ones standing, and to build up the interior anew, properly fitted up for municipal purposes, was believed to involve the ex- penditure of nearly half as much more. At the same time, it was supposed that the building when so altered would be only a mis- erable structure at the best. An ordinance authorizing the pur- chase was passed by large majorities in both eouneil boards, and sent to the mayor for approval, which was refused. Notwith- standing, the common eouneil, on the 4th June, re-adopted the obnoxious ordinance, and passed it by a constitutional and almost unanimous vote.
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