nger, having been greatly scorched by the flames. The total
loss by this fire was $75,000. The city, on the first of January, was
fully prepared for the rainy season. By the enterprise of the
inhabitants, upward of seven and a half miles of street had been graded
and four miles planked, while capacious piers and wharves were built far
out into the bay, so that vessels were enabled to load and unload
without the use of lighters. The cholera had entirely disappeared, not
only from San Francisco, but from all parts of California. Its ravages
have been much lighter than was anticipated, a fact which speaks well
for the health of the country.

The _Pacific News_ contains some interesting statistics of the condition
of San Francisco at the close of the year 1850. The population of the
city is estimated at 35,000. One hundred and seven miles of street are
already laid out, one quarter of which is built upon and occupied. The
business streets are substantially built of brick or iron. In addition
to seventeen large auction firms and eight express companies, the city
boasts of ten first class hotels and seven daily papers. The amount of
gold-dust regularly shipped and entered for exportation during the year
1850 was $30,000,000; the estimated amount taken away by passengers,
$12,000,000. The amount of bullion received was $1,722,600. The number
of vessels which arrived during the year was 1,743 bringing 35,333 male
and 1,248 female passengers; the number of clearances amounts to 1,461
vessels, carrying away 26,593 male and eight female passengers. The
total value of the merchandise received by foreign and domestic vessels
during the year was between four and five millions of dollars. In
addition to 14 steamers running regularly between San Francisco and
Panama, and three on the Oregon route, there are 45 steamers and 270
other craft of various kinds on the bay and inland streams.

We have news from Oregon to the middle of December, at which time the
Legislature was in session. The message of Governor Gaines recommends
the establishment of a liberal system of education, and asks for the
passage of a law for protection against the Indian tribes. It also
maintains the importance of a liberal policy on the part of the General
Government in the donation of lands to actual settlers. The country
appears to be in a highly prosperous condition; all the towns on the
Columbia and its tributaries are growing rapidly. The news from the gold