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88 and dryness of the skin. The staples of food and salt meats. Salt Fish. Flour. Hard Bread. White Beans. Split Peas &c. Fresh Meats are scarce - vegetables none. The stores keep several articles of delicacies but they are held at such high prices - that they can only be used in case of actual sickness. Warren has preserved Fresh Meats 2 lb Cans $5.00. Preserved Fruits $4.00 pr Jar - Eggs $12.00 pr doz. The style of food then - together with the exposures to climate - the draft on the vital powers of hard labor - will tell hard upon the miners. Happy will he be who shall pass unharmed and attain the purpose that brought him hither. The relation of trader and consumer - in no country is more unfortunately developed than in this. We have as yet no balances - in the natural laws of trade - a power to produce equilibrium between sellers and buyers - hence we are under the merciless thumbs of the seller. Compelled to buy at the most extravagant prices. The disadvantage buyers now labour under is a conclusion arrived at by the seller from reasoning like this. "A miners day's wages is $16.00 - therefore we [?] upon our goods - proportioned to this pay to labor." Hence all goods are marked up to the ratio of an hence pr day. Now the truth is this is far above the standard of labor - which from the best averages of miners themselves will not exceed $4.00 - 1/4 of an oz pr day. Yet goods are low in San Francisco. Then and at the other mines they are abominably high. Why is this. Ruined speculation - makes goods low in the former place - while crazy speculation for mining - marks them high here. There are few traders but many miners. Next season goods will be high again - first from revelsion in the market - secondly from cost of transportation from the States to this country. Carter came up with letters to night. He was followed by a catarnount after dusk - for three miles - until he reached this place. Sacramento city is submerged. The Ray City is under water. There is a death blow to lot holders. Where now can all the pro's and con's of last summer - fact developes itself - neither helped nor hindered by bubbling tongues. Tents are swept away - men - women children and animals have fled to high ground for safety. Carter was rowed out from the city - his horse swimming after for more than a half mile. A man offered to give his cow and calf standing on the levee to any one that was disposed to save its life. People were in dismay. Store keepers driven to their ganits and upper stories - boats plying from building to building. Such is famous Sacramento city. Now become a Venice - an Antwerp. The foresaken the land and duck like takes to the water then fugacis!