Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1883 — Flush Times in california. [ARTICLE]

Flush Times in california.

A Californian of the epoch of 1850 writes as follows: After a few days sojourning in Sacramento we concluded to locate there, and I was to make all the arrangements for business. Not finding any place to suit, I concluded to build, and I wanted a lot to build on. Next to corner of L street, I think it was, Sam Brannan owned a lot which suited me. The firm of Brannan & Osborn was on the corner, and doing a large business. I went in and asked the prioe of it. “Three thousand dollars,” said Sam, in a careless, off-hand way, as if he did not care a snap whether you took it or not. I thought that I would sleep over it; did so, and next day concluded to take it, wben lo! it had Raised SI,OOO in value that night. “Nothing less than #4,000,” says Sam, and he meant it. At this I was quite indignant, but next day, all things considered, I concluded to give the $4,000, and what do you think—the fellow wanted #5,000. This was a little too heavy on good nature, even if they were flush times, so I concluded to give Sam and his lot a' wide berth. Flush times! Certainly they were flush times. I soon found a lot to suit me on J street, near Third, west side. Built the store at heavy expense; cost, if my’ memory serves me right, about $25,000.Labor was from sl6 to $25 a day; lumber from S4OO to SSOO a thousand, I forget which. We put a brick chimney in, bricks costing, I know, S7O a thousand. Store complete, I soon had the goods in and opened., Up to this timelt had all been against my partner and myself. It now came our turn. I soon saw that it was no trick to make S3OO to SI,OOO a day clear profit. I did make one dav SI,OOO before breakfast, and had my ’breakfast at 9 a. m. at that. Flush times! You may well believe that they were flush. We ate watermelons at #3 and $5 apiece; peal's, apples and sweet potatoes at from fifty cents to $1 each. You have heard of the tack trade. I realized $1,789 out of one lot that cost me only S3O. Screws were almost as profitable. Spring balances an ounce each (sl6), cost $4 a dozen. I will tell you a good story on Prince (Prince of Flushing, L. I.), Prince of Darkness, as the miners used to call him, for the reason he had no mercy on prices when he had the monopoly. Prince got the monopoly on tacks. They went np to $5 a paper. (Can gel three papers for .twenty-five cents anywhere now.) To get the monopoly he paid me $36 a dozen papers for quite a lot. One day Prince came into my store and wanted to know whether I had any spring balanoes—he knew that I had. Yes, I had some. “How many?” said Prince. I could not say (would not say that I had a big lot), for I knew lie wanted the monopoly. . -y “What will yon sell all you have for?” “Two hundred dollars*a dozen,” I answered. After a parley he agreed to .take all. I must be certain to put every one in. To this I agreed. Prince now felt extremely happy. He had the “deadwood” on spring balances, which at once went up to $25 each. My bill was over $3,000; cost me about S6O. This quantity was quite in excess df what Prince expected I had, but he paid the bill like a man.— San Francisco Post. A man in Germany who pulled the signal-Jine and stopped a train to recover the hat he had lost from a window, was put in prison because he could not pay a heavy fine.

■' 7 'V-' Ltl 1 " " l-hs,frajq; bookkeeper suffered very severely, and fcfra long with rheumatism. J& tried^St.