The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-12-29

about ten feet long and two feet wide ut the
top, with riddle or sieve mt one esd to-
catch the larger gravel, ana three or four
small bars across the bottom, about half an
inch high, to keep the gold from going out
with the dirt and waller al the lower end.
This machine is set upon rockers, which
gives rotary motion to the water and dirt
inside But the largest uumberu>e nothing
but large tin pau, or ali Indian basket. in
to which they place the dirt. and shake il
until the gold gets 10 the bottom, and the
dirt is carTisd'over tho side in the shape Of
muddy water. 1t is necessary in some cas-.
es to have a crow bar, pick, and shovel. Ln!
q great deal is taken up with large horns,
shaped spoon fashion at the large end.
From the iactthat no capital is necessary,
fair competition in labor without the inru.
encc Of capital. men who were only able to
procure one months provisions, have new
thousands Of dollars of the precious metal
The laboring class have nov become the
capitalists Of the country.
As 10 the richness Of the mine, were we
to set down half the truth, il would be look.
ed upon in other countries as a "Sinbad"
story, or the history Of "Aladdin's lamp"
which required that its possesSor should hut
wish. and his wishes should he accomplish
ed. Many persons have collected in one
day, of the finest grade of gold, from three
to eight hundred dollars, and for many days
together averaged from S7J to $3.50. Al
though this is not universal, yetthe general
average is so well settled, that when man
with his pan or basket does not easily gath
er thirty or forty dollars in day, he moves
n "a hat al inn th.,
raj average, including the time spent in
moving from place TO place, and in looking
for better "diggings," we are Of the opinion
that we may safely set down an ounce of
pure gold, or SIG, per day to a man. Sup.
pose there are four thousand persons at
work, they will addto the aggregate wealth
Of the Territory about four thousand ounces
or $4,000 dav.
The value Of the gold like fittings else,
is regulated by the demand. Four months
ago, -four was sold in the market for four
dollars per hundred, now sixteen: beef cat.
tie six, row thirty; ready-made clothing.
grocers' and other goods, have not risen in
the same proportion, but are at least double
their orig nal cost. five make bread and
meatthc standard by which to determine the
value Of the gold. then il is worth only one
fourth of what il is elsewhere. But if gold
and silver be the standard, then the bread
and meat is worth four times What il was.
But the relative value Of the grain gold
compared with gold and silver coin, can on
~ be changed by the actirn Of the govern.
ment; for, however abundant the gold may
be, it must produce its relative value in
coin; and while five dollar gold piece will
be received in the treasury as five dollars
so long must an ounce o! gold be worth six.
teen dollars.
As to the future hope Of California, hei
course is onward with rapidity which will
astonish the world. Her unparalleled gold
mines, silver mines, iron ore and lead, with
the best climate in the world. and the rich
est soil, Will make it the garden spo, of ere.
tiOu