The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-12-29
From the New Orleans Pcayune.
The Gold Region Of California.


Lieutenant Loeser, United States army,
arrived here yesterday from Jamaica, with
dispatches from Governor Mason, of Cali.
fornia, to the United States Government.
Lieutenant Loeser left Monterey in August
last for Payta, in Peru, which place he
made in forty days. He came thence by
the way Of Panama and Jamaica 10 this
city.
In company with Lieutenant L.. came
David Garter, who went out to California
in the employment of the Government early
IN the commencement of the war. From
the latter we learn that there was no excite
ment in California except that produced by
the reports from the gold regions Of the Sa-
cramento and its tributaries. The mania
for gold digging had reached such length
that il was difficult to procure workmen in
Monterey except at the most extravagant
wages. Desertions had taken place from
the United States forces, and from the ma
rine TO such an extent that the United States
ship Ohio had to supply men to take the
sloop Warren lower down the coast, out of
the way of the infection. From the latter
vessel boats crew deserted, in open day
light, for the gold regions.
Company +. 3h artillery, and the dra-
goons left at Monterey, had suffered little
from desertion, but the citizens generally
had gone of in quest of the precious metal.
| Lieutenant Loeser brings over with him
specimens of gold obtained in the valley of
the Sacramento. Some of the pieces are
the first found in the country. The extent
of the gold region has not been ascertained,
but the ore has been found in territory one
hundred aud fifty miles in extent and fifty
in breadth. Nh. Carter thinks that many
of the accounts of the great abundance Of
the precious metal in the region in which il
is found are exaggeraions, but that il is re-
covered in large quantities is absolutely
known. He informs uS that the ore is pro-
cured at some risk and with great labor, yet
that il must abound in the country-consid
ering the ''quantities" brought to Monterey
and the imperfect means employed in sep
arating il from the soil.
The tract OF country constituting the gold
region is level plain. Whether the parti-
cles Of gold have been washed down from
the mountains, or heaved up by volcanic
force, no one knows, but the latter is gen
orally believed to be the true theory. Mr..
Carter has himself seen drops of virgin gold
weighing two ounces, and there are those
OF greater weight.
AS yet all attempts to employ capital in
procuring gold have resulted diSaStrously.
Those who have organized company TO
collect the precious metal have lost their
outfits, for the persons hired for such a ser
vice invariably leave their employers and
set up business on their own account, tax
lug with them the implements intrusted to
I Il
of the rivers, but everywhere within pre-
scribed limits it may be had by digging up
the earth aud washing the soil from the
metal.
The effect produced in California by this
new source of wealth has been anything but
beneficial TO the colony or advantageous 10
the public service. The New York voiun-
tcerS, as soon as they were disbauded, re-
paired to the gold region, Colonel Stevenson
with them, and every article Of merchari-
disc, food, or clothing, had risen in value 10
an eyurhitant extent. The epidemic was
universal. The crews Of whale ships and
other commercial vessels had deserted for
the enchanted region. as well as the enlist
ed men in the United States service.
Money in coin, which was plenty enough
for all purposes before gold was discovered.
had grown so scarce that the duties upon
imported goods could not be paid except by
hypotheratng "duSi." Those who could
not procure better means of collecting gold.
wandered off in its quest with tin pans.
buckets, and whatever else could be used
to separate the metal from the earth by
washing
We annex n letter and proclamation
from Colonel Mason, showing the troubles
which this gold fever has brought upon the
custom house, and an article from the Cali
fHrnjaIf of the lilh of August, giving an &C.
count Of the discovery of gold in the valley,
and the progress made in its collection. Our
! Informant thinks will require large force
| to protect the interest of the United States
/ from the depreciation of the "diggerS,' who
form the largest, most desperate, and va
grant class of "foregners" in that territory.
Large numbers of them have persisted dur
! ing the sickly season, on account Of their
reckless course OF life and insufficient means
of comfortable living.
SAW Francisco, JViU -, 1878
SW:-We beg leave To submit TO Your
Excellcncy the proceedings of q meeting
held last evening at the City Hotel Of this
place.
We pray that your Excellency will take
into immediate consideration matters of such
vital importance 10 the commercial as well
as to the other interests of the country, aud