Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-09
THE GOLD REGION OF CALIFORNIA.

FROM NEW ORLEANS PIcAYUSg OF NOVEMBER "a,
Lieut.. LoEsER, u S. Army, arrived here yester-
day from Jamaica, with dispatches from Governor
Mason, of California to the United States Gov
eminent. Lieut.. LoEsER left Monterey in August
last for Payta, in Peru, which place be made in
forty days. He came thence by the way of Pana-
ma and Jamaica to this city.
In company with Lieut.. l.. came DAVID CARTER,
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
excitement in California except that produced by
the reports from the gold regions of the Sacramento
and its tributaries. The mania for gold digging
had reached such length that it 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 marine
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 daylight, for the gold regions.
Company f. Sd artillery, and the dragons left
at Monterey, had suffered little from desertion, but
the citizens generally had gone off in quest of the
precious metal
Lieut.. LoEsER brings over with him specimens
of gold obtained in the valley Of the Sacramento Some of
the pieces the first found in the country The extent of
the gold region has been asceane but the has been
found in territory $50 miles in extent and so in breadth
Mr. CARTER thinks that many Of the accounts Of the great
abundance Of the precious metal in The region in which It 10
found exaggeraons but that recovered in large guam
titles is absolutely known He informs us that the ore pro-
cured isk and with great labor, yet that it must
abound in the the quantities brought
Monterey and the imperfect employed separating
it from the soil.
Tha ctof pfip Laval
plain. Whether the particles Of gold have been washed
down from the mountains heaved up by volcanic force,
knows but the latter is generally believed be the true
theory Mr. Carter has himself drops of virgin gold
weighing two ounces and there those who they
have met with in bulks of greater weight.
AS yet, all attempts employ capital in procuring gold
have resulted disasouy Those who have organized
pany to collect the precious metal have lost their outfits fo
the persons hired for such service invariably leave their
poyers ard set up business their ACCOMPLISHING
with them the implements entrusted to them The gold
confined TO the beds Of the rivers but every where within
prescribed limits it may be had by digging up the earth ant
washing the soil from the metal.
The effect produced in California by this o
wealth has been any thing bat beneficial to the colony ad
vanageous the public service The New York volunteers
they dsbanded repaired the gold region
Col! STEVENSON with them, and every article Of merchan
disc, food clothing had risen in value exobitant
tent. The epidemic universal. The Of whal
ships aud other commercial vessels had deserted Tor the
chanted region, well the enlisted in the Unte
States service.
Money in coin, which plenty enough for all purpose
before gold discovered had grown that the du
ties upon imported goods could not be paid except by hypo
,hecatng dust Those who could procure better
of collecting gold wandered off its quest with pans
buckets and whatever else could be used separate the
tai from the earth by washing.
We annex letter and proclamation from Col. Mason
showing the troubles which this gold fever has brought upo
the cusomhouse and article from the Californian of th
i4h OF August giving account Of the discovery Of go
in the valley, and the progress made in it, collection Gu
informant thinks it will require large force 10 protect III
interest of the United States from the depreciation of Ii
dggers, who form the largest desperate, and
grant class Of foreigners in that territory Large mum
bers them have persisted during the scky
count OF their reckless course of life and insufficient
Of comfortable living.
! SAX FnAScTsco, jury %, lS4S.
SIR: We beg leave submit your Excellency The pro
ceedngs of meeting held last evening at the City Hotel
| this place.
We pray that your Excellency will take into immediate
consideration of such vital importance the
cial well other interests of the country and vii
be pleased To forward decision at early day
| your valuable time will allow.
We arc respectfully, your Excelency's most obeden
wants, w. ID. NJ HOWARD,
| G. V. GILLESPIE,
| T.. JAMES G. WARD.
| To his Excelency Col r. B. MASON,
| Governor Of California;
f. HEADsuARrERs TESrH MILITARY DLPlRTrEsr,