The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-30
TEE ss.sa saa.,. q. California.

TIE Gssa Mani. D. Canfsrnia.
We copy the following letter from the
Washington Union, giving an account Of the
gold excitement in California:
u. 5. NAVY AGENCY,
MONTEREY, California, July I, 1915.
SIR: Since my last letter to you, written in
San Francisco, have visited the "Piacer," or
gold region Of California, and found 10 all il had
been represented to me. My anticipaiions
were fully realized. The part visited was the
south fork of the river American, which Joins
the Sacramento at Suffers Fort, or two miles
from 1t. This river has its North and South
forks, branching more than 20 miles from Fort
Suter. On these two forks there are over l 900
people digging and washing for gold.
On Bear Greek and HulO Creek, branches Of
Feather River, many are now beginning TO
work. IL Is supposed that the banks and bot
TOMS of all these small streams contain vast
quantities OF gold, and that the valleys between
them are rich with the same metal. The peo-
pie are now working at many places: some are
eighty miles from others. The place visited
was about league In extent; on this were
about fifty tents; many have not even this GOV.
ering. Al one tent, belonging to eight single
men, remained two or three days. These men
had two machines made in a day, from 80 to 100
feet, inch boards, and very roughly put togeth-
er Their form was something like a child's
cradle, without the ends: at one end there was
movable sieve or rack to wash down the dirt,
and shake off the stones
Holes were made in the bottom of the ma
chine TO catch the gold this wash stopped, and
this was scraped out hourly. These two ma.
chimes gathered each day | was present three
fourths to one pound each, being three 10 four
ounces per man. These men had worked one
week with tin pans; the last week with the ma
chine. / saw the result Of the first DAYS WORK
of two brothers, (An,erieans;) one had seven
dollars, the other eighty-two; they worked on
the same five yards of land; one, however
worked less than the whole day. Their plan,
like hundreds Of others, was first with a pick
and shovel, clear of two feet Of the top earth
| then put in a tin pan or wooden bowl a shovel
Of dirt, 60 into running water, with the hand
stif up the dirt and heave out the stones, until
they have remaining spoonful Of emery or
black sand, containing one to five dollars. This
can be done once or twice day.
Each day is causing some saving Of labor by
the improvements in the rough machines now
in use. The day left, some small companies
| Of five TO eight men had machines from which
they anticipate $500 OF $500 day There GER
tainly must this day be at work on the different
Placers, several hundreds Of Americans and 9TH
ers, who are cleaning one ounce Of gold day.
| have this week seen In Monterey a Califor-
kuldHs WIN 4tOO VI gOiu uOnn ldOOr OF
one week; much of il was the size Of " heat.
myself weighed one piece from his bag, and
found the weight an even ounce. lie, like many
others, only went up to the gold region TO see
| the place, borrowed tools, worked a few days,
and came home TO show his labor, and take up
brothers and cousins and provisions- Flour at
the "Placer' is scarce at $40 per 100 lbs. A,
almost this price il must continue, as people ar q
fOrsaking their fields. | do not think | am eK-
aggerating in estimating the amount of gold OBJ
tanned on the rivers have mentioned at ten
thousand dollars day, for the last few days
There Is every reason to believe the amount
will not this season unless the washers are driv-
en- from their work by sickness) be any less -
In this case, the addition Of workmen now Join
ing the first ones, and the emigrants from the
Atlantic States which we shall have in October
and December, will soon swell the value Of CAL
ifornia gold that will be washed out to an un-
heard Of value.
Many who have seen the "PlaceI," think II
will last thirty or forty years. should think If
would afiord work two or three years TO many
thousands OF people, and NAV for very many
yeaTs, as | cannot calculate the extent Of cOun.
thy having gold. The working of quicksilver
mines, like everything else, IS stopped; three
fouTihs OF the houses in the town OF San Fran.
cisco are shut up. Houses IN Monterey are be.
ing closed this week; the volunteer companies Of
SonOma and San Francisco have lost several
men by desertlOn.
Under the present excitement; ship-of-war
or any other vessel lying at anchor in San Fran
cisco would lose many men. In that town there
Is hardly mechanic remaining. | expect the
same IN Monterey IN two weeks. Both newspa
pers have stopped. All OF nearly all the hotels
, are shut up One OF my clerks, vino rcceIvet
a $500 a veal aud hoard now receiyes in In
store near New-fielvetia, tSuters Forty S10t
per month; my others are fast closing their books
TO leave me. In fact, find myself, OF shall thu.
month, without a clerk, carpenter OF servant
and all my houses, formerly rented, gwen up tC
/ me. In two weeks Montery will be nearly with
ont inhabitants. l am, with much respect,
THOS. O. LARKIN.
Gem. TuoS. Ar c. JoNEs.