Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-09-30
THE GOLD REGION.

seen by any OF the hundreds of persons who
were in search OF her.
THE GOLD REGION.
Mr.. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, who has jus,
arrived from California, has furnished the
Washington Union with the following par,ic.
ulars about the gold discoveries in that coun-
try. The Union says: n.aA
His account Of the extraordinary richness
of the gold surface, and the excitement it has
produced among all classes of people, inhub-
ilan,s cf the country and of the towns, among
scamen and soldiers, are confirmed BY let.
tcrs from Commodore Jones and from Mr.
Larkin, the United States naval agent at
Monterey, California. Mr. Beale states that
the whalers had suspended their operations
the captains permitting their seamen to 90 to
the gold region, upon condition that every
ounce of gold the scamen obtained should be
given to the captain for $40, he making six
were being vacua,ed-mechanics, &c. going
to the attractive spot The two newspapers
had been suspended. 1t is fortunate tha, no
such Ell Dorado is within striking distance of
our officc-al,hough we hope that our wor
thy partner will be amply compensated for
" leaving ms alone in our glory for the rich
FL Dorado gold mines of Virginia.
We lay before our readers the last letter of
Mr.. Larkin to the Secretary of the Navy,
which he received from MIR. Beale, and for
which we are indebted to the courtesy Of the
Secretary.
u s. AGENCY. i l.
Monterey, California, July ], lsas,) -f
Sir:-Since my las, letter to you, written
in San Francisco, have visited the Placer
or gold region of California, and found it all
as it had been represented 10 me. My anti
cipalions We're fully realized The part
visited was the south fork OF the river Amer
lean, which joins the Sacramento at Sutor's
fort, or Two miles from it. This river has its
north and south forks, branching more than
twenty miles from Fort Sutor. On these two
forks there are over 1000 people digging and
washing for gold On Bear creek and Hu!o
creek, branches OF Feather river, many are
now beginning to work. It is supposed that
the banks and bottoms OF all these small
streams contain vast quantities OF gold, and
tha, the valleys between them are rich with
the same metal. The people are now work.
ing 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 covering
AT one tent, belonging to eight single men, |
remained two or three days. These men
had two machines made in day, from so to
100 feet, inch boards, and very roughly put
together. Their form was something like a
chid's cradle, without the ends: at one end
there was a movable sieve or rack TO wash
down the dirt, and shake of 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
machines gathered each day | was present
three fourhs to one pound each being three
to four ounces Of gold per man. These men
had worked one week with tin pans the last
week with the machine. saw the result OF
the first days work Of two brothers, (Ameri-
cans j 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 o
! others, was first with a pick and shovel, clea
of two fee, Of the top earth, then put in a til
: pan or wooden bowl a shovel Of dirt, 60 int
running water, III the hand stir up the dir
; and heave out the stones, until they have re
! manning spoonful Of emery or black sand
! containing one to five dollars. This can b
4 done once or twice day. 'alia
y Each day Is causing some saving Of labo
by the improvements to the rough machine
q now in use, The day left, some small com
3 e papies Of five 10 eight men had machines fror
y which they. anticipate Eve or six hundre
!, dollar, day, There certainly must be
n work on the different Plaees seversl hundrs
70 Americans and others, who are cleaning on