Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1848-12-21

capital is required obtain this gold the luboriny
man wants nothing tut his pick and shr VI aud I'm
pan, with which 10 dig and ash tie gold, and maiy
frequently rk gold Ou 81 Tie cre,Ices uf rks with
their butcher knives. in pieces from 10 ounces
Mr.. Dye. gentleman residing IN Monterey aud
worthy of every credit has INST returned from Feather
river. lie tells H. the company 10 whIca lie be-
logged worked seven weeks and two days. with m
average Of 20 Indiuns (washers and tint their gross
product was 2.3 lbs az gold His SHIRE (one-sey-
cntii), after paying all expenses, Is about 81 lbs,
which lie brought with him and exhibited in Monte
rcy. | see 30 abcrng man from ile mines who does
not show his Two. ihrer. or four pounds nf pld
soldier of tie artillery company returned here n few
days ago from the mines. having been absent on fur
lougl 20 days. lie made ~ trading and working
during that time. 81 800. During these twenty Gays
be travelling ten or eleven days, leaving but
week, in which he made sum Of money greater
than he rccei,c in pay, Clothes and n.iions during
whole enlistment If fve years. These statements
appear Incredible, bat they are true.
Gold Is believed Ia exist the slope OF the
Sierra Nevada; aud when al the mines WINS in
formed by an intelligent Mormon that it had been
found tie Great Salt Lake by s'me of his fra
erniiy. Nearly oil the Alormons leaving Cali
fornin, 60 The Salt Lake. ond this they surely
would not Go, unless they Of finding gold
there in the same abundance they do the
Sacramento.
The gold placer near the mission Of San Fernnn-
for want Of water. This is in n spur that puts off
from the Sierra Nevada, (see Fremont's mnp) the
same in which the present mines occur. There
IL, therefore, every 10 believe that IN the IN
tcrvening space Of FIVE hundred miles, (enrey un-
explored there must be mary hidden and rich de-
poSiies. The placer - gold is substituted
the currency Of this country In trade II passes freely
at Sl6 per ounce; article of commerce its value
is not vel fixed. The only purchase made was OF
the specimen No. - which | got of Mr.. Neigh. at
ST. tie This is aD,:. .::e pre>e' cash value
IN the country. although il has been sold for less.
The great demand for goods and provisions made by
this sudden development of wealth. has increased the
amount of commerce at San Francisco very much,
| and il will continue Ia incTease
| ! would recommend that mint be established at
some eligible point of the hay of San Francisco; md
that machinery, and all the necessary apparatus and
workmen. be sent out by These workmen must
be bound by high wages. and even bonds, 10 secure
their faithful services. else the whole plan may be
frustrated by their going TO the mines as they
arrive IN California. If this be not adopted.
gold TO the amount of many millions of dollars will
pass yearly TO other countries. to enrich their
chants and capitalists. Before leaving tho subject Of
mines, VIII mention, that my return from the
Sacramento | touched at New Almoder the qucks l.
yer mine of Mr.. Alexander Forbes. consul Of her
Brianic Majesty nt Tcpic. This mine is in a spur
of mountains 200 feet above the level Of the bay of
San Francisco. and is distant in southern direction
from the Pueblo de San Jose about II miles. The
ore (cinnabar) occurs in n large vein dipping al
strong angle to the horizon. Mexican miners are
employed in working it by driving shafts and gale
ries about six feet by seven, following the vein.
The fragments of rock and removed on the
backs of Indians. in raw-hde sacks The ore is then
hauled in wagon, from the mouth of the mine
down 10 u valley well supplied with wood aud water
ia whiciI the furnace s..csted The furnaces
of the simplest consruciion-eNacty like a
mon bake -oven, in the crown of which j. inserted
lala lott it'd bot To
tie i'd From a hole in the lid n small brick chan
mel leads a apartment chamber in the bottom
OF which is inserted a small iron kettle. This cham
Der has chimney.
/ In the morning of each day the kettles are filled
with the mineral broken in small pieces mixed with
lime; fire is then applied, and kept up all day. The
mercury is volatilIzed. passes into the chamber. is
condensed the sides and boitor. of the chamber,
and fowes into the pot prepared for il. No water
is used 10 condcnse the mercury.
During visit made last spring four such
were in operation, aud yielded in he days
there, 656 pounds Of quicksilver, worth Mazatlan
81 - per h. Mr. Walkin>haw. the gentleman
IN charge of this mine. tells TINT the vein ln
proving, and that he afford 10 keep his people
employed in these extraordinary times. This
NINE is very valuable IN itself and becumes the more
mercury is extensively used IN obtaining gold.
II is not at present used in California for that pur
pose, but will be at future time. When | was
at this mine last spring. other parties were engaged
in searching for veins but have been discovered
that are worth following up, although the earth IN
TINT whole range Of hills Is highly discoored. ndl
eating the presence of this | send several beau
tiful specimens, properly labelled. The amount Of
quicksilver IN Mr.. Forbess yais on the 18th Of July
was about :. 800 pounds.
Some of the specimens Of gold accompanying this
were presented for transmission TO the department by
the gentlemen named below.
r. y. MASON,
Col. list Dragons. Commanding.
Brig. Gen. L. JoNEs.
Adj. Gen. L. s. A. Washington. ID. {.
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