Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-12-14
The California Gold Mines.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-It is reported,
with truth and renson | believe, that Col.
Mason, of the army, commanding our
forces in California, has sent an official
account of the extraordinary gold and
quicksilver mines of California to the
Secretary of War, and that similar
accounts from officers in the navy
have recently reached the Secretary of
the Navy. The previous reports thai all
other kind of business, excepting digging
for gold, is deserted, is confirmed, and
the extraordinary price of flour, which is
said to have risen TO fifty dollars a barrel,
maintained to the latest period. Solid
Jumps of gold have been found equal to
$4,000 in value.
The mines, with the exception of the
property belonging to Messrs. Forbes &
Suter, are public lands, estimated at a
thousand millions of dollars. From this,
of course, an equally enormous discount
must be made. Gold and silver, like ev-
cry other product ofthe soil, requires la
Dor, and ifthat labor, as is i'll the accounts,
is now remunerated at the rate of twenty
dollars a day, the profits even of these
wealthy mines must be limited. Alexan-
der Won Humboldt has proved that the
poor silver mines of Saxony are more pro-
fitable than the rich silver mines of Mexi-
CO, furnishing the silver dollarsixteen cents
cheaper than it can be furnished in Mex
leo.
The gold region of California is said to
extend on both sides ofthe Sierra Nevada,
and to embrace a surface larger than that
of the State of New York. If these dis
are really of the importance
these statements lead us to infer, they will
probably be embodied in the respective
reports Of the Secretaries ofthe Army and
Navy, as otherwise Congress itself will
institute the inquiry, and demand an &C
count of them. 1t is indeed a strange
and mysterious fact, that while all other
countries are involved in great national
disasters, every thing seems to prosper in
the United States, both in war and peace,
and in our foreign and domestic relations.
If the above accounts which resemble,
in more than one respect, the "Arabian
Entertainment" are correct, the
.Governorship of California may prove to
be a more desirable appointment under
Gen. Taylor than a membership Of his
Cabinet, and some 'disinterested" politi-
clans will no doubt insist on the removal
of Gen. Lane. Col. Jefferson Davis is
mentioned in connection with
appointment, too; but it is
by many that Gen. Taylor will
insist on having at least one intimate, pri-
yate, personal friend in his Cabinet, and
friend is Col. Davis.
The following letter, published in the
N. Y. Tribune, gives some idea ofthe diff
fculty If which all vessels on the coast
are placed, on account Of the desertiou of
their men to seek quicker fortunes on the
banks of the Rio de las Plumas: I
MONTEREY, Sept. Is. lS4S.
Gentlemen-l embrace this opportuni-
ty to inform you ofmy situation, which is
bad enough. All hands but two have left
me they will stay until the cargo is land
ed and ballast in. then they will go. Both
mates will leave in a few days, and then
| will have only the two boys, and l am
afraid they will run. l have got all land
ed but 900 barrels: on Monday l shall
get off ballast, if the weather is good.
there is no help to be got at any price.
The store ship that sailed from here ten
days ago took three of my men at $500
per month. There is nothing that an
chors here but what loses their men. l
have had a hard time in landing the car
go / 60 in the boat every load. i'll can
get it on shore 1 shall save the freight.
As for the ship she will lie here for a long
time, for there is not the least chance of
a crew. The coasters are giving
SlOO per month. All the ships at San
have stripped and laid up.
The Flora, Of New London, is at San
Francisco-all left, You probably have
heard of the situation of things here. A
sailor will be up a. the mines two months,
work on his own account, and come
down with from two 10 three thousand
dollars. and those tibet 20 in parties do