Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-09

namely that OF taking military possession OF the mining DIS
ic II hoped that there enough rejecting at the
mines how much the prosperity of California will be
retarded unless they pursue the that pointed out TO
them.
is desirable to develop the riches and wealth Of Caor
MIA but the military safety Of the county must be secured at
all hazards. r. b. MASON,
COL LIST Dragons and Gov. Of California.
FROM THE CALIFORNIA OF AUGUST ID
The GoLD MrsE.-A few months ago in the habit
Of speaking Of the agricultural and the commercial
qualities California being the source Of her greatest
wealth. and although they inferior any portions Of
the world the soil constitutes but small part Of her wealth,
all Interests having been absorbed the working Of the mines
The present number Of the Californian intended for
culaion abroad well home, and WILL by giving mi
and general view of the asbsorbng top the gold nne
be found useful persons send their distant friends
The information which shall give has been gathered from
actual obvaon and from persons who have been engaged
at the Mines and from the authentic sources il is de-
abe that the facts be correctly known through other
tiles, and especially through the United States
Some time since, in the spring, Messrs Marshall d Ben
nett, In opening ditch for tailrace for mill which
had been built the American fork Of the Sacramento found
gold which the had collected the bottom of the
race which, after being examined, found be very pure
1t began attract attention, and persons discover
ed the gold IN the below and for distance above
IN large quanilesso much that VINO
credit to one third Of what said about left their homes
and went to work in the mines 1t tie work Of but few
weeks to bring almost the entire population Of the territory
geher 10 pick up the precious metal The result has been
that in less than four months total revolution has been eff
fected in the prospects and the fate Of Alta California Then
the capital in the hands Of few individuals engaged in
trade and speculation labor has got the upper hand Of
capital and the aborng hold the great OF the wealth
| Of The country-the gold.
There about four thousand white persons besides
number Of Indians engaged Mines and, from the fact
that capital required, they working in companies
equal shares alone with theirbasket In part OF the
nine, cale the " cry dggins, other implement is
say than ordaay sheath KNIFE pick the gold from the
rocks In other parts where the gold is washed out the
cbnery isyey simple being ordinary trough made plank,
round the bottom about ten feet long and feet wide
the top, with riddle end catch the larger
gravel and three four small bars the bottom about
half inch high, keep the gold from going with the
dirt and water at the lower end This machine is upon
rockers which gives half rotary motion the water and
dirt inside. But the largest nunter nothing but large
pan. Indian basket into which they place the dirt and
shake il until the gold gets the bottom, and dirt carried
the side in the shape of muddy 1t necessary
TO have crowhar pick and shose but great
deal taken up with large hor saapen spoon fashion at tie
largeend.
From the fact that capital necessary, fair compei
ton in labor without the influence Of capital VIII,
only able to procure months provisions have thou
sands OF dollars the precious metal The boDg class have
now become the capitalists OF the country.
As 10 the richness of the mne to set down hall
the truth, would he looked upon in other countries
g Sinbad story, the history OF g Aadins lamp which
required that its possessor should but wish and his wishes
should be accomplished Many persons have collected in
day. Of the finest grade of gold from three to eight hundred
dollars and for many days together averaged from 75
Although this universal yet the general average is so
well settled that when with his pan basket does not
easily gather thirty forty dollars in dry he to
other place. that taking The general including the
time spent in moving from place to place and in looking for
better "dggings Of The opinion that may safely
set down Of pure god SIG, per day 10 the
Suppose there four thousand persons at work. they will
add the aggregate wealth Of the Territory about four thou
sand ounces, $50, 900 day.
The value Of the god like all things else, regulated by
the demand -Four months ago. -four sold the market
for four dollars per hundred, beef cattle six
thirty clothing grocer and other goods have
not in the proportion but least double their
Original cost. II make bread end meat the standard by
which determine the value OF the gold, then it is only
worth one-fouth Of what il is elsewhere But il gold and
silver be the standard then the bread and is worth four
times what But the relative value of the grain gold
the action of Government for however abundant the gold
may be- il produce its relative value in coin, and while
FIVE dollar gold piece will be received 10 the Treasury five
dollars long must Of gold be worth sixteen
| dollars
AS the future hope of California her is onward
with mpdity which will astonish the world. Her unpaal
leed gold mines, silver Mines iron aud lead, with the
best climate in the world, and the richest SOIL will make II
the garden spot Of creation.