The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-14

will elapse before you will be convinced of the truth Of
what now write to you in regard to this extensive
the United States from California Of this precious
metal, and Of the rchsst kind you will believe what
The celebrated traveller Humboldt, in all his &C.
counts Of the richness Of gold mines in Mexico and
the immen amount thereof annually exported, does
not mention an amount that will exceed the produce
Of this year. The tools for working consist Of crow
bar or pckaxe, and shovel with pan Of wood tin
By another letter from the same gentleman we learn
that the value Of the gold in June S4 per
in cash July $12 and ct the date Of the letter the
writer sold quantity at $40 for cash. In exchange
for goods it is worth somewhat The gold could
be had Of many poor holders Of fifty pounds of gold,
disappeared from circulation. Gold was taken by
Governor Mason in pledge for duties at $40 psr
A specimen of the gold was received with the above
letter which has been submitted to assayst whose
report We shall probably receive in a few days.
1t win be noticed by the above that the gold from
its abundance, is depreciating in value IL will
be- at this rate Of depreciation, almost as cheap as
dirt" 1t will readily be foreseen that fortune
not be made in day or even year If the necessaries
Of life increase in value in the ratio Of the of
gold.
(From the New London Star, Dec Ill
tracts from letter received Saturday ming, from
Thos. Douglass Esq, of this city, dated
GOLD DIeGING ON AMERICAN RrvER.l
UPPER CALIFORNIA, July 10, 1S4S.
am here in the midst of the forest and mountains
of California which contain the gold mines of this
country; destined soon to become famous the world
San Francisco, and thence home, win improve it by
writing you few lines. A few weeks since, wrote
you long letter. informing you how the gold excite
ment had broken up my school, and compelled me to
engage In gold digging, or do nothing Mr. Lyman
with whom formerly associated In surveying, has
been obliged to do the same. ! am now in company
with him; our business thus far has bsen good; we
have dug and washed out gold to the value Of more
than $500 each in the last three weeks. Yesterday
washed out pound myself aboring some fifteen hours
to accomplish it, Labor Of all kinds is well paid here
and this in my opinion will be the for years to
ia imnO IN Dict that Nhor0
months will produce The rush of people here is i'm
mense. The amount of gold daily taken out OF the
earth here is prodigous. There hundreds of per-
who daily obtain from half pound to two pounds
some fortun ate will obtain pound in an hour.
This cannot last long very many of the rich deposits
have already been thoroughly drained. The business
is already precarious Dope ndng very much upon luck
in finding a rich place. Almost any one however,
with common industry and sagacty may average from
one to two ounces per day. Before however persons
arrive here from the States, it will all probabi
ty be much less lucrative. They need not however,
fear but that they do well and get rich il they
healthy, industrious and prudent. On the coast this
country is uncommony healthy; some of the rivers
there is considerable fever and ague.