The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-12-26
THE GALAXY.
MIDDLEBURY.VT.
Tuesday, December 20, l848
ABOUT CALIFORNIA.

ClcS HOM SCCni " NC tuihCd3 ahN ASePNNh ~
which there exists an excitement throughout thu
country, without precedent or parallel in our for
MGR histor,. The existence of Gold, of the fin
est quality and in the greatest abundance. in the
rivers and on the mountains of California, is now
a fact as well ascertained as any fact can be, o.
which We have not the actual knowledge of oul
own senses 1t is also beyond dispute, that in
divid1als who have the means Of transportation
to that country, and of support after they gel
there, may, with good fortune, good health, and
good management, secure almost any amount Of
the precious petal in question.
1t happens in this case, however, rs in all 9TH
crs, that no one can obtain this Tin the eyes Of
the present generation exceeding great good with
out paying Lhe price. This beautiful yellow metal
will not transform itself into coin, and make its
way into our pockets, without effort and without
care on our part. The obstacles in the way OF
getting possession of any portion of these treas
ures are numerous, and almost insurmountable
That it is So wc regard ,on the whole, as fortu-
nate circumstance, and that the difficulties in the
way of emigration to that region should be known
is certainly important. We cannot conceive n
greater calamity to this nation, than that any con-
siderable portion of its population should be turn
cd into Gold hunters and Gold dggcrs, TO the
neglect of all the other necessary and ordinary
arts and cmploymcnts. The ultimate effect Of
such state of things is evident enough, even
without the aid of experience; but with the ex-
ample of the Spaniards and others before us, no
one can have a moments doubt as to the perni-
cious influence of a national Gold mania. 1t is
stated as fict-and if so, it is q significant one
that no person, who has given himself up to
this fcvcrish chase after Gold, and has set about
getting rich by cutching the precious metals by
the handful from the earth. ever yet become pos
sessed Of an independent fortune or lived TO see
his glittcring hopes in any measure realized.
Upper California, the seat of these truly mag
nifcent mines, is so far distant from us Of New
England, as to make voyage to that country a
wild and adventurous expedition, even for Yam
kce. The shortest and most feasible passage to
San Francisco is by the mail steamers from New
York, by way of Chaercs. This latter port is on
the Atlantic side of the Isthmus of Darien,-
from which point to Panama, on the Pacific side,
the transit is made partly by canoes, up Chagrcs
river. and partly by mules across mountainous
region. From Panama 10 San Francisco, up the
coast of the Pacific, the passage by steamers,
(which pass around Cape Horn, stopping at Pa
mama al regular pcriods,) is resumed.
The distance from New York TO Chagres is a.
bout 1000 miles. The cost of passage between
these ports is, in saloon, SIPS to $3.50, in low
or cabin, 500 to Sl20. In sailing vessels, pass
age may be obtained for from $50 to SIS. Steam
crs make the voyage in about 10 days-sailing
Panama, a distance of about 40 miles, the journey
is made in two days, al a cost Of from SIS to $40.
From Panama to San Francisco $500 miles, the
passage occupies about 20 days. The price of
passage, in state rooms, is $3.50, in the loror cab
in, $780, in the forward cabin, sloO.-Whole time
Of passage, by this route, about IS days. Whole
distance, about $500 miles. Whole expense, Mt
the highest rates, s42O; at the lowest rates, $685.
average, $500.
Another route is by way of Vera Cruz, the
city of Mexico, and Acapulco, on the Pacific.
From New York TO Vera Cruz, tho passage is
made by sailing vessels in Is days, at a cost to
the passenger of $50. From Vera Cruz to Mex
leo, The journey is made in about 10 days, for
SIS. From Mexico to Acapulco, about 400 miles,
the journey is made on horseback From AGA
pulco, where the American Mail Steamers stop,
[ 500 miles north Of Panama,) the passage TO
San Francisco, a distance of 1000 miles,
is made in about II days, for which the cost
to passengers is sl25. Whole cost about $3.50,
and the whole time, about 40 days. By making
The passage from New York to Vera Cruz by
steamer, the time would be diminished to about
20 days-The route is also varied, on arriving at
Mexico, BY going to the City of Mazatlan, on the
Pacific. 200O miles north of Panama. The whole
expense by this route is s275, and occupies IS
Laws.
Passengers may also go by way of Cape Horn,
II cost, in the irstclass ships of $780, The pass
lgc occupies six months
So much for the manner and expense of get
ing 10 the Gold Regions. On arriving there, the
'dvenurcr can procure pair of blankets for
300, brogans for $40, boots for $25, -four for
$50 barrel, and other necessarics of life in pro-
portion. Then he must take his chance with the
peculiar diseases of the clipatc-in addition to
he fever and ague, which he may set down as
certain. He may calculate on finding himself in
he midst ola crowd Of cmigrants from all quar-.
crs. and of all characters and dispositions, every
'nc regardless, of his neighbors, and each with his
sye fixed on "them chance, in the hclter-skel
ter scramble for GOLD.
On the whole, as reports saw the mines are suf
fciently extensive to last fifty thousand 'dggcrs'
fft! year, VIC deem it perfectly safe, and Alto
gcther prudent, for such persons as are now do
ing respectable and living busincss,to labor on
for q while at home-and wait
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"a We have received. from the Secreta-
~ of the American Peace Society, a slip