The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-12-21
Later frsm California and Ortgon--The Gold
Fever,

FeveE
The New Orleans Times, Of the 24th.
announces the arrival there. from Califor.
MIA, Of Lieut.. A. Lncscr, u. 5. A.. and
Messrs. David Coster and Thomas A. Mi
nard. They left Monterey on the 30,h
August last. Lieut.. Loeser is the bearer
of dispatches from Gov. Mason. They
crossed the lsthmus. from the Pacitr., BY
way OF Cingres. The Times says tina,
these gentlemen fully confirm all the ac-
counts hitherto received, regarding the
mineral wealth Of California, md The gold
fever which universally prevails among tho
inhabitants.
The whole valley of Sacramento NAV he
said TO be one vas, deposi, Of gold, the met.
al lying in more or less abundance, from
the crags Of the Sierra Nevada 10 the EN-.
bouchures OF the river and its many ,ribu-
taries. People were completely cngrossed
IN collecting it TO the Abandonment Of al.
most every other occupation. Produce and
articles Of clothing were at exorbilan,ly
high rates, and labor was scarcely TO be
hired, ut any price. As an example, car
gu Of Chi'iun -four, nothing to be comp rcd
in quality with American -four, was lately
sold ut San Francisco Tor $40 barrel: ,he
same, when conveyed To tho gold region.
readily prodnccd the Spectator three times
the amount Of the outlay. Every other
species OF fond was equally enhanced in
value, on reaching the placcres; the same
may he said OF implements for digging, and
removing deposit. such ms spades, shoseIs.
picks. etc. With regard TO labor. as much
as dollar and haif mn hour has been
p,ld in the construction of wharves nj San
Francisco. to facilitate the landing of the
cargoes ot vessels. recently arrived. There
wns much difficulty in keeping the sailors
on board Lhe ships that touched Mt San
Francisco; on the first opportunity. they
deserted, and hasiened on To the Valley Of
the Sacramento, to swell tho multitude of
uo.d-dirgers.
By direction Of Gov. Mason, gold dus,
would be received nj the customhntse, at
San Francisco, in payment of duties, with
the privilege to the payer. of rcdceminy the
same in coin, half in ninety, aud the
other hnlf in one hundred aud eighty DAYS.
There were no u. S. vessels of war on
the coast Of California, when these gentle
men left Monterey.
There are now about 1000 white per-
sans. besides number Of Indians engaged
in the mines. and from the fac, that no cap
ital is required. they arc working in com.
pnnlcs on equal sharcs or alone with their
basket. In one part of the mine, called
1.-THE dry di.gins." M other implements arc
necessary than M ordinary sheath knife, Ia
pick the gold from tho rocks.
The ST. Joseph (Mo.) Gazette. of,he ? 18th
ult., announces The arrival there Of small
party from California. Plun.inr. of course
into the gold question. the frs, thing. the
Gazette SAYS this pnrtv hrongh, with them
large quantities. Of The Feather River gold
dust, which was forthwith analyZed and
pronounced pure gold This COMPANY
statc That the gold fever had not ahnied. bu,
was raging IL n considerable extent. and
tina, Inree parties were dail9 arriving from
Oregon and ether quarters TO work the
mines. The mines produce m nbunflan,
weld. the ORE ranging from the smallest
particles :npicccs a two. six mud ten oun-
ces in weight One piece has been found
weighing upwards Of one pound and a half
Several ounces hive heen purchased in
this pacc. and examined by persons who
profess TO he Judges. and MI agree in the
opinion that thu, it is the pure stuff II
the specimen we have sccn il from Feather
river. We have M hesitation in saving thu,
the Feather river gold mine is no hum
bug
Ono ofonr jewellers received two spec
linens If thu Cali!rnia gold Yesterday.
which he subjected to the proper tests. and
found them 10 10 tho real grit--onn. how
ever. Of more vauc than tho othcr.--.M.
Lonis Republican,.