Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-30
(From the New York Adv.l
CAt.vFOR MA GOLD.


Arrival Of Don Jose D'Alvear, tho first Discov-
~r Of the Gold Nllnss-<Insercs'ips Deveiore'
msnts. w E
Don Jose D'Alvear, the celebrated Spanish
Geologist, whose famous treatise on the cage
Of the Earth'' must be known TO many Of our
readers, has Just arrived at New York, from
the Gold Regions of California, BY way Of
Panama, Chagres and New Orleans, bringing
with him large amount Of Gold Ole, estima.
ted 10 be worth more than a million Of dol
Ian, shs result Of his labors, by the aid of a
larQe body of Indians, long before the exis-
tence Of the Gold mines became known to
the residents Of California generally. Signor
D'Alvear went out to California nearly two
years ago, in consequence of certain informa-
ton which he had received of the geological
character Of that country, with the firm be-
lief that vast mines of precious metals would
be revealed there, upon careful investigation.
He was encouraged TO this enterprise, also,
BY his confidence in the powers of certain
Magnetic instrument which he had invented,
called the "Goldometer,' by whose aid he
he expected to be directed at once TO the
"Gold Placers," if any such existed. Nor
were his expectations disappointed His sci
eutific calculations proved 10 be founded in
truth and profound wisdom: and his new in
sirument, the "Goldometer," fulfilled his
highest hopes. In less than two months after
reaching California, he struck upon one of the
richest gold mines id that country, upon an
obscure branch Of the Sacramento river, in a
gorge of hills extremely rocky and difficult
OF access, and seldom visited by the native
Californians. Disgusting his object under the
pretence of purely scientific research, he OBJ
tanned the aid of some fifteen or twenty SIM
pie and faithful Indians, and steadily pursu-
cd his task, collecting often more than 81 900
worth OF gold in a single day, which he con-
cealed in deep ravine, without exciting any
suspicion whatever, until after the discovery
Of gold at Capt Suffers Mill, when the noun
,ains were ransacked by gold seekers, and
Signor D'Alvear's ''gold placer,' the richest
in all California, was beset with greedy ad.
vcnturers. 1t is now found that the real
mines or sources of the gold, lie in the gorges
of the mountains, and not in the beds or sands
Of the rivers
Don Jose D'Alvear was, beyond all ques-
iion, the first and real discoverer of the gold
mines Of California and he deserves the
more credit for this, as his discovery was ba-
sed upon profound scientific calculation, and
was rot the result of accident. The evidence
of these facts, which he possesses, in the
shape of we'll atlested documents, from per-
SOILS high in authority in California, place the
matter beyond all doubt.
Signor DAlvear now visits the United
States, where he was for several years resi-
dent, for the purpose Of disposing of his gold
and investing i, in safe and improving pro.
per.y, and also for The purpose of obtaining
ihe necessary apparatus and material for con-
s;rucling his new instrument, the ':Goldome-
ter" which is now in great demand in Cali
forrin, but the means Of Constructing them
was not to be obtained. Previous to leaving
California be sold his own instrument a very
imperfect one, for $4,000, while they can, in
reality, be made for less than SEQ. The per-
on who purchased i, confidently expected to
make handsome fortune, by simply finding
"gold placers," and selling out the right of
digging to the gold workers. As 10 the prin-
ciple upon which the new ''Goldometer," or
gold finder, is constructed, we have no know
ledge Sisnor D'Alvear, il is understood,
will, for the present, keep it a secret; as it
would be impossible TO protect patent if one
were taken out. 1t is very simple in COLI
struc.ion and is worked somewhat like the
old.fashioned witch hazle rod, formerly used
in seeking for water.
Signor D'Avear is Of opinion that vast de-
posites of geld will yet be found in the Uni
ted States, of a quality vastly superior TO thai
recently discovered in Virginia and North
Carolina, and that the other mineral riches ol
this country are inconceivably great The
Signor is profoundly skilled in the mysteries
of Chemistry, Geology, Electro and Vita
Magnetism, and other curious branches oi
philosophical study, which, it must be grant.
ed, he has turned TO good account in the pre-.
sent instance. We believe il is his intention
TO publish some account of his invention o
the 'Goldometer," before returning to Cali
fornia, We shall look for this work will
much interest.