The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-23
QUARrERMAsrER's OFFICE, San Francisco,

OF gold IN CaIIloihia'
OUARTERMAsrER's OFFICE, San Francisco,
California, Sept Is, 1913.
SrR In compliance with an intmaiion IN my monthly
ror OF June 80, proceed TO give you hasty account
tc,ornia as under the influence OF the gold
excitement now prevailing throughout the country l
bsI pecede my remarks upon The mines by few obser-
yauods upon the situation OF the country PRIOR 10 ther
I'm 10 The time the American flag raised in Cali
fnIa nv Commodore Soai, IN July, 1916, the country
na he said TO have sumbered on from lis hrst settle
nrnl without enterprise or activity on the part OF It's m
Labtants COnstluOnay INDECENT III tnelr hablts, the
I,nae was admirably adapted to develop and perpeuate
,ba worst forms OF slohunesS and lmprovldence among
the occupants OF the so The people were too much the
victims OF these vices become even shepherds IN the
tre sense of the words and they lived without either
milk butter, cheese, although surrounded by uo9'
sanIs of mich COWS; and scarcely an attempt was made
"a call ont the agricultural virtues OF the soil little
,ybea and corn and a few beans pumpkins, and melons
SATISFIED the moderate wants OF nose VINO had never
un he comforts to be derived from industry, and the
and saple of subsistence with all classes was the
1esh OF their cattle The sessness and apathy OF this
Kind of lie chung to the whole native population ana
when the United States nag was raised mere the country
or boast of no Improvements, either public or pnvale
yceDt what the moderate wants OF warm latitude rem
derel mperatlvely necessary -
There were many Americans and foreigners IN the
conntrv prior TO the change OF flags; but no regular
emigration had taken place; and the unsettled condition.
Of nolics and constant revolutions prevented anything
Ike the systematic enterprise which might otherwise
have heen expected from citizens OF Anglo American
ogin The herds of cattle which covered the TanchoS
were slauL Uttered for their hides and taow, to be eN
chanyaI for merchandise before, and the people con
tnuej to cherish their Incidence much as in former
DAYS but the change OF flags brought corresponding
rpyoution in the occupations OF NE Alter the
frs, call for volunteers answered, and foreigners
residing in the country at leisure 10 enter upon Inc
Improvement of their property all became activity Con
flence was inspired by the introduction OF American
authority and all believed that they were virtually upon
United States soil Crowds cane ihroneing IN IRON The
mountains the forests, and the ocean, OF rough eyleor
but OF indubltable Anglo American ongn 10 seek teir
fortunes in country, under their own nag Things
soon assumed better aspect and both agricultural ana
mechanical improvements going forward rapidly
under new auspices. Farmers were introducing The
agriculture and horticulture OF their own country upon
California soil and mechanical labor knew no respite
from its tolls The intermnable catter OF the hammer
and the saw heard every quarter; and frequently
the mechanic his eagerness TO succeed, did not eco
ect to "dvide the Sunday from the week Many lille
villages spTang up if by magic in various parts OF the
country and all promised far Tor an indefinite connu-
ance OF every kind OF improvement.
But change the face OF affairs In the ai-
Ter part OF February, 1918. mechanic named James
Marshall, employed III building saw mil Tor John
A. Suffer- esq, the south branch OF river known IN
California as the American Fork, fifty miles from
New Helveiia or Suffers Fort On Fremonts map, this
river is called 'Rio de los dmercan0S" 1t is the stream by
which Captain Fremont descended into the valley OF the
Sacramento nver by perIous march, IN The winter am
spring of 1919 While employed cutting mulrace or
canal for this Improvement Mr. Marshall discovered the
pieces of gold they gstened III the sunlight at the bot
tom OF the sulce. Pieces OF considerable SIZE were
taken from the water, and IN few days gold to the
amount of hundred and fifty dollars was removed IN
ias manner. The iaborers on the works, mostly Nor
mons soon became satisfied OF lis precious nature, and
the news spread rapidly about the country. EXamna-
tons prosecuted other points along the stream,
and almost everywhere with success Reports OF m 9st
marvellous nature reached the coast touching
these mines. Their apparent extravaganza created m
cedul,y, and the public attention not fully called
the subject until gold dust or gram god was brou hi
into the market in considerable quantities for sale
Doubt became belief and change almost magical
in nature pervaded the whole population Lawyers,
doctors clersymen, farmers, mechanics merchants, SAL
and soldiers left their legitimate occupation TO en-
bark in business where fortunes were be made in
few weeks Villages and districts where all had been
hustle industry, and improvement, were soon left with
out male population. Mechanics. merchants, ana mags-
tTates alike oil 10 the mines, and all kinds OF use
jul occupation, except gold digging, were apparently
at end In most cases the crops were remarkably
good but they generally lost Tor want OF laborers TO
secure them In some parts OF the country hundreds OF
OF fine wheat will rot IN the fields from the impos
sblty of getting laborers. Vessels lett swinging
dy at their anchors while both captains and crews are
at The mines. and the most essential private and puoc
Improvements arrested IN their progress The wages
OF clerks have advanced al beast two hundred per cent
and those OF laborers at least four or five hun
dred. At the time the excitement broke out was re-
pairing the United States barque Anita" The worknen
were receiving SO per day. and lived board the vessel
They struck Tor higher wages and one man finally lett
and forfeited all his previous earnings rather than to con-
tnue al work a few days at So per day. Common
sailors demanded 500 per month tor work on schooneS
the bay Freight from this port to Suffers is from 81
10 81 per barrel The distance is little more than one
hundred miles. Common four-ox wagons are hired at
$50 per day In one Case have knowna negro cook TO
be employed S25 per day for his professional services
among the pots and kettles in the gold regions.
This was the condition OF things about three month
since, and under its influence this village was almost alb
solutely deserted Ii had been of the most busting
srle places saw, and IN ieW days It BECAME a
desert Two three merchants and few soldiers con-
stu,ed the male population Recently, however, there
has been reaction which brings many back from the
mines, and active emigration Is flowing IN IRON
abroad Sickness has broken Out among the miners,
and many have returned prosraied with levers, whhe
others have come TO AVOID beng so. There Is now a
large number OF aborers here Blu, many OF them refuse
10 work on any terms. while those who labor do so at
eKorbitant prices. The ordinary compensation Tor white
laoorers Is from So to $40 per day ! am now paying
these prices tor men forced TO employ for repairing
the government lighter and for dschargng the ship Hun
hsh proportion Butter sells By the barrel at ~ per ID
and hams at the price; flour is 25 per barrel and
plot bread forty cents per pound For the last three
aTs OF boots have had, have pad, respectively, SlS,
S4, and S2 per pair Other things are at correspond
ihz prices IN this place, but AT the mines everything IS
mlcl higher. Flour and pork vary IN the mines from
81 10 500 per barrel Common shoes, worth Boston
about 70 per pair sell al S. or even per pair
There IS kind Of reckessness about these prices which
Would be sought after vain in any other part of the
world. saw box OF Seidiiz powders worth 50 cents
IN san Francisco sold IN the mines for 2 grain gold
and was credlby informed that brandy had been sold at
SIS per bottle
From this very imperfect price current you can infer
me cos OF other articles California With The prices
IN ne MINES however the OF almost everything in
|aorma has increased from one 10 several hundred per
cent hehls nave advanced IN sections OF the coun-
NY 70 an incredible extent Store-houses of the most
e ana insecure Character rent for than the best
York " ~ "