The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-03
Mineral Wealth OF California.
fEHoun thu Alhauv ApUua nar II

Iron the Albany Argus Dec IL
The territory Of California, the acquisition OF
earnestly opposed by some, and valued by others
only as 1t appeared to present basis
Tor dangerous sectional agitation, is just now
beginning to attract much OF the public attention.
The stories that first reached us of the develop
ments of it's mineral wealth beng made under Its
brief and partial American occupation, have been
derlded as exaggerated and fabulous; but the later
accounts, from official and well authenticated
sources, have more than fully confirmed them.
From these accounts, the tabled Ell Dorado Is
as nothing, compared to the gold regions of Alta
California, and the Pactolean stream mere mud
puddle, TO the RIO Sacramento The tract known
as the "god region is said to extend on both
sides of the mountains, known as the Sierra Ne
vada, and to embrace surface larger than the
State of New York This is all, with the excep-
ton of one small tract, on the public lands OF the
territory, and their value has been estimated at
thousand millions of dollars. Such are the re-
ports made to the War and Navy Departments, by
the United States officers. The mines of quick
silver are said almost to rival those OF gold IN
richness and extent.
The California Star states the discovery of the
gold mines 10 have thus been made Some time
last spring, in opening ditch to start mill which
they had built at the bend OF the Sacramento,
Messls. Marshal and Bennett found some pure
gold that the current had deposited under it. I'M
the neig hboring people. Further search for the
precious metal was made, and with such success
that in few weeks almost the whole population
turned out to engage IN the work. Says the Star:
"There about 1000 whites and few indians
who have engaged in the labor of the mines The city
of San Francisco which then contained population
Of about 600 souls is entirely discretionary twelve
or fifteen persons remaining there. In q part Of the
mine called the dry excavation other instr ument
is needed but strong butchers knife to dig the gold
from ths ros In other places In Georgia and
lectng and separating 1t. The greatest lumber how
ever, nothing but Indian basket, in which they
place the mud, and shake it until the gold settles
the bottom and the dirt out through the sides
in the form of muddy water"
A letter in our hands, from prominent source
at Washington, contains the following intor-
communication has been received within q few
days from Col Mason in relation to the success of the
developments which would be incredible if not vouched
for by him. who visited the gold region iucredulous of
the reports which he received from it, He thinks the
quantity exhaustless and that the amount which will
be gathered there would pay the expenses of the Next
can one hundred times over.
The rate Of compensation to common laborers is from
one to two ounces per day-from SIG to S32 This
gion is many miles in extent The beds oftie streams
and gulles full fit He estimates that from tn rty
to sixty thousand dollars worth is gathered daily aud
fearfuy augments the passions of the people
All the necessaries, and many of the Injuries Of life
command most exorbtant prices 1t is estimated that
there aye now four thousand engaged in this pursuit.
and the whole country is flowing in an overwhelming
tide to this real FL Dorado,
"The ships in the harbor of San Fra ncisco are de-
serted by their crews. No mans services be OBJ
tanned without enormous price He says that
officers pay and emoluments not sufficient to pro-
servant to attend him. In his opinion, it would
be impossible to prevent the deserton Of the troops
His force is greatly reduced by that cause. One of
the Dragons obtained furough for twenty days He
went to the gold country and was there only about
one week, and returned with $1,000 worth OF gold q
sum much larger than he will receive from governmen mt
if he serves out his enstme Mt five years.
The Indians constitute the principal part of the
aborers, and their condition is entirely changed In
stead Of being content as formerly with only breech
for them. Everything is incredibly high. Flour is
$50 per Dbl. Col. Nj. mentions instance where q
box OF Sedlitz powders which cost one shilling, was
sold for an ounce and half of of gold-SA Col. M.
THE principal store at Suffers Fort that of Bran.
worth of god from the Of May to the 10th Of July
Other merchants have also made extensive sales.
Large quantities Of goods were daily sent forward to
the Mines as the lndans heretofore poor and de-
PRAYED have suddenly become consumers of the lux
uries Of life The greater part of the farmers and
This is not the however, with Capt Suffer who
is carefully gathering his wheat estimated at 40 900
bushels. Flour IL already worth $50 barrel and will
be 500 Unless large quantities Of breaistus reach
the country much suffering will occur but a. each
man now able to pay large price it il believed that
tiful supply for the ensuing winter.
1.-The most moderate estimate could obtain from
men acquainted with the subject, was tina. upwards
whom more than half were Indians. and that from
$4,000 to $50 600 worth of gold daily obtained"
Many persons, 1t IS said, have collected In one
day, in gold of the purest kind, from three to
eight hundred dollars each, and tor many days to-
gether from seventy-hve to one hundred dollars a
day. Sod Jumps of gold have been found equal
to S. 600 in value. OF course, this Is not general
but yet il is SAID that the mean proportion is so
well determined, that when man does not collect
with facility thirty or forty dollars day, he moves
with his basket to another place. Four thousand
persons thus engaged, allowing for loss OF tune,
and such as women and children, would at
least produce one ounce OF gold per day, making
an aggregate product of 1000 ounces, or So, 900
California writer may well excaim, :" AS to the
future prospects OF California, Its progress will be
so rapid as to astonsh the world It's unrivalled
mines of gold, silver, iron, lead and quicksilver.
together with its delightful climate and its unex,
ampled richness OF soil, will make 1t the garden
spot OF CREATION
Such is California