The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-23

w ~ - ~ 80 LsAH hIsAlONGs
More or less excitement exists in every sec
ton Of the country in regard to the discovery
(though il is nothing new of the existence Of
gold Snd other valuable mines in California
Letters from officers and other persons nov
residents in Caliornia.are in circulation over
the whole extent of the United States giving
glowing descriptions Of the country &thc facil-
/ ny with which the people there I'LL their peck.
cts with golden dust; and there is scarcely a
/ city or considerable town in the United States
/ in which there il rot more or less talk Of the
formation of con banies to set out for CGIiior.
MIA to hunt for gfd.
The cost of passage 10 California by sea,
I &c. is 1915; or by taking second cabin pas
sage the cost is reduced about $50, This is
/ the fare by the mail steamers via the Chugres
route. The COSTLY taking smiling vessel by
the same route is $3.50 Time required for
the passage, 80 or 30 days from New York
This is said to be the cheapest route.
There have been golden ems ever since the
world begun; tShistory aboupds with accounts
of gold.hunting expeditions; but never, il our
memory is,not treacherous, none have result.
ed otherwise than dIsaslrously. That gold n.
bounds in California we doubt not bat these
petty associations that are springing up from
the presen excitement will not sh ire in the
harvest. She irgashrring will flow into other
pockets The large companies That will arise
with their 10 and2O millions Of capital, If the
/ California mines are really valuable, will real
the harvrsts Of gold Such companies and
such only have been able 10 realize profits from
the working OF the rich mines in Mexico.
Taking the accounts Of the SUCCESS Of the
gold diggers as correct, with hoard at Sl5 per
week, pair OF boots S25, and other things in
like proportion, we do not see how much
could be made there, provided no casualties
befcl the ADVENTURE on the way or he should
be so lucky 10 rreopo death in n climate
where, If we mistake not, about one halfof OR
army found their graves in the cour9n OF n
years residence a small ecctioa of .,nlifor.
mia, we are aware, is healthy; 80 70 certain 10.
cations in Mexico; but as q whole there is
scarcely section II country in our broad
world where lie is not more secure from fatal
diseases, such as are incidental to the climate.
! California, like Mexico proper, is fever coun-
! try, with the exception of the yellow fever,
( when, by the way rs not the most OBSTRUCTIVE
fever to which the people of Mexico are sub
/ iect, though more viruent in it's attacks.
| But we are to have an excitement. Many
! people will not dream that officers of our own
governments civil and mlitury,u and spectators
in general, have secured titles 70 all or most
that is valuable in California, and that they ere
anxious to hasten emigration that they find
customers or birds to snare and that letters,
giving exaggerated accounts of gold mines,
no better, probably, than those long worked in
Mexico, are written with sinister views.
Once there, few cmigrants will be able TO re-
turn-no matter how much they may carry
with them-and California will soon become
comparatively populous, and the small guam.
tity of land there that is capable of being
made ordinarily productive, among so many,
will find more or less purchasers, while the
larger share of the gold dreamers will fare
much worse than they possibly could at home.
In the periodical excitements of the world the
proportion of the victims 10 the victors is a.
bout 100 to l.. 1t may not be so in this case;
it will. be an anomaly in history if it does not
turn out so.