Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-12-28
From the N. Y. Advertiser.
California Gold,
ARRIVAL OF DON JOSE D'ALvEAR,
THE FIRST DISCOVERER OF THE
GOLD MINES -INTERESTING

DEVELOPER
Don Jose D'Alvear, the celebrated Spanish
Geologlst, whose famous treatise on the A." Ace of
the Earth" must be known TO many of our read
ers, has just arrived at New York, from the
Gold Regions of California, by way of Panama.
Chagres and New Orleans, bringing with him n
large amount of Gold ore, estimated to be worth
more than million of dollars the result Of his
labors, by the aid of large body of Indians,
long before the existence of the Gold mines be-
came known to the residents of California zen.
orally. Signor D'Avear went out to California
nearly two years ago, in consequence of certain
information winch he had received of the REQ
logical character of that country, with the firm
pellet that vast mines of precious metals would
pc revealed there, upon careful investigation
tie was encouraged to this enterprise, also, by
his confidence in the powers of a certain Mag
netic instrument which he had invented, called
the Godometcr," by whose aid he expected to
be directed at once to the "Gold Placers," if
any such existed. Nor were his expectations
disappointed His scientific calculations proved
to be founded in truth and profound wisdom, and
his new instrument, the "Goldometer" fulfilled
his highest hopes. In less than two months af-
ter reaching California, he struck upon one of
the richest gold mines in that country, upon an
obscure branch of the Sacramento river. in
gorge of hills extremely rocky, and difficult Of
access, ana seldom visited by the native Cali
tornlans. Disgusting his object under the pre-
tence of purely scientific research he obtained
the ala OF some fifteen or twenty simple and
faithful Indians, and steadily pursued his task
collecting often more than 800 worth of pod
in single day, Which he concealed in deep
ravlne, without exciting any suspicion whatever,
untl alter the discovery of gold ut Capt. Suffers
NH, when the mountains were ransacked by
gold seekers, and signor D'Alvear's " gold pln.
n ip in vi, 81
greedy adventures. 1t is now found that the
real mines or sources Of the gold, lie in the gor-
ges OF the mountains and not in the beds or sands
of the rivers.
Don Jose D'Alycar was, beyond all question,
the hrst and real dscoyerer of the gold mines
of California and he deserves the more credit
Tor this, as his discovery was based upon pro-
found scientific calculation and was not the re-
suit of accident. The evidence of these facts,
which he possesses, in the shape Orwell attested
documents, from persons high in authority in
California, place the matter beyond all doubt
S'gnor D'Alvear now visits the United States
where he was for several years resident, for
the purpose Of disposing of his gold, and invest
ing 1t IN safe and improving property, and also
Tor the purpose OF obtaining the necessary appa-
ratus and material for constructing his new in
strument, the "GodOmeier," which is now in
great demand in California, but the means of
constructing them was not to be obtained, Pre-
vious to leaving California, he sold his own in
slrument, very imperfect one, for $4,000, while
they can in reality, be made for less than $50.
The person who purchased it confidently expec.
ted 10 make handsome fortune, by simply find
ing gold placers," and selling out the right of
digging 10 the gold workers. As to the prnc-
pie p9on which the new Gollometer" or gold
hinder, is constructed, we have no knowludge.-
Signor DAlvcar, it is understood, will for the
present, keep it a secret; as it would be impos-
slbe TO protect patent if one were taken out.
1t is very simple in construction and is worked
somewhat like the old fashioned witch hazle rod,
formerly used in seeking f. water.
Slgnor D'Alvear is OF opinion that vast depo-
sites OF gold will yet be found in the United
States, OF quality vastly superior to that re-
Gently discovered in Virginia and North Carroll
ha' ana that the other mineral riches of this
country are inconcevably great The Signor is
Pro!ouh9ly skilled IN the mysteries of Chemistry,
ueoiogy, Electro and Vital Magnetism, a nd 9TH
% ou''oaH ranches IF philosonhicpl study which.
1t must be granted, he has turned to good &C
count IN The present instance. We believe it
is his intention to publish some account of his
invention of the "Goldoncter," before returning
to California. We shall look for this work with
much interest.
We give the above as it came 10 US. To our
taste 1t smacks OF humbug. Every one to his
own taste though.
Interesting Details of California
News.
The Journal of Commerce of Tuesday, pub
fishes the following extracts Of letters from Capt.
Spring, commanding the ship HuntreSS, at San
Francisco, directed to her owners in this city:
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 81, 1913.
| left the ship Isaac Walton, only two years
old, at Monterey, without man on board. No
one Of our men-oi-war dare anchor IN any of
these waters as they would lose their crews if
they did SO. At present common property is
safe enough, lying anywhere unmatched; it is
too small game to be taken notice'of There is
now some danger in returning from the mines
as there are those who prefer TO take the gold al
ready washed to their hands than dig and wash
for themselves. The most extravaganza stories
are told OF the quantities of gold found, and the
ease with which II is Obtained.
have myself seen pieces weighing one, two
and three ounces, and in one Instance, lump
perfectly pure, weighing more than ten ounces
avolrdupols. 1t is said (my informant is Govern
or Mason, who has been on the ground,) that
parties are digging many miles apart with equal
success, and that for hundreds and hundreds OF
miles all the precious metals are found in grea,
abundance. When | asked him how much
might believe of the many apparently exagger-
ated stories that are told respecting the mines,
he replied, you may credit almost any thing you
hear. Gold is sold here now at $40 the ounce |;
generally 1t has been sold at S.. Indeed have
seen great deal purchased from the common
people at the latter price. Can you wonder tina
the common sailor overlooks his obligations IN
der such circumstances
am told from good authority that the custol
OF those who sell liquor at the mines by tb
glass, y to take from the little bag which H.
customer holds open, pinch, las OF snuf) 10
one glass of bad watered whiskey. | tried tn
experiment, and found could easily take u
"a worth of dust, at the rate of SIG the ounce
Those who have large thumb, and understan
the business, can easily take up six or eight dol
lars in the same way. A day or two since,
gentleman with whom am very well acqualnte
| from the Sandwich Islands, wanted man TO tax
his trunk from the beach to his lodgings, an
seeing an idle, half-clad negro, apparently
runaway from some vessel,) he asked him it b
would like the job. The fellow cast at him
indignant glance and turned away from hi
without deigning a reply but after he had gon
about FIVE steps he turned around and approache
US, drawing from his bosom small bag of dust
and said, "Do you think I'll lug trunks when
get that much IN one day." He had more thai
800.
Since commenced this, have seen an intel
| ligent gentleman from Hartford, Conn. who ha
just come down from the mines. He has bee,
absent from this place two months, and althoug,
r lz.Itn 4