Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-12-26
THE FAIR.

..-.-...-... THE FAIR.
We had the pleasure Of being present
at the very interesting entertainment pro.
vided by portion of the ladies Of this
City, on, the evenings Of Thursday and
Friday last, for the pecuniary benefit Of
the Episcopal Church in this place.
1t has been our good fortune to witness
many exhibitions Of this kind, but seldom
have we had SO good cause for self con-
Equalization as in this instance. =. .,...~
The spacious rooms in Mr.. Keine's new
building on Iowa Street, were brilliantly
illuminated and orna nented for the &C.
casion, and rich display Of every varie-
ty Of fancy articles, arranged in manner
to please the most fastideous taste, was
presented for the admiration and pun chase
Of the assembled multitude.
For those who saught the qualification
Of the appetite most sumptuous repast
was provided in the rooms below, and
every here, on all hands could be found
something to please the eye, gladden. the
heart and tempt the liberality olthe most
stoical and penurious,
Music,
"Untwisting all the chains that tic
The hidden soul OF Harmony"
also lent its influence in untying the
pursc-strings Of the more avaricious, and
served 10 blend in happy union the tho'ts
and acts and feelings Of the assembled
throng.
To those who we're satiaied with the
pleasures Of the present, most favorite
resort was the secluded apartment Of the
SybA,-where, surrounded b. appropri-
drapery e. the mysterious symbols Of her
art, shut out from the gay hustle of the
pas' sng world;y gu bent yourself willing
captive to the charms OF the revealed (u-
ture.
But MONEY was the object of all this en-
chanting scene, and money WINS obtained,
but hoao much, we are not able to say.
TIE GOLD MINES OF CALIFoR-
MA. /LzT-
We have been slow to credit the re-
ports which have from time to time
reached us of the astonishing fertility of
the Gold Mines Of California. Some few
weeks since: we published what we then
thought was the most probable report
from that country, namely that the sub
stance supposed to be gold was nothing
more than ':pyrihs." The reports which
have subsequently reached us, assume
more OF an authentic character, and are
calculated to inspire the belief that, what
seemed to be the wild fabrications Of
some visionary adventurer, are real, SUBJ
stantial facts. 1888
Official communications from Co.. Ma
son, the Military Governor of California,
have been received at Washington, con-
firmlng all that has ever been said, not
only of the existence of gold in that re-
gion, but of the wonderful productiveness
of the mines that have been discovered.
So great is the interest manifested in
these discoveries by the inhabitants of tho
country, that all kinds Of business, have
been suspended, and the whole energies
of the whole people diverted to the one
object of gold hunting. Vessels that touch
upon the coast are deserted by their
crews! The army that was sent there
for the protection ofthe inhabitants, is al
most entirely broken up by the descrtions
of its soldiers 10 engage in the more pro-
fitable and highly exciting business of
digging for gold.
The effect produced by this new source
of wealth has been any thing but bencf-
Gent to the Colony. Money in coin,
which was plenty enough for all purpo.
ses before the gold was discovered, has
grown so scarce that the duties upon i'm
ported goods could not be paid except by
hypothecating "dust." Families have
been deserted and left to suffer from star
walton, by those who have fled from all
parts Of the country to this enchanted re-
gion. Flour, that was worth $4 per 100
lbs, before the discoveries, is now worth
$50. beef cattle six, now thirty. All 9th.
err necessaries of life, in proportion, with
prospect Of an increase.
We annex the Proclamation of Gov.
Mason, calling upon the citizens to lend
their aid in preventing the assertions from
the army as we'll as the suf1erngs grow
ing out Of the assertions of families:
PROCLAMATION. H..
HEADQUARTERS 10th MILITARY DEPARTMENT,
MOnferpv In 1icorp TIL, o. voAo