The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-07

summes TO the south of the American fork. In each OF
these streams the gold is found in small scales, whereas
in the intervening mountains il in Jumps
MIR Sinclair, whose rancho is three miles above SUIT
ters on the north side of the American, employs about
90 Indians on the mol III nork, not far from It's junction
with the main stream. He had been engaged about hive
weeks when saw him, and up that time his Indians
had used simply closely woven willow baskets. HIS
nett proceeds (Which saw were about $40 900 worm
OF gold lie showed the proceeds OF his last week
woIk-iourteen pounds avolrdupols OF clean washed
gold.
The principal store at Suffers Fort, that of Brannan
Co.. had received IN payment for goods $50 900 (worh
of this gold) from the 1s of May the 10th OF July
Other merchants had also made extensive sales. Large
quantities OF goods were daily sent forward TO the mines,
as the Indians heretofore poor and degraded have sud
denly become consumers of the luxures of life be
lore mentioned that the greater part OF the farmers and
rancheros had abandoned their fields 10 60 the mines
This IS not the with Captain Suffer, who was care
fully gathering his wheat, estimated at 10000 bushels
Flour is already worth at Suffers $50 barrel and soon
will be fifty. Unless large quantities of breaisuf reach
the country much suffering will occur; but as each man
is able 10 pay large price, II is believed the mer-
chants will bring from Chill and Oregon plentiful sup
ply tor the coming winter.
The most moderate estimate could obtain from men
acquainted with the subject, was, that upwards OF Tour
more than half were Indians and that from $4,000
TO $4,000 worth OF god If not daily obtained
The entire gold district, with very few exceptions OF
grants made years ago by the Mexican authorities
on land belonging the United States. II mat
Ter OF serious reflection with how could secure TO
the government certain rents fees for the privilege OF
lHS hOlu, upon the tN-
tent of country the character of the people engaged and
the small scattered force at my command, resolved not
to interfere but TO permit al 10 work freely unless bros
and crime should call for interference. surprised to
learn that crime of any kind very unrequent, and
that no hets robberes had been committed in the gold
district All live in tents in bush arbors, or in the
open arr; and men have frequently about their persons
thousands of dollars worth OF this gold, and 10
matter of surprise that peaceful and quiet state
OF things should continue TO exist Conflicting claim; to
particular spots of ground cause collisions but they
will be the extent OF cOuntrys great, and the
gold abundant that for the present there is and
enough for all. Still the government is entitled TO rents
Tor thus land, and Immediate steps should be devised TO
collect them, for the longer il is delayed the more dti
cult will become One plan would suggest is, to send
out from the United States surveyors with high salaries,
bound to serve specified periods.
superintendent to be appointed at Suffers Fort with
power to grant licenses TO work spot OF groHndsay 100
yards squarefor year, rent OF from 100 TO 900
dollars at his discretion the surveyors to measure the
ground. and place the renlor in posse ssion.
better plan, however, will be to have The district
veyed and sold at public auction to the highest bidder IN
small parcels-say from 30 to 40 acres in either case
there will be many lntTuders whom Tor years Will be
almost impossible to exclude.
The discovery of these vast deposes Of gold has en-
rely changed the character of Upper California Its
people, before engaged in cuvating their small patches
of ground, and guarding their herds OF cattle and
horses, have all gone TO the mines, on their
way thiher: Laborers of every trade have left
their work benches and traiesmen their shops. Sail
ors desert their ships as fast as they arrive on the
coast and several vessels have gone to with hardly
enough hands to spread sail Two three at
anchor in San Francisco with no on board. Many
TOO, have taken pace from the garrisons
within the influence of these mines: twentysX soldiers
have deserted from the post of Sonoma, twenty four
from that OF San Francisco, and tweniyfour from Mon
ierey For few days the evil appeared so threatening,
that great danger existed that the garrsons would leave
body and refer you to my orders of the 25Ih OF
july TO show the steps adopted TO meet this contingency
shall spare no exertons to appreheni and punish de-
serters, but believe no time IN the history OF our coun
try has presented such temptations to desert now ex
in California. The danger of apprehension is small,
and the prospect OF high wages ceran ply and bountes
trif1es laboring at the mines in
day more than double soldiers pay and allowances
Tor month, and even the pay of Lieutenant or captain
cannot hire servant A carpenter mechanic would
not listen to offer of less than fifteen twenty dollars
a day. Could any combination of affairs try mans
fidelity than this and really think some extraor
nary mark of favor should be given to those soldiers
who remain faithful to their flag throughout this tempt
ing crisis. No officer now live in California on his
pay, money has little value the prices of necessary
articles of clothing and subsistence exorbant and
labor so high, that hire cook has become
an impossbility, save TO those who are earning from
thrty,o fifty dollars day This state of things cannot
last forever Yet from the geographical position of Cali
forna, and the new character il has assumed as mining
country prices OF labor will always be high, and will
hold out temptations to desert therefore have to re-
port the government wish to prevent desertlons here
on the part OF men, and to zeal the part of
officers their pay must be increased very materially.
Soldiers, both of the volunteers AMI regular service dis
charged in this country should be permitted at once to
locate their land warrants in the gold district Many
private letters have gone TO the Unel States giving
counts of the vast quantity OF gold recently discovered
AMI it may be matter OF surprise Why have made no
report this subject at earlier date. The is
that could not bring myself to believe the reports that
heard of the wealth OF the gold district until visited it
myself. have no hesitation in saying that there is
more gold in the country drained by the Sacramento and
San Joaquin rivers than will pay the cost of the present
war with Mexico hundred times No capital is
required to obtain this gold, the aboring wants
nothing but his pick and shovel and tin pan, with which
to dig and wash the gravel; and many frequently pick
gold out of the crevces of rocks with their butcher
knives, in pieces from one to SIX ounces.
MIR. Dye, gentleman residing in Monterey, and
worthy OF every credit has Just returned from Feather
river. lie tells me that the company to which he be-
onged, worked seven weeks and two days, with an
average of fifty Indians (washers) and that their gross
product two hundred and seventy three pounds
penses is about thrtyseven pounds which he brought
with him and exhibited in Monterey. | no laboring
nan from the mines who does not show his two
three, or four pounds of gold A soldier OF the ar
lery company returned here few days ago from the
mines having been absent furlou yh twenty days
lie made by trading and working daring that time
r $50 Daring these twenty days he travelling
len or eleven days, leaving but week, in which he
made sum OF money greater than he receives in pay
clothes, and rations during whole enlistment of five
years These statements appear incredible but they are
true.
Gold is also believed to exist on the eastern slope of
he Sierra Nevada; and when at the mines, | in
formed by an intelligent Mormon that it had been found
near the Great Salt Lake by OF his fraternity Near
y all the Mormons leaving California go TO the
Salt Lake; and this they surely would not do, unless
hey of finding gold there in the same abund
ance as they now do the Sacramento.
The gold "placer" the mission of San Fernando
has long been known, but has been little wrought for
want OF water This IS in spur that puts of from the