Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-12-15
THE VALUE OF OUR NEWLY ACQUI-
RED TERRITORY.

correspondent of the New Orleans Delta,
writing from Mexico on the 3lst OF October,
writes thus -
eve hear a great deal of talk here about
the lately discovered gold mines of California.
Every new arrival from that land of promise
confirms the previous intelligence of their I'M
mense value Al first, we set down much to
the natural exaggeration of gold fever; and
when Lieut.. BeaIl, of the Navy, passed thro'
here, as bearer of dispatches from the Pacific
| Squadron, we received even his statements
with many grains of allowance; but great
number Of private letters have lately arrl' ed
to the hands of English and other Merchants
which leave DO longer ground tor doubt. Inc
| Californian, an American newspaper, brings
dates 10 the 4th of August, and accounts OF
the most flatterIng character. | have read
translation of the leading editorial IN Spanish,
! the substance of which is as follows "A few
months ago, it says, we were IN the habit OF
speaking of the agricultural and commercial
! resources of California as the spring OF Its
greatest wealth and although to-day they are
not inferior to those of any portion OF the
world. Agriculture constitutes very small
portion of it, because every interest has become
absorbed in the labor of the mines. Some
time last Spring, Messrs. Marshall and Ben
DO'A'N
| in mill which they had built on a bend OF
the Sacramento, found gold which the current
had deposited under it, and after examining,
found it to be pure. Immediately this began
to attract the attention Of the neighbors. They
soon discovered gold in such quantities towards
the middle of the river, and also some distance
above the mill, that several persons who had
before given but little credit to rumors, aban-
doned their homes and went TO work IN the
mines. In few weeks almost all the popu-
laton turned out TO gather gold. The result
was, that in less than four months total rev.
oluton was effected in the prospects and fate
of Upper California. Formerly, capital was
found in the hands of few persons engaged
in commercial and other speculations; but
now, labor prevails over capital, and the Ia
borers have in their hands the great mass OF
the wealth of the country. There are about
1000 whites, and few Indians, who have en-
gagged in the labor of the mines. The city OF
San Francisco, which then contained a popu-
lation OF two thousand souls. is entirely de-
serted-only twelve or fifteen persons remain
ing there. In part Of the mine called the
dry excavation no other instrument is need
ed than strong butchers knife to dig the gold
from the rocks In other places, as in Geor-
gia and North Carolina, the machinery is very
simple for collecting and separating it. The
greatest number, however, use nothing but an
Indian basket, in which they place the mud
and shake it until the sold settles down TO the
bottom, and the dirt passes out through the
sides in the form of muddy water. AS to the
wealth of the mine, says the writer, II we
were to believe the half OF what IS sad, It
would be considered in other regions as the
story of Sinbad the Sailor; or the history Of
! Alladin's lamp, which only requires its pos
SCISSOR to wish a thing to see the desire salts
fled. Many persons have collected in one day,
in gold of the purest kind, from three hundred
to eight hundred dollars; and for many days
together, at from seventy five to one hundred
and fifty dollars day Although this is not
general, the mean proportion is so we'll deter
mined, that when a man does not collect, with
facility thirty or forty dollars a day, he moves
with his basket to another place. But as ma
ny of those who labor are children, women land
ignorant Indians, the average of all the laborers
ought 10 be set down at considerably less. 1t
would, however, be safe to say that, taking
the general average, and including the time in
changing places and seeking better ''excaya-
tions,' one ounce of gold daily is the product
of each man. Surprising that there are four
thousand laborers, they add four thousand
ounces, $64, 900 day, to the wealth of the
country. AS to the future prospects of Cal
ifornia, its progress will be so rapid as to as
tonish the world. Its unrivaled mines of gold,
silver, iron, lead and quicksilver, together with
its delightful climate, and its unexampled
richness of soil, will make it the garden-spot
of creation.
Mr.. Rosa has given me a sample of Cali
fornia wine, which he also carries among his
| private stores to Washington and | assure
you that it is equal, if not superior, TO the best
sherry. California, in spite Of the sneers OF
partisan editors, who wish to depreciate the
value OF the Indemnity acquired by the pow
ers of our arms, and the policy of our cabinet,
will soon become the Italy OF the West and
the Potosi Of the North.' " l. H."