Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-12-15

appearances, are as yet untouched. could not
have credited these reports had not seen, in
the abundance of tho precious metal, evidence
of their truth.
MIR Neigh, an agent of Commodore Stockton,
had been ut work about three weeks in the
neighborhood, and showed me in bags and bot
ties over $4,000 worth of gold; and Mr. Lyman,
gentleman Of education and worthy of every
credit, said he had been engaged with four 9TH
: ers, with machine, ON the American fork, Just
below Suffers mill tina, they worked eight days,
and that his share was at the rate of $50 a day !;
but hearing that others were doing better at
Weber's place, they had removed there, and
were then on the point Of resuming operations.
might tell of hundreds of similar Instances;
but 10 illustrate how plentiful the gold was in
the pockets Of common laborers, | will mention
simple occurrence which took place in my
presence when | was at Weber's store. The
store was nothing but an arbor of bushes, under
which he had exposed for sale goods and groce-
rics suited to his customers. A man came in,
picked up box of Seditz powders, and asked
its price. Capt Weber told him it was not for
sale. The man offered an ounce Of gold, but
Capt. Weber told him il cost only 80 cents, and
he did not wish to sell it, The man then offered
an ounce and half, when Capt Weber had to
take it. The prices Of all things are high, and
yet Indians, who before hardly knew what a
breech-cloth was, can now afford TO buy the most
gaudy dresses
The country on either side of Webcr's creek
is much broken up by hills, and is intersected in
every direction by small streams or rayines,
which contain more or less gold Those that
have been worked are barely scratched and
although thousands Of ounces have been carried
away, do not consider that serious impression
has been made upon the whole. Every day was
developing new and richer deposits and the
only impression seemed to be, that the metal
would be found in such abundance as seriously
to depreciate in value
On the Sth Of July returned TO tho lower
mines, and on the following day to Suffers,
where, on the 10th, was making preparations
for visit to the Feather, Yubah and Bear riv-
ers, when ! received letter from Commander
A. X. Long, United States Navy who had just
arrived at San Francisco from Mazatlan with a
crew for the sloop.of.war Warren, with orders to
take that vessel 10 the squadron at La PaE.-
Capt Long wrote to me that the Mexican Con-
gress had adjourned without ratifying the treaty
OF peace, that he had letters for me from Com.
modore Jones, and that his orders were TO sail
with the Warren on or before the goth of July.
In consequence of these determined to return
to Monterey, and accordingly arrived here on
the 18th Of July. Before leaving Suffers sat
isfed myself that gold existed in the bed Of the
Feather River, in the Yubah and Bear, and in
latter and the American fork also, that il had
been found in the Consumes to the south Of the
American fork. In each Of these streams the
gold is found in small scales, whereas in the in
tervening mountains il occurs in coarser Jumps.
Mr. Sinclair, whose rancho is three miles above
Suffers, on the north side of the American, en-
poys about 90 Indians on the north fork, not far
from IFS junction with the main stream. He had
been engaged about five weeks when saw him,
and up TO that time his Indians had used simply
closely woven willow baskets. His net proceeds
(Which saw were about s 900 worth of gold.
He showed me the proceeds Of his last weeks
work-fourteen pounds ayoirdupois Of clean
washed gold.
The principal store at Suffers Fort that Of
Brannan & Co, had received in payment for
goods $4,000 (worth Of this gold) from the LIST
OF May TO tho 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 suddenly become consumers OF the luxuries
OF life. | before mentioned that the greater
part Of the farmers and rancheros had abandon
ed their fields to 60 to the mines. This is not
the case with Capt Suffer, who was carefully
gathering his wheat, estimated at 40 900 bushels
| Flour is already worth at Suffers S36 barrel
and soon will be $50. Unless large quanti,c:
Of breadstulls reach the country, much suffering
will occur; but rs each man is now able to pay
a large price, il is believed the MERCHANTS will
bring from Chill and Oregon a plentiful supply
for the coming Winter.
The most moderate estimate | could obtain
| from men acquainted with the subject was, that
upward of four thousand men were working in
the gold district, Of whom more than one half
were Indians; and that from $50, 900 to $4,000
worth Of gold, It not more, was daily obtained.
The entire gold district, with very few excep-
tions Of grants made some years ago by the Mex
lean authorities, is on land belonging TO the Uni
ted States. 1t was a matter of serious reflection
with me, how | could secure to the Government
certain rents or fees for the privilege of procur-
ing this gold but upon considering the large
extent Of country, the character Of the people
engaged, and the small scattered force at my
command, resolved not 10 interfere, but o per
init all to work freely, unless broils and crime
should call for interference. was surprised TO
learn that crime of any kind was very unfre
quent, and that no thefts or robberies had been
committed in the gold district.
All live in tents, in bush arbors, or in the open
air; and men have frequently about their per-
sons thousands Of dollars wdth of this gold, ard
it was to me matter of surprise that so peace
full and quiet state of things should continue 10
exist. Conflicting claims to particular spots of
ground may cause collisions, but they will be
rare, as the extent OF country is so great, and
the gold SO abundant, that for the present there
is room and enough for ALL Still the Govern
ment is entitled to rents for this land, and imme-
diae steps should be devised to collect them, for
the longer it is delayed the more difficult it will
become. One plan | would suggest is, TO send
out from the United States surveyors with high
salaries, bound to serve specified periods.
A superintendent TO be appointed at Suffers
Fort, with power to grant licenses to work
spot OF ground-say 100 yards square-ior one
year, at rent of from 100 10 900 dollars, at
his discretion the surveyors to measure the
ground, and place the renior in possession.
A better plan, however, will be to have the
district surveyed and sold at public auction to
the highest bidder, in small parcels-say from
20 TO 40 acres. In either case, there will be
many intruders, whom for years It will be almost
impossible to exclude.
The discovery of these vast deposites Of gold
has entirely changed tue character OF Upper
California, Its people, before engaged in eul'i-
waiting their small patches of ground, and guard,
ing their herds Of cattle and horses, have all
gone to the mines, or are on their way thither.
Laborers of every trade have left their work
benches, and tradesmen their shops Sailors
desert their ships rs fas. as they arrive on the
I'll