Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-12-29

From the Daily Wisconsin
Gov. NaSOn'S Report On the Cali
lOrnia Gold Mines.
This Report, which the President has
submitted TO Congress, is quite long. Ut
bears date on the l7th of August We are
therefore compelled TO give extracts from
it, which embrace nearly all the nlorma-
ton not previously published. A vast re-
sponslbllity rests upon this officer. His
report is calculated TO add fire to the pres
ent excited state of the public mind. He
confirms the most extravagant statements,
and yet he says that the ground is "but just
scratched and he represents the extent of
the gold country as larger even than the
State Of New York ; and his greatest fear
seems 10 be that ''goId will depreciate in
value" That it required no capital TO
work the mines, will be regarded as the
most extraordinary feature in these discov-
cries.
While reading this report, we have
laughed at the ludcous effects which this
mining revolution has caused in California.
Day laborers will make more than mem
hers of Congress. Instead of running, for
Congress they will run for California
But the most agreeable feature in this mat
ter is the good nature which pervades the
gold hunters. He SAYS:
| was surprised to learn that crime ofany
kind was very unlrequent, and that no
theltS or robberies had been committed in
the gold district All live in tents bush
arbors, or in the open air, and men have
frequently about their persons thousands of
dollars worth of this gold. and it was to me
matter oil surprise that SO quiet stale Of
things should continue to exist. Conflict
ing claims TO particular spots of ground
may cause collisions, but they will be rare,
rs The ertent Of country IS so great
md The gold SO abundant, that for the
present, there is room and enough fer
W."
They are very much like men digging
Potatoes-so abundant that they can be had
Tor the gathering; and thus quarreIIng is
absolutely unnecessary. But the most
dangerous sign of the fever is :-''Aleng
The whole rouie,milis were lying idle, fields
OF wheat were open to cattle and horses,
houses vacant and farms going to waste"
1t will soon be 4 question whether the Dig
gers will reaiieeany t'Iing. Though they
gather 800 day in gold, their provisions
may soon cost the same amount, and then
they will be poorer than at wages at ST
per day. a man must live, no matter
what 1t costs, and the gold diggers are
FnanliestIy forgetting the first law OF Prov
tdence, IN their absorbing passion for the
glitterng dust.
AT the urgelt solicitation of many gen.
temen, delayed a day at Sutler's lort 20 par.
ucpale in the first public celebration OF our
national anniversary at that FORT out on the
hIlh resumed the journey, and proceeded IS
miles up the American fork to a point on il
now known rs the Lower Mines, or Nor,
mon Dlgglngs. The hill-sides were thick
ly strcwn with canvass tents, and several
boarding shanties in operation. The day
was INTENSITY hot, yet about 300 men were
at work III the full glare of the sun, wash
ing for gold--some with tin pans. some
with close woven Indian baskets, but the
greater part had a rude machine, known as
The cradle. This Is on rockers, 6 or feet
long, open at the foot, and lis head has q
coarse grate or seiye; the bottom is round>
ed with small elects nailed across. Four
men are required TO work this machine:
one digs the ground in the bank close by
the stream; another carries it to the cradle
and cmptes it on the CRATE a third gives a
violent rocking moti"n to the machine;
whilst fourth dashes on the water from the
stream Itself, The sieve keeps the coarse
stones from entering the cradle, the current
OF water washes off the earthly matter, and
The gravel is gradually carried out at the
foot OF the machine, leaving the gold mixed
with heavy fine black sand, above the
elects. The sand and gold mixed together
are then drawn off through auger holes into
a pan below, are dried in the sun, and af-
terwarls separated by blowing off The sand
A party OF four men thus employed at the
lower mines areraged 500 day. The
Indians, and Hose who have nothing bul
pans or willow baskets, gradually wash
the earth and separate the gravel by hand,
leaving nothing but the gold mixed with the
sand, which is separated in the manner be-
fore described. The gold in the lower
mines is in fine bright scales, of which |
send several specimens.
As we assembled the south branch Of the
American fork, the country beanie more
broken and mountainous, and The saw-mill
p miles above the lower washngs, or so
miles from Suffers the hills rise TO about
feet above the level of the Sacra-
menio plain. Here specie of pine occurs
which led 10 the discovery of the gold
Capt Suffer feeling he great want of lum-
Der, contracted in September last with
Mr.. Marshall TO build a saw.mllI at that
place. Ii was erected in the course of the
past winter and spring. dam and race
constructed; but when the water was let
Oh the wheel, the tail-race was found too
narrow To permit the water To escape with
sufficient rapidny. Mr.. Marshall, TO save
labor. let the water directly into the race
wiih strong current, SO as to wash it wider
and deeper. He effected his purpose, and /
4 large bed Of mud and gravel was carried
% the foot of the race.
One day, Mr. Marshall. rs he was walk.
ng down the ace To this deposit of mud, /
observed some gIi.ierIng PARTICLES at its up
per edge; he gathered a few. examined
hem, and became satisfied of their valce. f!