Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-12-30

( tuStS ohS tttu III the mines
to see how much the prosperity of Califor-
MIA will be retarded unless they pursue the
course that is pointed out to them.
1t is desirable to develope the riches and
wealth of California, but the military safe
ty eff the country must be secured at all
hazards. X. b. MASON,
Col. LIST Dragons and Gov. California.
FROM THE CALIFORNIAN" OF AUGUST Id.
The GoLp MINE.-A few months ago
we were in the habit of speaking of the ag-
ricultural resources and the commercial
qualities of California as being the source
of her greatest wealth, and although they
are not inferior to any portions of the
world, the soil constitutes but small part
of her wealth, all interest having been abb
absorbed in the working of the mines.
The present number of the Californian
is intended for circulation abroad as well as
at home, and will, by giving minute and
general view of the all-absorbing topic, the
gold mine, he found useful to persons to
send to their distant friends. The informa-
ton which we shall give has been gathered
from actual observation, and from persons
who have been engaged at the mines, and
from the most authentic sources, as it is
desirable that the facts be correctly known
through other countries, and especially
through the United States.
Some time since in the spring, Messrs.
Marshall and Bennett, in opening a ditch
for a tail-rac for saw mill which had been
built on the American fork of the Sacra-
mento, found some gold which the current
had collected in the bottom of the race,
which, after being examined, was found to
be very pure. 1t soon hogan to attract at
tention, and some persons discovered the
gold in the river below, and for some dis
lance above, III large quantitles-so much
so that persons who only gave credit to one
third of what was said about it, left their
homes and went to work in the mines. Ii
was but the work of a few weeks to bring
almost the entire population of the territory
together to pick up the precious METAL
| The result has been, that in less than four
months total revolution has been effected
in the prospects and fate.o Alta California.
Then the capital was in the hands of few
individuals engaged in trade and speculaton;
now labor has got the upper hand of capi
tall and the laborlDg men hold the great
mass of the wealth of the country--the
gold.
There are now about four thousand white
persons, besides number of Indians, en-
gagged at the mines, and, from the fact that
no capital is required, they are working in
the companies on equal shares, or alone
with their basket. In one part of the mine
called the 'sdry dlggns," no other impIe-
ment is necessary than an ordinary sheath
knife, to pick the gold from the rocks. In
other parts, where the gold is washed out,
the machinery is very simple, being AN ordi-
nary trough, made of plank, round on the
bottom, about ten feet long and two feet
wide at the top, with riddle or seive at one
end to catch the larger gravel, and three or
four small bars across the bottom, about
half an inch high, to keep the gold from go
ing out with the dirt aud water at the lower
end. This machine is set upon rockers,
which gives half rotary motion to the
water and dirt inside. But the largest num-
Der use nothing but large tin pan, or an
Indian basket, into which they place the
dirt and shake it until the dirt gets to the
bottom, and the dirt is carried over the side
in the shape of muddy water. 1t is neces-
sary in some cases TO have crow bar, pick,
and shovel, but a great deal is taken up with
large horns, shapen spoon-fasbion ut the
large end.
From the fact that no capital is necessary,
fair competition in labor without the in
DusIlct Oh tdDlldi1 futh VIM nSiC why hoiS
TO procure one months provisions have now
thousands of dollars of the precious metal.
The laboring class have now become the
capitalists of the country.
As to the richness of the mine, were we
TO set down half the truth, it would be look
Cd upon in other countries as a SInbad"
story, or the history of Aladdin's lamp"
which required that its poSsessor hould but
wish and his wishes should be accomplish
ed. Many persons have collected in one
day, of the finest grade of gold, from three
to eight hundred dollars, aud for many days
together averaged from SIS to $50. AL
though this is not universal, yet the general
average is 80 well settled that when man
with his pan or basket does not easily gather
thirty or forty dollars IN a day he moves to
another place, so that taking the general
average, including the time spent ~ moving
from place to place, and ia looking for bet
ter "diggibgs," we are of the opinion that
we may safely set down an ounce OF pure
gold, or Sl6, per day to the man. Suppose
there are four thousand persons at work,
they will add to the aggregate wealth OF the
Territory about four thousand ounces, or
100000 day.
The value of the gold, like all things else,
is regulated by the demand. -Four months
ago -four was sold in the market for four
dollars per hundred, now sixteen beef cat
tie six, now thirty ready-made clothing,
grocers', and other goods have not risen ~
the same proportion, but are at least double
their original cost. If we make bread and
meat the standard by which to determine
the value Of gold, then.it is only worth one
G,,urth Of what II Is elsewhere. But II
gold and silver be tine standard, then /
the bread and meat is worth four times
what il was. But the relative value of the
grain gold compared with gold and silver
coin, can only he changed by the action OF
Government for, however abundant the /
gold may be, it must produce ITS relative