Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-13
California Gold Mines,

California Gold Mines.
A correspondent of the New Orleans
Delta, writing from the city of Mexico
under date of the 3lst of October, gives
further statements in regard to the gold
mines in California, and their wonderful
productiveness. We give below the cor
respondence alluded to: ~ saaat
We hear great deal of talk here about
the lately discovered gold mines OF Cali
fornia. Every new arrival from that land
OF promise confirms the previous intelli-
geece of their Immense value. At tilst,
we set down much to the natural exagge-
ration Of gold fever; and when Lieut..
Eeall, OF the navy, passed through here,
as bearer Of dispatches from the Pacific
squadron, we received even his statements
with many grains Of allowance; but grea,
number Of private letters have lately ar
rived to the hands Of Engli-h and other
merchants, which leaves nolonger ground
for doubt. The Californian, an American
newspaper, brings dates 10 the / ,h 0!
August, and accounts of the most flatter-
ing character. l have read a translation
of the leading editorial in Spanish, th,
substance Of which is as follows: A few
months ago, it says, we were in the haiti
Of speaking Of the agricultural and com
mercisd resources OF California as the
spring Of lis greatest wealth; and although
they are not inferior 10 those Of any other
part of the world, agriculture constitutes
a very small portion OF it, because every
interest has become absorbed in the labor
Of the mines. Some time last spring
Messrs. Marshall and Bennett, when
opening ditch TO make some work in a
mill which they had built on bend Of tn,
Sacramento, found gold which the cur
rent had deposited under it, and after ex-
amining, found it to be pure. Immediate
y this beganto attract the attention Of tie
neishbors. They soon discovered col.
IN such quantities toward the middle 0.
the river, and also sumo distance above
ithe mill, that several persons W no had b. .
fore given but little credit to the rumors
abandoned their homes and went to WORK
in the mines. In few weeks almost al
the population turned out to gather gold
The result was, that in less than fou,
months total revolution was effected II
the prospects aid fate Of Upper Califor.
MA. Formerly capital was found in the
hands OF. few persons engaged in COM
merclal and other speculations; but now
labor prevails over capital, and the labor
ers have in their hands the great mass OF
the wealth of the country. There ar.
about 1000 whites and few Indians " he
have engaged in the labor of the mines
The city Of San Francisco, which then
contained population of about two thou
sand souls, is entirely discretionary IL
or 10 persons remaining there.
In part of the mine called the dry ex-
cavation, no other instrument is needed
than strong butchers knife to dig the
gold from the rocks. In other places, as
in Georgia and North Carolina, the ma
chinery is very simple for collecting and
separatingit. The greatest number, how
ever, use nothing bit an Indian basket, in
which they place the mud, and shake it
until the gold settles 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, if we
were TO elieve the half of wha, is said.
it would lie considered in other regions as
the story of Sinbad The Sailor; or the his
tory of Aladdin's lamp. which only re-
CURED its possessorJlo wish thing to SEE
the desire satisfied. Many persons have
collected in one day, in gold of the p,,rest
kind, from three hundred TO eight hum
dred dollars; and for many days together,
at from seventy-five TO one hundred and
fifty dolIors day. Although this is moi
general, the mean proportion is so well
determined, that wen man does not COL
lect, with facility, thirty or forty dollars a
day, he moves with his basket TO another
place. But as many of those who labor
are children, women and ignorant Indians,
the average Of all the laborers ought TO be
set down at considerably less. 1t would
however be safe to say that, taking the
general average, and ,nclnding the time
in changing places and seeking better sex
cavations," one ounce Of gold, daily, is
the product Of each man. Snppo>ing tina,
there are four thousand laborers. they add
four thousand ounces, or S64 900 day.
to the wealth of the country. As TO the
future prospects of California, lis prog
ress will be so rapid as to astoni>h the
world. It's unrivaled mines of gold, sill
yer, iron, lead and quicksilver. together
with its delightful climate, and its uncx-
amplcd richness of soil, will wake it the
garden spot Of creation.