The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-16

have no occupants whatever The hotel in San Fran
cisco is however again opened nnder the direction
Robert Parker of New York; but the expenses must b.
enormous he pays his head steward black man
Sl7OO year, the second 81 300 and the cook 5000
am informed on authority entitled 10 credit In Mon
erey at the present time there is no place of entertain
meni and strangers arriving and officers stationed here
some days hardly know where to get anything to eat
even without the necessary comforts
ltwoud have afforded me great pleasure to have haf
you dine with the memorable ilh of JULY as w,
Jared sumpnously bread and Coffee with an Indian il
attendance Many families are without single servant
and ind II very difficult sometimes 10 get ANYTHING done
whatever. There mechanics now left in town
except one--a blacksmith and | you his forge
proves to HIM real 'plaeero" as crowbars and pick
axes are IN great demand There San francisco
TWO or three vessels with only man on board each as
the crews have all deserted for the purpose of digging
gold. The garrsons here have also lost great many
men, aud IN all probability will lose many more think
the towns IN the lower part OF Upper California must
soon share the fate OF San Francisco and Monterey
the whole population going crazy--old as well as
young are daily falling victims to the gold fever.
/ From my corridor can gaze upon the deserted streets
OF The town. and behold nothing moving therein but
casionally the fair sex Every woman who chooses can
now find ready employment in making up clothing for
the god-dgsers, and al great price The market
Contains nothing whatever and Is with great difficulty
that we can get anything, the necessares
OF HE Horses command any price, and saddles cannot
be bought for love money, great the demand for
these articles | have but two houses occupied at the
present time; the rest useless many piles OF
stones
have company of three or four Americans fitted out
with or carts and oxen, and IS 900 worth OF goods,
PROVISIONS and clothing, which at the Placero
htted out another atmy Sacramento Rancho under the
head man and his two brothers was to have onethrd
They started with 10 Indians; but al that time only
able to obtain 10 shirts and pants for them (Which, how
they only required the part of decency their
bodies had before made the acquaintance OF cloth
ing but, unfortunately they did not remain but few
! days. Last week Mr. Green and myself started two
young with five carts and twenty yokes of oxen,
hundred arobas OF -four and $4,000 worth OF cloth
ing, accompanied by five Calfonlans at 1913 per month";
Tour foreigners al &c. and eight Indians al s25 each.
How many days they will dig gold remains to be
however, hope at least hall will remain These two
young men go prepared 10 hire wild Indians.
There party OF foreigners who since the 5th
OF June, have worked over 100 wild Indians. Having
$4,000 worth OF goods with them, they take from to
L pounds of gold per day The head man, Charles W.
Weber, told that his sixth part amounted to over
$1,000 per week, which certainly bright prospects,
considering that they commenced without capital.
have seen parties OF white men, with common rough
machine, getting pound OF gold per day; and ndvld-
uals, each with common tin pan, making from $50 TO
800 per day Many natives and foreigners make $500
per week, but the weather being so hot and the labor
hard, they cannot continue al II two months think at
least there from 500 600 who, average,
since the month OF May, have taken 81 900 in gold dust,
at SIG per ounce.
The scarcity of money here and the present necessity
Tor it, greatly depreciae the value OF this gold here,
which can be readily purchased for $40 and Sll per
ounce, and IN a short time perhaps less However,
think, IN the course OF SIX months 1t VIII gradually rise
again, money becomes abundant circulation.
lis rea! value is about StS per There is every
prospect OF this gold digging lasting all next year Two
thousand dlggers now average per day. and
think Tor ten fifteen years from three to SIX dollars
may be obtained next year.
large portion OF the diggers in the months OF May
and June washed from $50 TO 500 day, at Sl6 per
ounce have seen many Calitornans bring 10 town
$500 and $500 gold having dug and washed for it less
than two weeks Some persons who commenced work
Inc at the time OF discovery, by the employment of In
dans, now have from s., 300 TO $4,000 Mr. Dye, a
resident OF this place. returned few days since he
member OF company Who, in the short space OF
eight weeks, obtained 10 pounds OF gold clear OF ali
expenses. This company consisted believe, OF seven
or eight men.
people ever suffered from an overpus of this precious
metal, we now suffer; for it has deranged every one,
and forced everything OF its proper channel Forty
and nifty dollars per day object 10 mechanics II
will not induce them TO remain in the towns and work.
gradual advancement III the price OF everything Is
daily perceptbe, and it is not for persons
the acero having to pay IS per day Tor board and that
of the commonest kind consisting of meat broed on the
Goals, cakes OF flour and water, and tea coffee The
cooks generally receive SO so per day. Lumber
commands $50 per 100 feet transportation is also in
comparison with everything ese-SlU0 per load for fifty
miles good road
No doubt, after reading the foregoing you will ask is
! this possible Is not the writer under deusion, or
most grossly imposed upon? Or is the order OF ma
ture in California about changing-all to be rich,
poor! Yet do not doubt for 1t is but true, however ex-
a4gerated may now appear but little time will elaPse
before you will be convinced OF the truth OF what
write to you in regard TO this extensive Placer When
you millions OF dollars arriving the United States
from California OF this precious metal, and OF the richest
kind, you will believe what now write to YOU
The celebrated traveller, Humboldt in all his accounts
of the richness of gold mines in Mexico, and the i'm
mense amount thereof annually exported does not men
lion amount that will exceed the produce OF this year
The tools Tor working consist OF crowbar plckaXe
and shovel with pan OF wood or tin for the washing
By another letter from the same gentleman we learn
that the value OF the gold in June Sl4 per
cash IN July 1912; and at the date OF the letter. the
writer sold quantity at So for cash In exchange for
goods 1t is worth somewhat The gold could be
had of many poor holders of fifty pounds OF gold at the
rate OF ST per ounce cash All the silver had dsap
peared from circulation. Gold taken by Governor
! Mason in pledge for duties at $40 per
! specimen of the gold received with the above
letter, which has been submitted to assayist whose
report shall probably receive 10 few days.
1t will be noticed by the above that the gold from its
abundance, is depreciang in value 1t will be- at
this rate OF depreciation, almost las cheap dirt" II
will readily be oreseen that fortune cannot be made in
day, or even year. if the necessares of life increase
in value in the ratio of the increase OF gold
Tba nh tha al If th, Hon