Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-09

dred times No capital is required TO obtain this god as
abornS man wants nothing but his pick and shovel and
I'm PAN with which to dig and wash the graye and many
iequenly pick gold out Of The ceyces oil rocks with their
butcher knives In pieces from one 10 six ounces.
Mr. Dye gentleman residing in Monterey, ard worthy
OF every credit, has just returned from Feather river He
tells dat the company which he belonged worked seven
weeks and two days with an average of fifty Indians wash
e and that their product hundred and seventy.
three pounds Of gold His share, after pay
ing ell expenses about hirtyseven POUNDS which he
brought with him and exhibited in Monterey. see noabor-
ing man from the who does not show his two three or
four pounds o. gold soldier of the artillery company re-
turned here few days ago from the Mines having been abb,
sent on fu ugh twenty days He made by trading and work.
ing during that le 800. During these twenty DAVIS hs
travelling ten eleven days leaving bat week. in hien
he made sum OF nohey gaer than he receives in paw
clothes, and ations during whole enlistment of five yeas
These statements appear incredible, bu. they true
eod is ao believed to exist the slope of the
Sierra Nevada; and when the mines Informed by am
intelligent Mormon that had been found near the Great Salt
Lake by some of his fraternity. Nearly all the Mcymons are
leaving California, TO go to the Salt Lake and this ,hcy
surely woad do, unless they Of finding gold
there m the same abundance they dc the Sacra
meno.
Tae geld "piacer the mission of San Fernando has
long been known, but Las been little wrought for want Of
wsler ahis is in spur that puts of from Sierra Ne
vada, (sce FreTonss map the in which the present
mnes occcr Ih0e Is, therefore, every believe
that in the intervening spaces Of five hundred miles (enre
The placer gold is substituted the currency of this
country; in trade passes freely Sic per ounce as an
article OF commerce its value yet fixed The only pur
chase made OF the specimen No Z, which got Of Mr.
Neigh at SIP the That il about the present cash
value IN the county, although has been sold less The
great demand for goods and provisions made by this sudden
development Of wealth has Increased the Of commerce
at San Francisco much and will continue increase
would recommend that mat be established at some eli
gble point OF The bay OF San Francisco and that ma,
hnery and oil the necessary apparatus and vorkmen, be-
sent out by These worKmen must be bnund by high
wages and even bonus to secure their faithful services else
the whole plan may be frustrated by their going the mines
they arrive in California If this be not
adopted gold 10 The amount of many millions of dollars will
pass yearly To other countries to enrich their merchants and
capitalists. Before leaving the subject Of mines will
ton, that my return from the touched at
New Amoder the quicksilver mine Of Mr. ander Forbes
consul OF her Britannia Majesty Topic. This mine is
spur of mountains 900 eet above the level Of tho bay of
San Francisco, end is distant in southern direction from the
Pueblo de san Jose about II miles The (cnnabar)
ours IN large vein dipping at strong angle to The horizon.
Mexican miers employed in working it by driving shafts
and galleries about feet by z, following the vein.
The fragments Gf rock ard removed the backs
Of Indians in ra1hide sacks. The is then halled
wagon from tho mouth Of The mre down valley well
supplied with wood and water which the furnaces are
aed The furnaces o. the simplest
like common bakc-oven in the of which inserted
whaers trying kettle; another inverted kettle forms the lid.
From hole in the lid small brick channel leads apart
men or cLaraber, in the bottom of which is inserted sraal
iron kettle. This chamber hos chimney.
In the morning Of each day the kettles filed with the
mineral (nroken in small pieces) mixed with lime fire is
then applied, and kept up all day. The mercury voazed
presses into the chamber, iscond,ned the sides and bottom
of the chambe and flows into the pot prepared for
ter is used to coIdense the mercury ..
During visit made last spring four such in
operation, and yielded in the two days there 656pounds
Of quicksilver worth at Mazatan 81 so per pound. Mr..
Wakinshaw, the gentleman in charge this mine, tells
that the vein ismprovng and tina he afford TO keep his
people employed IN tese Extraordinary tines This mine
extensively usel IN obtaining gold II is present
used in California for that purpose, but will be at future
tine. When was at this last spring other parties
engaged in soahng for veins; but have discover
ed that woFh following up although the earth in that
whole rnage of billie highly discooreJ Indicating the pre-
sencc OF tins send several beautiful sPecimens proper
y labelled The amount Ct quicksilver Mr. Fo.bes watts
The 18th Of July about 3 500 pounds.
enclose you herewith sketches of The country through
which passed. indicating the position Of the mines and the
topography OF the county in the vicinity Of those visited,
Some o. the specimens o. gold sccompanyn this pre-
sen'ed for Transmission TO the Department by the gentlemen
named below. The nrnes the Typographical skech
responding to the labels OF the respective specimens show
from what part Of the gold region they Obtained.
|. Captain J. A. suffer.
.. John Sinclair.
3. Wm. Glover, r. G. Kirby Ira Blanchard Levi Filed,
franklin II. Arynes, Mormon diggings.
4. Charles Weber.
5. Robert Spence.
s. Sunol y Co.
z. Robert D. Neigh.
s. &. l. Picket, American Fork Columa.
.. f. Keuble.
10. L. H. Green, from San Fernando, near Los Angeles
A. ? OF purchased from Mr. Neigh.
b. Sand found in washing gold, which contains small
particles.
II. Captain Frstie, Dry Digyings, Wcbers creek.
IL. Consumes
L.. Consumes, Hartweps ranch.
nave The honor 10 be your most obedient servant,
r. B. MASON,
Colonel LIST Dragons, Commanding
Brig. Gen. X. JovEs
Adstant General u. s. A., Washington, ID. G..
NoTE-The original letter OF which this is a copy sent
to its address, in charge of Lieut. l.. Loeser, Sd artillery
bearer Of dispatches who sailed in the schooner Bamboyecana
from Monterey, August 30, le4s, bound iorPaya, Pero
Lieut. boeser BEARS in addition the specimens mentioned
in the going letter. csddy containing hundred and
thirty ounces fifteen penny weights ard nine grains Of gold
This purchased San Francisco Ivy my ORDER and
to fair sample of the gold obtained from the mines Of
tie Sacramento i is mixture, coming from the various
parts OF tho gold district. d. u. MASON,
Colonel LIST Dragons Commanding
HEApaUARrEns loTH NIL. DrPAprmEST
Monterey, (Cai.,) Sept. 10, is4s.
UNITED STATES SrocK-The transfer books were closed
thu ,nJ - ~.