The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-22
From the .Nsio Orleans Pieay,ias, June l3.
THE GOLD REGIONS IN CALIFORNIA

incredibly prevailed as to their genuineness PEG.
pie were averse TO believe that wealth incalculable
should have lain exposed the surface of the soil
of California, for so long period, without attract
| ing the attention of the numbers who had success
sivey visited il from the time of Sir Francis Drake
and the old Spanish settlers in Mexico. The golden
| legend to the European is old as the time of
| Cortez the Conquisador; and stories of the rich
| mineral deposits in California have been repeated
| from mouth TO mouth, for nearly two centuries and
half Our people have been 10th to yield credence
| TO the narratives that have from age TO age been
| given by travellers of the wonderful prodigaty
with which nature had endowed that favored land
| IN regard to the precious metals since the Span
lards, with their Gambusnos, or protested gold
seekers were never able to find the rich sites dur
ing the long period of their possession Of it, 1t did
seem really wonderfulmore like the fabrication of
an idle brain, than tale of sober reality--that
Americans-of all races in the world the least dis
posed to run after ideal weath-should find in
few MONTHS what had bafied the avarice of the
SpanIards for upwards of two hundred years. The
former, an agricultural and manufacturing people,
the latter almost exclusively devoted to treasure
seeking, and familiar with all the operations Of gold
mining these are the facts that invested the ac-
counts of the discovery of gold mines in California,
so shortly after occupation of the territory,
with still more doubtful character, and even the
central government was by some supposed to be in
collision with the authorities in that distant possess
sion, in spreading delusve reports, for the purpose
of acceleratng the settlement Of the country. Sue
cessive arrivals, however, within the last two or
three months of adventures from California, most
y laden with the precious DUST the fruits of their
industry at the mines, have served to dissipatc the
incredibly with which the first stories were re-
ceived, and at the present moment there few to
be found least in this section of the country who
hesitate TO believe any accounts that come from
| that half-fabulous land
The arrival of the Crescent City here has created
an immense sensation among our population. The
sight of the bronzed and hardy gold diggers, and
of their boarded specimens of rich metal, has quick
ened curiosity TO great degree, and the stories
each of them relates of his experience at the mines
dry diggins, wet diggns, mill races, river forks,
gold pure and in quartz, are as familiar as house
hold words to them-are listened to by all with
greedy avidity. Yesterday Mr. Christopher Tay-
lor, passenger III the Crescent, who has been alb
sent from the States about two months, called at
our Office and exhibited some beautiful specimens
of the gold obtained at the pacers in California.
This gentleman is from Germantown, Montgomery
county, Ohio, and left with party of emigrans
| for Oregon in the spring of lS47 He Quilted Ore
gon in the fall of last year, and reached San Fran
! cisco in Dec ember, just six months ago He went
| TO the mines on the Sacramento one week after
| wards, and for few days applied himself to gold
| digging, which abundanty remunerated him for
his toll, collecting several ounces day. He then
| became trader, and with what success mis- pre-
sence here, after short sojourn in California,
sufficiently demonstrates. In the course of his
trade Mr.. Taylor visited every part of the country
in which the operations Of gold digging are carried
| on and he not only confirms all the reports which
have hitherto come to hand, but declares his belief
| that IN the course of few weeks or months de-
! velopments OF stlll more extraordinary nature
will be made of the hidden wealth of California
Mr.. Taylor showed US variety of samples of the
metal taken from different parts of the country.
One was of bar gold, it is termed being in gvains
of various sizes, down to fine dust. Some grain
gold from the river Stanisaus, intermixed with
small Jumps, were exceedingly beautiful. His
largest mass Of metal in pure state is one of FIVE
ounces weight, and was picked up on the summit
of mountain at the head waters of the Sacramento
| But the object of the greatest interest among his
treasures, was a superb specimen Of white quartz,
| thickly studded with gold, and vened throughout
with the finest tracery in the metal. II sur
passes all we have ever in the way of gold in
1 the rock, and would be invaluable to a museum.
| Ii weighs pound and half and was found at
about two miles from the banks of the Sanislaus
Every part Of the soil in the vicinity of the numer-
Gus rivers that ntersect the country is mixed with
gold deposites. The Juba, Feather, North, South
and American forks, &c, equally afford rich rea-
sures To the gold hunters Between the rivers the
land Is called the dry dggings but the richest spots
are those in deep water, which are yet untouched,
for want Of machinery The principal points at
which the Adventures have congregated, are the
old dry diggings, fory-hve miles, and the Mormon
Island twenty-five miles from Sacramento city. A
short time ago the diggers at Mormon Isle were
getting a pound Of gold day. Our informant
states that the treasure seems inexhaustible, in
dustry being the measure OF a mans daily sue
cess
We have before stated that in the opinion Of Mr..
Taylor, some astounding Developments will ere
long be made. IL appears that the Adventures are
continually shifting the scene Of their operations,
prospecting as the term is, going on the tramp in
search of richer locations. These rarely miss find
ing fresh deposits in all their virgin purity and ma
tive abundance, when a new impetus 10 labor is ex-
peueneed IL appears that parties are about TO ex-
pore the head waters Of the several rivers in the
hope Of discovering original beds Of the metal which
must exist some where in large extent, and il is
very probable that success viii crown their enter
prise.
We hear from Mr. Taylor the most extraordi.
nary tales Of the reckless expenditure Of money by
the adyenturers IN California, and Of the fabulous
prices occasionally paid for the simplest articles OF
common need. Onions 81 each, potatoes So pei
pound, ginPowder SIG per pound, revolyers sl0O
to $3.50 each, pickles ! to ounce Of gold per
bottle. These are prices that have been paid al
the mines, but provisions are getting more plentiful
and consequently cheaper every week, as also cloth
ing and merchandise Of every description. Lum-
Der OF all kinds ~ very scarce $3.50 per thousand
shingles command their price; marble coun-
ters can be purchased cheaper than to buy boards
and have them made. THIS gentleman is Of opin-
ION that persons who contemplate going TO Cslifor
MIA should go little encountered with goods a.
possible Labor dictates It's own reward, and may
command all il needs for ii is, in fact according
TO our infomants expressive language, the only
arisocracy there The prospects Of the inhabitant'
IN the way Of supplies are highly favorable, as i'm
portalions keep pouring into San Francisco and
viii soon cause gut Of every thing in the markets
We are sorry to learn that there has been con
siderable sickness at the plaoers the scurvy having
afflicted many, through the salt provisions on which
! they, for some tlme exclusively fed. Another
disease, Indigenous, il to the cline least q
E the occupation, had also visited the gold diggers
B called Lung fever 4" and which was produced by
e the habit Of constantly STOPPING their troughs
f pans, or treasure " holes" The FIRST symptom i
f a gnawing pain in the chest. One feature in thu
i history Of the numerous encampmenn on tn
= pacers is very pleasing. Crime, much dwel
s on in the States, is almost unknown there, and
o principle Of probity and uprghtness is rigdy oh
\ served by one digger to another. They all, how
> ever, 60 armed with pistol and dagger. Gambling
4 arc sorry IN learn IN pracfioed Nth the mos