The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-02-07
CHAPTER ON THE GOLD MANIA.

1t is vain to start any other subject OF reheeton
or conversation, at the present crisis, than me
mines in California. There lies the cynosure OF
attraction. All eyes turned towards it. And
thousand vessels, frieghted with eager gold
hunters, are pointing their prows that way
These vessels hail from almost every sea port ON
the globe. For we learn that the contagon has
infected all lands, and infatuated all classes.
Although we have faithfully chronicled all
the intelligence that has arrived from the pacers,
our readers are aware that we have never in any
other ay pandered to this raging fever. And
we have often been asked by those who were
abandoning themselves to the sweet delirum OF
thesGold mama, why we so steadily persisted in
holding up the dark side OF the picture. We re
ply, because we believe that such couse IS
warranted by truth, and demanded by humanity.
We cannot so silence the voice OF reason and ex-
perence, as to believe that In this late age OF the
world, an enchanted realm has been discovered,
where thousands are to be enriched in few
months, comparatively without toll
There may be gold in California mountains
solid with gold, and valleys full OF it-tor aught
we know. But be sure that some compromising
element is TO come in, which shall render gold
gathering no more productive than any other la
Dor. This compromising principle may be found
in depreciation of the value of gold, from its
abundance For suppose that 500, 900 go out to
the placers within six months, which is not an ex
travagant suppostion. Suppose that each one
gathers 81 900 Of gold, which is much less than
each anticipates Then we shall have $500 ,000,-
900 OF gold added to the stock now in circulation.
1t would more than double that stock. And can
any one suppose it would not diminish the value
OF the precious metal?
Or it may be that such disease and suffering are
TO attend the digging of the ore as to render it
feartuly dangerous Ii the INJURIOUS earth has
indeed loosened the grasp Of the precious gold, a
stalking pestilence would be the most efficient
Cerberus she could set TO watch the exposed treas
ure. For what sane man would be willing TO en-
dure painful disease for the sake of gold We
read of a traveller in the Arabian Desert, who Of
tered his camel-load of Diamonds for a single
draught of water. And the man whose body is
racked with pain, would certainly give all the
gold of California for the restoration of health.
These are not "baseless fabrics" OF the fancy.
They authorized by reason and comm sense
More than that; they are corroborated by direct
testimony, Here is a sentence from Commodore
jones last official despatch:
"Disease, congestive and intermitting fever, is
making great havoc among the diggers as they
almost destitute of food and ralment, and for
the most part, without houses of any kind to pro-
tect them from the inclement season now at
hand"
by the editor of the Brooklyn Advertiser, from
journeyman Printer, who left that office, to join
the New York Regiment for California, ami is
now at the placers. Alter speaking OF the FIVE
pounds of gold dust he had acquired, and men,
tioning the fact that he was suffering with the
fever and ague, he says
You have seen the shaking quakers, at Leba-
non, at their worship. Put shovel in their
hands, and make them lean and thin, hungry and
ragged; and you may guess what the diggers are
in California. When you are too weak to shake,
you can lie down; and when you are too sick to
lie or stand, why you die nobody cares
The more there's sick, the better the prospects
for the well.
Give me digging at the case, with steak at
the Franklin House, at dinner time, and you may
dig for the 'dust' with hungry stomach and back
as bare and ragged as beggar.
Springfield Republican.