Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-03-03
FROM CALIFORNIA AND PERU.

FROM CALIFORNIA AND PERU.
The following letter, giving some informa-
ton from California, is published in the
Charleston Courier. 1t is not as late as direct
advices from that quarter, but is interesting,
as confirming some of the former accounts
from that country:
VALPARAISO, Dec. 20, 1S4S.
Captain Phelps, an old acquaintance OF
mine, has given me much information re-
garding the gold districi-it cannot be called
a mine, for the gold is found on the surface
of the earth. Captain Phelps tells me he
has taken out many pieces from under the
roots of an old tree with no other implement
than sheath knife. Pieces Of an enormous
size have been found, from four pounds up
wards, and as you ascend the mountains the
pieces increase in size.
Now this range OF mUuu,au,s eAlenus usui
four hundred miles, and the distance from
the great bay of San Francisco and the sea
is from fifty to hundred, intercepted by
many small streams, navigable for small
vessels ard launches, with every facility for
carrying on trade and building towns and
cities, with an immense fertile country on
each side of it. The river Sacramento runs
long distance to the nolthward, inland, into
which run several other rivers, all navigable
FOR vessels drawing - or IS feet water, and
the country around capable of supporting mil
lions OF population-plenty of wood of all
kinds.
There is now from five to ten thousand
person employed at the diggings on their own
account. Say eight thousand, at ten dollars
per month, is $4,000 per month. Besides
the profits of the Mint, the silver, quicksilver,
and lead mines are very rich, and from sam
pies taken and tried yielding from so to 80
dwts of pure metal, which mines are not
troubled as yet, as gold is found easier and at
no expense. The depth of the soil containing
goldis about six to eight feet, when you come
TO hard dry clay or stone, called "Tusca"
pronounced "Toske'' in this country, and
where no gold is found; the black soil is from
twenty to thirty feet deep on the fiat lands'
growing thinner as you approach the noun
tain, and very rich. Capt. Phelps has with
him 1877 pounds of gold, which is worth in
the market $500 per h., or s3s, 100, all of
which he dug and made by trade in six
months, and many others have done as WELL
He takes his with him TO the United States
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.-A fire occurred in
this Borough on Thursday morning last, which
consumed the public house of Mr.. Robert E.
Hughes, on the corner of Market Street, and
the Canal, and also the dwelling of Mr.. Ed
ward Donnell, adjoining the same. 1t is not
known how the fire originated, the first dis.
covery of il being by Mr., Hughes, after il had
burnt through the roof of his kitchen, on the
side next to NJ. Donne's house. This was
about half past o'clock in the morning,
The individual loss to Mr.. r. E. Hughes, is
no doubt very heavy; nothing of value being
saved, and but $500 covered by insurance, a
policy in the Franklin Insurance company of
Philadelphia, having expired buta few weeks
ago, for want of an agent TO renew it, for a
much larger amount. His books, papers,
goods, provisions, clothing and nearly all his
furniture were destroyed.
MIR. Edmond DonnelI, is also a severe
sufferer His goods and furniture that were
saved, are mnch broken and damaged, and
more or less useless. He was insured, we
are informed, only to the amount of $500.
Lyeoming Ga=ette.
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