The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-21
THE CALIFORNIA GOLD MINES
Interesting Statement Of Gold Finders,
&C., &C.. SO.

rh. so,,o~inu statement may be relied on not only
~ authentic but as extremely interesting to all who
intend to proceed to the diggngs" Its value con-
lists in this that it taken yesterday from the lips
Of two gentlemen who have been among the first ad-
venturers in California and the last who have arrived
In this city from the gold regions. 1t gives minute in
formation highly valuable and different from anything
that has yst appeared in print.
The two gentlemen with whom we had the
pleasure Of conversing yesterday, at the Astor
Hotel, Mr.. r.. c. Wilson, OF Illinois, and Mr.
Samuel Packwood, Of Oregon The former intends TO
return to California after short soourn in Illinois and
Missouri and the latter to Oregon where he had re-
sided four previous to the gold discovery These
gentlemen arrived in the Isabella at Charleston the
18th inst, and they left the mines on the 25th Of
March We have not only learned all the details of the
mining operations from actual eye witnessesnay from
the operators themselves but have the glisten
ing metal brought from thence in all its virgin purity.
In the first place, these gentlemen inform that
OF them in the mines for ten months and the
other since last September. Their opinion is, that the
best way by far to to California from New York.
any part of the eastern board is by sea, to the
Isthmus; and their advice what to bring is highly i'm
portant to all who mediate emigration y the land of
gold They say to all" Bring mo Machines; bring
nothing but much money win bring you there, and
much clothes you wiH for year. Anything
brought from here may not be worth the tenth part Of
its ordinary value when it arrives and for to
wash the gold they are the greatest humbugs for this
reason, that they cannot be conveyed from place to
place. A mans old clothes will answer very well for
working in and there is necessity for being parti
sular in an outfit
AS the reader will be naturally anxious to know how
much be made in the diggings-how much has been
actually made there, shall begin with that first.
The most stupid ordinary man can easily make $4,000
per annum from the work of his own hands; and
man Of energy and ability can make $4,000 There is
no difficulty in making from $4,000 to $4,000 To
accomplish this man need not work harder than he
G1nae af hiG farm he I'm
gathered in day $50 worth of the dust This
his largest acquisition for one day; but he saw one
take ~ ounces of gold from pan of the soil
The average value however, OF pan OF the stuff was
from so cents to So
We saw the largest piece found by Mr.. Packwood and
it weighs exactly an ounce 1t Is worth eighteen dol
a smooth pebble It is the purest virgin gold The
same gentleman showed US small piece of exquisite
beauty nrinsicaly it Is worth about shilling he
tree beautifully carved as to cast in the shade every
attempt of art.
Mr. Wilson also showed us curiosty it is gold
pin being Of the value of about half eagle in
weight but for its natural beauty worth times that
sum. We never saw anything more exquisite. pin
has been affixed to the piece ofgod but there
has been other alteration. The foundation is
beautiful quartz and the precious metal formed
itself around it that you gmpses of the white
through the yellow the whole ouriousy wrought by
nature that the godsmiths might try to initiate it in
vain.
these gentlemen also showed us some Of the dollars
coined from their own gold in Philadelphia They
very beautiful and somewhere about the size of silver
half.dme
The stream they workedi is what is called The Anne
rcan Fork of the tributaries of the Sacramento,
and Captain Suffers Fort. TO these diggings,
the following is the route and it is worth while to
there it is So miles to Suffers Fort BY water thence
to Suffers sawmill (now vagel it is "a miles by
excellent road you can get on either BY wagons or en-
in the American Fork, is from ten to twenty five miles.
But such rough road is not in the wordit is worse
than 100 miles 1t ia the most rugged Of mountains
In winter except in very dry 1t is utterly i'm
possible to travel with horses mules for the ground
is too soft and the gold seeker has to his pack
his back like pedlar. Perhaps weeks work may be
got at digging perhaps not more than day and
suit of the shining metal This shows the absurdity Of
bringing machines to California. machine ia erected
on the spot, about eight feet long, and eighteen
lowed out Of tree like canoe and in end Of it is
fixed riddle made of sheet iron hide, whatever
else be got in the mountains 1t Is rocked like
cradle When the stuff and water are put into it, the
gold settles the bottom from its specific gravity and
ts easily found there but to remove this machine to
the next " diggings' is impossible. Where machine
be constructed the most advantageous way of seek
work it, but six constitute q better party where
there Ia machine. but only pan, the wisest
is for every industrious man to go on his own hook
Every man Is his own cook, and he must make his
bed in the open air. on the mountains brow. The
climate however is salubrious and delightful There
is no rain dew frem April till October. In the
winter menths instead of snow there is rain though
the tops Of the mountains always in sight covered
with perpetual snow winter and summer. The valley
of the Sacramento is the only exception to the climate
1t IL swampy and unhealthy Thereis however gold
got in the valley people here imagine It's to be
found only in the mountain streams, rather the
banks In what are called the good bayes. The climate
has more of the sotness and equsble temperature of
France Italy than of this country 1t Is hot
or cold here The Pacific ocean too, is always
smooth and delightful. The healthiest city, perhaps
In the whole world, is San Francisco
With regard to the state of society in the gold re-
gions, Messrs. Wilson and Packwood say emphatcay
far respected there than here that there are
families living in the neighborhood Of the mines and
no man would attempt to insult female there. They
crime Is less than in any Of the United States
with all the advantages of civil government.
Persifor Smiths proclamation about foreigners is
laughed at because it is impossible to carry it into
execution There is no native feeling there There
is room enough, and to spare. The indians
were working tremendously with the white men
in the mines Before their arrival they did not know
gentlemen left there were thousands npon thousands
arriving and they met parties armed if they
going to war, an absurdity which they find out
by experience. There is no necessity for arms
With regard to the convenences Of life every thing
beprocuredat Suffers mill which is from 10 to 20
pretty high, but then they paid for in gold dust
Brandy was about As dollars per gallon -four about
are merchants of every description and tools of all
kinds can be had No tools ought to be brought from
this for it ten to one that they will turn out useless
The dust sells the mines 15 dollars per ounce
1t is worth at the mint in Philadelphia Is dollars The
following is copy of receipt or memorandum from
the mint giving the amount Of god deposited by Mr.
lakewood its neness and net value This is the first
document of the kind that has been yet published =:
Memorandum Of gold bullion deposited the 18th day |
Of June, 1919 at the Mint of the United States at
Philadelphia, by Samuel Packwosd -
DESCRIPTIONS OF BULLIoN-CALrroRNIA GRAMS.
Weight go Vd<ue Deduc- Net
ns,?re ,; 1Jter fsne- y OF ton Value.
::as6 o. 81 9is de- d. lCse~' az, s., s,.
This is the cost Of coinage.
BMr lakewood states that the fur hunting as bust
ness In Oregon and the Rocky Mountains is completely
aOhe Up and that IKE trapping is chiefly carried
AndhuonM Advices from California.
from the Washington Union, June col
A gentleman In this CITY has recer cd nrivaato ,o+
er ~ the last steamer dated at San Francisco Cali
.orms IRON the gallant and mertorous Major General
Perifor + smith, commanding the 80 or Pacific divs
lon on the United states army; whieh although not