The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-07-19
FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAN FRANCISCO, Up. California, !
a March 10Th, 1919.

! I'D May last, have written to you and other
friends, speaking of my Whereabouts, &c. +,
but up To this moment, not one word has
reached me in return. from friend or foe, in
the United States. This state of things
greatly puzzles me. And to-day, being at
leisure for Il half hour or so, sit down
once more to say q word to you In the way
of a letter. The party made up and took
through the mountains from New Mexico,
finally reached Los Angeles on the Califor-
MA coast, on the Goth of October last 1t
was at that point information first reached
me Of the valuable discoveries of gold in
this country. After recruiting my animals
for few days at Los Angeles, continued
the journey along up the coast, visited the
mines, the town of Monterey, and at this
4. place took ship, in December last, and went
up 10 the Columbia river. The vessel was
cast ashore 40 miles north of the river, i'm IL
storm, and among others [ suffered some
lrtla as a consequence. Soon after getting
to Astoria, ii was found best by me to return
at an early moment TO San Francisco.
returned about six weeks ago--soon after
after which the steamer came in and brought
the newly appointed officers for Oregon. Ii
was not convenienL for me to return SO soon,
and concluded to defer going up again to
the Columbia, until the next steamer comes
in. In the meantime, shall remain in this
neighbOrbood.
w hat TO say TO you about California,
am at loss to determine. Everything here
has seemed SO much like dream and so liz
tie like reality, that | dare not trust myself
to tell you the one half of what have seen
with my own eyes--and yet, perhaps, ]
ought 10 say somethimg-for being in coun-
try, as ! am, you and others of my friends
might very justly complain, if were to
remain entirely silent. So abundant is gold
here, that | know of no person who has
been in the mines and been able to la Dor,
who has brought away less than at the rate
of 81 900 a month. will speak of persons
whom have seen here, and who came from
our county. Boston, an Irishnan who
worked at Dowling's furnace, since | lived
in Galena, has as the proceeds of his own
labor over $4,000 in gold. Joseph Aram,
who used to live near Millvilie, in Joe Da-
viess, who was in the mines two months,
has about $4,000. as the proceeds of his la
Dor. James Queen, who use to be in my
office in Galena, it is said & have not seen
him) has full $4,000 in gold dust, as the
profits Of trade aud his labor. McMckle,
who used to be about Galena and New Dig
gings, as II sporting man, came from New
picAiCo rs Que VI NY party, anu Is getting
rich in California. The linus who came
here in 1916 from near MiIviIle, is worth in
gold ANA ssdusai'le properly, full 4 100000.
These are all the men whom know any
thing about as coming from our lead region,
now in California Their success certainly
speaks well for their industry and good hab-
It's, as well as volumes in favor of the coun-
try they live in. Men, Dear Doctor, who
happen 10 reach here either by accident or
design, since the opening of the gold mines
and up to this moment, could not fail to
make money more easily and rapidly than
at any former time of their lives But how
long this state Of things may last, Heaven
only knows. Myrads from all parts of the
world are hocking here. Ships arrive daily
from all portions Of Europe and America,
and are hourly filling up the country with
the worst population of the earth That a
bad state of things will grow out of all this,
can readily he imagined. lam quite willing
to compromise and get away the first good
opportunity. You may expect to see me at
home at an early day. Whether may go
by way of Panama, or cross the Rocky
Mountains, or by the "SOuth Pass" will
not be determined until | go again up to
Oregon. The sheet Is full, and | can only
add, dear sir, that remain very truly, your
friend, O. c. PRATT.