The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-01-11

WASH tho gravel; and many frequently pick
gold out Of the creviccs Of the rocks with
their buscher.knives, in pieces Of from one
TO six ounces.
Mr.. Dye, gentleman residing in Mon.
tercy, and worthy Of every credit, has JUS,
returned from Feather river. He tells me
that the company to which he belonged
worked seven weeks and two days, with
nm average Of fifty Indians, (washers,) and
their gross product was 1853 lbs. oil gold
His share (ono seventy niier paying all
expenses, is about thirty seven pounds,
which he brought with him and exhibited
at Monterey. ! SEQ no Iaboring man from,
the mines who does not show his two, three
or four pounds Of gold. A soldier Of the
artillery company returned here fow
days nso from the mines, having been alb.
sent on furlough twenty Days. lc made
by trading and working during tina, time
$1,000. During these twenty days he
was travelling ten or eleven days, leaving
but week in which no made a sum ol
money grenter than he receives in pny,
clothes, and rntions, during whole enlist.
ment OF five years. These stateme nts mp
pear incredible, but they are true.
Gold is also believed TO exist in the east.
ern slope Of the Sierra Nevada; and, when
at the mines, was informed BY an in,elli
gent Mormon that il had been found nenr
The great Salt Lake bv some Of tho frater.
nifty. Nearly all tho Mormons arc leaving
California, 10 60 10 the Salt Lake; and this
they surely would not do, unless they were
sure OF finding gold there in the same album
dance as they now do on the Sacramento.
Tho gold placer near the mission Of
San Fernando, has long been known, bu,
has been but little wrought, for want ol
water. This il in a spur that puts of from
the Sierra Nevada, (see Fremont's map
the same in which the present mines occur
There is, therefore, every reason 10 believe
that in the intervening spaces Of livo hun.
dred miles (entirely unexplored,) there
must ho many hidden and rich deposits
The placer gold Is now substituted rs the
currency Of this country; in trade it pms
ses freely Mt SIG per ounce; rs nm article
of commerce, its value is MT yet (ixed.--
Tho only purchase made was Of the .pe
ci,nen No. Z, whirh | got of Mr.. Neigh n,
Sl2 the ounce That IL about the presen,
cash value in the country, although il ha,
been sold for less. The great demand fn
goods md provisions. made by the suddes
development Of wealth. has increased tht
amount Of commerce q, San francisco We
~ much, md il will continue to increase.
Before lenving the subjec, 81 mines,
will mention tina. on my return from Sacra
mento, | touched ut New Aln,ondcr, ib,
quicksilver mine Of Mr.. Alexander Forbes
consul Of her Britannia Majesty at Tcpec
This mine is in spur of mountains Loo
feet above the level Of the bay Of San Fran
cisco, and is distant, in southern direction
from the Pueblo dc San Jose, sbou
twelve miles. The ore (cinnabnr) occur,
IN large vein, dipping ni a strong nnel.
to the horizon. Mexican miners are en-
ployed in working il by driving shafts M,
galleries about six or seven, following th,
vein.
The fragments Of rock and orc are re-
moved on the back Of Indians, in raw hid.
sacks. The ore is then hauled in an o,
wagon from the mouth of the mine dowr
to valley we'll supplied with wood ant
winter, in which the furnaces aro situated
The furnaces Of The simples, construction
-exactly like common bake oven, in the
crown Of which is inserted a whnler's try
ing kettle; another inverted kettle forms thu
lid. From n hole in the lid small hrict
channel leads 10 m apartment, or chamber
in the bottom 81 which 10 inserted a SINAI
iron kettle. This chamber has chimney
In the morning Of cnch day the kettle,
are filled with the mineral (broken in smaI
pieces) mixed with lime; fire is then applied
and kept up all day. The mercury 10 vol
atilizcd, passed into the chamber, is con
densed On the sides aud bottom OF the
chamber. and flowes into the pot preparet
for il. No water 10 used TO condense the
mercury.
During visit made last spring, fouI
such ovens were in operation. and yielded
in the two days was there CSC pounds oI
quicksilver, worth ut Muzallan 81 so pei
pound. Mr.. Walkinshaw, the gentleman
now in charge Of this mine, tells me thai
the vein Is improving, and that he can o.
ford TO keep bic people employed even ia
these extraordinary times. This mine il
very valuable Of itself, and becomes the
moro 20 - mercury 10 extensively used ia
obtaining gold. Il 10 not 1t present USED
in California for that purpose, bu. will be a,
some future time. When ! was st this
mine last spring. other parties wers en-
gagged in searching for veins; but none
have been discovered that are worth follow.
ing up, although the earth in that whole
range Of hills 10 highly discolosed, indics.
ting the presence Of this ore. send ssv.
eral beautiful specimsns, properly labelled
Tho amount Of quicksilver 10 Mr.. Forbes