Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-01-01
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THE, CALIFORNIA MINES.

An extended description of the gold mines ofCallhs-
MIA and Of the condition Of things that region. appears
in the Washington Globe of Thursday, in two letters
from Capt. Folsom. of the QuArrermasters Department,
10 General JeSup. Ihe statements OF Col. Mason and
Others as the and richness of the Mines are
fully corroboraed. Capt. Folsom also gives an account
similar theirs Of the deSerton Of The towns villages
fields and shops-neary The whole male population being
drawn 10 this Ell Dorado The forms of the depoSes Of
the precious metal are thus described
''A> the wurkmen ascend the streams rnte the NOM
tans the gold becomes coarser and massive. On
The lower portions OF The streams it is found in thin fiat
particles resembling small golden fish scales Higher IN
the mountains it found varying in size, from the finest
particles pieces of five ounces in weight, and OF
all conceivable forms. Many Of the largest pieces
tain small portions Of quartz and others granite rock
bodied in them. The gold is dug out of the ere
vices among the rocks in the dry beds Of mountain tor
rents, with pckaxes. small iron bars, Spades butcher
knives, sticks, SC, sc. IN many places the streams
flow over the strata of slate shale standing
tcaly and between the different layers the gold de-
posted by the water.
As no one as yet has found he gold in its native ma
x question often suggests itself 10 its origin.
believe the gold is found the spots where 1t
originally laid in Its native bed, and much OF the hne
gold has been swept down from ,hs mountains by tor
rents Of water. Almost all the rocks in Upper Calltor
mperecty organised, being soft and rabe, and
incapable of resisting the action of the weather. 10 the
process of time the mountains have gradually crumbled
away into fine dust and the gold has been liberated
The gold, from its masslveness and great specl
hc gravity, not removed from the mountain sides.
whereas the fine gold swept off 10 the plains be-
low.
The extent of these golden deposes it is impossible
10 conjecture. Gold has been found one hundred and for
y miles above Suffers Fort 1t is dug in great quantl-
ties at almost all points along Feather. Juba and Bear
rivers and upon the American Fork and all its tributaries
upon the Consumes and Sansaus rivers, and upon both
= IN Co II hos boon at
dega, the coast, and at various points in the chain
OF mountains which separates the waters flowing into
the san Joaquin from those which the Pacific far
Ciuad de los Angeles 1t has also been found IN con
siderable quantities in the earth of the plains the
mission of Santa Clara II thus Known exist through
out region of country of than SIN hundred miles in
extent, and probably extends into Oregon"
The necessity Of an increase Of pay TO officers and SOL
diers in California is urged by Capt. Folsom-nasmuch
as the prices of all articles of consumption
high render impossible to subSlSt upon the present
rates of compensa ton Another matter of importance Is
the establishment of branch mint. Capt. Folsom es-
Inmates that during the year inning on the inst OF Ju
" last there will be more than five millions OF dollars
removed from the mines Of CalfOrnia-a large portion Of
which. for want Of government mint on the spot, will
90 "a foreign cornt:Ies.
II an ears that there are daily accessons TO the popu
ation Of the rJld region from Oregon and Sonora. and
from the Sandwich Islands. The curren, from the At
antc States of the Union from the West and from Eu
rope will SION set in swell the tide Of inning ra,ion.-
One result NAV fellow from this rapid settlement of the
country which will be worth more TO The Union than all
the golden treasures the mines Of California may yield
for wears We refer the decision Of the Nlmot Pro-
vso question, which will be made by the people OF Gal
ornia themselves when their number shall authorize
them to come into the Union State This period
is at hand Before another year shall have passed away
the population Of California will be large enough TO
rant the formation by them of Constitution and with
that high document Of sovereignty in heir hands, they
will demand admission into the family Of States, and
claim the right settle all matters Of domestic policy for
themselves.
In view of such communication canno, bu, regard
the discovery Of the California mines Of far
greater magnitude than the disclosure Of so much
treasure would have been.-The sudden influx Of gold
ii such large quantities, may be blessing not accur
ding as he faci may happen But all must recognize the
hapny combination OF circumstances. whch.by giving &c
alif mia people Of its own, constitutes an Authority
which no one can dispute fH The settlement OF perp!ex-d
ion which threatened % ALLEVIATE deren: sections
uf the Union-f Bat. liner.