The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-09-18

letter from San Francisco, under date of July 81,
published in the New York Post, says:
Every day immense quantities are being thrown INTO
getting very low There are now in the port al least
hundred and thirty vessels, and FIVE or six coming IN eve
~ day Piats, such sell in New York at cents are
tor arrives shall have the goods taken up Sacrament
TO- and sold 10 the best advantage as soon as possible
the proceeds Of which shall Immediately remit have
no fears OF our losing by them, but am not sanguine
about making anything beyond fair California interest
en- the money The goods brought over with me
could hardly pay me ior ne trouble il they were to be
Il Ia impossible for any man not in the country to real
ize the stale Of affairs here There is certainly end TO
the gold in the country and i can never be exhausted
but the work is exceedingly hard and laborous and lew
OF the miners labor more than hve six hours per day.
know OF nothing that could be sent here without loss.
unless be house frames lumber and good furniture Of
have visited all Of the mines and been at much pains
TO examine and inform myself OF the actual state OF al
ing that $4,000. 900 viii be raised in six months from
this time.
Another letter from San Francisco says:
The present population Of the country is set down al
$4,000. Some i20uO more are yet to arrive from the
States via Cape Horn. and know not how many over
the prairies and through Mexico and Texas.
GoLD pIGcING.--A correspondent OF the New York
Journal Of Commerce thus describes the operation Of gold
digging:
4oclock, swallow hasty bit two. then leap into your
'hole and delve there until II o'clock The sun pours
down most scorchngy-he high perpendicular rocks on
each side reflect the heat and make it douby overpower
ing--above all, you steaming away your life in
deep hole just large enough for full swing in your her
rid labor and all breezeless as the grave The feebes
one in the company rocks the machine, the strongest digs
in the hole, and the other carries the earth AT last you
retire for the forenoon to scorch over cooking the dinner
and lo painting n the shade till or o'clock i you
elbow gold from the fine black sand in which the final
washing leaves it Then, until dark, work is pushed.
rest Then clothes are washed, visits exchanged books
read, and all public business transacted.
The thermometer tells almost incredible stories in the
o'clock m ranges from 100 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit
in the shade In the sun, have known to rise TO l46
AT night lis between so and 70 AT any time between
minute and 4 half This has been tried. Some say,
but for this cannot youch, that they throw ealeaves
into cold water and half an hour in the sun makes the
Such intense heat is beyond all power OF description
have ranged through every variety Of cimaie-have
been becamed week under the line. but never before
sphere every day Add TO this the fact that dig
gng for gold is most weakening labor and you
will not wonder that half Of all the emgrants leave the
Most men are not able to work in the sun, as they
must il they would work to any advantage; and many
who are able will not toll thus "ior all the gold IN Cali.
in rich "lead" who Is making fortune; but the
general cry is "What fools we all were to leave com
can and will work hard averages from half an ounce to
ounce daily and will soon quadruple that amount
His board if he cooks for himself costs nearly 81 per
diem.
Some companies have been cutting canals to divert the
river and leave its golden bed exposed II they succeed
in doing this their harvest will be astonishing and there
companies offers 81 900 and board for four months la.
bor and find few TO accept, confidently do all
count upon the fall OF the river and better dggngs near
The general health Of the miners is now excellent.
Oveswork and 70 the sun are the only causes
Of Sickness The river water s melted snow from the
HssSia The iaa n SSRs sss
f.: .iil coon ;. rs supplied BY spring,
be boiled before is drank; but yet il is impossible
avoid the danger OF dysenery and all diseases incident
70 fsyersh climate S. this is the best season "a iS
strikes them down upon their pile OF pelf.
The Newark Daily Advertiser has letter from Of
the parties from New Jersey. which took the overland
to California. Leaving his companions behind him,
he pushed ahead aud arrived considerably in advance
Of them. His letter runs thus:
Saw FRAScrsco, July 30, 1s49
After tedious journey across the mountains arrived
at this great city in prospective this morning, in good
health The journey is one of such hardship and pri
walton that il would require stronger inducements than
have yet had TO try il again; but am hardie and more
able TO undergo fatigue than before, and do not
greet having come. left Darcys party at Independence
at Green river, about halfway between here and thai
place, left the party started with, and having over,
taken Stephen De Hart, Of Newark, travelled with him
far the Sierra Nevada Here also became tired oil
travelling with him, and having packed my mule, left
him about 800 miles from here the mountains, and
came ahead with company of packers, footing il all
the way to within about 60 miles OF Sacramento city
where I fell in with q gentleman who wanted com.
pany, and who offered me a mule to ride on. | &C.
copied his offer, and travelled to Sacramento city
where sold animals at 800 each, and thence, $50
miles, a schooner brought me here for Gas.
From the National in,ellgeneer Of yesterday.