Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-05-23
INTERESTING FROM CALIFORNIA.
The New Orleans Picayune, of the sth of May

The New Orleans Picayune, of the 9Th of May
says:
BY tho arrival of the ship Tyrone, from Vera
Cruz, we have authentic accounts from San Fran
cisco TO the 9TH OF March. The annexed letters
were brought down from San Francisco 10 Mazat-
Ian by Mr.. Parrot, who lately went to California
as bearer Of dispatches. 1t will be seen that the
steamship California has been entirely deserted by
her crew, which accounts for her non arrival at Pa
mama But we need not anticipate the letters which
we now append, and for which we are indebted to
the courtesy of Mr.. Clifford ofthe house of Clifford
& Carr, of This city TO whom they were addressed
by his partner, Mr.. Andrew Carr. Mr. 'Sarr went
up from the isthmus in the California:
SAN FRANc1sco, March g lS49.
My Dear CT have the pleasure to advise our
safe arrival at this place on the 2Slh ut after e-
dous passage of twenty eight days from Panama.
We Were detained nearya week at Monterey "a
bout ninety miles below this, in consequence OF be-
ing short of fuel after taking board twenty cords
wood, we arrived here with about two hours sup
ply of fuel on hand.
have been shore but short time and am
heartily surprised with every hing that see. Spec
ulatOn of all kinds is rife, and exceeds anything
| ever witnessed in Mississippi in the pamy
days of '56 and Y. Town lots are held at the
most eXor6ltant prices, and every lOt-hoder is
worth from fifty to two hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. | have not yet had the means of ascertain
ing the state of affairs generally, as prevent
ed going on shore yesterday in consequence of
we're cold but caT,at bat believe that there is an
unnatural and fictitious value placed neveTy thing
which will soon be'correcied Merchandise and la
Dor are extraordinarily high
La relation 10 the mines, there is PROFESSIONALLY
an abundant supply of gold, and it is continually
discovered in new places. The gold region is NOW
believed to extend down as low as Lower Califor-
mia.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 7, lS49.
Ny Dear CT wrote you a few days since on
arrival, and avail of the detention of the vessel
for Mazalan, to give yousome items of matters and
things in this delectable country. In the first place,
so far as one can learn, gold stories all true
The CONSCIENCE is that labor, rents, provisions &C..
are enormously high. Town property for cash is
beyond any thing ever heard of in q new country
and lots are selling in this place from five TO TWEEN
! ty thousand dOliars-rents from five hundred to one
thousand dollars per month. Carpenters wages eight
| 10 ten dollars pee day. The steamer California is
deserted by every soul except the captain and chief
mate, and there is probability of her leaving I'M
der two or three months. This is speculation on
my part fer there s no saying when she viii get
either fuel or a crew.
Fifty to one hundred dollars per dry is nothing
| extraordinary for miners TO make. There is, how
ever, some danger from Indians and our own country
men, prOwling about the country, committing muir
der ana theft GUld is very abundant and goods ex-
| trayaganily high, and an immense population com
ing forward, who al! resort TO the mifes and return
merely to throw away the proceeds Of their labor.
in fact can hardly give you an idea of the state
| of the country. Those who have been here year,
! with common industry and prudence, are worth
! from twenty thousand TO TWO hundred thousand dol
/ lars. ] have not been ab0 to procure board in the
| place, and in company with MIR. Frazer and young
! Ducros, have pitched our tent quarter of a mile
! from town. Wages Of servants $3.50 to 5000 per
/ month, and in the course Of two or three weeks,
IL. L.
mines, none will be had at any price. You may
/ Judge what state of things exists when common
labOrers can go TO the mines and return in month
or six weeks "i;h from one TO three thousand dol
! lars in gold
| 1t is yet too carly for the mass to start to the
mines, the weather having been very inclemeni.-
We intend TO 90 up TO the mines and see the cOun-
/ try, and have formed party OF five for that pur-
I pose. line great difficulty IS in procuring convey
ance The price of passage to Suffers Fort is $2j
each. and 50 per eve. for baggage and provisions.
/ We have an idea Of buying whale boat the price
/ is 500. From Shutters Fort to the Stanislaus the
transportation is dlficut and expensive, as team
Of two oxen and wagon earn 500 per day.
Gold is selling at Sl4 per ounce, but is taken in
trade at $40 IL Is worth III Valparaiso SlS, and
would nett in the States $l7, all expenses paid
! | know not when shall be able to send you an
other letter. have little faiii in this reaching
you, as it goes by transient vessel To MazatIan
thence through Mexico. Captains Of coasters are
much in the habit of destroying letters to avoid car
rying mercantile information,