The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-05

ING the flrSt received from any OF our own Clt-
zens, who undertook this long and hazardous
journey:
Sacramento City, Aug. Goth, 1S4o.
DEAR PARENTS: You will rejoice to learn
of my safe arrival in the gold region. David
Stewart, of Bee Town. Wis, and Daniel Quig-
ley, of Dubuque, with myself and some others,
arrived here the Oath inst, all in good health
and first rate spirits. Thanks be to God for it !;
and tell you dear Parents, that we have every
reason to be thankful to God for our safe arriv
al in this place, and his protection on our long
and perlous journey.
| am very anxious to hear from you. I have
written to the Post Master at San Francisco,
(Which is $50 miles from here,) to send me any
letters which may be for me there, to this place.
We had to abandon our wagon at the South
Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and traded our
oxen for horses; and packed what provisions
we could to theSalt lake where we arrived on the
18th july. We then purchased an extra mule
and started from there on the 18th July, and
made the trip to this place in thirty-sevcn days
We had to give away all our extras, and brought
with us when we left the wagons, but the cloth
inc each one had on his back, and what provis
ions we could conveniently carry on our horses.
There was neither rain nor night dew fell,
while we were crossing the DESERT which favor
ed us very much.
There is some sickness here, principally Aguc
and Fever, and some diarrhGa. The mines are
reported healthy.
Lots sell in this city at from $500 to $4,000
per lot There is no farming done here, but far
Their down on the Sacramento, | am told there
are some good farms; and have eat some fine
water MELONS which grew here.
Gold is more plenty here than in any other
from So to $l2 per day. And board for me-
chanics from $40 to 500 per day but the most
of the people are above working for wages
In the Mountain Diggngs, which are about
60 miles from this place, man can wash from
one to four ounces of gold per day, with COM
mon tin pan; and two men, with washing ma
chine, or cradle, can do much better. What is
called the Wet Diggings, is scooping the sand
from the bottom of the river, and then washing
it. The Dry Diggngs are in the valleys and
ravncs.
Pasture appears to be very poor, yet all the
stock is fat. good horse is worth $500;
yoke of oxen $500; flour SS5 per 100 lbs; coffee
$1S per 100 lbs. sugar the same as coffee; pork
$40 per Darrell and clothing nearly as cheap as
in Dubuque: hauling from here to the mines,
advances the price from 25 to so per cent. A
small pick is worth $40; tin pan S.; and
washing cradle from so to 50 dollars man
who drinks will make nothing here; he has to
pay so cents drink-and not much at that
The people are all very quiet and peaceable
here. | have not heard of riot nor firht in this |
place; and they certainly far more honest
than in older places; for thousands of dollars
worth of all sorts of goods, (gold among the
rest0 are left here on the open prairie, without
lock or key, and nobody NEEDLES with it. There
is Baptist Church here, and no other ofany
denomination as yet
Tell Mr.. Quigley that his son Daniel left here
three days since for the mines, and is in excel
lent health and spirits.
am, dear Parents,
Your obedient son,