Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-04

has not been adopted up to this date. 1t is
supposed that indeed one-half the gold con-
tanned in a given quantity of earth is lost by
the imperfect measures taken for cleaning 1t.
As the workmen ascend the streams into
the mountains the gold becomes coarser and
more 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 is found varying in size
from the finest particles to pieces of five or
six ounces in weight, and all conceivable
FORMS Many of the largest pieces contain
small portions of quartz and other granite
rock imbedded in them. The coarse gold
is dug out of the creyices among the rocks,
in the dry beds of mountain torrents, with
pickaxes, small iron bars, spades, butcher
knives, sticks, &c. &c. Ii many places
the streams flow over strata of coarse slate
or shae standing vertically, and between the
different layers the gold is deposited by the
water.
AS no one, as yet has found the gold in
its native matrix, question often suggests
itself as to its origin. | believe the coarse
gold is found near the spots where it orr
gnally lay in its native bed, aud that much
of the fine gold has been swept down from
the mountains by torrents of water. AL
most all the rocks in Upper California are
imperlectly organized, being soft and fria-
Bile, and incapable of resisting the action of
the weather. In the process of time the
mountains have gradually crumbled away
into fine dust, and the gold has been liberia
ted. The coarse gold from its massiveness
and great specific gravity, was not removed
from the mountain sides, whereas the fine
gold was swept off to the plains below
The extent of these golden deposits it is
impossible to conjecture. Gold has been
found $50 miles above Suffers Fort. 1t is
dug in great quantities at almost all points
along Feather, Juba and Bear Rivers, and
upon the American Fork and all its trlbuta-
ries, upon the Costumes aud Stanislaus
Rivers, and upon both sides of the San Joa-
quin River 1t has been found at Rodega,
on the sea coast, and at various points in
the chain of mountains which separates the
waters flowing into the San Joaquin from
those which enter the Pacific, as far South
been found in very considerable quantities
in the earth of the plains near the mission
of Santa Clara. 1t is thus known to exist
throughout region of country of more than
600 miles in extent, and it probably extends
into Oregon.
There are subjects upon which one can
not write the truth without exciting incre
dulity, and it is with great dlfidence that
shall attempt to speak of the richness of the
mines. | went to them in the most skeptl
! cal frame of mind and came away beii,U
en-. From all that | can learn as to similar
deposits of gold elsewhere. believe thes,
: to be the richest placer mines N the world
am satisfied from personal observation, tina
active workmen can get from S25 to S5t
per day, estimating the gold at 81 per o..
troy. Many instances are known of per
sons having obtained from $500 to 81 900
e in day for each man. am meeting per
t sons daily in this place who have been alb
Y sent less than three months, and have re
D turned with from 81, 600 to $4,000 in goIt
S dust. While among the mines collected
e large number OF facts, from which thu
following are taken at random as speci
e men,
: OF the most southerly tributary of the A
e merican Fork, Ii miles from the mail
: stream, saw where Messrs. Nelly an,
= Crowly got, with six men III six days, tel
: and half pounds of gold, avordupni
:, weight. In the bottom of a dry ravine G
j. the same stream, Messrs. Daily and NJ
# Cooms removed, with party of Indian
d and white men, $4,000 in two days, al.
II within two hundred yards ofthe main stream
It From another dry ravlne, within few rod
C of the last mentioned, it is said that $50
r 900 were collected IN three days. Mr.. {
G S. Lyman, clergyman, unaccustomed /
1t labor, informs me that he got $50 for abou
r five hours work each day. Mr.. Vaca,
d New-Mexican, who resides about 30 mile
l. from Suffers, told me, he with four othe
d men, got seventeen pounds of gold avoi
le dupoIs weight III seven days. l saw tn
h gold. Major Cooper, late of Missouri, wit
ir two men and one boy, got s. 900 in tw
e days. Mr.. Sinclair had been engaged
&c digging gold about five weeks with part
is of Indians, numbering about forty; some
Up times more sometimes less. lie gave h
Indians men, sugar, coffee, flour and rio,
is and they ate three times per day. The
o were mostly wild Indians, and worked t.
sh gether with pans. In five weeks, after pa
in ing all his expenses and the current expel
b. SEES of the party, he had $4,000, or u
RS ward Of ninety pounds, troy weight, of go
ed dust. Tile gold was shown. Mr.. Norr
as and one companion took from dry ravn
h not far from those already mentioned, 81
IN 600 in two days, and the dirt was packt
as on horses more than two hundred yards
or the water. Mr.. Aaron Angland got fro
n is own labor, in twenty consecutive da
er after his arrival at the mines, 81 300. b
ed | might go on stating facts like these un
NJ | should tire your patience.
nd You will be anxious to know where I'll
he is to end. | see no prospect of exhaustil
by the mines. The gold is found extendiI
of over an immense tract of country, and it
he so universally dtfused in the earth of the GO
th regions, that it may be said to constitute
Ike portion of the soil. 1t is most abundant
I'D the valleys and beds of streams, becau
9TH the earth has been removed by water, a
the gold remains but it is found on I
he tops and sides of the mountains hundreds
SEES feet above the water.
OF When in the mining country, | endei
hd ored to obtain what information the min,
and others could afford as to the value
M the mines, and the number of people e
ISL ployed in them. The lowest estimate
ers heard OF the workmen was three thousaI
va including both whites and Indians; but t
L. | nunhar Uas aunmantab hu "A ,,l,,