The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-01-18


California COld...Arriyal Of Don Jose DIAL
wear, the first DiseOvertr Of the Gold
misunderstanding Developments
Don jose D'Alvcar, the celebrated Span.
ish Geologis,, whose famous treatise on the
sage Of the Earth" must he known to ma.
ny OF our readers, has just arrived at New
York, from the Gold Regions Of California.
by way Of Pnnamn, Chagrcs and New Or.
leans, bringing with him large amour, Of;
Gold ore, estimated to be worth more than
million o: dollars, the result Of his labors,
by the MD Of large body OF Indians, long
before the existence Of the Gold mines be-
came known TO the residents of California
generally. Signor D'Alvear went out to
California nearly two years ago, in consc-
qucnco Of certain information which he had
received of,hc geological character Of that
country, with the firm belief that vns.
mines Of precious metals would he revealed
there, upon careful investigation. lie was
encouraged to this enterprise. also, by biz
confidence in the powers Of n certain Mag
netic instrument which he had invented.
called the "Goldomcter," bv whose mid he
expected to he directed at once to the .'Gold
Placcrs," IL any such existed. Nor were
his expectations disappointed. Ills scien-
titic calculations proved TO be founded in
truth and profound wisdom, and his new
instrument. the s'Goldomc,cr," fulfilled his
highest hopes. In less than two months
after reaching California, he struck upon
ono Of the richest gold mines in that c"in.
try, upon an obscure branch Of the Sacra.
men,o river, in gorge Of hills extremely
rocky and difficult Of access, and seldom
visited bv the native Californians. Dis
guising his object under the prctcnce ii
purely scientific research, he obtained the
aid of some fifteen or twenty simple and
faithful Indians, and steadily pursued his
task, collecting often more thun 81 900
worth Of gold in n single dav. which he
concealed in n deep ravine. without excl.
ting any suspicion whatever. until after
tho discovery Of gold Mt Capt. Suffers
Mill. when the mountains were rnnsnckcd
by gold seekers. and Signor D'AIvear's
"gold placer" the richest in NIL Caliinrnia.
was bcset with greedy adventures. Il is
now founL that the rcal mines or sources
Of the gold, lie in the gorges Of the mann
.nins, and not in the beds ar sands oi' tho
rivers.
Don Jose D'Alvear WINS. hcvonh nj! qncs-
ton. the first and rcrl discovcrer oi the
gold mines Of California; and hc deserve.
the more credi. for this, M his discovery
was based upon profound scientific ca'cu-
laiIou. and was not the result Of accident.
The evidence Of these facts, which hc pos
scsses, in the shape oi' well attcs,ed docn-
mcn,s, from persons high in authority il,
California, place the matter beyond al
doubt.
Signor D'A!venr now visits the United
States, where he was for several wears d
resident, for tho purpose Of disposing Of his
gold, and investing il in safe aud improving
property, aud also for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning the necessary apparatus and mate
rial for constructing his new ins,rumcn nj,
the "GoIdomctsr," which is now in great
demand in California, but the means OF
constructing them was not 10 bc obtancd.
Previous 10 leaving California he sold his
own instrument, a very imperfect one, for
S3, 900, while they Gnu, in reality, be made
for lesa than $40. The person who pur-
chased j, confidently expected to make n
handsome fortune, by simply finding '.goId
placers," aud selling out the right Of dig
cling to the gold workers. As to the prin-
cip.e upon which the new .'GoIdomc,cr,'
or gold-6nder, is constructed, we have no
knowledge. Signor D'Alvcnr, il is under
stood, will, for the present, keep j, a secre,
us il would be impossible 10 protcci pat
ent il ono were taken our. Its very sim
pic in construction; aud il worked some
what like the old fashioned witch-I ,azIc rod.
formerly used in seeking for water.
Signor DAIvear is Of opinion that vas,
deposi,cH OF gold will ye. be found in the
United States, Of a quality vastly superior
to that recently discovered in Virginia and
North Carolina, aud that tho other INNER
al riches Of this country nre inconccivnbl,
great. The Signor is profoundly skilled
in tho mysteries Of Chemistry, Geology
Electro and Vital Magnetism, aud other
curious branches Of philosophical study.
which, it must he granted, he has turned
to good accoun: in the present inst sncc.
We believe il is his intention 10 publish
some account Of his invention Of the 'sGold-
ometer," before returning to California.
We shall look for this work with much in.
tcrcst.