Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-01-03
California GsOld--Arriyal of DON
JOSE D'ALVEAES. The first Dis.
cOycrer Of lIsc Gold YIiNcs---In-
fcreSlinx DcYClOpcxnen.s.

! Ion jose - llVe3r, tne celcDTdteu
/ Spanish Geologist, whose famous treatise
on the Age oil the Earth must be known
to many Of our readers, has just arrived
at New York. from the Gold Regions OF
! California, by way of Panama, Chagres
and New Orleans. bringing with him a
large amount of Gold ore, estimated to be
worth more than a million of dollars. the
/ result Of his labors. by the aid of a large
/ body OF Indians, long before the existence
Of the Gold mines became known to the
residents of California generally. Signor
D'Alvear went out to California nearly two
years ago, in consequence Of certain in
! formation which he had received Of the
geological character of that country. with
the firm belief that vast mines Of precious
metals would be revealed there, upon
careful investigation. lie was encouraged
to this enterprise, also. by his confidence
in the powers of certain Magnetic in
strument which he had invented. called
the "Goldometcr," by whose aid he expec-
ted to be directed at once to the "Gold
Placers," if any such existed. Nor were
his expectations disappointed. His sci
entific calculations proved to be founded
in truth an profound wisdom. and his new
instrument, the "Goldometer,' fulfilled
his highest hopes. In less than two
months after reaching California. he struck
upon one of the richest gold mines in that
country, upon AN obscure branch Of the
Sacramento river, in Il gorge of hills cX-
tremely rocky and difficult of access, and
seldom visited by the native Ca!ifornians
Disgusting his object under the pretence
of purely scientific research, he obtained
the aid Of some fifteen or twenty simple
and faithful Indians, and steadily pursued
his task, collecting often more than ST.
900 worth Of gold in a single day, which
he concealed in a deep ravine, without ex-
citing any suspicion whatever, until after
the discovery Of gold at Capt Suffers
Mill, when the mountains were ransackcd
by gold seekers, and Si9nor D'Alvear's
s.gold placer" the richest in all California,
was beset with greedy adventures. 1t is
now found that the real mines or sources
OF the gold. lie in the gorgcs OF the noun
tains, and not in the beds or sands Of the
rivers.
Don Jose D'Alvear was. beyond all
question. the first and real discovercr Of
the gold mines of California; and he de-
serves the more credit fol this. as his dis
Govcry was based upon profound scientit- F..
ic calculation, and was not the result Of
accident The evidence Of these facts. /
which he possesses. in the shape Of well
attested documents, from persons high in
authority in California, place the matter
beyond all doubt.
Signor D'AlveaI now visits the L nited
States. where he was for several wears
resident. for the purpose Of disposing Of
his gold. and investing il in safe and i'm
proving property, and also for the purpose
OF obtaining the necessary apparatus and
material for constructing his new instru-
ment. the "Go!domcter.' which is now
in great demand in California. but the
means of constructing them was not 10 be
obtained. Previous 10 leaving California
he sold his own Instrument, a very i'm
perfect one, for 50 900. while they can. in
reality. be made for less than $50 The
person who purchased it confidently ex-
pected to make a handsome fortune. bv
simply finding .gold placers.' and selling
out the right of digging, to the gold work
ers. As to the principle upon which the
new "Goldometer, or gold finder, is con-
we have no knowledge. Sionor
D'Aivear. il is understood. will for the
present. keep it secret; as it would be
impossible TO protect a patent il one were
aiken out. 1t is very simple in construc-
ion: and is worked somewhat like the old
fashioned witchhazle rod, formerly used in
seeking for water.
Signor D'Alvear is of opinion that vast
leposites of gold will yet be found in the
nited States. quality vastly superior TO
hat recently discovered in Virginia and
North Carolina; and thar the other miner
II riches Of this country are inconceiva-
'ly great. The Signor is profoundly
killed in the mysteries of Chemistry,
zoology, Electro and Vital Magnetism.
md other curious branches of philosophi-
al study. which il must be granted he
las turned to good account in the presen:
Instance. We believe it is his intention
0 publish some account Of his invention
II the ''Goldometer." before returning to
california. We shall look for this work
With much interest-N. Y. idrerfiser.
DEAD SEA ExPEDITIoN.-Ther return of
he L. s. store ship Supply. Lieut. Lynch.
rom an exploration of the Dead Sea. has