The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-01-12

conclude pretty much IN this language
Ed. JouR.)
INTERESTING DESPATCH FROM CALI
FORNIA.
Among the documents received by Oh,
Secretary Of War. and communicated will
the Presidents Message. is the following
letter from Col. Mason. the Military Com
mandant OF California, who presents TIL
fullest description We have seen OF the golt
"p'acers OF that region.
Z no 81 iisAnouAargns l0rH MILITARY DER
Monterey, California. August II, 1913.
SIR 81 have The brnor to inform you
that, accompsaiedby Lieut.. w. T. Sher.
mar, 3 ar',llofy, A. A. A. General, start.
ed, on The l2,h Of June last 10 mako tour
through the northern part Of California
Ny principal purpose, however, was 10 visi,
the newly discovered gold "placer in the
valley Of tie Sacramento. had proceed.
ed ubcu, forty miles, ~hen was overiaken
by au express, bringing me intelligence OF
the arrival a, Monterey Of the United
States Ship Southampton. with important
letters from Commodore Shubnck and
Lieut.. Col. Burton. ] returned at once to
Monterey and despatched What business was
mos, important, aud on tie 18th resumed
my journey. We reached San Fsancisca
on the ooh, and fouId tina, all, or nearly
all. lis male inhabitants had gone 10 the
mines. The iosn which few months be.
fo,e vas so busy and thriving, was then al.
Tost deserted. Ga the evening Of The 2I'b,
The horses Of the escort we're crossed 10
SousoIeto in launch, aud on the following
day NO resumed the journey by way Of
Bodcsa and Souoma 10 Suffers ort where
~e arrived on the morning Of the 81 OF
july. Along the whole route, mills were
IDLE, fields Of wheat uere open TO cattle and
horses, houses vacant, aud farms going TO
.:aei.. 4. S::;cs's there was more life
and business. Launches were dlscharging
their cargoes at the river, and carts were
haulln. goods to the fort, where already
we're established several stores, hotel, DC.
Capt. Suffer had only two mechanics IN his
employ IA wagon maker aud black. smith
20 whom he was then paying ten dollars a
day. Merchants pay him monthly rent
OF 500 per room; and ahlls, was there,
two story house III the fort was rented as
hotel for $500 month.
Al the urgent solicitation OF many g'n.
tlemeu, delayed there 10 participate IN The
first public celebration Of our national an.
niyersary q, that fort: but on The 9th re.
sumed the journey, and proceeded % miles
up the American fork to point on il, nov
known as the Lower Mines, or Mormon
D,gginss, The hill sides were ihlck'y
sirewn with canvass tents and brush sibors |;
store was erected, and several boarding
shan,ies 10 operation. The day was IN.
tensively hot, ye, about 600 men were al
work in the full glaro Of the sun, washing
for gold-some with lin pans, some with
close woven Indian baskets, but the greater
part had rude machine, known as The
cradle. This is en- rockers, six or elgh'
fec, long, opca at the foot, and at the heat
has a coarse CRATE or seive; the bottom II
rounded with small elects nailed across
Four men are required to work this ma
chine one digs the ground in bank clos'
bv the stream; another carries 1t TO tht
cradle q third gives a violen, rocking mo
uon 10 tho machlne; whilst fourth dashe
on water from the stream ITSELF Tho sew
kceps the coarse stones from entering tn
cradle, the curfen, of water washes oft III
: ear,hy matter, aud the gravel is gradual,
} carried GU, ut the foot OF the mnch'ne
leaving the gold mixed with hne blac
sand above the first elects. The sand an
J gold mixed together are drawn oil shrous
l ausur holes into pan below, are dried
tho sun, and afterwards separated by bio"
/; inn off the SIND. A party of four me
o thus employed o, the lower mines, average
> one hundred dollars day. Tho INDIAN
J and those who have nothing but pans
!. willow baskets. gradually wash out II
y earth and separate the gravel ny han'
G leaving nothing bu, the gold mixed vii
. sand, which is separated in the manner b
fore described. The gold in the lower n'n
d is in fine scales, Of which send sever
~ specimens.
it Az wo assembled the south branch Of Il
20 American Fork, the country became mo
ID broken AID mountainous, and at the Oh
II, mill, 25 miles above the lower washing
en- or SO miles from Suffers. the hills rise
~ abou, 1000 feet above the level Of
al Sacramento PLAIN. Here species Of pl
Dir occurs. which led 10 the discovery Of
he gold. Captain Suffer, feeling The great VI
md Of lumber, contracted with Mr.. Marsh
IN. to build saw.mlll ut thai place. 1t
ay' erected in the course Of the past winter