Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1849-12-12
ed well, dug bv Lieut.. Col. Cook. and. as

ed well, dug by Lieut. Col Cook, and, as
we supposed, the last watering place Here,
after some delay, we succeeded in obtaining
sufficency of water for ourselves and ami
mails. Soon after leaving the we'll we re-
celved from party of Mexicsns The agreea-
able intelligence. that we should find an a.
bundance Of water; that river had recently
broken out in the desert. Al 8 O'Clock we
halted for the night Starting The next morn
ing at 3 O'Clock, we reached The water soon
after noon. Here, only month previous
was sandy plain, we found large lake
of fresh water some miles in extent, with a
river running out. which was nearly swim
ming. We here rested for the dav Re
Stunning our march the next morning at 3
O'Clock, we reached, little before sun set
the gap in the mountains, and soon after
water, but as yet no grass. This was We
~ fatigueing days travel, being more than
fourteen hours in the saddle. During the
day we passed no less than hundred car
casses Of mules and horses.
Having been on scanty supply of pro-
vision so long, we looked forward with
much anxiety TO our arrival in the settle
ments Of California. On the ooh Angus,
we reached WIS rancho, and, much to our
disappointment, were told we could not gel
provision of any kind as he had been under
The necessity Of driving off his stock to pre-
vent them from being killed by emigrants.
many Of whom had arrived there on, OF
money and almost in starving condition
As favor we procured few beans and d
half bushel of coarse -four. for which we
paid at the rate Of fifteen dollars per bu.hel
There has been great deal of suffering by
emgranss on this route. The journey has
been a much longer one than we an,ici pa
ted. We have, however, made ii with as
much ease and comfort as could be expec ell
in travelling over coun,r', the greater
portion Of which is destitute Of wood, wa
Ter and almost of vegetation Being anX-
ious 10 reach San Francisco in advance o
our company, so as to get supplies TO the
mines, and dispose of shipment of mer-
chandise entrusted me by my brother, Mr.
p and myself left them and went t.,
San Diego. We were there detained three
weeks. On the 18Th September we embark
ed on the steamship Dragon, and arrived
here on the 18Th.
This, which is destined to be the gIea
commercial town of the Pacific. contains
already population of about ten thousand
a very large portion of whom are gamblers
Hundreds of emigran.s are arriving daily
Many are living and carrying on business
in tents. The harbor i. filed with SHIPS
which are unable to leave, the men having
deserted. Building is going on rapidly
Fortunes have been made BY single in
ves'ment. Lots, which were purchased
twelve months ago at twelve and fifteen dol
lars, are now worth forty and fifty thousand
a carpenter gets $40 pc, day. anu rents
consequently, are very high. The Parker
House, a hoel, which could be butt in the
States for five thousand dollars, rents FOR one
hundred and seventy thousand. A bust
ness room is worth from FIVE to fifteen hun
dred dollars per month Opportunities for
speculation occur daily, but property has
SO much risen in value that it requires larg e
capital TO operate successfully. Money is
worth ten per cent a month.
The country is flooded with provisions
and merchandise of every description. Had
he invested his money in Gold Rockers,
such as he shipped, made by Jackson OF
Frederick sburg, he would have made for
tune. They are worth here a thousand dol
lars. The expense of living here is very
great-board, per week twenty one dollars.
The market is well supplied with meat; We
gelables, however, are very scarce. Poa-
toes, tomatoes, Sc, sell by the pound. Al
a Restaurant, few DAYS since, ~ealled for
plate of uncook ed tomatoes, and they gave
me two, for which was charged fifty cents.
Physicians charge ten dollars vista
barber two dollars for shaving. Washing,
six dollars per dozen, SC.
The mines, from the best and most relia-
BILE information can obtain, are inexhausli
BILE; the digging for gold. however. isl We
ry uncertain business. Some in few dav s
get rich. others work for months scarcely
paying their expenses. 1t requires, more
over, very hard labor.
have met with many acquaintance and
friends here, some of whom have almos,
dissuaded me from going to The mines One
was very kind enough to offer me all office
free of charge as long as wished to occu-
py it. shall, however, try the ''dIggins"
for a while, and will leave IN few DAYS for
Stockton, where we are to JON our com
pany. Very afectionalely,
Your son,
J. B. Wxxxx..
MURDER OF AN ARMY OFFICER -Infor-