Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-10-24

rThe following letter from the Gold
"diggins" is from our fellow townsman.
JOSEPH S. STIDHAM, written by him to his
mother and +. w Robinson, who kindly
handed it to US for publication. lie prom
Uses to write again on his return TO Sacra-
mento City. We rejoice to hear that the
company from this county are all well and
in good spirits.
SACRAMENTO, AUGUST 1G, 1349.
take this opportunity to write few
lines TO inform you Of our, or my. arrival
at or near Suffers Fort.-or Sacramento
City as it is now called. Three Of US
two from the Haeers,own company and
myself of the Richmond company-were
sent on in advance Of our train. We left
them four weeks since. last Wednesday:
they were all we'll and in fine spirits. and
teams in good condition. We arrived
here two days ago in good health have
enjoyed as good health this summer as
usual--have had but two slight attacks. one
soon after we started, the other the first
of July, which kept me in the wagon for
three or four days.
We left the train about 600 miles back.
and 60 miles this side of Fort Hall; and
expect to return tomorrow 20 meet our
teams, and we calculate to re- Join them in
about three days travel, near Johnson's
Fort on Fair River Not a word has been
received from any Of you since we left,
and consequently we do not know whether
you arc all living; tho hope this will find
you all in health and prosperity.
Now that have told you WE ARE ALL
WELL. suppose the next thing for which
YOU feel an interest is the GOLD, &c
Well, we have been around in the neigh
borhood ofthc 'diggins'' for about week
there are many of them the principal
ones on the Juber or Eubabear. Amer
lean Fork. Middle Fork. Calamy River
and their tributaries; beside a number Of
dry di"giiigS-in these they dig and pick
up what they can: in the others they wash.
There are hundreds of men on each OF
then-some doing wen. while others arr
hardly making a living. We meet men
every day. passing to and from the differ
ent mines-somc will tell YOU one story
and some anothcr-onc man will tell YOU
the mines in his neighborhood are not av-
era.iny over half on ounce per day, and
- /
the same digging and they are making
from one TO three ounces per day: there
can be nothing definite found out by en-
quiry; they are all very jealous. even men
whom we have travelled with for the last
ten days. who have united and settled on
place TO go TO work. will not give us any
satisfaction as to which Of the mines they
are going TO. There are good many
Oregon-mcn in the country, the | think
but few in the mines; some of them work
ed awhile in the spring: they seem to be
some respects; they tell US we will loose
nothing by laying around here six or
eight weeks-that here is the place 70
learn-nonc OF them talk of going into
the mines before the first or middle Of: Oct.
and say any man can make as much cold
as n wants in four months; but the ,canis
OF man. in the gold line. cannot be salts
he'd. Some have come here with their
broad-clo;h and silk gloves. and umbrellas
TO keep the sun Off. &c. and became sat
listed with mining for gold in three or four
days. and left for home
God bless 'em, let EN- go.''
Now for Sacramento City. prices of pro-
vision. labor. &c. The city is situated on
the Sacramento river, about 100 miles bv
water, 80 by land. at the head Of tide
water, and about four miles below Suffers
+ ort; II contains from 1900 TO $500 build
'ngs. go Cor in that neighborhood) are.
what we at home would call. Stacking
trames--,he remainder are composed Of
canvass or duck drilling. of all shapes
ana sizes; most of which are occupied as
stores. taverns. dwellings. clearinghouse
es. cotiee-houses. &c, many of them are .
built after the following manner first. thew
stake Off the size of their BUILDINGS. then
strike line on the ground and Law off
mortices in the ground. for posts, s,uddinc.
&c, all Of which are composed of the
same material and the same size, either
poles about as big as hay-pole. or rip'd
slabs by 3 inches and from 10 TO Is Fl.
long Gas a mN wants a one or two,
story house with strip of an inch board
about or inches wide nailed fiat Town
on the top. as plate to raise raters on.
then rooted and weather boarded with
canvass. think. when the rainy season
comes or. the winds will tear their houses
10 ribbands: besides ,his Tho a;. :; LII.