The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-27
Interesting from California.


SUFFER-, UprER CALIroRSIA, Oct 20, ls49.
Gold Digging in California The Other Side Of the Pic
tae-7 The Soil, Climate, and Water-Vice in San
Francisco-The Difficulties attending Gold Digging
Expenses of Lisrng, Se.-.9dpice to Emig, ants and
other useful information.
So much has been written of late about California
and the gold region, that you may think little
main untold. But this is a subject Of the greatest
importance to those who anticipate emigrating hither
and cannot refrain from giving such information and
facts from my observation and experience WILL
trust induce them to pause and reflect before they
embark.
We left New York with 100 men In our company and
after voyage of 2o6 days, stopping at St. Cathars
and Juan Fernandez arrived safe without sickness or
accident in good health and spirits at San Francisco
on the 29th Of August. We remained there fifteen
days and from thence came to this place 1t taxing us
ten days TO accomplish the distance Of 100 miles Our
bark drew ten feet six inches water and from the fire.
quent sand bars that obstruct the channel we expe
rienced much DELAY as We constantly grounded, and
were obliged to drag her over by maia strength; how
ever we arrived and at the end of and
preparing for speedy departure to the Mockeoma "a
branch OF the San Joaquin) which is about 60 miles
southeast OF this place, where shall commence ope
ratons OF mining. We have despatched Ave teams
drawn by oxen with detachment of so men and shall
all follow as We trust in IA few days. Thus much in
regard TO our company; and will now enter upon
another subject.
Since arriving here have been much disappoioted
Win Canforna mot, however in regard to the gold
for there abundauce but with the eli mate which
has been mtrepresented in the Instead Of its
it Is emphaiicaly about the worst. At San Fran
cisco, while we remained there, 1t healthy;
sickness owing to the dense foe which con.
santly hangs over that place. and the great change
from the heat Of midday to the cold damp Of night
accompanied with strong, cold westerly winds which
set In about o'clock Z. NJ After leaving that place
and entering the Sacramento river which is about 40
miee distant, you enter into vast level plain for
hundreds Of miles in length. and many in width,
through which the waters OF the Sacramento flow in
serpentine interseced with other streams by
numberess soughs running off in all directions This
vast plain Is OF Alluval soil overowed in the spring
and winter; and during the remainder OF the
year contains large tracts Of swampy land with
pools Of stsgnant water, which infect the stmos-
phere the inevitable consequence of which is ague
ana ieVer In the worst form. There Is very little
woodland In fact may say none except upon the i'm
mediate banks Of the streams throughout the valley
The land OF course fertile but for the want Of
ter during summer, is psrched and dry. While water
for drinking Is obtained only pure from the rivers that
from wells has strong mineral impregnstion and con-
uhcNe 10 sickness The same Is the at San Fran
CISCO and any one upon arriving there and drinking of
1t freely will soon feel the effects Throughout this
vast valley Of rich aud fertile land 1t is Exceedingly
unhealthy throughout the year with the execution Of
the winter months. At this time the city OF Sacra
mento, which three miles above this place present,
Of sickness among its Inhabitants un prsceden
ed excepting during the rage OF malignant disease
in any cline or country upon the earth, (hs western
the city several tunes and visited many hospitals,
which are not like hospitals at home. but void Of eve
u
with bare ground floors, with the dust light and deep
Is raised by every puff OF wind footep
.rng every thing within with dust and at times almost
taking away the breath In these are hundreds Of
who came here few Gays weeks perha ps since
bale, hearty and strong but reduced TO merely
shibAnd bones their sunksn classy eyes and haggard
eounensnces betokepipg their doom in fe days. Ii
s almost in possible for any to come here without
having fit Of sickness The principal cause Is the
climate The pheIe is mated with diseas.
while in addition to this the impure water and the
great ctsbge from the excessive heat Of the day (hs
eferY HIATT IN QUAR- n.
damp evenings, in which fires not uncomfortable
And In addition to these Ia the want vegetable food
which II almost impossible to obtain Very little farm
Ing being done here the prices Of vegetables have gone
up to sn exorbitsnt standard. you want potatoes
are iro. o. 70 o' per pound and no larger than
pound pumpkins squashes from S. to los per piece
cabeages ss per head milk S. per quart eggs SIS per
piece nc, Ae These prices have seen paid. Thus,
people coming here are deprived Of vegetables which
are necessary Tor health; and by xpssure
gerous'
With our company, we have enjoyed remark.
ably good health until within two weeks past during
which time we have averaged thirty daily upon the sick
st and eighty have already been down about ha have
beer Affected with agus and fever and the remsindsr
Wiz dytentery which latter disease 10 very prevalent
throughout the length and breadth Of tbi. .ntre al
ley no one tearcely escapes It, Yet there are fev
deaths compared With the attacks. We have lost ons
OF our company MIR Patrick Flood for several years
resident Of Greenwich, Connecticut who died with
dJsentsry On the 18th yesterday morning and am
exceedingly happy TO stat. that we have none danger
outy Ill AZ this time and those who have been ick are
fast gaining, no being confined to the bed Much
credit que our physician Dr Levngs for bis atten-
ton ana skill. IL We had not had good physi.
clan, think there would have been many deaths
among US Tor the past few days The attacks Of dy-
eentery are powerful and In few hours will reduce
the most rugged and strong bel pess condition IL
remarkable TACT here 20 be recorded that the most
attack shd that the most Such has been the case
with tbs COMPANY In the mining district which Is
among the mountains 1t more healthy but from the
hard labor and unsyodsbs exposures 10 be
endured few tn. constitutions that withstand IT,
Hun are continually arriving from the mines sick
and the greater part naturally q strong
tons, who reduced In many instances TO pitiabs
and dsplofsbe condition Compelled to employ q ply
stefan $40 per visit With board At from 40 10 40
per wsek. With little nursisg any price located
In damp dusty canvass tent wher. 10 as charm that
hangs around the gold mines, NOSE Who come here
se.r-ny are pett provided for -hen sick, as they
ere taken care OF but individuals small parties II
essep iek are destitute and the enormous expenses
attending tick person here will take more than
he may have thus showing the advantages of being
In . company with physician True. the abundance
OF geld strong inducement for men to come here
and REX their lives for gathering portion but be as
sursd no man will cone sithout being bitterly disap-
pointed aud msled by the representations heretofore
published q the tbe healthy climate OF California
especially IN the valleys IL u absurd Tor any to
argue beslthiress ands healthy climate among swamps
bogs and ,sgnsnt pools OF water IL Is possible to
make CainurBis different from what it IT, II Is I'M
healthy. and unhealthy IL must Inevitably remain
Gold truly gltters among the mosntans aud valleys
and THIS has brought ths country int notice specu
laos ia lands hsve seized the golden opportunity and
with fsch foundation have sebt back their reports OF
fortunes smassed 10 short time 81 an inducement
for myrads 20 come hither and do lkev wise Had they
told the golden truth aud the opposite side Of the
picture placed caution the climate u would more
than have outweighsd the glittering gem But
one word have they written upon this subject except
IN downright contradiction Of an undesirable unavod
able ard esisbl he'd ruth The conseq has been
tbousauds have rushed hither who have spent their
all in getting here, and destitute upon arriving
They ind th,msslses d,c.ved when, alas late
and when ictDsss has taken hold OF them Such ls
the lsmentsbe picture daily brought 10 view
Having set forth the facts connected Nth the ell
mate. viii stst. fsw In regard to the mines
&c. People leaving for California are under the i'm
precision that they will be Il at the mines upon
arriving ct San francisco when they arrive there
they only st the end q the fret chapter and an
other yet remains for which they End themselves in
many eases wholly uDprepared The nearest mioes |
are about 100 miles dtant and the expense Of travel
ling aud transporting stores aud baggage we'll as
board IL enormous. Msuy are much inconveniencsd |
and perrlsxed when they arrive at San Francisco and
end themselves without msnsy which 1. absolutely
necesary 10 order 70 scco.sh the balance OF their
Journey and no one should dome here without good
supply 81 the De.dfu To- meet necessary demands and
eSpspses Large quantities Of stores aud baggage will
De found annoying No one should brDg more cloth
Ing than IL necessary, and such Of the most durable
LNnd 81