The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-02-24
Interesting Details from California.
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GOLD IN OREGON.

Several of the New York papers give
copious items of California news
brought by Mr.. Robert A therton, who
arrived in .hat city on Monday morn
ing, having lei, San Francisco on the
10Th of December, and made the jour
nsSGxia Mssatlan and the city of Mex
leo. I'VE copy the following from the
Newly ok Tribnne:--s pee 'trA
Mr.. Atherton has resided for ten
wears ON the Pacific, and TWO at San
Francisco. He left San Francisco on
t,esi0ih Of December, and came to the
United States by way oi Mazatan
Guadalaxara, Mexico, and Vera Cruz.
The passage from San Francisco to
Mazatlan occupied ten days, the vessel
touching only at one port. From Ma
zaslan to Mexico the journey was made
ON horseback, in two days. Mr.. Ath'
erlon has accomplished the whole Of
this long and arduous trip, with remark
able dispatch, having been only 81 days
upon the route; the cost OF the whole.
from San Francisco to New York, has
been about 500.
The gold region is now understood
tosembrace a territory thousand miles
inrlength and three hundred in width.
The gold is distributed over this vast
extent, though by no means equally,
some parts being Of surprising richness
while others are comparatively barren
ofthe precious metal. No limit can be
fixed to the number of men who may
find employment in extracting II, or TO
III. length OF time for which gold dig
gng may be profitable. There is room
Tor all who may desire to make their
fortune by this new sort of attractive
Industry, and a sufficient quantity OF
the gIittering dust in the earth to keep
them busyindeinitely.
But, as we learn from Mr.. Atherton
the business Of mining has nothing that
is agreeable except the gold that il
sometimes, not always. produces. In
short it requires the hardest kind OF la
bor, such as only strong constitutions
and muscles indurated by toll can under
take with prospect of success.
Young men delcately brought up,
and more familiar with the drawing
room, counting.room, or lawyers office,
than with the plough or sIedge.h hammer,
had better keep thar imag nations Tree
from all visions Of pldcerS. rivers floating
with gold dust, an1 big Jumps of the
real stuff to be had for the picking up.
Gold is not to be procured in that way
even in California. but yields itself only
to strength and skill. Even these are
not always successful. Mr.. Ather'on
knew one company which went out
from San Francisco with all the proper
tools. machines and accessories, and
whose members, after digging some
time. with better zeal than fortune,
came back each with flea in his ear,
and not lot Of gold in his pocket.
However, man OF the right sort, In
respect Of health, strength and skill may
with fair luck and hard and steady work
obtain three ounces OF gold on an av-
erage per day. 1t is not often found
inlumps. Still Mr.. Atherton has seen
one mass weighing Z lbs., and friend
of his had seen another weighing 2 lbs.
The number of persons who had been
TO the mines when he left is estimated
at 10000, but there had not been more
than $500 digging at one time. One
man Of his acquaintance, blacksmith
had got ten thousand dollars worth IN
three weeks. A good many Indians
had been employed as laborers by the
miners, but they are very poor assist.
ants. They do not work steadily, and
never can be kept at it above month
at a time, when they leave for San
Francisco to spend their earnings in
dissipation.
MrAtherton brings with him the bills
oflading OF gold to the value Of 100000
shipped on English account, on which
he proposes to effect an insurance here.
Mr. Ather,on states that the Lexington
has on board $5Oo,0o0 worth OF the
eenuine metal. She was about to sail
when Mr.. Athsf!on left for the United
States.
There was nothing doing at the mines
when Mr. Atherton left, owing to the
rains, it being the rainy season; there
was not much sickness in the dlggings,
no robberies and no disturbances.
The cos, Of living at San Francisco
has been the subjec; Of statements quite
as exaggerated as some OF those rela.
tinng TO the gold mines. Mr.. Atherton
saws saws that good board can be obtained
ihsre a, Slo per week, and provisions
are plenty at fair prices. The popuIa
,;on Of the place is about 1000. Mr.. A
himself CAME to New York to purchase
goods but finding that immense quantl
S~'..-Is Fayt..I,, rama foryuard will