Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1849-04-07
w EEKLY CONNIE HCEAL JOURNAL

Norman. They were despatched by the house OF
Joseph Bowder & Co., OF Sau Francisco TO Mr.
SuweIkrop.
The latest letters state that, after winter Of the
greatest severity, fac weather had in the snow
had begun 10 melt, and many diggcrs had started,
and were on the OF starting for the mines to re-
commence operations, and that the sales OF goous
mad, IN consequence, begun to increase.
The firm. J. Is. s Co., by whom the letter was
written had purchased considerable quantity OF
gold Ell commission, at S ii so per ounce; but could
not purchase another parcel at that rate.
The price OF gold has risen, in consequence Of the
large arrivals Of specie from san Bias, Valparaiso,
&c aud which has been placed in the hands of the
merchants at san Francisco for Investment.
/ The whole OF Lower California was deserted by
the men, who had gone north TO the placer. When
MIR Suwcrkrop touched at San Jose, he found scarce
ly any males there.
About seven hundred persons had arrived at San
francisco from Valparaiso, and about four hundred
from the Sandwich Islands. There were about
seven thousand people in California, ready TO COM
mence operations in the mines, the moment the
weather would permit There were not many in
san francisco; they were scattered over the coun-
try-at suffers Fort, cncaUped on the pIdccrS, &c.
House room was, of course, very scarce; many dig
gers had pitched their tents around the Bay OF San
Francisco.
There were parties of gold seekers at Nlazaan,
aw aiting passage TO San Francisco but could not
get any. Those that had gone up, paid 5000 in the
cabin and $50 in the Observation-Disclosures about 1900
/ miles.
The price Of provisions had become more mode
rate. On the 3Uth OF January, flour in parcels was
selling at SIT per br by the single barrel at Is.
Pork was dull at $50 per brl. Salt Beef could
scarcely be sold. No one would give s ii per brl.
for it,
A large amount of goods was daily expected-four
cargoos from China; two cargoes OF English goods
from Sydney, New South Wales; seventeen vessels
from Valparaiso and the West Coast Of Mexico aud
several vessels from Tahiti.
There had been arrivals from the United States
The slooP of war st. Mary was the only national
vessel at san Francisco.
1t appears that notwiths landing the many reports
TO the contrary, the United States store-ship Lex
ington did not sail from San Francisco for the United
States till the 25th Of January. She had : 400, 900
in gold on board.
The largest lump that Mr.. S has seem weighed
fourteen ounces. He knew Of piece that weighed
with the dirt about sixty ounces, which had been
sold Tor thirty ounces il containing about that much
Of pure gold.
The waste in the gold obtained in the dry dig
2ines would not average two PER cent, while that
in the wet gold would average from to g. per cent
The bark tndine. lately wrecked near the Straits
Of Magellan, and sold Valparaiso for - 900, and
afterwards at san Francisco for "a 600, had gone
TO the Columbia river, but daily expected back
On her rgtura n would proceed to China.
Affairs in California wcr", taking every thing into
consideration, quite Pcaccabir.
The gold that was in the hands Of the merchants
at san Francisco, was held for the purpose OF MAX
ing rcmittauccs BIZ the steamship California or TO
take advantage Of the market. There were many
persons waiting for the California, 10 take passage
IN her to Panama.
The British ship Of war Calypso at Mazatlan,
10 leave soon for England. She would take away
over 81 900 in specie. OF this there were over
1000 ounces Of California gold and Of this 200
ounces belonged 10 Mr.. SuwcrkroP. The reason he
pat it On board the c. was, that he uld not find
conveyance for it direct to the United States. Those
who thak it strange that the gold does not reach
This country in much larger quantities, should take
this fact into consideration.
The California gold put on board the Calypso was
brought down by the Mary Frances from san Fran
cisco.
While Mr.. S. was at Mazatlan, California gold was
sold at : per ounce, and The proceeds put board
any vessel free Of chargr.
After going into q careful calculation with Mr. S,
we were assured that about 81, 90 600 in gold had
been obtained from the mines. OF this, $ 10000
had passed through the custom house at San Fran
cisco, valued at so 10 Sl3 per ounce. 100000
had gone OF in drbcts IN trunks, boxes, and on the
persons of lis owners, TO Oregon, Valparaiso, Sgd
ncy \. S. W, Sandwich Islands, the United States,
England, &c, &c, to freight Several lots of
$4,000 each had gone OF in this way. Sl,OOO,OOO
in the hands OF the merchants Of San Francisco;
about : ,O0O,0JD scattered over California, in
large and small parcels, in the possession Of parties,
miners, &C., that had not been sent down TO San
Francisco This, Mr.. Suwerkrop assured us,
very moderate calculation. 1t twas with the greatest
care, in order not TO deceive the public.