The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-19
THE GREAT AMERICAN GOLD MINES.

THE GhhAT AMhhACAN will MANhs'
Putting California out Of the question, Professor
Ansted. Of Kings Cnllege. London, estimates The
total valus Of the gold mined in all parts of III
worll at R6 500 900, or about thilty-twa and half
millions OF dollars a year. This includes an est
mate of f200 600. or million of dollars from
Norh America; but California is lstt out MT YET
sffor2ing any data upon which TO found rationa
estimate, ffsren persons guessing for her accord
ing TO their various moods product Of from one OF
two hundred thousand up 10 twenty or thirty mil
lions MONTH We cannot Ourselves pretend TO as
sign the value Of The guild which is to be raised 10
Cllfornia; but, we should deem ourselves deserving
the credit q great liberaty, should we suppose
California capable Of producing as much as Asialic
Russia, which is supposed TO yield twsnty millions
year. Al that rate, indeed, California will do well
very well-well enough; and most persons, we
fancy, will be perfectly we'll satisfied, and perhaps
ayr eably surprised whom she il proved to be cap,
BILE Of pouring into the world such an annual fiod
Of treasure.
But after all, what is there in this to be ., very
much excited and delighted alto m Ike SO great a
noise about Twenty millions of Jollars 10 no such
astonishing sum to be yielded by an American gold
mine. We have some dozen CT mines that !, ield
far richer return, among which we may specially
mention those which are wrought by American far
mers. T.ere j. no such placer in the wofld as
well manured field; picks, and shovels. and bowie
knives are trifing mining implements as compared
TO the plough and harrow; the stream Of water that
washes the gold will never compare with the rains
Of heaven that IN Ike IL; the harvestman's cradle is
a more efficient piece Of machinery than the god
miner 's--,o say nothing Of the Icaping machine by
which The golden product ia gathered OF whole
acre. in an hour. and the thresher, by which the
gold grains are separated. q hundred or a thousand
bushels Of them day. Take the gold mines
such gad mines-of almost any respectable State
in the Union, and balance their wealth sgAinst all
that California promises We take the agricultural
estimate. in the annual Patent Office Report for
l948, and find that in the single State Of Ohio,
tie gold-diggers Of the homo stead mines tu ned
out some twenty millions Of bushels Of wheat
worth, Ia these laitudes full as many mil lois Of
dollars; 20 that The Ohio wheaifelds already pro-
duce as much gold as the who'e Russian empire is
supposed, and as much as all California il expected
to produce. Her maizs fields. al the same time,
gave s.sonty millions Of bushels Of Indian corn,
worth Inward Of toriy millions of ,lollars-or
twice the estimate Of the California gold There arc
thirty millions of bushels Of OATS worth Ten mill ons
Of dollars raj Cd in Ohio, for the purpose Of being
led away to the horses. Twenty millions of doars
worth Of gold will not bring California up to the
level Of Ohio.
In fact, one caunot but feel disposition TO smile
nj sl this excitement about the wealth Of the valley
OF the SscIamento, who ly looking over these Ia
bes is reminded Of the vast weath--and that OF a
mere everyday agricultural chsracter--of the Uni.
ted States Tho wheat crop alone was WORTH n
one dollar hu.hel, Sl2G, 900 900; the maize crop
Al sixty cents. 1882, 900 600; the mere hay at Ten
dollars, was worth Sl57,Q00,0OO II we add ITO
these the oats, rye harley, and buckwheat and POI
tstces merely, njsltng al other farming products,
d. roots, fruits. and truck crops OF every nd we
have total annual value Of S76s 900 900 as repre-
senting a part only Of the products Of these gold
mines here at home. The truth is, If we add the
animl food, &c. raised making the proper deduction
from the hay and other crops for the Of raising
il. NJ well Of sustaining the animal labor employ
ed, not forgetting the rice, tobacco cotton. hemp
&c.. OF the South shall find that the agrcuilur.
al mine Of The United States Yields every year TO the
farmers Of the United States upwards Of one thou.
sand millions Of dollar; that 10, more than the
whole BHli.h national debt, which American far
mers accordingly could pay off, If they felt inclined
10 single y, ar. No, no; these gold mines Of Cali
iorna are not so AWNING as people think them.
II tskes four or fivs hundred dollars to carry
gold seeker from Philadelphia to the Sacramento
The same sum will carry him TO Iowa or Minesota
and buy him quarter section Of land, with cabin
and the necessary farming outfit. Now, on such a
mine as that, We do not suppose any one would BE-
likely TO d 9 upor plough mp one or two ounces
day, but an industrious man could calculate upon
support---ndependenc ,mpetency; along with
the happy comp anionship Of friends and family
and the conscious security OF ono who worked hi,
own mine, and could hand il down to his children
after him.--Pha. North Amer