The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-04

Forty days later Gold Hs gtons. "A
The New York Herald contains advices from Sar
Francisco to the It'll February brought by Edward
Su~erkrop, esq, who has made very quick up over
land through Mexico to Vera Cruz, thence TO Mobile III
the British steamer Great Western and thence to New
York.
Mr. s. had visited the mines with Governor Mason
and Capt Folsom and had been over about three leagues
of the diggngs He confirms all that those officers have
written relative 10 the gold region He met in his jour
ney through Mexico about 900 Americans, Mexicans
Englishmen, Frenchmen, &c, &c. on their way to the
black mail all but the armed parties of Americans
With them they had seen the elephant"
The mail steamship California passed Mr.. s. about
two hours sail from Mazatlan, the night of the 18th
of February She was bound 10 San Francisco. There
were Goals at that port for her. and as she had only
coal enough to take up, IT is matter of uncertainty
as to her arrival at Panama the 18th of March, as
was expected The vessel that carried the coal for her
to Mazaan reached that port about twelve hours after
the California had left She proceeded TO San Bias to
discharge.
The price of gold had risen in consequence of the large
arrivals of specie from San Bias Valparaiso &c. and
which has been placed in the hands OF the merchants
San Francisco for investment
The whole of Lower California was deserted by the
men, who had gone north to the placer. When Mr.. Su-
werkop touched at Cape San Jose he found scarcely any
males there.
The latest letter states that, after winter of the great.
est severity fine weather had set in, the snow had begun
to melt and many diggers had started and were the
of starting for the mlnes to recommence operations,
and that the sales OF goods had in consequence begun 10
increase
About seven hundred persons had arrived at San Fran
cisco from Valparaiso and about four hundred from the
Sandwich islands. There were about seven thousand in
California, ready to commence operations In the mines
the moment the weather would permit.
The price of provisions had become more moderate.
On the 3oth OF January, flour in parcels was selling al
$40 per barrel by the single barrel at $40 Pork was
dull at $50 per barrel Salt beef could scarcely be sold
No one would give $l4 per barrel for it.
large amount OF goods was daily expectel-four
cargoes from China, two cargoes of English goods from
Sydney, New South Wales, seventeen vessels from VAL
paralso and the west coast OF Mexico, and several
sells from Tahiti.
There had been no arrivals from the United States
The sloop ofwar ST. Mary was the only national vessel
at San Francisco.
1t appears that, Notwithstanding the many reports to
the contrary the United States soreshp Lexington did
not sail from San Francisco for the United States till the
25th January. She had 800 900 in gold on board.
The largest lump that Mr.. s. had seen weighed four
teen ounces. He knew of piece that weighed with
the dirt about sixty ounces, which had been sold for
thirty ounces, 1t containing about that much pure gold
Affairs in California were, taking everything into
sideration, quite peaceable.
None of the Oregon gold had been seen in California.
There were still reports that gold had been discovered in
The gold that was in the hands of the merchants at San
Francisco was held for the suppose of making emances
BY the steamship California, or to take advantage OF the
market There were many persons waiting Tor The Cali
fornia to take passage in her TO Panama
The British ship OF war Calypso was at Mazatlan, TO
$2oo0ooo in specie. OF this there were over 5000 ounces
OF California gold and of this 900 belonged to
Mr. Suwerkrop. The reason he put on board the &.
was, tina, he could not find conveyance for it direct
the United States Those who think it strange that the
gold does not reach this country in larger quantities,
should take this fact into consdera ion.
While Mr.. 5. was at MaZaan, California gold was
sold at l5 per ounce and the proceeds put on board any
vessel free of charge.
The Herald, in concluding the summary of news
brought by MIR. s. of which the above embraces the
most interesting items, says;
After going into careful calculation with Mr.. S we
assured that about - 900 900 in gold had been OBJ
tanned from the mines OF this, 81 100000 had passed
through the custom house at San Francisco valued
$40 to 1913 per ounce 100000 had gone Oft in dribets
trunks, boxes, and the persons of its owners,
Oregon, Valparaiso Sydney, N S. W. Sandwich islands
the United States England, &c, to save freight
Several lots of $4,000 each, had gone off in this way
81 900 900 in the hands of merchants of San Fran
cisco; about 81 O00, 900 scattered California,
large aad small parcels, in the possession OF parties, mi
ners, &c., that had not been sent down to San Francis
This, Mr.. Suwerkrop assured US, very moderate
calculation 1t was made with the greatest care, in orde
not TO deceive the public.