Washington telegraph., 1849-03-21

law, mining especially in the winter or
rainy season, should be carried on in COM
panies, say from ten to fifteen each, with
adequate buildings for their protection,
and good supply of food. Companies
larger than ten or fifteen would be likely
to break up. So far they have not sue
ceeded as we'll as smaller companies
Those of you who have read the official
| communication of Commodore Thomas
| Ap Catesby Jones, of the 22d December,
l540, twelve days after l left San Fran
cisco, may have observed the following
| remark: Incredible quantities of gold
are yet daily collected, and scarcely a
week elapses without some new dscov-
cry of the precious metal, more startling
than any previous one." The Commo-
| dOre also alludes to the fact that a few
! days previous to tine date of his dispatch
small party Of five or six persons OBJ
tanned, in two days, $4,000 worth Of
pure gold. have no more doubt of the
| truth of the statement by Commodore
Jones than have of the fact of my exis-
tence. Yet, to one who has never seen
similar instances of success, such an an
| nouncement seems absolutely incredible.
Gentlemen think it can hardly be nec-
| essary for me to say more to you of the
actual existence of gold in immense quans
titles and comparatively easy OF ACCESS in
| California. Whatever may be the effect
upon the money market of the world,
other persons than myself can better de-
termine, but | am perfectly satisfied that
| III -,
part of which has been explored, embra-
| ces, as you have observed, a larger area
than the State of New York, and new
discoveries are beng made daily. There
are. l am told, little less than $4,000
square miles in the State of New York,
and if two persons only were digging on
each square mile, you would have l0O,-
600 persons. Now it is possible, though
hardly probable, to my mind, that during
the next summer there may be 100000
persons in the gold region digging for
gold. But they will be scattered over a
large extent of territory, and you may de-
pend upon it gentlemen, that there will
be room enough for all. If aGovernment
and a Mint could only be established
i'll California the gold would be as valua-
bic there as in New York. But such is
not the case at present. AS an evidence
of this, | may say that lots in San Fran
cisco when L left were held and actually
sold at prices higher than lots of the same
size i'll Wall street. That portion of the
mining district which | have visited, en-
tends along the valley of the Sacramento
and American Fork, about fifty miles
above Suffers, and covers an area of about
a hundred miles. One painful of common
dirt in Which the gold is found, when
carefully washed, yielded on an average
about half an ounce of gold. 1t usually
took about fifteen or twenty minutes to
wash painful provided the dirt was pro-
cured near the river or washing place
Of course it takes some time to dig the
earth and carry it to the water. | have
known instances of persons going IN
search of gold, who came back disappoint-
ed unsuccessful. They did not fall into
the right digging" and did not get
enough to pay their expenses. Those
who tail are generally those who 90 in
TOO large companies, or those with deli
cate constitutions, who break down under
fatigue and exposure. 1t is something OF
a lottery to find good "diggns." When
a person or a company has found right
spot, others are not allowed to dig in the
same hole, but they may dig near it
The exclusive right to dig in the spot Sc
lected is, however, only allowed while ac-
tually occupied by the digger. There are
but very limited facilities for storing goods
at San Francisco should by all means
recommend that materials for fire-proof
building or storehouse be sent around Cape
Horn.
l will now speak to you of the articles
Necessary for All outfit to California In
the first place, an India Rubber Tent is,
| consider, indispensable. This can be
/ procured IN San Francisco at less price
than it would cost to buy it here and
transport it there. Every man who is
going to dig wants pair Of India Rub
ber long stockings. These can be had III
San Francisco; also in this city. A pair
of thick shoes should be worn over tie
India Rubber stockings to prevent the
gravel from cutting the feet of the stock
iugs, and thus admitting the water. The
India Rubber stockings would prevent
perspiration from being checked too sud-
denly, as the labor of digging up the
earth will necessarily cause perspiration.
which, if checked too suddenly would
certainly produce colds and fevers. Every
emigrant should take or send furniture
sufficient for his own use, but not more
than is necessary, for freight is very high
to San Francisco and up the River l
would not advise any man to 60 to Cali
fornia who is doing we'll here. If he is
doing well enough. let him stay. The
Inconvenience will be very great, such