Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-01-12


ish Geologist, whose famous treaties on the
Age of the Earth" must be known to
many of our readers, has just arrived al
New York, from the Gold Regions of Cali.
foriiia, by way OF Panama, Chagres and
New Orleans. bringing with him large
amount of Gold ore, estimated to be worth
more than a million OF dollars, the result OF
bis labors, by the aid of a large body OF
Indians, long before the existence of the
Gold mines became known to the residents
of California generally. Signor D'Alvear
went out to California nearly two years ago,
in consequence of certain Information which
he had received of the geological character
of that country, with the firm belief that
vast mines of precious metals would be re-
veaed there, upon careful Investigations
He was encouraged TO this enterprise, also,
by his confidence in the powers of a certain
Magnetic instrument which he had invent
ed, called the 'Goldometer' by whose al he
expected to be directed at once TO the Gold
Placers,' if any such existed. Nor were
his expectations disappointed. His scentii-
ic calculations proved to be founded in truth
and profound wisdom, and his new ins,ru-
mGnt, the "Goldometer," fulfilled his high
est hopes. In less than two months after
reaching California, he struck upon one of
the richest gold mines in that country. upon
an obscure branch Of the Sacramento riv-
err, in a gorge of hills extremely rocky and
difficult of access, and seldom visited the
native CaIiforhians. Disgusting his object
under the preience of purely scientific re-
search, he obtained the aid of some fifteen
or twenty simple and faithful Indians, and
steadily pursued his task, collecting often
more than 1900 worth of gold in single
dav, which he concealed in a deep rav;1e,
without exciting any suspicion whatever,
until after the discovery OF gold at Capt.
Suffers Mill, when the mountains were
ransacked by gold seekers, and Signor D.
Alvear's gold placer" the richest in all
California, was beset with greedy adventur-
ers. 1t is now found that the real mines
or sources of the gold, lie in the gorges of
the mountains, and not i'll beds or sands of
the rivers.
Don Jose D'Alvear was, beyond all ques-
ton, the first and real discoverer Of the gold
mines of California and he deserves the
more credit for this. as his discovery was
based upon profound scientific calculation,
and WAS not the result of accident. The
evidence of these facts, which lie possesses,
III the shape Of well attested documents,
from persons high in authority in Caliior-
MIA, place the matter beyond all doubt.
ST: nor D'Alvear now visits the United
States, where he was for several years
resident, for the purpose of disposing of his
gold, and investing il in safe and improv-
ing property, and also for the purpose of
obtaining the necessary apparatus and ma
teriaI for constructing his new instrument,
the "Goldometer," which is now in great
demand in California, but the means Of con-
structing them was not TO be o5tained.-
Previous to leaving California lie sold his
own instrument. a very imperfect one, fer
$4,000, while they can, in reality, he made
fox less than $50. The person who put
chased it confidently expected to make
handsome fortune, by simply finding gold
placcrs," and selling out The right of dig
ging to the gold workers. As TO the prin-
cipe upon which the new 'Goldometer,"
or gold finder, is constructed, we have no
knowledge. Signor D. Alvear, it is under
stood, will, for the present, keep it secret;
as it would be impossible TO protect pat
ent if one were taken out. Ii is very sim
pic in construction; and is worked some-
what like the old fashioned wltchhazle rod,
formerly used in seeking for water.
Signor D'Alvear is of opinion that vast
deposities of gold will yet be found in the
United States, Of quality vastly superior
to that recently discovered in Virginia and
North Carolina, and that the other mineral
riches of this country are inconceivaby
great. The Signor is profoundly skilled in
the mysteries Of Chemistry, Geology, Elec-
,ro and Vital Magnetism, and other curious
branches of philosophical study, which, it
must be granted, he has turned to good ac-
count in the present instance. We believe
it is his intention TO publish some account
of his invention of the "Goidometcr," be-
fore returning to California. We shall
look for this work with much interest.