Saturday morning visitor., 1849-01-06

bAu 70 tako he iHo PRICES OF all Anlngs
are high, and yet Indians, who before
hardly knew what breech cloth was, can
now afford to buy themselves Rausee- E dress
es.
The country on either SHE Of Weber's
Creek is much broken up by hills, and is
intersected in every direction by small
streams or ravines, y hich contain more or
less gold.I Those ShAtfha,e been worked
are barely scratched; and, although thou
sands. of ounces have been carried away,
do not consider that serious impression
has been ma,le upon the whole. Every
day was developing new and richer de-
.-positesj and the only impression seemed
10 be that the metal would be found in such
buudancs as seriously TO depreciate in
value.
Before leaving sut,er's satisfied my
,self that gold existed IN tie bed of the
Feather river, in the Yubah and Bear, and
10 many Of the small streams that lie be-
tween the latter and the American fork (;
also, that il had been found in the Con-
.summes to the souh Of the American fork.
In each of these streams the gold is found
in small scales, whereas, in the Interven-
ing mountains il occurs in coarser Jumps.
4 Mr., Sinclair, whose rancho is three
miles, above Suffers, on the north side Of
the American, employs about 30 Indians
ON the mort fork, not fss from its junction
with the main stream. lie had been EN-
gagged about FIVE weeks when saw him,
and up TO that time his Indians had used
simply closely-woven willow baskets
His net proceeds (Which ! saw were a.
bout $l6, 900 worth Of gold. He showed
me the proceeds of his last weeks work
--fpurteen pounds avoirdupoise Of clean
washed gold.
The principal store at Suffers Fort, that
Of Brannon s. Co., has received in pay
nent for goods, $4,000 worth of gold,
from the lst OF May TO the 10Th OF July.
Other merchants have also made exten-
,siyef sales. Large quantities Of goods
were daily sent forward to the mines, as
che Indians, heretofore poor and depra, ed,
have suddenly become consumers Of the
hxuries of lie. The greater part Of the
EArmers and rancheros have abandoned
theis fields 10 go the nsines. This is no,
she case, however, with Capt. Suffer, who
~ carefully gathering his wheat, estimated
at 10, 900 bushels. Flour is already worth
$36 barrel, and will be 800. Unless
large quantities Of bresdstuffs reach tise
country, much suffering will occur; but
as each man is now abls to pay larger
price, il is believed that merchants will
bring, froin Chill and Oregon a plentiiul
liupply for the ensuing winter.
', The most moderate estimate could OBJ
tain from men acquainted with the subject
was, that upwards Of iuur thousand men
were working Inlhe gold district, OF hom
more than one-half were Indians and
that from $4,000 to $4,000 worth of
Eold, iGnut more, was daily obtained. The
entire gold district, with some very few
exceptions OF grants made some years ago
hy the Mexican authorities, is on land De-
longing 10 the United States II was
matter Of serious reflection with NE how
J could secure TO the Government certain
rents or fees for the privilege Of procur-
ing this gold; but upon considering the
AFge extent Of country, the character OF
ibe, people engaged, ard the small scatter
ed furce at my command. resolved not 10
interfere, but 10 permit all TO work freely,
nnless broils and crime should call for in
reference. was surprised 10 learn that
crime Of any kind was very unlrequent,
and that no thelis or robberies had been
committed in the gold district. All live IN
tents, in bush r5ors, or in The open air
and men have frequently abou, their per-
sons thousands OF dollars worth OF this
gold; and it was TO me matter of sur
prise that so peaceful and quiet state Of
things should continue 10 exist.
The discovery Of these vast deposits of
gold has entirely changed the character of
Upper California. II people, before en-
gagged in cultivaling their small patches Of
guound, and guarding the herds OF cattle
and horses; have all gone 10 the mines, or
are on the way thnher. Laborers OF ev-
cry trade have left their workbenches, and
trsdesmen their shops. Srilors desert their
ships as fast as they arrive on the coast,
and several vessels have gone TO sea with
hardly enough hands TO spread SAIL
Twoor three are now al anchor III San
Francisco with no crew oil board.
have no hesitation in saying iha. there
10 more gsld inthe country drained by the
Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers than
will pay The cOst'Of the present war with
mexico hundred times over No ocapi-
tai is required to obtain this gold, as The
labOring man wants nothing but his pick,
and shovel, and tin pan, with which 10 dig
and wash The gravel ;.and many frequent.
ly pick gold out Of The cresices Of the
rocks with their buIcherknives, in pieces
from one 10 six ounces.
Mr.. Dye, sgentleman residing in Mon
ierey, and worthy Of-every credit, has just
returned from Feather river. He tells
me that the company 10 which he Belong
ed worked seven weeks and two days,
with an average of 80 Indians (washers) J,
and their gross product was 273 pounds
xeiOht of pold His share (ona xeye, IN \