Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-01-10
The Gold Fever.

We can hardly open paper for few
weeks back without being stared in the
face by glaring captions to highly wrought
descriptions of ''the California gold re-
gion!' 1t has become the topic of news
paper gossip, and supercedes in meas
ure all other topics of real or fancied in
terest. Accompanying these glowing de-
scriptions we note, as their natural con-
quence, the fitting out, not only at almost
every seaport town, but also in inland ci-
ties and villages, Of expeditions to this
modern Ell Dorado. If the disease had
seized only upon the theoretical and idle
portion Of our population-that class to
whom "the world owes living" but
who are ever seeking some other mode
Of collecting it, than through the slow
but wholesome process of 'by the sweat
Of thy brow"-then. with even grateful
submission we should say 'amen!" But
such is not exclusively the case. Sober
minded and industrious citizens have
caught the mania, and are likely to con-
stitute what we cannot help regarding as
its probable victims.
Now all these glowing accounts which
we read may be true. 1t would be singu-
lar indeed if they were not, from their
fascinating subject-very much and high
y exaggerated. In relation to those which
come to us under official sanction, it may
be well to observe, that the fact of mans
occupying an official station cannot Who'll
ly shield Kim from imposition or the in
lection Of a prevailing and contagious dis
ease. Even this class Of evidence, there
fore, however reliable it may be upon all
other points, should be received with due
allowance in relation TO the subject under
consideration. Although we have been
forced from the evidence before us, to
believe much that at first seemed highly
exaggerated and improbable, still we
deem that duty demands Of the conductor
Of public journal-while laying before
his readers the flaming accounts with
which his exchanges teem-to warn them
against the effects Of a mania W hich, even
if strictly true, May prove the ruin OF
thousands. From present indications, and
unless different turn is given TO ah-irs,
thousands and tens of thousands will
flock into ''the GOLD region early in the
spring, from Oregon, tie United States,
Mexico, the South American republics,
and "the Islands of the sea- Most Ct
them will arrive there wholly unprovided
for, and unprepared to sustain the hard
ships Of a country almost entirely new,
wild and comparatively unexplored. Add
to this the necessity which they will be
under of supplying themselves with sub
sistence from abroad, and the want of ia
clities of transportation into the country.
unsheltered, poorly clad and irregularly
fed, they will be fit subjects for pestilence
and disease, even if they succeed in es-
Gaping death by famine. How these diff
iiculties are to be obviated;it is hard even
to conjecture.
To those residing in the vicinity of the
lead mines of Iowa: Wisconsin and Hi
nois, itwould seem that experience should
teach salutary lesson, entirely applica-
BILE in the present case, as to the seduc-
tive alluremcnts of a miners life. All
are aware with what rapidity the news is
heralded, when lucky fellow after years
of unremitting toll, "strikes lead" and
at once realizes lis thousands, while
ninety ana nine Of his fellows still strug-
gle on, full of hope and expectation, the
most striking Illustration that we have
ever witnessed, that
"Nian neN'ris but always 10 be, best"
We would say, then, to our California
struck friends in Iowa, ''look well before
you leap" California Is an Ell Dorado;
and we are free to confess that, Of all
other places upon this continent, it is our
FL Dorado, but not on account of its gold
mines.
DRAWING OF I. S. SENATOR'S Des-
patches have been received from Wash
inptOn at BURLINGTON and Duhrouo ct,