Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-04

short, taken in the aggregate, the miners
are the worst kind of aboring population.
] have asked for estimates of the average
gains of all the miners at work IN the gold
regions, including both whites and Indians,
aud have never heard them stated at less
than six dollars per day for each person. l
believe, taking these minimum estimates as
data, that during the year commencing July
/, 1913, there will be $4,000 removed
from the mines, reckoning the ounce troy
at l6 dollars. This sum is considerably
greater, according to McCulloch's CONNER
cial Dictionary, than the total amount of
gold taken from all the mines IN the United
States for the fifteen years ending in 1888
and it is nearly three times as great as the
entire gold coinage of the United States
Mint at all its branches loI the same years.
From the last information 1 nave been
able to collect, believe that something
over S500,000, at SIG per ounce, troy, will
have left California in the three months
ending September 30 and Of this amount
at least four-filths will find It's way to for
eign markets, and consequently to foreign
minis. The same will be the case for some
years to come unless immediate measures
are taken by Government to establish a
Branch Mint in California; and, in the
mean time, United States coin is almost
totally unknown from Cape Horn TO Puget's
Sound. In this country the greatest incon-
venience prevails for want of coin, while
enormous amounts of uncoined gold are ly-
ing dormant in the hands of the people if
they sell it heavy sacrifice is incurred !;
and if they keep it no improvements can be
! made, and they are destitute of the means
of support. The interests of the United
States, us well as those of California, call
loudly for immediate relief from Congress.
1t is impossible to fore.ell what will be
the ultimate result of this sudden develope-
ment of wealth. 1t is sufficiently obvious,
however, that the country will be prema-
turely filled by restless, eXcitable, adven-
turous, and reckless population, and that ex-
tended agricultural or mechanical improve
ments are at an end for some years to come.
Gambling and all sorts of thoughtless pro-
fusion begin to prevail. The present ex'
element will attract vast numbers of the
idle, vicious, and dissoute. Refugees from
Justice from the United States, as well as
other countries will flock to California a.
mong the better disposed population, and
will find shelter among the almost inacccs-
such mines Of wealth are now opened
i These regions are of vast extent and are re-
mote from the regular settlements, and from
the operation of the laws In the solitary
recesses of the Sierra Nevada are little clus.
tiers of men, with nothing but the trees for
their covering, and no protection but thelI
own vigilance and strength. Many fthcsC
people are known to- U"eS-- S'cv isr"" "
,l,fag ,,.b
twenty thousand dollars) wrapped in thaiI
blankets, where there Is no eye to see and
no agent to pursue the guilty Is it strange
when the temptation is so great, that the
robber and assassin shoulJ be abroad among
the mountains Many robberes and some
murders are known already to have occur.
red but little attention is excited by these
events, where all are in the eager pursuit Of
wealth. No one can conf ,cture the extent
of these outrages, for living witnesses are
not at hand, and " dead men tell no tales. D
The strong and firm hand of Government,
must be promptly extended to save the coun
try from the most revolving acts ofvlolence
1t becomes matter OF vital importance
therefore, that the most efficient measure:
should be taken for the establishment aDt
f preservation of good government in Calilor
; MIA. The governor Of the Territory SHOULD
5 be a man of the highest possible character
for talent, frmness and integrity, and no sal
AIRY hitherto allowed for similar services il
5 other United States Territories will be al
: adequate compensation here. Any goot
aborer can realize fifty per cent more from
D his services than the highest government of
t ficers now receive, taking the time togehe
II ha tn
S ize good government under suitable men
r unless the salaries of every class of govern
= ment agents are proportioned to the unavoi
e dable expense to be incurred in the country
h know of no section Of the United State
o Territories which more imperatively re
n qures strong garrsous for the preservation
y of order Without them believe the Who'll
: country will sink into anarchy and the wors
IS possible confusion. But to preserve eff
}, cient garrsons in California, the pay c
y troops must be raised much above the pres
j ent miserable pittance allowed by law, an
= very severe enactments must be passed io
J. the punishment of deserters, and aiders an
D abetters in desertion. American troops hav
d never been exposed to such incentives to dc
is sertion; and it is no detraltion from the
g, high character TO say, that additional pa
= and emoluments for faithful service, an
ID more severe punishment for desertion, al
to imperatively necessary, if troops are to /
m kept in this country Soldiers are meetin
IS persons every day, OF characters and hab
ut in no way superior to their own, who hay
Ill realized more from three or four weeks Ii
Dor in the mines, than is paid to them f
is five If the best years of their lives devote
lg to the service of their country. The pc
lg pie of California sympathize with the SC
is ders, aud desertion with majority of the
Id is not looked upon as a stigma upon Il
a character of the offender With dazzlir
in pecuniary prospects before them, the mora
Sc of the troops will rapidly deteriorate, uni
I'd the military establishment is broken by d
he sertion. But if the mines Of California a
of to be made source of revenue to the Go
eminent, measures like those above indie
w. ted become more and more important, as
RS iciency and fidelity among the troops W
of theu be indispensable to the public lnteres
m am, Sir, respectfully, yoar ob't servar
]. L. FOLSOM,
d, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.
Ills Major Gen. Thomas s. JEsUP,
nuar,nr,nastar Can II = Army