The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-12
From Sacramento city.

We were favored last evening, by Mr.. Spar, of
the Virginia hotel, with the perusal of long letter,
written by his brother in law, Mr.. j. c. Parks, and
dated st. Louis Exchange, Sacramento city, Cali
fornia July 18th, lS49.
Mr. Parks left this city early last spring, in com
pany with other Of our citizens and reached Cali
fornia by way Of the sthmus On their arrival they
engaged in mining at what is known the Span
ish bar. Owing to high water, and the excessive
labor necessary To procure gold at that point they
were only able to realize an average OF about 10
per day. This was considered discouraging; the
company dsbanded, and Mr.. Parks, with portion
Of the company, engaged in speculations in real
estate. They purchased a house in San Francisco,
for which they paid $4,000, shipped II to Sacra-
mento city, and sold it for $4,000. Mr.. P. says
there is no difficulty in making money in Califor-
MIA, no matter what you engage in; but the great
and perplexing question is 10 know what business
TO embark in 10 realize the most money at. The
writer says that he can make his 3 so per day.
The present company, after the separation OF the
original one went 10 Sacramento city, where they
have rented house, for which they pay 200
per annum, and are keeping hotel under the title
Of Parks, Tyler, Co. They have named their
house the St Louis Exchange, and anticipate doing
a business TO the amount of from $500 to 800 per
day. Board and lodging are S35 per week; board
alone S25; single meal is 50; Champagne
wine SIS per bottle; ale 50; liquors 80 cents per
glass ; oysters, per dozen, cooked, 81.
Large vessels reach Sacramento city, Of which
with schooners, there thirty lying in port al
the time the letter written. Five or six steam
ers which taken out from the States, were be-
ing put together, and were expected 10 commence
navigating the Sacramento river and San Fran
cisco bay in about four weeks after the pennng OF
the letter. The river is described az being most
beautiful one, about half the width Of the Missis-
sppi with average depth Of from twelve TO ak
teen feet during its lowest stage.
The writer states that two men had just arrived
| at Sacramento from beyond the mountains, dis
| lance of some two hundred miles, bringing with
them = 100, 900 each. He speaks of mining as be-
ing the hardest work that ever mortal engaged in,
and states that the only food TO be had at the mines
| is -four and pork-the first selling at $50, the
latter al $3.50 per barrel, at the mine in which Mr..
| p. and his party were working; but at San Fran
cisco -four can be had at 8 10, and pork at s is per
making the difference. Drsyage in San Francisco
| 10 50 per load, and labor 8 10 per day.
The st. Louis Exchange pays its cook $500 per
month; and Mr.. p. says this class of persons arc
quite independent about staying at that, AS they
can at any time go to the mines, where man, with
ordinary luck, will wash out $50 per day.
Mr.. p. states that a Mr.. Tyler was offered 8 81
for six hours work per week at Suffers Mills, but
declined the offer. Gold is ~ abundant at San Fran.
cisco and Sacramento that il scarcely appears 10 be-
| an article Of value, and the writer thinks the mine.
cannot be exhausted in a hundred years to come
| Mr.. p. sends by friend, Mr.. Wisner, on his
turn 10 the States, five pieces Of gold of his own
4 finding. Three Of them are valued at y 30 or $40
| the remaining two more valuable.
| Mr. y. says the stories told in the States about
the large quantities Of gold found at the mines are
eIaggerations, but says person may make $40
| per day the year round, and by chance stroke
| Of luck much more, but the work Is excessively
month"; cooks from $500 10 300 per month, and
boys $50 per month; and he thinks these wage,
must continue long time, as the mines are mex
haustible-St. Louis Union