Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-01
From the N. Y. AdYl
CALIFORNIA GOLD-ARRIVAI OF
DON JOSE D'ALVEAR. The FIRST
DISCOVERER 0FTHE GOLD MINES
INTERESTING HEIEI QpEMIAN,CS

CALIFORNIA GOLD-ARRlVAI. OF
DON JOSE D'ALVEAR. The FIRST
DISCOVERER OF THE GOLD MINES
INTERESTING DEVELOPEMENTS
Don Jose D'Alvear, the celebrated Spanish &c
ologist, whose famous treatise on the cage of tn
Earth" must be known to many of our readers
has just arrived at New York, from the Gold Re
gious Of Caiiorna, by way of Panama, Chagre
and New Orleans, bringing with him large a
mount OF Gold ore, estimated TO be worth NOR
than million Of dollars, the result of his laboTs
by the aid Of a large body OF Indians, long before
stle existence Of the Gold mines became known t
she 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 tina
country, with the firm belief that vast mines O
precious metals would be revealed there, upol
careful. investigation. He was encouraged TO th:
enterprise, also, by his confidence in the powers
Of certain Magnetic instrument which he had
invented, called the ''Goldoneter, by whose aio
he expected to be directed at once to the sGolc
Pacers," lfany such existed. Nor were hisexpec
tations disappointed. His scientific calculations
and his new instrument, the .'Goldome,er," full
filled his highest hopes. In less than two months
after reaching California, he struck upon one of
: ahe richest gold mines in that country, upon an
obscure branch Of the Sacramento river, in gorge
Of hills extremely rocky and difficult of access,
and seldom visited by the native Californians-
Disgusting his object under the pretence of purely
scientific research, he obtained the aid of some
fifteen or twenty simple and faithful Indians, and
steadily pursued his task collecting often more
than S. 900 worth of gold in a single day, which
heconcealed in deep ravine, without exciting
any suspicion whatever, until after the discovery
Of gold al Capt. Suffers Mill, when the noun
'ains were lansachod by gold seekers, and Sgnor
D'Alveals 'gold placer the richest in all Cali
fornia, was beset with greedy adventures. 1t is
now found that the real mines or sources of the
gold, lie in the gorges of the mountains, and not
in the beds or sands Of the rivers.
Don Jose D' Alvear was, beyond all question,
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
cdent. The evidence of these facts, which he
possesses, in the shape of wei! attested documents
from persons high in authority in California, place
the matter beyond all doubt.
Slgnor D'Alvear now visits the United States,
where he was for several years resident, for the
purpose; of dlsposing Ct his gold and investing i,
IN sale and improving property, and also for the
purpose OF Obtaining the necessary apparatus and
material for constructing his new instrument, the
'Goldometer," which is ROW in great demand il
California, but the means Of constructing then
was not TO be obtained Previous to leaving Cali
tornia he sold his own instrument, very imper
feet one, for $1,000, while they can, in reality, be
made for less than $50 The person who pur
chased ii confidently expected to make handsome
fortune, by simply finding gold placers," ane
selling outthe right of digging to the gold workers
As to the principle upon which the new Good
oIncter," gold finder, is constructed we haze n,
knowledge. signor D'Alvear, it is understood
will for the present keep it a secret; as it woqle
be impossible to protect patent if one were takel
out. 1t is very simple in construction; and il
worked somewhat like the old fashioned witch
halle rod, formerly used in seeking for water
Signor D'Ayear is Of opinion that vast depo
sites Of gold will yet be found in the United States
ola qualify vastly superior to that receatly dis
covered in Virginia and North Carolina. and tina
HE other mineral riches Of this country are ncon
cevabIy great. The Sisnor is profoundly skilled
N the mysteries OF Chemistry, Geology, Electro
snd Vital Magnetism, and other curious branches
Of philosophical study, which, il must be granted
he has turned 10 good account i'll the present in
h.ance. We believe it is his intention to publish
sorle account OF his invention Of the "Goldome
Ter" before returning 10 California. We shall
louk fer this work with much interest.