Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-12-28


great demand, as are also boots and shoes.
Send no old goods. fif- 49,,
Several lumber mills have been erect
ed in California, and are commencing to
send lumber into market. The Oregon
ians have mostly left the mines, and are
turning their attention to lumber. As a
convincing proof that the mines have
been overrated, the Oregon men prefer
returning home and working in lumber
at from SIS to Sl00 per annum, rather
than remain in-ihe mines, and these, too,
are iron men, Injured to toll and privation.
These are facts for the gold dreamer
worthy of far more consideration than,
ex.Gov. Mason's official letters, or Com.
Jones windy documents. Ni 4" e.
All kinds of reports reach us of new
digsings, bat as yet no important new
mines have been discovered. 4
RETURNING EMIGRANTs.-Passen
sufficient to fill the next two steamers,
besides several large sailing vessels. were
awaiting passage on the departure Of the
California. The discouraging reports
broght by the CALIFORNIA; passengers,
with the more undeniable evidence in the
haggard looks aud wasted frames of ma
ny unfortunates, has induced many on
the Isthmus TO take the back track. Sew
eral passengers return on the Crescent
City and the Ohio.
DEATH OF A GAMBLER A young man
by the name of Pollock, gamble by
profession, was shot recently at San
Francisco by Waterman while in the
discharge of his duty. Pollock and his
friends were carousing in the streets, and
on being threatened by the watch, made
an assault, when the Waterman drew a
pistol and deliberately shothi through
the body. Pollock lived but twenty-four
hours after. The walchman is charged
with being too hasty in shooting drum
ken man. a
Judge Peter IT. Burnett. formerly of
Oregon, was the most prominent candi-
date for Governor. An active canvass
was on foot among the friends of the diff
lerent aspIrants foI U. s. Senators, and
strong political feeling had already ex-
hibited itself. II. Butler King, Col.
Fremont, DIR. Gwin, Capt. Suffer, and
host of others, were candidates. The
chances are in favor of the election of
King and Fremont. -E-un.Eatt
For Congress, only outside nomina-
lions had been made, among whom was
II. X. Price, formerly Purser u. S. Ma
Wy, who would in all probability receive
a nomination from the Democratic party.
AS at home, every city. town, village,
and even diggin had its particular candi.
date, and the race bids fair to equal At
lantic contests in vigor and spirit. 1t is
impossible TO predict the election of any
candidate. m"'E lrl--' d nmH.a b
The Constitution very nearly resem-
bles that adopted by the State of Iowa.
1t utterly excludes slavery--and alto.
gether is fair instrument
Considerable mortality had occurred in
the mines, during the past season, but
the sickly season was nearly over and
the mines were well thronged. But few
foreigners, not speaking the English Ian
guage, were in the mines, having been
driven out by the Americans.
Many were leaving the country in dis
gust at the hard labor necessary to sue
cessln. enterprise iii the diggins, and the
steamers leaving San Francisco are as
badly crowded as at Panama; plenty of
persons are found willing to work their
passage down, but the tide of emigration
continues unchecked. a'
1t was estimated that about two thirds
of the overland trains had arrived in,
some OF whom had suffered extreme
ly, while others had prosperous jour-
MES. The presumption is that those still
out have suffered considerably and will
yet have TO encounter much of peril and
distress before arriving, as snow had al
ready fallen in the Sierra Nevada. q
Col. Collier, the newly appointed Col
lector of San Francisco, arrived a, San
Diego the latter part Of October, and had
sailed with few companions in a brig
for San Francisco, leaving behind at San
Diego number of his subordipates with
out money, provision or the means of
The Unicorn, Senator and Panama
had all arrived and were then in port, at
San Francisco. The Senator, it was
contemplated, would run on the Sacra.
mento river.
The Panama arrived at San Francisco
on the evening Of the 3lst October, with
the mails from the United States due for
the last three months. No less than 33
bags of mailmatter were received, which
it would occupy at least three days to
assert.
The health of the country was impro.
wing. and the miners were again return
ing to their labors. San Francisco had
not been visited with any other disease
:han dyseniery, which he'd prevailed
over all parts Of California during the
and even extended to ports on
the Mexican coast.