Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-01-19
] CALIFORNIA-THF GOLD MANIA.

Sit SIG It1ulGAtSe mineral Weatn Of kuiS tctIft0.
~, by suggestions Of considerable moment and
interest. In the opinion of that paper. the ae-
counts which have been received and publish
ed all oyet the United States. of the extent
and fertility of the gold mines are not exagge-
rated. the gold is said to lie upon the sur
face of the earth, and when it does not appear
in solid Jumps. very little labor is required 10
separate the particles. The price of gold, in
consequence of the increased supply, has fall
len from sixteen to eight dollars an ounce
The following account, taken from the let
ter OF an intelligent and credible witness-an
officer OF the Sd Artillery, 10 his brother in
New Orleans-will surpass in marveilousness
the adventures of Aladdin in the wonderful
cave -
On my second trip up the mines. I was riding
down the main dry digging, and a teamster. who
had stopped his team and stood looking. with
whip in hand. at chap busy picking at niche
or pocket in the rock, called out to me, I" Just
| come here, captain, and LOOK at this man picking
out the gold J" / turned my horse TO the spot,
and sure enough he was picking out of the Gre
vice in the slate across which the water had pitch
ed in winter TO bed some few feet below, the
gold and earth IN Jumps, and had his left hand
full when ] saw him. mean he was picking it
out Of an open hole in the rock as fast as you
can pick the kernel out of lot of welI-cracked
shell-barks. have since seen the teamster in
town; he is back here after his family and for
supplies; and he tells that in less than half an
hour the man got between five and six ounces of
pure gold; they told me also that this was no vc-
~ extraordinary picking" ,, -
II is noNsonder, under such circumstances,
that we hear Of sixty vessels being up for San
Francisco at New York alone, while we ha.
card nothing in saying that there are twice
that number in all, offering for the same place.
in various other parts of the country. Emf
grants are crowding thither from every section
of our country and Canada, These are COM
posed not alone OF persons Of desperate for
tunes, 10 whom any new field of adventure
would be equally interesting, but the great
majority are characters OF unusual weight,
talent, wealth, sobrety, and intelligence. 1t
is TO the political consequences of such an as
semblage, upon the shores OF the Pacific. al
the present time, that the attention of the pub
lie should be specially directed. Should the
Placers continue to yield such golden har-
vests, the tide of emigration will continue
The spirit of ararice will give place 10 the
more imposing genius OF ambition. The coun-
try is at present without laws or civil organ-
zation of any kind, and as the same gentleman
to whom we have just ALLUDED, graphically
remarks. presents the singular spectacle of
' Forts without soidiers-ordnance without
men enough 10 guard them-towns without
nen--a country without government, laws,
or legislators and what is more, no one dis
posed TO stop or TO make them-and sort Of
colonial dependence upon the United States,
without even a communication with the Uni
ted States for two years, or with the navy for
many months.
The nineteenth century, so fruitful in great
events, never, perhaps. presented so singular
a combination as that which, within the last
few months, has made California field for
speculation, alike to the politician, the states
man, the adventurer, and the historian. Oc-
cupying a space on the map of the continent,
usually marked 't Unexpiored Resione,'' i'.."-
gnation has long peopled it at will, with
" forms and sairs blue geni and bearded
men," Strange, if in the explorations of the
host of eager adventures who will now crowd
its shores, the yet living symbol OF their an
cient faith, blazing. from the blue peaks of the
Sierra Madre, may not reveal the inaccessible
sanctuary of some remnant of the ancient Az
tee race Who knows but that we may stand
upon the brink of some brilliant discovery? A
discovery which may lift the veil which now
skrouds in mystic secrecy the fate of millions
of the human race, and translate the legends
of an unknown people whose monuments yet
stand TO challenge and defy research!
But not TO indulge any longer such roman
tie but highly probable anticipations, it is We
ry certain that the town of San Francisco, on
the Pacific, with the territory adjoining it, pos
sesses facilities and advantages of no ordinary
character. Here VIC find a country rich in
vegetable as well as mineral resources, pos
sessing virgin soil OF unparalleled fertility
harbor capable of containing the assembled
navies OF the world standing midway on the
great high road of nations, it will be more
marvellous even than The story of its mineral
riches, if it does not become the seat of an &C
tive commerce, and the great depot OF the Chi
| ma and Pacific trade. The character of the
emigrants thither, as we before had occasion
10 remark, is enterprising, bold, and adventu-
rous, but at the same time is intelligent, self
relying, and ambitious. When few years
hence the descendants of Washington, resident
on the shores of the great Pacific, organized
into separate and independent Republic, shall
coneede right Of way and Free Trade to their
less fortunate brethren on this side the Missis
sippi, then, perhaps, we shall regret that de-
lay in legislation which caused the loss of a
valuable and an integral portion OF our Re,
public, and see the folly OF an exnectationthat
men, unprotected by our laws and government
may not some day organize and declare one
for themselves. .-.----.z .s-ss r-=
ELECTION BY THE COMMISSIONERS The
new Board of Commissioners of Town oil
Wilmington, have elected as town officers fol