The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-10
intelligence from California.


About the first of June, 1913, / think, | wrote to
YOU from Santa Barbara, where had been called
in my professional capacity as lawyer. During
my months business engagements In the south,
was entirely ignorant of the change OF affairs In
Monterey. You may imagine my surprise on my
return, TO find that place almost depopuated. To
my anxious inquiries, the answer was returned that
the inhabitants had gone g to the mines" / knew
that California abounded In mineral treasures, and
naturally supposed that quick silver nine, richer
than any of the others, had been discovered and
that when the curiosity of the good people was
gratfed, they would return TO their homes. So,
without more ado, repaired to my office, and,
shutting out the nquistve sunshine, plunged into
Blacksone's Commentaries.
Two days after, was requested by my landlord
TO look out for another boarding house, as he IN
tended in few days to leave for Z" the mines"
My wssherwoman returned my linen unwashed,
with the information that she was off that day for
''the mines"
My Indian servant took leave in the morning.
without even saying con su HCencta :"
More TO divert my mind from these petty annoy
apces, than because 1t was of pressing moment
proceeded to the Alcade's office, where had
little legal matter pending; when, arriving there,
Is on the panel Of the door flared these ominous
words" Left for the Gold Mines"
/ looked around-the streets were deserted;
true there was solitary cur In sight, but even he
appeared bent upon a journey. / returned to my
office-secured the door and windows with an air
ofgloomy determination, and leaving notice as to
my Whereabouts, departed the ensuing day-shall
say it for the "gold mines"
| started my wagons on the read, and proceeded
myself TO San Francisco; 1t presented the same
desolate appearance as Monterey. The houses
were tenantless-1he busy throngs had seen there
a few months before were gone the bay spread
before my eye in undisurbed tranquility, and
"ships, sailOrless lay rottng the sea ~
first went to river called the Yuba, flowing
from the Sierra Nevada, and emptying into the
Sacramento My Sandwich Island servants, of
whom had employed fifteen, at forty dollars
month, deserted me at Suffers Fort. l also had
ten Indians and colored man, cook. The In
dians remained faithful; and his sable dignity con-
descended 10 remain on condition ! would give
him congressman pay" /. e., eight dollars per
diem Twas compelled to agree to his terms; one
must eat, you know.
Arrived at the Yuba, we all set to work The
first PAINFUL of earth washed which operation
did not consume more than twenty minutes, yield
ed me fourteen and half dollars; There were
four OF US in company. AT the end Of a month,
after paying expenses we divided nine thousand
dollars.
1t will have been one year, on the coming Sc
venfh OF May, since this wonderful discovery of
countless wealth made. The dlscoverers
were three men, (Mormons,) who were engaged
In digging mill-race for Capt. Suffer, the fork
of the RIO de los Amencanos
Expeditions were Immediately fitted out, and
sent to make explorations of the various rivers
flowing from the Sierre Nevada. Their search
miede of August, lS4S, extended north to Oregon,
and south through the northern provinces Of
Mexico. BY the middle of September, we had
large contributions to our population. People are
now fiockmg from all quarters-China, the Sand
witch Islands, Mexico, the South American re-
publcs on the Pacific coast, are pouring a host
upon shores, and the cry is still they come ~
San Francisco cannot entertain one-tenth of her
present population.
wonder if Missouri will be backward in send
ing portion Of her enterprsng citizens. The
skies very blue here, and albeit we have not
many houses, surely they who willing to en-
counter the hardships of the prairies, will not
complain OF a couch on the green earth, and a
coudless sky for coverlld.
The gold region certainly extends through an
area Of five hundred square miles. The Sacra-
mento, far it has been explored, contains
abundance of the precious metals. The Rio de
las Plumas, (or River of the Feathers,) the Yuba
rver, Rio de los Amerieanos, and the dry gullIes,
for about one hundred miles south of the last
named nver, (Which is as far south as we have
received accounts,) abound in gold
In about month from now parties can go to
the southwark TO examine the yet UNEMPLOYED
nver flowing from the Snowy Range to the San
Joaquin Parties have already returned from the
Tou WaIome and La Marced rivers, the neares,
streams south Of my camp OK the Stanislaus, and
report favorably. Their explorations were en-
tirely confined to the rivers. The golden treasure
opine, will be found In greater abundance in the
soil about the bases OF mountains and in the gu.
lies lying between and adjacent TO the rivers
Such at least has been the prevailing character OF
the discoveries south of the Mokelame /; and | see
no reasons to be urged against probable success II
labor be properly directed to and continued in
these " dry dlggns." All the gullles between the
Mokelame and La MERGED rivers, which have
been examined, are proved TO contain gold and
must patiently await more thorough develope-
ment by means of continued labor TO fairly test
their comparative wealth.
But fear this will shortly be the case fol
human nature is so strangely constituted in these
parts, that even certain good becomes an INSULT
Gent incentive 10 patient labor when an uncertain
better Is presented by the Imagination. | hiv,
known men, sensible in other respects leave dig
glngs yielding on an average, TO ordinary labor
sixty TO seventy dollars "A day, induced by chr
mercal hope to so IN search of boundess wealth
VIII hun "A "A III
the Sierra Nevada, and return, after a msnth
worn out from fatigue and exposure, and bitterly
lament g The time and comforts they had fruit
lesry sacrificed.
The average receipt for labor is about six,eer
dollars per diem. Yet | dare to say that there il
not single individual at the mines who ha.
double that amount.
And there is no fear that the gold will soon be
exhausted; rather do we fear that its standard
value VIII be decreased by its abundance.
TOWNS ~ CALIFORNIA
Some very interesting letters from the Presby-
terrain mission IN California give a better IN
sight INTO the progress Of settlement in that aurife-
ious country than any thing that has yet come to
hand. From Them we learn that san Francisco,
although greatly injured by speculation, will un.
doubleday keep IL position far ahead of any other
town, IN wealth, population, and importance. Next
90 u IN rank ~ new settlement called Bcnicia,
laid out as a speculation, and likely 10 prove a CAPT.
Gal one. II il about 80 mites from the harbor of San
Francisco, with which It is connected by the great
bays Of san Francisco aud san Pablo. Its harbor
VIII acct IMMEDIATE the largest ships, which can lie
close ashore, In consequence Of there being nau-
raj leyee Comme dore Jones and General smith
have recommended IT to the President as the best
depot at the west for the army and navy. On the
Sscran ento nver, 100 miles from san Francisco
lies Sacrt menio CITY, formerly Suffers fort This
Is the residence Of the miners, as is also town
called stockton, m the same region The former,
notwithstanding It's unhealthy position, increases
rapidly. Sonoma, Spanish town, lies on n small
stream running into the bay Of San Pablo, and is
the residence OF many great Spanish nd-owners,
aswell a. Governor Boggs late of Missouri and
the head quarters Of Governor smith. Monterey
Is snolEt wsll-known Spanish town. Napa city.