Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-05-04
The Chance of a Fortune in California,
Is thus calculated by the editor of the BuGa-
b Commercial:

Is thus calculated by the editor of the Bu6a-
10 Commercial:
As a general thing it may be assumed as
certain, that a man who cannot succeed at
home, will not succeed there. Energy, res
%olution, disregard Of ordinary obstacles, and
steady perseverance, are requisite TO success
in California, and the same qualities will in.
sure a fortune here as well as in that remote
region. More time may be required-though
that will admit Of question-but on the other
hand greater comforts and security Of life
and property, when the latter is won, can be
counted npon. Conceding The truth of all
that has been told about the gold of Caliror-
mia, let us go into a little calculation and see
how much, with ordinary good luck, men
can expect to make by going there. The
cost Of the journey thither and the prepare
lions for it, cannot be estimated al less than
two hundred and fifty dollars. 1t costs the
most of those who 90 there, more than that
sum, to say nothing of the additional sum
that prudence dictates should be carried to
provide against possible contingencies. If
he has fair success the gold.digger will gath
er about ten dollars worth of the dust a day.
There are only about two hundred days in
the year in which he can work. His entire
earnings. therefore, would amount to about
two thousand dollars. That sum seems large,
but take from il the cost of the Journey and
the preparations, and the expenses of living
while digging and while he is necessarily
lying idle,-how much would remain =
Less, we apprehend, than the man could
have earned with less labor and danger al
home-cerlainly not more, 10 say nothing OF
the risk he rams from disease and the lack of
needlul attention if sickness should befalI
him.
But there is no certainty Of earning ten
dollars a day. Some 10 be sure get much
more, but that is in a great degree mere good
luck. We hear of their success, but moth
ing Of the thousands who are less fortunate.
BY the first of September next there will pro-
badly be not far from 10000 persons in Ca
~liiornia, Of whom two-thifds OF so, 900, will
be gold-diggers. Concede that they will all
get ten dollars a day. That would make an
aggregate Of half a million a day for the
whole, or ole hundred million of dollars for
the entire working days Of the year. Does
any one believe that any thing approximating
TO this will be realized 1t must be, or else
the gold-digging business will be uinous &c
most OF those, engaged in il. But some
may say that the expenses of living will
soon be greatly reduced. Doubtful. TIT
rewards Of labor in every country seek
level. II the man who digs gold can max,
! ten dollars a day, the man who cultivates tn,
earth or follows a mechanical employment
will require as much for his days work, o
he will dig gold too. If reliance is place.
on supplies brought from abroad, matters ar
not much mended. The shippers run grea
risks and they will have prices to cores
! pond.
Considering The subject in the most favor
I able light we can, the conclusion is irresi'
!, table that though immense amounts Of gol
1 may and probably will be obtained, from Ca
~lifornia, and though here and there one, NOR
successful or lucky than the rest. may realiz
a fortune, the great mass of those who go
' California must make up their minds TO ell
l. dure great hardshiPs, with the prospect
getting less for their labor than they could
home by steady industry.