Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-11-16
FROM CALIFORNIA,


Riuer-Ihe Overland Emigration-Ihe Sand,gich
Islands taken by the French.
MONTEREY Oct /, 1849.
MesSrS Greeley 4 McElrath:
This country seems iaed in regard TO cold and Golden
excitement. 1t was supposed not long since that The
limits OF the placers had been settled and that the Sierra
Nevada was the great storehouse of the precious metal
Since my arrival however, discoveries have been made
which almost induce to believe that the whole coun-
try IRON San Diego to Cape Mendocino from the Paci-
tic to the topmost ridge Of the Nevada and heaven
knows how much further eastward has been competelv
seasoned and spced with the yellow grains Newsrea
ed San francisco OF large placer having been found
on Trinity River, stream which rises in the Coast
Range and empes into the Pacific opposite the head of
Sacramento Valley. The story was soon verified by
intelligence from the dlgglngs on the American Fork,
which stated that the dggers wereeaving in large bodies
for the Trinity placer where said to wash out
500 day. 1t is best TO receive the stories of gold
digging, even here, with grain Of allowance, but the
main fact is true lately letter from a merchant
in Sacramento City to his partner in San Francisco in
which he says: u" There is good news from Trinity Ri
ver gold is very plenty and provisions scarce. We
shall make great raise on the loads have sent there
Near the Mission OF San Antonio, situated among the
Coast Mountains, 60 miles south Of this washing of
considerable richness has been discovered At the last
accounts number OF people working there, with
far success, and traders beginning to send their
teams IN that direction. Gold is said to exist in small
quantities near the Mission of Carmel, only four miles
from this town, and in fact there every geological in
dlcation Of it. That San Francisco itself is built on
placer, am we'll satisfied. To my certain knowledge
boys have picked 81 and $5i few hours from clay dug
50 ieet below the surface, in sinking we'll The story
OF Mr. Harrison the Collector, having found gold in the
abodes OF the Custom-H House, issomething than
good Joke.
But by far the most magnificent discovery is that re-
Gently made upon the rancho of Col. Fremont on the
Marposas River 1t is nothing less than vein of gold
IN the solid rock-a bona ide nne the first which has
been found in California Whether it first detected
by party OF Sonomans or by the company which Co..
F. organized last Spring, and which has been work.
ing IN tile locality. i n diSDlted thOuuh |
believe the credit is due to the latter At any rate the
gold is there, and in extraordinary abundance. saw
some specimens which were in Col. Fremonts possess
sion. The stone is reddish quartz, filled with rich
veins OF gold and tar surprising the specimens brought
from North Carolina and Georgia. Some stones picked
up on the top OF the quartz strata without particular
lection, yielded or. OF goldto every 30 lbs. Col Ere
mont informed me that the vein had been traced for
more than mile. The thickness on the surface is two
ieet gradually widening as it descends and showing
larger particles OF gold. The dip downward is only
about 20 deg, that the mine can be worked with little
expense These are the particulars first given me- when
the discovery was announced. Still more astonishing
1acts have Just come to light.
geologst to examine the place. arrived here
last night lie reports having traced the vein distance
OF two leagues, with average breadth of $50 feet
At one extremity OF the mine he found large quantities
OF native silver which he calculates will fully pay the
expense OF setting up machinery and working it. The
rancho upon which is situated was purchased by Col.
Fremont IN 1916 from Alvarado, former Governor of
the territory. 1t was then considered nearly worthless
and Col f. only took it at the moment of leaving the
country because disappointed in obtaining another pro-
perry This, discovery has made a great sensation
throughput the country yet it is but the first of many
such The Sierra Nevada is pierced in every part with
these priceless veins, which viii produce gold for cent
es after every spot OF earth from base to summit shall
have been turned over and washed out.
So much for the gold In other respects the country
IS olerably quiet speculation in lots though still going
on, having assumed more cautious character San
francisco, Stockton, Sacramento City, and San Jose
still maintain their value. Benicia lots are rather dull
and have slightly fallen, while Col. Stephensons New
ork with its awkward and absurd title
does not seem to be thought Of A town called Vernon
at the mouth Feather River is rising rapidly to notice.
and another IS said to be sprngng up Trinity River
Many persons have made large fortunes by buying up
lots at lucky time and selling them still more lucki-
~. case was told me OF young man who last fall
borrowed money enough to pay his passage from the
Sandwich Islands to San Francisco and who is now on
his way home with $4,000 made in this manner Three
ready made Sy aP in the Panama have a.
NINE who shipped lumber from New York TO the
amount of 81 600, sold it here for $4,000. Houses
which cost $500 sell readily for $4,000 and the demand
is constantly increasing AT least rs houses have been
imported from Canton and put up by Chinese
ters Nearly all the chairs in private families are of Chi
nese manufacture, and there two restorants in the
town, kept by Kongsung and Whang tong, where very
paatabe chowchow, curry and tarts are served I'M by
the Celestials.
Washing is still So Dozen and the consequence is,
large quantities OF solled linen are sent TO anpodes
to be purified: vessel just in from Canton brought
2ao dozen, which were sent out few months ago; an
othertrom the Sandwich Islands brought 100 dozen and
!he practice is now becoming general. San francisco
u.s. lact more metropolitan in its character than any
other port IN the world Its trade with all parts of the
Paclc Is rapidly increasing.
The overland emigration is pouring into the country
In full tide: The reports which reached here of dis
ess on the routes and the certainty that many of the
eml9rants would need aid before reaching the settle
nents, caused public movement in favor of raising
supplies to send out on the routes Private individuals
and companies contributed largely, and Gen Riley in
beg applied TO- promptly gave blanche TO Major
Canley and Capt Kane OF the @. M. Department to
furnish all the assistance in their power Several hun
dred pack mules under the charge OF competent officers
have been sent to Vaectos the edge of the Great
Desert, and to the Sink of Humboldts River, in the
Great Basnm 7 places where emigrants will most
have stopped the latter place. unable to proceed fur
ther have heard of no such distress the Northern
route on the Southern. The emgrants in the North,
SO iar as eara have not been moesed by the Indians,
while the hostilltes OF the umas and Maricopas at
the Colorado crossing have already cost the companies
on the ella the loss OF several lives.
Vessels continue to arrive at San Francisco from the
United States When lett there, two weeks ago l02
vessels had arrived out OF the $50 which sailed from diff
eren ports in the United States during the winter and
spmg Since then they are beginning to crowd in more
rapidly was this morning informed, though not on the
most reliable authority that 45 had arrived in two DAYS
An arrival from the Sandwich Islands has brought the
startling intelligence of the Islands having been taken by
the French Its the old quarrel broken out again
The story as have heard it, is this The Island Gov
eminent placed heavy duty various articles such as
wines and liquors. which constitute the principal expor
ations from France to the Pacific. The commander of
the French fleet at Honolulu demanded that shoud
be revoked and, the REFUSAL opened his guns on the
fort, which finally yielded He then occupied it and took
possession otthe Island. An express came here in SIX
teen hours from San francisco-130 miles-with the
news What the course OF our authorities will be- every
body conjecures but nobody knows
The Convention here has been in session month. and
has adopted in Committee of the Whole nearly three
ourths OF State Constitution 1t believed that another
week will close their abors. vote will then be taken
on the Constitution and after its adoption election
will be held for Legislature and State officers There
Is, as yet, no prominent candidate for Governor the
Senatorshp being considered more desirable place.
Among the candidates spoken OF for the latter are r.
Butler King, Col. Fremont, DR.. Gwin, and Robert
Semple. Col. Weller, since his removal from the
Boundary Commission, is suspected OF eectioneering for
such an office but has made hmsetoo unpopular by his
course at San Diego, to have much chance OF success
Among the principles already decided by tho Conven-
ton are the following:
No SLAVERY SHALL. EVER BE PERMITTED In CALIFORNIA
Adopted bya Unanimous cote;
the boundaries of the State shall be those fixed by
Mexico, embracing the whole Of the interior territory
known the Great Basin free blacks shall he adj
mitted into the territory passed by small majority and
will probably be reOonsidered0 the State capital shall
be established at Pueblo San Jose inhabitants of Indian
blood shallnot possess the right of suffrage (ths pas
sed by one vote and will no doubt be changed on