The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-22
Correspondence Of the Republic.
NEw YoRK, June 20, lS49,
the GOLD MINES.

NEW iokk June ~, 1919.
The GOLD MINES.
do not know that can give your readers any
thing more interesting than the details of most
important communication from California, which
| have been permitted to peruse. AS you are well
aware, the most intense curiosity everywhere pre-
walls with regard the gold mines and every thing
connected with them. In all ages gold digging has
been the most exciting pursuit in which man can
engage, and if the pacers in California are not
rounded by that mysterious and romantic interest
which attached the first discoveries of the Span
ards on this continent, there is practical charm
about them which, some how or other, does come
home to the bosom and business of every man.
Hence the details which am about TO give cannot
fail to be read with the greatest interest, inasmuch
as they perfectly authentic and reliable The
source from which they come is Colonel J. d.
Stevenson, gentleman whom have known for
years, and whose name must be familiar to many of
your readers
The region from which the gold is taken extends
north and south, distance of five hundred miles.
Throughout all this vast region there is not river,
stream or valley, in which the gitterng ore may
not be found in more or less abundance. An indus
trious sober man realize at least one ounce
day, after paying all expenses But the gold is not
to be got without labor. Like caprcious beauty,
gold. in whatever form, in Wall street, or the
placers, must be wooed with a zeal and an ardor
which allow no repose, no remission. In Wall
street, to get the gold, you must be up the neck
in all sorts of niquity. In California you must be
UP to the middle in water After the labors of the
day, with your ounce of gold in your breeches
pocket, you dine upon dough, washed down with
delectable rum, for which you pay only FIVE shil-
lings glass, and afterwards seek repose in
boarding tent, whose accommodations are not
quite equal to those at the Astor.
Such is life at the mines The scurvy is break
ing out in some parts of the country, but with pru-
dence and care tolerabIy vigorous man may main
tain very good health at the diggings. Colonel
Stevenson states that Industrious digger, who
does not gamble, and drinks like a christian may
realize from fifteen hundred to thirty-fve hundred
dollars a year, over and above his expenses. At
first, parties proceeding to the mines bought oxen
and carts and took up their own provisions, but
that is now out of the question. A yoke of oxen
which could have been purchased in September last
for fourteen dollars, are worth two hundred
and fifty dollars; and hence all persons going to the
mines go far as they can by water, taking their
blanket and few other articles in knapsack with
which they start for the mountains.
Provisions, lodgings every thing, are enormous
ly high Fifty dollars month is paid for "shake-
down. in shanty. Sardines sell at ten dollars
box jerked beef, strips of animal fibre, dried in
the sun, and of the consstence of wood, is worth
one dollar pound. Sugar ten shillings pound.
Potatoes twelve shlings pound. Ham two dol
lars pound. Such are few items from the Cali
fornia prices current.
Gambling, drinking, and other vices of civiliza-
ton, of course, prevail Goods of all kinds were
pouring into San Francisco. Laboring men in
stores get one hundred and twenty-five dollars a
month Colonel Stevenson was paying sixty-four
dollars month for his board, and forty dollars
month for his bed-room-a splendid department no
doubt At Suffers fort the rates were two dollars
meal. The colonel gives no encouragement to
professional men. Hard working men, mechanics,
citizens, and laborers, the men TO 60 to Cali
fornia.
have thus given few items from this interest
ing communication, which has given me more de-
finite and satisfactory idea of matters in California
than any accounts which have yet seen from that
region. The volunteers who went out under the
command of the colonel almost to man remain.
LOCAL NEWS.
Excessively hot-Sherry cobbIers in demand
Wall street in a fever-Mock auctions deserted
Thin attendance at the churches-Peope forget
that this fast day-The chimes of Trinity mu-
steal ever-Dusy roads out Of town-Every
thing rather stale and fiat.