Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-01-06

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supply for the coming winter.
| The most moderate estimate | could OBJ
tain from men acquainted with the subject
was, that upwards of four thousand men
were working in the gold district, of whom
more than one half were Indians, and that
/ from $4,000 to $4,000 worth of gold if
not more, was daily obtained. The entire
gold district, with very few exceptions Of
grants made some years ago by the Mexi-
can authorities, is on land belonging to the
United States. Ii was a matter of serious
reflection with me how | could secure to
the Government certain rents or fees for the
privilege of procuring this gold but upon
considering the large extent of country, the
character. of the people engaged and the
small scattered force at my command, ie-
solved not to interfere, but to permit all to
work freely, unless broils and crimes should
call for interference; was surprised to learn
that crime of any kind was very untreqnent.
and that no tbetts or robberies had been
committed in the gold district. All live in
tents, in bush arbors, or in the open air ;
and men have frequently in their persons
thousands of dollars worth of this gold, and
it was to me matter of surprise that so
peaceful and quiet a state of things should
continue TO exist. Conflicting claims TO par
ticuar spots of ground may cause collisions,
but they will be rare, as the extent of coun-
try is so great and the gold SO abundant that
| for the present there Is room and enough
for all Still the Government is entitled to
rents for this land, and immediate steps
should be devised to collect them for the
longer it is delayed the more difficult 1t Will
become. Que plan would suggest is to
send out from the Urited STATES surveyors
with high salaries, bound to serve specified
periods.
A superintendent to he appointed at SUIT
ter's Fort, with power TO grant licences to
to work spot of ground-say 100 yards
square-for one year at rate OF from 100
to 700 dollars, at his discretion !; the sur
veyors TO measure the ground, and place
the rentor IN possession.
| A better plan however, will be to have
the district surveyed and sold at public auc-
ton to the highest bidder, in small parcels
say from twenty to forty acres. In either
case, there will he many intruders, whom
for years it will be almost impossible to ex-
clude.
The discovery of these vast deposites of
gold has entirely changed the character OF
Upper California. Its people, before en-
gagged in cutlvating their small patches OF
ground, aad guarding their herds OF cattle
and horses, have all gone to the mines, OF
are OH their way thlther. Laborers OF every
trade nave lett their work benches, and
tradestnen their shops. Sailors desert their
ships az fast as they arrive on the coast,
and several vessels have gone TO sea with
hardly enough hands to spread sail Two
or three are now at anchor III San Francis
co with no crew on board. Many deser-
tions, too, have taken place from the gar
risons within the influence of these mines
twenty-siX soldiers have deserted the posi-
of Sonoma, tWenty-tour from that OF San
Francisco, and twenty-four from Monterey.
For few days the evil appeared so threat
ming that great danger existed that the gar
risons would leave III body and | refer
you to my orders of the 25th of July to
show the steps adopted to meet this contin-
gency. | shall spare no exertions to APP
prehend and punish deserters, but / believe
no time in the history of our country has
presented such temptations to desert as now
exists in California. The danger of appre-
hension is small, and the prospect of high
wages certain pay and bountles are tribes,
as laboring men at the mine can now earn
in one day more than double a soldiers pay
and allowances for month, and even the
pay VI d VI NuPtoih Naiihct hhN
servant. A carpenter or mechanic would
not listen to an offer of less than fifteen or
twenty dollars day. Could any combna-
ton of affairs try mans fidelity more
than this' And really think some extra
ordinary mark of favor should be given to
those soldiers who remain faithful to their
flag throughout this tempting crisis. ?
No officer can now live in California on
his pay, money has so little value; the pri-
ces of necessary articles of clothing and
subsistence are so exorbitant and labor so
high that to hire cook or servant has be-
come an impossibilty, save TO those who are
earning from thirty to fifty collars day.
This state of things cannot last forever.
Yet from the geographical position of Cal
ifornla, and the new character II has assum-
ed as a mining country, price Of labor wall
always be high and will hold out teInpta-
tions to desert. ] therefore have to report,
if the Government wish to prevent deser-
tions here on the part of men, and TO secure
zeal on the part of officers, their pay must
be increased very materially. Soldiers both
of theyolunieers and regular service dscbar-
ged in this country, shoGid be permitted at
once to locate their land warrants IN the
gold district. Many private letters have
gone to the United States giving accounts OF
the vas, quantity Of gold recently discover
ed, and it may be matter of surprise why
! have made no report on this subject at an
earlier date. The reason Is, that could not
bring myself to believe the reports that
heard OF the wealth Of the gold district I'M
til | visited it myself have no hesitation
now in saying that there is more gold the 10
country drained by the Sacramento and San
Joaquin rivers than will pay the cost Of the
present war with Mexico a hundred times.
No capital is required to obtain this gold, the
laboring man wants nothing bnt his pick aud
shovel and tin pan, with which 10 dig and
wash the gravel aud many frequently pick
gold out OF the crevices Of rocks with their
butcher knives, in pieces from one 10 SIX