Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-06-06
CALIFORNIA GOLD REeioN.--The Liberty
(NlssourD Tribune has the following letter, dated
SUTTER's FoRr, UPPER CALIroRNIA.

CALIFORNIA GOLD RRGIoN--The Liberty
(MissourD Tribune has the following letter, dated
SUTTER's FoRr, UPPER CALIroRNIA.
February 2, lS49. s
Col a. w. Doniphan am heie at this point
having been attracted hither by the unlimited gold
regions of California.
Men are here nearly crazy with the riches forced
suddenly into their pockets. have had some OPP
portunity In the course of my life TO study Human
nature but the school here is upon agrander scale
than you or ever saw before. Perhaps few anec-
do'es may illustrate the state of things and afford you
someamusemeDt IN honest, Observation-Disclosures
by the name oiSpee, came from Oregon TO California
about year ago. After the gold was discovered,
he went INTO the mines, and was soon making his
hundred dollars day. A quzzcal shrewd fellow
from Philadelphia met him one day:
''Well. Mr.. Spec, how do you get alorg 2"
"First rate, Sir. would not be member of
Congress with his eight dollars day nor the Pres
ident of the u. States. i make more money
than ;hey.''
"Well, Mr. Spec, | suppose you will make no
Shoes" Our shoemaker thought himself insul,ed
and Indignantly, "No, not |. Let those make shoes
who will make no more" He is now mer-
chant, and deals in goods, wares, and merchandise
| was here during the Christmas hoydays, and
saw great numbers of young men, who had new
er worn a cloth coat before, with at least one
thousand dollars worth OF finery upon them. They
were almost loaded down with trinkets. saw one
fellow dressedn splendid suit of black over which
he wore superb black cloth cloak and instead Of
drawing his cloak around him 10 shelter him from
the cold wind then blowing he was careful To let it
be untured. like flag in the passing breeze, that
he might catch the admirne gaze Of the passers by
Another gay fellow, dressed equally well, save
the cloak, was strutting up and down before the
door of large tavern In his right hand he held
large bell and at short intervals he would stop and
tinkle his bell, as much as TO say, "Look here
LitS IS me !" Another dandy went into store, and
took out fine silk handkerchief, and commenced
wiping the mud off his boots.
| The merchant said "you will spoil your handlier-
chief, sir" "Oh, that's no difference have an
other. l wipe my boots with one, and my nose
with the other" Some time during the last au-
tumn young man was at work in the mines, who
had his heart set upon marriage. Whether he had
courted the fair one, and she had refused his Offer
or whether he had always considered himself TOO
poor 10 take upon himself the support of family,
do not know. AT all events, he had one day rolled
aside. by means Of levers and props, large stone,
under which there deposit of several hundred
dollars of pure gold, in small pieces, the of flax
seed. The moment he cast his eye upon the shin
ing treasure, he threw himsef flat on his back, in
an ecstacy, among the rocks, clapped his hands,
kicked up his heels, and exclaimed, "a married
man, by gosh ~ Col. you have been through Mex
leo. and elsewhere, but You never saw anything
like the state of affairs here. The accounts you
have seen of the gold region are not 0Uer colored
About S25 per day is The amount of the produce OF
one hand. | was in the mines forty days, and was
careful TO make an accurate estimate. The gold is
positively neXhaus;ible. One hundred millions
will be taken out annually in the of two years
Town lots at San Francisco worth 81 eco, fol
the best and, and ,ile at that.
Yours, Sc,
PETER II. BURNETT.