The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-04

conduct their explorations parallel with the
Sacramento river or in North and South
direction. When the courses Of gold are
found, the excavations should be East and
West to be attended with success, This
theory has proved to be true from actual ex-
pertinent, but It deserves to be borne in
mind by those who have no experience in
gold searching.
4 The geologist would be safe in predicting,
that the fragmentary deposits Of the native
gold in the basins OF the Sacramento and the
& ST John, would increase in richness, as they
retreated from the base Of the Snowy Noun
tains. This prediction is verified by the ac-
tual facts. Bnt as you approach the foot Of
the Snowy Mountains, the ore in the ma
trix begins to discover itself. We have no
doubt, that future explorations in this quar-
ter viii develope the sources Of the placer
gold in its natural confines to be as mex
haustless as the auriferous soil and earth Of
the great golden plain.
The extreme, probability is, that the gold
region on the West side Of the Snowy Noun
tains, has its correspondence on the Eastern
side. II SO, the Mount Ophir Of the an
cient Hebrews has in truth been found in
the Snowy Mountains Of California. The
best accounts Of the country East Of the
lofty range, speak Of conformatons that in
dictate the existence of gold, and we shall
not be surprised, that what is now called a
vast desert win turn out to be second FL
Dorado. The persistence Of the Mormons
in establishing themselves on the banks Of
the Salt Lake, would argue, that they have
found in that region something more than
what the gallant and persevering Fremont
saw. We are confident that they have
found a second Golden Fleece, if not more.
The prodigious fertility Of the gold bear
ing sands of the Sacramento valley, is testi-
fed to by the best authorities. The Explor-
ing Expedition states the yield Of wheat to
be, one hundred and twenty eight bushels
for one bushel Of seed More recent ac-
counts confirm this statement In the very
midst Of the gold region, harvest Of wheat
was gathered the last season outstripping the
yield of the most favored grain countries
Indian corn and rye flourish to degree al
most incalculable. Indeed, all the plants
that thrive in the latitude Of Norfolk and
Richmond, are found in the gold regions in
great perfection, while the more equable
character Of the climate encourages the ma
ture growth Of many tropical fruits, which
do not flourish in the open air in this latitude
on the Atlantic coast
The mountains Of the Pacific coast are
sufficiently elevated, TO protect the vallies
of the Sacramento and st. John from the
4 immediate effect of the ocean winds and
storms, while they are walled in on the East
and North by the Snowy Mountains, which
ward of the winds from those quarters. The
volume Of water poured down by the Sac
ramento and st. John rivers, is equal at least
to what is sent down by the Susquehanna
and the James rivers.
The conformation Of the basins drained
by the Sacramento and ST. John rivers,
leaves no doubt but that these streams, like
their ancient prototype, the quiet Seaman
der and the smooth Pactolus, wait to the
depths Of ocean myriads. Of golden sands,
from the nexhaustless beds which they wa
ter 1t will not be long before art will ar
rest the precious freighted waters and make
them give up their treasures.
Before the close Of the present year, it
will not be a wild calculation to estimate the
population Of this%Gold Plain at half mil
lion; and from the character OF the emgra-
ton, we may safely predict, that nine tenths
Of the new population will consist of honest
Industrious, sober and thrifty persons. A
greater change is destined to come over the
gold region, than it is possible for the most
sanguine to estimate. The new Corners
will not all be actual gold searchers Thou
sands viii pursue their accustomed avoca-
tons and trades, though the production Of
the native gold will necessarily be the sta
pie Of the country. Thousands will cult
vate the land, and produce that which will
command the staple Of the country in ex-
change Trading and merchandising in all
its branches, will be stimulated by the album
dant presence Of the precious representative
Of all values. With trade and commerce
and agriculture and gold production, will
come all the restraints Of law necessary for
the preservation Of society and order The
whole process Of community making will be
almost instantaneous. Nay,.it is not i'm
possible, but that new State has already
sprung up on the far away Pacific shore, full
armed and equipped, even as Minerva sprang
from the brain Of Jupiter. What effect, the
production Of the representative of value by
labor uncombined with capital, will have up
on the interestsf o society, remains to be tes-
ted. The problem has never before been
presented itself for solution 1t will speed
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