Democratic banner., 1849-01-01
The Caiffornia GOLD Mines.

California ere attracting so much attention
that we are induced to make liberal extracts
from q letter Of Col. Mason, military CON-
tnandsnt of thstnewly acquired country,
addressed to the Secretary of War, and
communicated to Congress BY the Presi.
dent, among the documents accompanying
dis message.
Headquarters Tenth Military Dept, }
Monterey, California, Aug. IL, t84S. {
Sir have the honor to inform you that,
accompanied by Lieut.. w. I. Sherman, Sd
Artillery, A. A,tA. General, / started on
the 18th of June last to make a tour through
the northern part of California. My rrin-
eipal purpose, however, was to visit the
newly discovered gold apiacer'' in the val
ley of the Sacramento. l had proceeded
about forty miles, when | was overtakrn by
an express, bringing me intelligence of the
arrival at Monterey of tile U. S. ship
Southampton, with important letters from
Com. Shubrick and Lieut.. Col. Burton. !
returned atbnce to Monterey, and des-
patched what business was most important,
and OR the 18th resumed my journey. We
reached San Francisco OF the Goth, and
foundethat all, or nearly all, its male intab-
Itants had gone 10 the mines. The town,
which a few months before was so busy and
thriving, was then almost deserted. On the
evening of the 24th, the horses of the es.
cort we're crossed to Sousoleto in a launch,
and on the following day VI resumed the
journey BY way of Bodega and Sonoma to
Suffers Fort, where we arrived on the
morning Of the ed of July. Along the
whole route, mills were lying idle, fields Of
wheat were open to cattle aud horses, hous-
IS vacant, and farms going to waste. At
Suffers there was more life and business.
Launches were discharging their cargoesI
ct The river, and carts were hauling goods
to the fort, where already we're established
aeEeral stores, a hotel, &c.
Capt. Suffer had only two mechanics in
his employ, (awagon-maker and a black.
smith) whom he was then paying ten dol
lars 9 day. Merchants pay him a monthly
rent of 800 per room; and whilst | was
there, a two-stIwry house in the fort was
rented as a hotel for $500 a month.
Here follow the particulars of the jour-
ney, with q description of the country, ap-
pesIance of the mines, &C., for which we
have not space, and therefore pass oh to his
views and recommendations.
The most moderate estimate I could OBJ
tainfrom men acquainted with the subiec
was, that upwards of four thousand men
were working in the gold district, of whom
more than n half were Indians; and that
from $4,000 to $4,000 worth Of gold, i'll
not more, was daily obtained. The entire
gold district, with very few exceptions of
grants made some years ago by the Msxi-
can authorities, is on land belonging to the
Unite~ States. 1t was a matter of s~eriousl
reflection with me, how | could secure toI
the Government certain rents or fees fOrI
the privilege of procuring this gold; but up
on considering the large extent Of country, |
the character of the people engaged, andI
the small scattered force at my command,
l resolved not to i~ntefere, but to permit alli
to work freely, unless borils and crimesI
should callfor Interference. was surpris-
ed to learn that crime of any kind was very
u%nfrequent, and that no thefts or robberiesl
had been committed in that gold district
All live in tents, in bush arbors, or in the
open air; and men have frequently about
their persons thousands of dollars worth of
this gold, and it was to me a matter Of sur
prise that so peaceful and quiet a state of
things should continue to exist. Conflict
ing claims to particular spots Of ground may
cause collisions, but they will be rare; as
the extent OF eoUatry is so great, and the
gold so abundant, that for the present there
is room and enough for all. Still the Gov
ernment is entitled to rents for this land,
and immediate steps should be devised toI
collect them, for the longer it is delayed
the more difficult it will become. One
plan ! would suggest is, to send out from
the United States surveyors with high sala-
Fies, bound to serve specified periods.
A superintendent to be appointed at SUIT
ter's Fort, with power to grant licenses to
work spot of groud-s4y 100 yards square
for n year, at a rent of from 500 toI
$1,000, at bis discretion, the surveyors to
measure the ground, and place the %rentor
10 possession.
A better plan, however will be to have
the districts surveyed and sold al public
auction to the highest bidder, in small par-
z-E = an IN -F l.