The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-13
From California.

From California.
Extract of letter from gentleman in California to his
friend in Washington, dated
SAN Francisco, October 81, ls49.
am just from the mines, and have done very well
In the month OF September made, by digging, $500 and
would have made double that amount in the ensuing
month"; but for the wild speculation OF turning the river
II is custom among the miners (and that is law here)
whenever majority are in favor OF project they 60
ahead Such was the case on the Juba, where was
The company will, however, pay all damages, provided
il probable that shall remain in San Francisco this
winter, as am doing very well at my trade. Mechanics
are the men for this country and great country It's
am paying $40 week for board. and furnish my own
bed and bedding As for bedstead that is luxury not
TO be dreamed Of and consider myself fortunate in get
ting table to lie on being compelled more generally to
"pick the softest plank" as substitute
The Washington City Company, Captain Brua, has
arrived, but have not seen any OF them, and do not
know where they are located.
Every man deserves fortune who seeks il here.
Yours, trulys
From the National intelligencer
Exiraets of letter from Washingtonian in California
g IA. father IN this CITY, dated 10Th September, and als
October, is49.
CAMP ON ST. MARY's RIVER, Sept i6
We have arrived within two hundred miles of the Sac
amenlo valley, and about 10 send party OF
in advance for the purpose OF getting letters at San Fran
CISCO and TO ascertain where provisions can be had most
conveniently.
wrote You from Fort Laramie; since then we have
had some very times. We had terrific hail
ed Us 70 pieces. and cold enough to freeze u.s. This
storm detained us two days TO repair damages and dry
provisions.
the LIST of August and had ice thick as dollar in
the morning. and in the middle OF the day scorching
sun. Ii is the most desoaie country have ever seen
nothing but barren mountains and sand plains between
extending forty and fifty miles, and not drop of water
or blade OF grass TO be Seen In such cases cattle suffer
severely.
Alter leaving Fort Laramie we passed about thirty dead
oxen on an average per day for at least month and
half. We have lost eight mules 80 far. We met train
OF wagons returning to the States the party are TO win
july gave very encouraging accounts OF the gold
gions and showed some fine specimens OF virgin gold
but evaded all our questions as to how much they had.
We had every reason TO believe, however, that their
wagons had pretty good store OF the precious metal
We lying by here two days 10 cut grass TO carry us
through desert Of fifty miles. and expect 10 reach the
The disposition 10 separate into small parties still mani
tests itself have enjoyed very good health considering
the rugged trip, and awful rugged il is From my
experience would not advise any person 10 come 10 Cal
iiornia BY this route. Go by water, BY all means
SAx FRAxcBoo, OCTOBER 81, ls49.
You will be surprised al the date OF this letter Ii is
thus accounted for: Becoming dissatisfied at the slow
and trhng movements OF the company, which had only
ten or twelve days provisions, myself and an
and SIX days provisions EACH and sbandoSsd ali neres
in the company. This. granted We packed the
mules with our clothing and provisions, after throwing
away considerable clothing, and started on foot We
had besides twenty pounds oil -four that we bought on
the way The distance TO the mines thought to be
about two three hundred miles, but turned out not ess
than i've hundred this caused US nearly 10 give out
We drove mules before from twenty TO thirty miles
a day at the irst start II took twenty-five days TO
get to Feather river, and had terrible hard time
provisions gave out and could not buy al any
price for days march. The next day, however, we
came up with train, which accommodated Us with ba-
and -four at fifty cents per pound each We had TO
buy several times at that price, and sometimes higher
At last my mule gave out Throwing away some more
OF my clothing, and packing the rest on my partners
mule, continued towards the gold diggiRgs
on Feather river where we arrived on the Goth October
/ soon began 10 think Il was golden humbug. Thou.
sands here two. thirds OF them sick Those who
able 10 work made from fifty cents 10 half an ounce
per pound picked pork IS cenis hard bread IS cents
strong liquor 90 10 81 per pnt pick and shovel $40
each tin pan 10 wash In slo gold washer from $40
10 $40. .
concluded not 10 risk my health at that price; so
cast away clothes put my bundle on my back
and started for Sacramento city, Zone hundred and twenty
miles) which made in three days Pretty good walk
ing, you will say; but used TO il now and can out
walk almost everything on the road There are hun.
dreds walking TO and from the mines. worked couple
Of days in the city per hour, and then TO this
place expecting TO get letters from you.
The mails have been very irregular. The steamship
Panama has Just come in this evening and i is reported
she has three mails on board but il will be some days be-
fore they are assorted Therefore, as am going up the
river tomorrow, and the mail closes this evening"
have concluded TO send this 10 let you know Of my wheea
bouts.
All kinds Of wages are falling Carpenters have been
getting from $40 TO $50 per day; they getting
from TO STA There plenty OF work, and think II
would be better than gold digging
Ono LEGISLATURES proceedings of the Senate 10.
day were but counterpart Of those Of every day since
nAaR- III al.