The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-01


DIRE d men from Oregon Mrxicans and other for.
eigpers who happened 20 be IN the country, or
csn~ INTO u curing the summer and autumn, and
the lDd,sus who were employed by or sold their
geld 10 the wh,ies.
IL is supposed there were not far fr~m five thou.
sand men employed IN cole cling gold during that
season. five suppose they obtained an average of
enc thousand dollars escl which is regarded by
we'll ihfOI me p% rsoDs as d low estimate-the az
gregate amount will b. $5, 100000.
Information Of ths discovery spread In all drec-
ton during the following winter; and on III.
CO mmtncement Of The dry season in lsiSs people
ceme INTO the territory from all quarrrs-from
Chill, Peru, and other States on the Pacific coast
OF South America-irom the west coast of VI exico
the Sandwich Islands, China. and New Holland.
The emigration from the United States came
IN Isst, VI except those who crossed the lsthmus
OF Psnsms, and went up the coast IN steamers. and
few who sailed early on the voyage round Cape
Horn.
The American emigration did not come In by
sea, in much force. until July and August, ana
that overland did not begin arrive until the last
Of August and first OF September The Chinos
and Mexicaps were early in the country. Ia the
month ot July, il was supposed there were fifteen
the ussId foreigners IN the mines At place
called SonoIsnian camp, II was believed there
at least ten thousand Me xlcans. They had quite u
city Of tents, booths, and log cabins hotels, res
taurants, stores, and shops OF all descriptions,
furnished whatever money could procure. Ice was
brought from the Sierra, end Ice creams added to
numerous other Injuries. An enclosure made Of
the trunks and branches OF trees, and liued with
cotton cloth, served as a sort of anpnitneaTe for
bull fights; other amustments, characteristic OF
the M xlcans, were 10 be seen IN all directions
The foreigners resorted principally TO the south
ern mines, which gave them great superiority '1
hume icsl force over the Americans, and enabled
them 10 take posse ssion Of sumo OF The richest IN
that part OF the country. In the early part OF the
s. ason the Americans were mostly employed on
Feather rivers. As their numbers increased they
spr ad the mselves ever the southern mines, and
collisions were threatened between them aud the
foreigners. The latter, however, for some cause,
either fear, or having satisfied their cupdty, or
both, beesn 10 leave the mines late in August, and
b, the end Of Septt nber many Of them were out OF
the country.
II is not probable that during the first part Of the
season there were more than five or SIX thousand
Am. means IN the mines. This would swell the
vi ole number, including foreigners, to about
twenty thousand the beginning OF September This
period embraced about half at the season during
which gold may be successfully collected in the
Very particular and extensive inquiries respect.
ing the daily earnings and acquisitions of the miners
per day. This Is believed by many to be low
innate bui from the best information was able TO
procure, ! am ot opinion il approaches very near
actual results. The halt OF the season, up to the
LIST of Stptt mber, would give sixty-tive workin
days, and to each laborer. $l6 per ounce, $I0i0
II, therefore, we assume 900 as the average col
lec'sd by each laborer, We shall probably not 90
BEYOND the mark.
THIS would give an aggregate oe $50, 900 900 for
the first hall of The season-s IS OOO,OO0 Of which
was pitbsbiy collected by foreigners. During the
las, half al the season, the number of reigners Was
very much diminished, and, perhaps, did not ex-
GEE d five Thousand. AT this time, the American
in mgreon had come in by land and sea, and the
number al our fellow citlzers In the mines had.
was estimated, increased TO between forty and fifty
thousand. They were most Of them inexperienced
IN mining, and IL Is probable the results of their
labo,s were not rs great has been estimated for
the first part Of The season, and experience, miners
assuming that the average OF halt an ounce per
day ought 10 be considered as Reasonable. il would
give an aggregate Of about 100000 900. II
rem this we deduct one-fourth, on account of
the early commencement of the wet season, we
have estimate OF $l5 600, 600; at least five OF
which was coll, c'ed by foreigners, who possessed
mspy advantages from their experience ia mining
ard knowledge OF the country.
These estimates give, as the result Of the opera
tons IN the mines for 1913 and 1919, the round
sum Of $40, oO0, 000-one half Of which was pro-
baby cole cttd and carried out OF the country
BY foreigners.
Frcm the best information could obtain. am
hd 10 believe that at least $40 600 OF the
5000, eco were taken from the rivers, and that
their richness has not been senslbly unfinished,
except in a lew locations, which had early at
uacitd large bodies Of miners. TINS amount has
PRINCIPALLY been taken from the northern MYERS,
or those which empty into the Sacnmento; the
southern vsrs, or those which How into the San
Joaquin, having been, comparatively: but little
res orted TO upti the close OF the last season.
These rivers, are, however believed, by those who
have visited ihem to be n, her in the precious me
"a than those IN the northern part OF the golden re-
gen.
There is one river which, from reported recent
discoveries, and not included IN the description OF
those flowing into The great PLAN west Of the Sierra
Nevada, is us rich in gold as any OF them That
is the TIiniiy, which rises north OF the head
waters ot the SACRAMENTO, and discharges into
the Pacific no, far from the forte tn degree Of north
latitude.
There are, as nearly as my recollection serves
me, twelve principal rivers In which gold has been
fund; but most OF the twenty millions in the
above estimate was taken frcm six or seven OF
them, where II was first DISCOVERED and most &C
ccssible.
Adopting the hypothess that the gold found in
the beds Of thcte streams has been cut or worn
ti'm The VEINS 10 the quartz through which they
have forced their way, and considering the TACT
that they are all ncb, end are said 10 be nearly
equally productive. We may form some idea OF the
vast amount Of treasure remaining undisturbed In
the VEINS which run through the masses OF rock IN
various directions over space OF forty or fifty
miles wide, and near five hundred miles long.
II we may be allowed 10 form a conjecture re-
ere citing the richness of these from the guam
liiy OF lump or coarse gold found 10 the dry Dig
pincs, where II appears 10 occupy nearly the same
supt Ifces IL did originally in the rockets specific
gravity being sufficient TO resist ordinary moving
ceustS--we shall be led TO an estimate almOst be-
J ond human calculation and belief Yet, as far az
1 can perceive, there ~ no plausible reason why
the veins which remain IN the quartz may not be
as valuable as those which have become separated
from the decompcsed rock This matter can only
be satisfactorily decided by actual discoveries
The gold region OF California having Attracted
large share of public attention, II was TO be expect:
ed that various suggestions and Propositions would
be made with respect to the proper mode Of dlspos-
ing Of il.
The difficulty in arranging suitable plan has
been the want Of accurate information on which
well cobsiocred opinion might be formed. Its
disisnce n, m the sest OF government, the con-
icting menis and reports respecting IL, served
only TO b,wildtr and mystiiy the public mind, and
render a thorough eaaminat,on IL II necessary
to ASCERTAIN whether value is such TO render
legislation necessary for Its proper protection and
M rspement.
lit appears from the preceding part Of this report,
that II il sufficiently important to require laws
suited TO the condition and DEVELOPMENT Of lts
wealth, we are necessarily brought TO the conside-