The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-04-10

of Miller, and myself washed out $l05,OO. 1t
was the best days work we have had in Califor-
MA think mining for gold much safer bust
ness than digging for lead, for this reason: In mi
ming for gold, l think man may safely calcu-
late on making his board every day, and a man
mining for lead, may work equally as hard for a
month and not make one cent.
Provisions of all kinds are very high, but much
lower than they were one month ago. Flour is
now from 40 to so cents per pound, and the first
oflast month it was sold here for 81 IS and $3.50.
These are the prices we have paid in the mines,
but in the city, provisions are much lower. On
the first of December paid in the city 1886 per
Dbl. on board of ship, but in store it was held
at $40, and not as good an article. Pork is sell
ing in the mines at SO cts. per h.; beans, so;
coffee so; sugar SO; rice So; apples 81 so; mo-
lasses 81 per gallon. Boots and shoes are very
high. When was in the city, could not get
good boots for less than $50, and 1 have been
told that since that time, they have been much
higher; but boots are now much lower in the
mines. They have been sold within the last
week for 500. Every thing was reasonably
low, about the time we arrived in the mines; but
about that time, the emigrants came in so fast
that the stock of provisions on hand was not suf
fcicnt to supply the demand, consequently eve
ry thing eatablc went up in hurry Hauling
went up with every thing else, and that has had
to come down with provisions, so that men can
do better at mining. We shall not want provis
ions in the mines during the bad weather which
will last until about the first of March. | sup
pose we have enough on hand to last us three
months or over except pork, and of that article
we do not use much, as we do not consider it
healthy. 1t is said that the use of pork gives
men the scurvy, which has proved very fatal on
the road and in this country. do not think
this country is healthy at present. and it is doubt
full whether the cultivation of the soil will make
it much better. 1t is the poorest country for
farming that have ever seen. Only a small
portion Of the land is fit for cultivation and that
part is confined to the Sacramento valley where
the timber is of an inferior quality and not very
plenty. | would advise all who think of emil
grating to California with their families, to aban-
don it, for am sure no person ow In Calltor-
mia wishes his family here if he values their
peace and comfort. 1t will do for working men
to come here to make few pounds of gold, but
loafcrs and S,cclled heads better stay where pork
and flour plenty and cheap. got in here so
late in the season l shall not be able to make
much this winter and here let me say to you
and all others that think Of emigrating to Cali
fornia never to take the route over the noun
tains. 1t is the most expensive and dangerous,
and by taking the southern route, you will save
from three to four months time, which is worth
considerable in California. | must close this
letter without the story being half told. Re
member me to your dear old mother and family
and accept for yourself the esteem of
Your humble scrv't,
l.. WHEELER.