The New York herald., 1850-12-09
Statistics OF the Gold Regi0n-Persons Il m-
PiOycd an Mining.


II is very difficult at the present time, TO cOlec
information to the product,veness of the various
m,nes Of California. Even the number of persons
employed upon the various rivers, is bnt 10 limit
ed extest, known. Those who have travelled ex
tensively through the country, and explored tn.
various RIVERS high up into The ountaias of course
can form very correct conclusions.
But there are comparatively few who have dOae
tins. Most miners have but partially explored the
country, and even those who have made exte isive
examinations, have felt but little inclination "a
convey the information acquired to others For
this reason, we the more willingly lay the rsti-
mates which we give below, before our readers,
believing, although they are some what imperfect,
that hey will be OF use to those who have not
had the leisure or inclination to make thorough
The estimates which we give, include the min
ing region from Feather nver upon the north TO
Cosumnes upon the south, which contains at lea Il
two. thirds OF all the miners employed in the coun-
try
The mining region upon Feather river, con-
mences below the foot. hills N ihe mount ANS,
some thirty miles from Maysviie, and ext, nis
back upon the mountains for something like eighty
miles. There are probably DOT hess than 5000 per-
soDe at work upon this river. The most proiu
tive portions, the past season, have been in ths
tcos bills, and upon the South Fork OF the river IL
II the general impression m the sum averaged by
miners upon this river has ab ut six doll aTs
per day to the man. This, allowing twenty four
working days TO the month, would give Tor five
months. (ss much probably as most OF the miaers
miner SEQ per month, and $500 for the hve
months producing an aggregate of $500 900
The luba, with It's tributaries, Deer Creek,
God Run, Nc. has q population of about 80, 900.
The mines in this region, have, IN many instsnces,
paid more than those OF any other portion OF Cali
fornia, but there has been a large number who
have succeeded but poorly, which has reduced the
average TO each man TO something less than that
upon Feather river. Upon this stiesm, we believe,
The average has not been over four dollars 10
each person employed. This would give for the
total amount Of golo dust taken ia i've months,
Sl4 400 000
Bear river, the next stream upon the south, con-
tains probably population OF three thousand. rhs
stream, although no very large amounts have been
realized by individuals, has produced fair aver
ege-say four dollars to each niuer, which will
give IN The aggregate Sl.4l0 900.
The American river, we pre- sumo, contains
population Of sixteen thousaGd, dstn Auted on its
ributsres as foows;-tve thousand upon The
North Fork; hve Thousand upon the Middle Fork;
and six thousand upon the Sjuth Fork, which, at
five dollars as the average, would produce rs
above. in five months, 5000 600
This would give, IN the aggregate. Tor Feather,
Yuha, Beer, and ibe Amtrcon r'vet-, together
wGh their tributaries, the sum OF $50 2&0, 900,
the product Of the laber Of hfy-seven thousand
persons This sum, we believe, is as near an aver
bge of he produce OF the mlnes up1a the rivers
named tor the past i've months, as can well be
sscrrtsined III the present time.
We have, in our estimate, taken but portion
Of the mining region oi California, as our rcadots
WI. rec, tut we presume the "a inl,y OF gold di,t
taken from these streams, or from thsir immediate
De Isighborhoods, consitutc at least two-th,rds OF
ell the gold taken from the mines of California.
The quantity Of gold obtained by miners during
the lsst winter was small ia proportion 10 what it
ought 10 have been. M,ners tAen looked forward
to the opening of spring, anticipating far richer
diggres in the beds Of nv,rs. when th- waters
ehould suhside. in Anticipation of rich haTvrs's,
the winter wes suffered 10 pass without proper
sxer,ions upon tie part Of minsrs.