The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29


season.
These streams form rivers, which have cut their
channels through the ranges of foot hills west
Nardiy TO the plain, and disembogue into the Sac
ramepto and San Joaquin. These rivers are from
ten to fifteen, and probably some of them twenty
miles apart
The principal formation, or substrs tum, in these
nils is talcose slate the superstratum, sometimes
penetrating To "a great depth, rs quartz, This,
however does not cover the entire face of the
try, but extends in large bodies in various direc-
nons--is found in masses and small fragments on
me surface, and seen along the rayines, and in
me mountains overhanging the rivers, and III the
hill sides in its original beds II crops out in the
valleys and ON the tops of the hills, and forms a
striking feature OF the entire country which il
extends. From innumerabe evidences and indi-
cations, II has 10 be the universally admitted
opinion among the miners and intelligent men who
have examined this region, that the gold, tceter ia
detached particles and pieces IA rens, created
in combination tciM The quartz. Gold is not found
pearance OF having been thrown up and scattered
in all directions by volcanic action. II is only
found in particular localities, and attended by pc
culiar circumstances and indications. II is found
III the bars and shoals the rivers-in ravnes, and
In what called the dry diggings.
The rivers, in forming their channels or break
ing their way through the hills, have come in
tact with the quartz containing the gold VEINS and
by constant attrition cut the gold into fine flakes
and dust and il is found among the sand and gravel
of their beds at those places where the swtness OF
the current reduces 1t, in the dry season, to the
narrowest possible limits, and where a wide mar
gin is, consequently left each side, over which
the water PUSHES, during the wet season, with great
force.
AS the velocity Of some streams is greater than
others, so is the gold found in fine parti
cles, apparently corresponding to the degree of at
triton to which il has been exposed. The water
from the hills and upper valleys, in finding its way
To the rivers, has cut deep ravines and wherever it
came in contact with the quartz, has dissolved or
crumbled il in pieces.
In the dry season these channels are mostly with
out water, and gold is found in the beds and mar
gins OF many OF them in large quantities, but in a
much coarser state than in the rivers; owing,
doubtedly, to the moderate flow and temporary
continuance of the current, which has reduced 1t
to smooth shapes not unlike pebbles, but had not
sufficient force to cut it into flakes dust.
The dry diggings are places where quartz con-
tanning gold has cropped out, and been disnte
grated, crumbled to fragments, pebbles, and dust,
by the action OF water and the atmosphere. The
gold has been left as it was made, in all iInagin
able shapes; in pieces OF all Sizes from grain
TO several pounds in weight The evidences that it
was created in combination with quartz are too
numerous and striking to admit of doubt or cavil.
They are found in combination in large quantities.
A very large proportion OF the pieces of gold
found in these situations have more or less quartz
adhering 10 them. In many specimens they are
so combined they cannot be separated without
reducing the whole mass to powder, and subject
ing II To the action Of quick silver.
This gold, not having been exposed to the attri-
ton OF strong current OF water, retains in great
degree, its original conformation.
These diggings, in some places, spread over val
leys OF considerable extent which have the appear
ance of an alluvion, formed by washings from the
adjoining hills, of decomposed quartz and slate
earth, and vegetable matter.
In addition to these facts it is beyond doubt true,
that several Vein mines have been discovered in the
quartz from which numerous specimens have been
taken, showing the minute connexion between the
gold and the rock, and indicating value hitherto
unknown in gold mining.
These veins do not present the appearance OF
places where gold may have been lodged by some
violent eruption. Ii is combined with the quartz,
in all imaginable forms and degrees Of richness.
The rivers present very striking, and, it would
seem, conclusive evidence respecting the quantity
of gold remaining undiscovered in the quartz veins.
Ii Is not probable that the gold in the dry diggngs
and that in the rivers-the former in Jumps, the
latter in dust-was created by different processes.
That which is found in the rivers has undoubtedly
been cut worn from the veins in the rock, with
which their currents have come in contact. All OF
them appear TO be equally rich. This is shown by
the fact that laboring man may collect nearly as
much in one river as he can in another. They in
tersect and cut through the gold region, running
from east 10 west at irregular distances Of fifteen
to twenty, and perhaps some of them thirty, miles
apart.
Hence it appears that the gold veins are equally
rich in all parts of that most remarkable section Of
country. Were it wanting, there further proofs
OF this in the ravines and dry dggings which uni
formly confirm what nature plainly shows in the
rivers.
For the purpose of forming some opinion respect
ing the probable amount value of treasure in the
gold region, it will be proper to state the estimates
which have been made of the quantity collected
since its discovery.
Gold first discovered on the south fork of the
American river, at place called Suffers mill now
Colona-late in May or early in June, lS45 In
formation which could be relied on announcing
this discovery not received in this city I'M
Ill late in the following autumn.
No immigration into the mines could, therefore,
have taken place from the old States in that year.
The number Of miners was, consequently, limited
10 the population Of the territory-some five hun
bred men from Oregon-Mexicans and other for
eigners who happened 10 be in the country, or
came into it during the summer and autumn and
the Indians, who we're employed by or sold their
gold 20 the whites.
IL is supposed there were not far from five thou
sand men employed in collecting gold during that
season. II we suppose they obtained average OF
one thousand dollars cach-which is regarded by
wel-iniorIned persons as a low estimatc-the ag-
gregate amount will be ! 10000
Information of this discovery spread in all direc-
tons during the following winter; and, on the
commencement OF the dry season in ls49, people
came into the territory from all quartersEfrom
Chill, Peru, and other States the Pacific coast Of
| South America-from the west coast of Mexico
the Sandwich Islands, China, and New Holland.
The emigration from the United States came
in last, II we except those who crossed the Isthmus
Of Panama, and went up the coast in steamers and
a few who sailed carly on the voyage round Cape
| Horn.
The American emigration did not come in by
sea, in much force, until July and August, and
that overland did not begin TO arrive until the last
OF August and first Of September. The Chilinos
and Mexicans were early in the country. In the
month Of July IL was supposed there were fifteen
thousand foreigners in the mines. At place
called Sonoranian camp, il believed there were
at least ten thousand Mexicans. They had quite a
city Of tents, booths, and log-cabins; hotels, re-
staurants, stores, and shops Of all descriptions
furnished whatever money could procure. Ice was
brought from the Sierra, and ice-creams added to
numerous other Injuries. An enclosure made o
the trunks and branches Of trees, and lined with
cotton cloth, served rs a sort Of amphitheatre for
bull hghts; other amusements, characteristic o
the Mexicans, were 10 be seen in all directions.
| The foreigners resorted principally 10 the south
ern mines, which gave them great superiority in
/ numerical force over the Americans, and enabled
them to take possession Of some Of the richest in
that part Of the country. In the early part OF tn,
season the Americans mostly employed OF
! the forks Of the American and on Bear, Uba, anc
/ Feather rivers. As their numbers increased the,
spread themselves over the southern mines, anC
collisions were threatened between them and tn
foreigners. The latter, however, for some cause
either fear, or having satisfied their cupidity, o.