The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-02
LATE FROM CALIFORNIA,
stter from, Joseph IIempstead, ESQ.

| Letter from Joseph Hampstead, ESQ.
We last week referred to a a letter received b,
MIR. Mcknight, from Jos. Hampstead, formerly
of this city, and gave some items of the new:
therein contained.
| We find the letter published in the Telegraph
of last week, and copy thcrefrom such extract:
as Of interest.
Those who are making preparations to leave
for California on the opening of Spring shouls
ponder the matter we'll before they start.
Read Mr.. Hempstcads letter, and give to i
the weight of ofiufucnce to which the we'll knowr
candor and integaty of the writer entities it, ane
reflect whether it will not be better to remain
and enjoy the comforts you now have, rathc,
than seek uncertain riches at the risk of every
thing which makes life desirable.
SACRAMENTO CRY, California, }
Oct Is, 1S13.
Childs and myself went on
the Yuba River one of the tributaries of the Sac
ramento, about leo miles cast of Suffers fort
and good point for gold, as any in the couI1-
try. We had not been on the river but about
three weeks, before we were both taken sick, he
with the scurvy, and with the typhus fever
was seven weeks, that never went cut Of the
tent, and two weeks ofthat time, was not cx-
pectcd to live; in the meantime, Chlds was ret
ting 80 bad with his disease, that he could scarce
ly get about. We prevailed on him to leave for
San Francisco, where he could be attended to,
for he could not have lived in the condition he
was in, but short time. n
| am happy to say to you, that am
mending slowly, but still very weak, and l an
in hopes in short time to regain my usual health
and be able to go to the mines this winter
Childs will not be able to 60 into the mines this
winter, on account of his disease, as liyiny on
salt provisions will bring it on again but cnou yh
of this, for do not suppose it is interesting to
you, but few words about the mines may be,
so here goes.
must say the gold in California, is beyond
anything expected to sec or find it is fund
in all the tributaries of the Sacramento and San
Joaquin, a distance of two hundred miles it is
also found in the hills and valleys, when there is
no water; in fact, have found it on the ton of
the mountains, but the dirt was not rich enough
to work in this country. In the beds of the riv-
ers, you find it in among the gravel and sand,
wherever there is bar or an eddy for it to lodge;
or under the lee of large rocks, and in the banks
of the river; where there is any dirt among the
rocks; it is found much richer in some places
than others, it is a good deal like our lead mines
in that respect man may be getting his 4 or 5
ounces per day, and another on the bar, within
5 feet of him, may not make his half an ounce
but generally speaking, man can make his $40
to $l2 per day if he works; but the gold hunter,
unless he can make his ounce or more he is off.
looking for richer spot. There arc many who
make from $500 to $1,000 per day, but it does
not last but few days there are but few who
have made fortunes by milving; there hns been
more money made in this country by trading,
than mining; yet if man could keep his health,
he could make money in the mines, and | must
say, it is the hardest kind of work that man ey
er done; the stoutcst men cannot stand it but
short time, lowing | suppose to the hot and dry
about one half of the people in the
mines are sick and dying every day.) There is
no trouble about making money in this country,
but it requires capital to do it with even to
60 to the mines, it will cost man 5000 Or $500
for an outfit, and rs much more for transporta-
ton. Everything in the mines is very hirh.
yet all appear to be making money in some way
or other.
| must say it is orc of the
hardest countries | ever was in there are but
few people, that have come to this country, that
will ever make enough to pay them for the hard
ships and prvations they have endured in COM
ing, and after they get here: Many of the emf
grants sold their teams after getting here, and
put back for the States without going into the
mines at all, seeing so much sickness all through
the country scared them. would not recon-
mend any ofmy friends to come to this country
to make money, yet money can be made here
had known much about the country as I do
now think would not have come, but as am
here, intend to make the most can out of it,
bnt it will take good pile of gold to repay me
for what have suffered, and endured for have
not done thing since the 18th of July | do
not despair of doing WE'LL if | can get my health,
but more of this in my next.
The emigrants arc coming in fast there has
been a great deal of suffering among them in the
owing to their teams giving out
The government has sent mules, wagons and
provisions out to deliver them. Quite number
of deaths among them-most all have the scurvy.
Mr.. Glenat, and Mr.. Hart, son-in-law of J. Il.
Goodrich, arc all that have died from Dubuque,
that have heard Of Lorimier's wagon came
in few days since, all we'll with the exception
of Heacock, who has the scurvy so bad he can't
walk. Charles Lormier has a touch of it also,
but he is able to be about. J. Wharton is here
also, with the scurvy SO bad he can't move; lots
of others in the same condition, from our section
Of the country, but none whom you care any,
thing about
I must say, that this is one of the most sckly
countries ever was in; it is worse than the A.
merican Bottom, or any portion ofthe Mississp-
pi Valley that ever heard Of There are hun
drcds of people who have come to this country
that will never live to see the States again, and
hundreds would no: remain in the country if
they had the means to return But ain giving
you rather discouraging account of the coun-
try; but it is the fact, for you know that am
not easily discouraged, neither am / now, for
am satisfied that l can make money if | can
keep my health. would not advise any to
come here, neither would say for them to keep
away-they must use their own judgment l
would say for you and Lorimier, to stay where
you are. Yours, J. S. HEMPSTEAD.
P. 81 had forgotten to say to you, that A.
gustus Corriell got blown up with keg of pow
der, two others with him. The particulars
have not heard .-E. JOE.
Hocs.-The prices arc decidedly better this
week, and the prospect is fair for higher prices
still. Buyers have not obtained sufficient
quantity to fill their contracts, and are begin
rinu IN ontortou oDnrehen aon that tb.y will