Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-02

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, and that overland did not begin
to arrive until the last Of August and first
Of September. The Chilinos and Mexi-
cans were early in the country. In the
month Of July it was supposed there were
fifteen thousand foreigners in the mines.
At place called Sonoranian camp, il was
believed there were at least ten thousand
Mexicans. They had quite city oftents.
booths, and log-cabins; hotels, restaurants,
stores, and shops Of all descriptions, fur
nished whatever. money could procure.
Ice was brought from the Sierra, and ice
creams added 10 numerous other Injuries.
An enclosure made of The trunks and
branches Of trees, and lined with cotton
cloth, served as sort Of smphitheatre for
bull-fghts; other amuselnents, character
istic Of Mexicans, were to be seen in al
directions.
The foreigners resorted principally to
the southern 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
the season the Americans were mostly
employ ed on the forks of the American
and on Bear. uba, and Feather rivers.
As their numbers increased they spread
themselves over the southern mines, and
collisions were threatened betwee them
and the foreigners. The latter, however,
for some cause, either fear, or having sat-
isfed their cupidity, or both began TO leave
the mines late III August, and by the end
Of September many Of them were out Of
the country. a
is not probable that during the first part Of the
| season there were more than FIVE or six thousand
/ Americans in the mines. This would swell the
whole number, including foreigners, to abouttwen-
| ty thousand the beginning OF September. This
| period embraced about half Of the season. curing
which gold may be successfully collected IN the
| rivers.
very particular ana extensive inquiries respect
ing the daily earnings and acquisitions Of miners
lead to the opinion that they averaged an ounce per
day. This is believed by many to be low estimate;
but from the best information was able to procure,
| l am of opinion it approaches very near actual re-
Suits The half Of the season, up TO the ist Of Sep
| tember, would give sixty five working days, and to
each laborer, at SI6 per ounce, $i,o40. II, there
fore we assume 81 200 as the average collected BY
each laborer, we shall probably not go beyond tho
| mark. u tF T." ~F lS
| This would give an aggregate OF s2s 900 900 for
the first half of the season-s16, ,o0o, 600 Of which
was probably collected by foreigners. During the
last half Of the season the number Of foreigners
was very much diminished, and, perhaps, did not
| exceed tive thousand. At this time the American
| immigration had come in by land and sea, and the
number of fellow citizens in the mines had, %
estimated, increased to between forty and hfty
thousand. They were most Of them inexperienced
in mining and it is probable the results OF their Ia
bors were not as great as has been estimated for
the first part Of the season, and experienced mi
ners; assuming that the average OF half an ounce
per day ought to be considered as reasonable, it
would give an aggregate OF about $40 0oo, 900. II
from this we deduct one fourth on account OF the
early commencement nj OF the wet season, we have
estimate OF S15 000, 600; at least i've or which
was, collected by foreigners, who possessed many
RI advantages from their experience in mining end
knowledge Of the country. zs@.s u4
These estimates give, as the result OF the opera
tons in the mines for S4S and lS49, the round sum
of sac, 900, ,oe0-one half OF which was probably col
lected and carried out Of the country by foreigners
|. From the best information could obtain, am
led to believe that at least Sao,o0o,0oo OF The S40
100000 were taken from the rivers, and That theii
l., rchness has not been sensiby diminished, except
in a few locations which had early attracted large
bodies of miners. This amount has principally
Oeen taken from Inc northern FiteFS tHOSS WHICH
empty into the Sacramento; the southern rivers, OF
those which flow into the San Joaquin, having been
comparatively, but little resorted to until near the
close of the last season. These rivers are, howev
er, believed, by those who have visited them to be
richer in the precious metal than those in the nor
thern part Of the gold region. @#@ "@
| There is one river which, from reported recent
discoveries, and not included in the description oi
those flowing into the great plain west OF the Sierra
Nevada. is as rich in gold as any of then That is
the Trinity, which rises north of the headwaiers OF
the Sacramento, and discharges into the Pacific not
far fro the fortieth degree Of north latitude.
y There are, as nearly as my recollection serves
me, twelve principal rivers in which gold has been
found; but most of the twenty millions in the a.
beve estimate was taken from six or seven ofthem
where it first discovered and most accessible
Adopting the hypothesis that the gold found In
the beds of these streams has been cut or worn
r from the veins in the quartz through which they
have forced their way, and considering the fact
that they are all rich, and are said to be nearly e.
qually productive, we may form some idea OF the
vast amount of treasure remaining undisturbed in
the veins which through the masses Of rock in
various directions over space forty or fifty miles
wide, and near five hundred miles long. -
II we may be allowed tn form conjecture J.
pecting the richness of these veins from the guam
tity OF lump or coarse gold found IN the dry dig
gings, where it appears to occupy nearly the same
superfces it did originally in the rock-ts specific
gravity being sufficient to resist ordinary novins
causes--we shall be led to estimate almost be-
| yond human calculation and belief. Yet, ns far a.
, l can perceive, there is no plausible reason why
the veins which remain in the quartz may not be ~
valuable as those which have become separated
from the decomposed rock. This matter can only
be satisfactorily decided by actual discoveries.
The gold egion of California having attracted
large share of pubic attention, it was to be expect
cd that various Suggestions and propositions would
be made with respect to the proper mode of dispo-
sing OK it.
The difficulty in arranging suitable plan has
been the want Of accurate information on which \
| well considered opinion might be formed. Its dis
tance from the seat OF goyernmcn mt, the conflicting
statements and reports respecting ii, served pnly
to bewilder and nystify the public mind, and rem
der a thor rough examination Of il necessary to as
certain whether its value is such as to render legis
Iation necessary for its proper prote cton and man.
agement .. .8-e.z s- .-.s ...
If it appears, from the preceding part OF this re-
port, that it is sufficiently important to require lar
suited 10 the condition and development Of Its
wealth, we are necessarily brought to the consider
alton of the proper rules and regulations 10 be a
doped for that purpose.
| The survey and sale Of that section OF eoantIy, I,
under our present land system, or any other mode
which may be devised, would, undoubtedly, cause
very serious discomfort among those who have
gone and all who may desire to go there to collect
gold, and most unnecessary and unavoidable inc
quality in the distribution of wealth among the pur-
chasers. I'D. ~ u.~.as-.- .-..o
Sections and parts Of sections OF land having no
indications of gold the surface, but possessing
untold treasure in the bowels of the earh might be
sold for what would be a mere trine in comparison
OF their real value. Capitalists would cYerbd the