The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-22
THE GOLD DIGGINGS.
Our California Correspond nee.
JACKSON CREEK GOLD DlGGINas,
"a. CO. MAY %, 1850.

ydny and their DlsPaSson-Lye 10 TIC 1H"'es-
Society, &c.
Having very little communicationwitht the civilized
world. and il bei z rare thing TO receive paper
Younger Than two 10 four months old, IN these dig
o;nos- hardly know what is going on; and as to
Ie,ters. in consequence of the beautiful post office
arrangements, we get, now and ,hen, one about
sir months after date, and that man who receives
one in due time, is chronicled lucky man, or as
the miners term il, " in a streak of luck" You
know we are all anxious TO hear from our friends,
and it is one of the very few pleasures that we
pect TO enjoy in this country; and where there are
SO many thousand citizeas as there re here at this
time. Justice demands of our government suitable
provisions for transmitting the mails. we send 10
the post office at San Francisco, and only to hear
the stale report of no letters, and no mails or that
mart or the whole have been left on the Isthmus-
Now, friend Bennett, how is this! Is government
TOO poor 10 employ cOnveyances suihclent to carry
the mailsl We pay 40 cents postage upon letters.
If that is not sufficient, double it, No one will
complain if they can only get them. We do not
wish 10 be an expense 20 our governments; If it
cannot provide for US IN this respect, let us
proyide for ourselves as the express lines will de-
liver letters without delay, and not leave them
on the lstbmus. Ii a person goes TO the office at
San Francisco, he will lind thousand or more in
waiting for chance, and he must spend a half a
day before he will get up to the hole in the win
dow and If he has list OF names he is directed 10
a side door; he must go in and select them out HIM
sell, for which he must pay hive cents upon each,
IN addition M 70 The postage. Is this "a government
raDgtment is ceftalaiy bad. There must be a
screw Loose somewhere. We have no redress
here, ana we are obliged TO submit. We feel the
need OF a Bennett, and the Herald, in behalf,to
ferret out the cause and show it TO the people,
whether II Is In agents, or government itself Can
you not, will you not give them broadsde for us!
By so doing, you will receive the thanks of about
two hundred thousand California miners.
From the communications you are constantly re-
ceiving from your correspondents in this country,
| do not know that can give anv additional infor-
nation. The true statements about the country
and the mines ar now pretty generally known in
the States. Since our company (of the bark Straf-
ford), dissolved last fall, (Which, by the way, is
the inevitable destiny of all joint stock mining as
sociations that come here,) | have been in winter
quarters at Dry Greek, about forty miles 5. E. of
Sacramento City, with some fifty of our lsie num-
Der. AT the settlement il is very romantic place,
situated among tn hills, with many beautiful
scene, of valley, mountain and glen, well as
many murmuring brCok.et and dashing waterfall.
Ii is OF the most healthy places in California for
winter quarters. The climate has been mild, soft and
pure; sheltered as is on all side; by hillsit is
shielded from the piercing blasts that sweep over
the mountain tops. There has been very little
cold weather, and only two slight snow-storms
while all around 10 the distance OF II to 10 miles,
and very cold weather. But ii has rained, rained,
rained and such rain storms can only be realized
by experience. They were none Of your storms
OF the East-they would be considered gentle in
comparison Perfect torrents-by the bucket full,
and from a week 10 two weeks al time, during
which, all are obliged 10 keep them elves close in
quarters. have lived in canvass tent during the
entire winter or rainy season, and have not found
il uncomfortable, except during these storms,
which would nd the water through the canvass
and iolm fine miniature ocean of mud upon our
floor Of earth. 1t has been very healthy, and what
sickness there was was in consequence of colds
in attempting 10 mine. The rainy season or winter
here is the most healthy. In the summer, when
there is little CT no water, and all is parched
and dry, 1t is unhealthy. The mines in this
re gon are not as rich as those al the North
Yet some places have been found EQUALLY SO.
and large extent of country at the South
as well as around the upper waters of the
Mocholume, Calsberss &c, remains unexplored
IL Was impossible 20 explore them last summer in
consequence of unfreEdly Indians; but during this
n Will be thoroughly explore in every p3n. At
this time the nvers are IIuCl goen by the melt
ing OF The snow IN The inountains, and mining or
exploring cannot be done for some four 10 SIX weeks
hence. There has been very htte mining done IN
this region during he rainy season, as the creeks
nave been too hig., and the only places where any
ming could bt done to advantage was in gulches
or fhVlnes, and he proceeds have not been very
hsiteiing, with few exceptions. At this time the
waters IN the ravines and ydlches are fast drying
up, and cnuTely 20 IN some, while the main creeks
Tor Their ore. Ia soGe few places, upon the bars,
n pays well; but taken as a whole mining is poor
pay Tor the labor, hardship and exposure necessary
and una' oidable Instead Of finding gold near the
surface, as many suppose, IL Is buried deep beneath,
IN from two 10 ten, and even fifteen feet, and gene
fauy IN water counes, or wet places. You must
stand IA nut AMI water, knee-deep, with one or
Two 10 h-le out, while the other digs out the thin
layer OF earth next to the rock that contains the
gold and II they get from eight To sixteeh dollars
piece Irr day, they are certainly lucky. IL must
be tecullrettd much time is lost in getting the
pace ready, aud u may not last over week,
and then, perhaps, week or two will again be
lost before they will find another. Aud,
again, ~ IL very expensive living in the mnes,
a. articles are transported by the pound al this time
at twenty cents. Consequently. everything must
cost over that sum here, however trifliug II may
be in Sacramento City, and after averaging the
amount received yer day at mining, and deducting
the expenses Of living, u makes rather poor show
Flour sells Al 30 cents per pound sugar. 90 cents;
fresh meat % aud 30 navy bread 30 porh 20; and
even ,hlng ~ proportion. In the winter paid 80
cents for fresh meat 75 cents for sugar. rs cents for
Hour, - per gallon for vinegar, aud - for molss-
ses. ln mining n depends upon luck, and IL is not
for all who come here u make their fortunes, and
very many come here, alas, To die.
The season Of sickness and death is now again
approaching, aud among The thousands here, thou
sands will forfeit their lives rs soon as the waters
IN the mountains dry up; then again sickness. sul-
feTng and distress, espt ciy IN the valleys. where
there IL much sisgntnt water and vegetable decay
II this country could only be visited by occasional
rains u would b. one Of the finest upon the globe
but when seven months of dearth, without a drsp
ofrain, and beneath broiling hot SUM- is taken in
TO consideration, Mat then AT this season Of
tbeyear all Is beautiful; the earth is clothed with
Iis most luxuriani garment Of green, while every
bill, valley, and glen, Is decked with the hues Of
Iris IN the yariegstea aud beautiful blossoms Of in
Vulnerable varieties Of The wild flowers 81 spring
The air Is filled with fragrance, aud every passing
breeze u penumcd with the scent Of the rose,
while mountains aud wales are M ide vocal by the
songs Of sweet feaihered wsrblsrs. and all nature
seems TO smile al its own gorgeous beauty. Were
aFton to be suddenly transported hither, he
would be fascinated with the country. for IL IL GER
tsinly paradise but alas, few more days and
nl VII, oe changed-this beauty and fragrance
viii be gone, oil will b. parched up dry
barren, aud desoiate. The sky l. clear. anil
weather very warm, so much so that IL is I'M
know mining cannot he done IN the shade and we
must endure the heat; in fact, " Is hard CHOOSING
between the sunshine and shade. for when we
Geek refuge from the blazing beneath the shsde
A lIla nhN fIat. m Is only 10 be hu r.,o.