The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-16
From the Dubuque Emigrants.

| We announced last week, that several letters
had been received in town, from gentlemen well
known to the citizens of Dubuque, now in Ca
lfornia. We have been furnished the privilege
of reading several of these, and present to oul
readers the following synopsis as embodying cv'
erything of importance therein contained
Mr.. JOHN CorFEc, writing to F. E. Bisscll
from "Dry Diggings,' under date of Oct. 3Oth,
says, he and his family arrived at that place on
the 25th Sept, in good health. He sold his wag.
on and oxen for $3SO.60 He is digging gold
and with another man, who went with him, is
making from $40 to $500 per day each. His
wife and daughter have engaged in washing,
and make from $12 to $lS per day.
He says, "a strong good girl can make a for
tune in year.
They suffered much hardship in the journey
but had no sickness. He adriscs no one to
come by land.
Speaking Of Mr.. Harris death, lie says there
was much difficulty in getting material for a
coffin. Il Brother .Nason furnished ga board
and half andhe Coffee made the coffin GIN
the best way he could
He further remarks: "All the Dubuque BOYS
arc safe in the mines, in different places Mr.
Corel was blown up last week, by man throw
Ing lighted cigar in key of powder; he went
to throw water on it, when it exploded; 4 were
killed. He had $240O, after all expenses were
paid The Blakes arc safe in the diggngs some
wherc-not in this part of the mines They
will be here, think, in the winter, as this is the
best place to work.
Mr.. Jos. S. HEMPsrEAp, writing from Yu-
ba River. uses the following language with re-
gard to the prospects of making money in Cali
forna:
| You wish to know how much man can make
per day; that is more than | can say. There
| arc but few that | have seen, that make more
than one ounce per day-that is, they do not av-
erage more; some days they make two and three
hundred dollars, and there days they do not
make anything. Where we are, those that work,
make about $l2 per day, and have to work hard
to do that You can hear ofpeople making their
thousands per day, but have seen none of them
| saw one Frenchman, from Montreal, who took
out IS pounds in Is days, he is the only one
have seem
If a person could keep his health, and get pro-
Visions at tair prices, he could do well; but SO
far as have seen, there has been more money
made by trading, than by mining; but it requires
a man with capital to do that-and that dc
not suppose will last a great while. This coun
try is good deal like the lead mines, so far as
mining is concerned. | have seen hundreds Of
people that have done nothing, or made nothing
have to hire out, to get money enough to leave
the country. The roads from the mines to the
Sacramento River, are filled with people, some
going back to the States, and others coming tc
the mines, as they could not find gold as plenty
as they anticipated, they leave in disgust; but
am satisfied there is money to be made in Cali
fornia, either by mining or tradng but requires
perseverance, and for man to live like an Indi
an, to endure all kinds of prvations and hard
I ships. it certainly is one of the hardest coun
tries ever was in; but am not afraid but what
| shall be able to make something, if can kccE
my health, for | am not disappointed in the
mines or country; but enough Of this for the pre-
sent.
Pork is selling for $1.5O per pound; flour sc
cents; sugar do; rice 80; saleratus $1,000 Del
lb; tea, $500; fresh beef IS cts Brandy sic
per gallon, or 81 per bottle, I'VE do not use the
article); pair of boots $1,000; shoes, 5000; com
mon shirts $500; and everything else in pro-
portion. A laborer gets from $40 TO $12 pei
day; good mechanic gets from SIG to 1918 pei
| day; clerks at Sacramento City, or San Francis
co, get from $500 to $500 per month; teamne
has been the best business have seen YETI haul
| ing from the river to the mines, we had to pay
1913 per 100 to this ploce, and have to pay more
as you 60 up the river. Childs sent us a bag OF
flour from the river, that cost $12 there, and the
freight on it here was $50; SO you see man
must do well to live at such prices