The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-26
From he BATON Rouge Gaxette.

CALIroRNIA.-Thc following account from the
"gold diggins," given BY a well known citizen OF
town, who left here last spring, may not be un
interesting to many of our readers. The letter is
dated Mokelemy river, FIVE hundred miles above
the upper bay, and two hundred and fifty miles
from San Francisco:
my health. have nothing encouraging to write
TO YOU but will give it TO you it Is. left San
Francisco on the 22d August last for stockton,
small town on the San Joachim river, where we set
carried in an ox-cart, for which we paid sixteen
dollars per hundred pounds, and we travelled on
foot; when night came on we slept under tree by
the road side; we were disturbed at night by the
kiotes species OF the wolff they are not danger
GUS, but we were obliged to get up and drive them
away. We finally arrived at the mines on the Goth
day of August, and we spent three days examining
the mines and the country around. cannot give
you a minute description, but imagine deep val
ley and high mountains both sides of the river,
and thousands from all parts Of the world digging
in the banks Of the river, overturnng large rocks,
and sinking holes down to the solid lodges where
the gold il deposited in the crevices; and what as
tonished me most was, instead Of getting gold by
the pound, they were well contented realizing
eight dollars per day. This confounded me little,
20 we conceived a plan which to us seemed better;
we proceeded up the river about two miles, and
commenced building dam across the river, but
there being but three Of us, took in company
ten more, they agreeing to pay us for the privilege
Of going in the enterprise, sixteen doars each; we
turned the Of the river for about four hundred
yards il occupied almost month 10 accomplish it.
We then went to work for gold in the bed of the
river and to our surprise j. proved tSt.if, 10
been, and still am, working with Engiishman.
One alone cannot work TO advantage, owing
10 the great lifting Of rocks out of the way. II APP
pears success depend. great deal IN lues ,s;a
The mott that have taken out in day is thirty
dollars. There were two men at work yesterday
In the next hole 70 and about ten feet from us
from which they extracted one hundred dollars.
II seems to run In veins, and il you can but find
them, much money can be collected. To give
fair average Of the miners success per day, you
may put IL down at eight dollars; but then
there are hundreds that don't make scarcely any
thing, because they cannot stand hard work. do
not know what will become Of many Of them as
for myself confidently believe that viii succeed
yet. have learned great deal about the mines,
but an yet have not done much. From what can
learn from other rvcrs, this is as good az any of
them. Our living In very simple food We live
principally beans, rice, hard bread, Hour, tea,
and coffee. The mining price for flour Is fity
pork ffty cents beef fifty cents, bread fifty cents,
onions one dollar, potatoes two dollars per pound,
and every thing else In proportion. II Is remark
able 70 find in the mines much good order among
people from all parts of the world. No working on
sundays--thcy visit on that day. No stealing. no
lighting. Your property IL perfectly safe. One
law governs them, and that Is the law established
by thcmsclvcs-he that steals over five dollars
worth IL hung by the neck until he IL dead for an
amount under that he has his ears cut of close TO
his head. This has been carried into execution In
a number Of instances, but not ON this river. We
live in little shsnty made Of the bcughs Of trees,
and sleep on the leaves Of pine trces, and yet
enjoyed better health. This 10 Sunday night,
and am writing by bad light. In making re-
mttsnces. II could send gold instead Of draft,
could save over twenty per cent The gold we
gather here is in piece about the size OF cucum.
Der seed, and much the same shape" ftsft