The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-04-13
Late From California.

The following letter from California Is from Mr.
Gridry. and was written IL Mr. Cushman. Of this
plaos. to whom We Ale indebted for PERMISSION to
publshi,.
! SAcaAxsSro CRY, Feb 20. 1850
/ Vt. H. ". tSahmaa-DEu SIN You're Of
OFT slst was received n few days since II Of.
fordcd me much pleasure to hear once more
from my friends in Ottawa The advice contaned
In yeur letter was duly considered, and YOU have
nv thanks for the Suggestions | am pleased to
learn that the town is improving. and that I is
now quite healthy. Mr.. ksyfer arrived few
days agr, and pa,seds day very pleasantly with
him, for he gave the all the new IN detail to We
~ late date. lie says that mn money would in
eiuce HIM 10 remain long in this country. and that
he shall certainly return 10 the states with me.
He left last evening iur the mines in good spirits
aud in good health
How little Is known III the states regarding the
mines ot California. II does seem 10 me thu, Z.
noush has been said. ami written already 10 sat
lily any Reasonable man. that II he is well situa.
ted at home, If he can obtain the comforts Of life,
he had much better remain there. have often
written that some strike rich place, and obtain
large amount Of the dus m short time but by
fur the majority Of miners do not realize enough
IN one year to pay their board and the expense Of
coming to the country. One mus, make up his
mnd To remain number If years If he expects
10 make enough in the mines to secure n CONNIE,
tency. Those who have been engaged in trade
have generally done well altho' there have been
-oIie failures. Those who came here and wen,
upon The principle of nothing to lose" but blum
dered INTO real estate and every thing else, have
made their fortunes while responsible men who
nat nj In, L 1,
have mad. comparatively but little. There is
any quantity Of gold in California, but it is not
obtained :" easily as many imagine have been
IN the country nearly a year, and have taken
good deal Of pains to ascertain what is doing in
the lnnes, Some are dVing w.n Which means
M ounce per day bu; MOS, think the =, =, ,,rsv
II The; pay expense, through the winter You
see III the papers the receipts Of large amounts
Of gold; bat to whom does i, belongT Toa few
Houses engaged largely in business To Brokers
who have sent thousand. Of dollars in specie, to
purchase the dust To those who hare luf, their
families "hi who send home few ounce. each
oy some Trend, and whose arrival is announced
rs having returned with several THOUSAND doars
obtained IN the mines in few months This is
enough 10 cause an excitement and all seem to
say i II try my chance They come rs hundreds
40 ana arriving here in the winter without n
iriehd and without dollar. are obliged 10 start
LOT the mines, swimming streams, and exposed to
henvy rams, night comes. and they lie down upon
the ground, Wet and suffering from exposure
They at last reach the mines then comes dsap-
pointment, and they cIclaim, Woe is me, misera.
BILE man that am What inducement is there
Tor one to come to California The fact that he
Is sure OF making his expenses, say 81 per dav,
ana he works on, hoping to do better. but when
the season has passed and he makes UP his cash
account he has but little to carry furw ard To new
account. 1hosc who were engaged on the Yuba
last season did the best, rs general thing altho
It was very sickly, and many one who left his
nome one year ago in health, with high hopes If
returning IN a short time to his family, now lies
beneath the ground with naught bit blanket
wrapped around HIM. There will be the greatest
rush this season for the head waters Of the Yuba
TRINITY, Feather and American rivers. The streams
are yet very high, and snow on the mountains is
very deep. Miners can do but little for some
weeks to come. You will perhaps think | am
writing very discouraging letter of the mines
but let me here say that never passed summer
more agrceably and pleasantly in my life than |
dii on the Rocky Bar last year. But in the fall
and during the RAINY season, which was from a.
bout the 18th Of November until the 5,h Of Feb
ruary, | saw more suffering AMI distress than
ever before IN my life 1t was my intention to
have visited some Of the agricultural portions Of
California this winter but travelling in a coun.
Try ike tins m the winter is out of the question
especially when you have to sleep on the ground,
anu DO your own cooking 1t is now warm plea,
ant weather. for several days last week the ther.
mometer stood as high as rs degrees. There has
been no day this winter but | have had our
doors open, and been comfortable. like the eli.
mate here in the winter bu, it is hot in the sum.
mer. l wrote you tina, we closed our work on
the Rocky Bar the LIST Of November, being unable
to complete so large n work in one season. lam
strongly in hopes that we shall succeed in dispo.
sing OF our stock, so as to realize fair compensa
ton for our labors. have purchased some lots
IN oberyillc. which is about 90 miles above this
city. We purchased about month ago, and be.
tore they had began to build much. since then
there have been about SO houses built, and two
steamers are running regularly from this city to
ooervlle. Every steamer is crowded with
ueights and passengers. intend going up the
river soon, but shall sell all the town lots | own
and leave for home as early as the Let Of August.
had presented to me- very beautiful specimen
OF gold few days since but not quite So valua
Die as one which | saw in town last week. 1t
weighed Is lbs, not all solid gold however, but
There will be m immense business doing here
tins season, and to those who have capital, and
are prepared for it, it will prove rich harvest
sometimes think should like 10 90 east pur.
chase such goods rs are needed in the country.
and return to remain a number Of wears. during
which time should have my health have no
doubt could make enough to be satisfied with
But will let such thoughts be until see You
think by tina, time shall have enough Of Cali.
lorna to DO satisfied to remain in Ottawa, for
think 1t the garden spot Of the world Nv health
Is excellent. ! shall be for showing off in Tom
Hyer style, when return, Just for the purpose
OF satisfying my friends tina. have some physi.
cal strength at least. am informed that the OF.
tawa boys are generally doing well, and intend
returning home in the fall Morse left here n
few days ago for Weavcrtown. lie was in good
health and spirits. saw gentleman few DAYS
ago from Wcavervie. WHO informs me that
James Bacon Is dead. lie was apparently in good
health IN the morning Of the day he died, but was
taken witha congestve chill, and in eight hours
was n corpse. This will be n severe blow TO his
friends Bacon accompanied me on the road II.
bout three miles from Wcavcrville, then with n
good bye VIC parted to meet no more. Two Of
my friends whom | saw but few months ago in
good health. have been suddenly called away
Tear 1t will be sckly in Sacramento city this
season, for the overflow has caused many TO OK.