The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-06-01
Letter from California,
Correspondence of The Cecil Whrgl
Tuolo me county, California, !
$50 miles from San Francisco. !
April 18th, 1880, \
Jos. ROMAN, JR., Seer.
April 9th, 1880.


$50 miles from San Francesca
April 10Th, 1880.
! address YOU from one of the most pro-
ductive regions Of California. Two days
after the date Of my letter from San Fran
cisco, got on board small sailing craft
for Stockton, distant 80 miles from the
former place. Stockton is thriving has
tily built town OF 1900 inhabitants, stu
ated upon the San Joaquin pronounced
Wa kn,) river. In it, as IN San Fran
cisco, the occupation OF two thirds Of the
people is gambling. Rents are enormous.
The principal hotel is toerabIe looking,
two story frame building, and rents for
$4,000 per year. remained there three
days, then, in company with three other
persons, started a-ioot for my present To-
cation. I am working in partnership
with three fellow passengers on the Ore
gon---we work alike and share the profits
equally. Each OF us have our separate
duties 10 perform IN and al out the e ut,
1t falls to my lot TO be cook, and ! assure
you | can make a pot of coffee and 'sdo
up" rot OF pork and beans, in as quick
time as any cook in "thcsc diggings."
Our tent is pitched in beautiful val
ley, Sill rounded by high hills that are Gov
cred with flowers and shrubLerv, and
huge pines that have stood for centuries
untarmed, and until recently untouchtd
by the white mans axe. Away in the
| distance are the Sierra Nevada mountains.
As their name indicates, they are truly
snow mountains. They really look as
though they encircled world. am
told the California Indians believe they
cannot pass the "snow mountains" until
after death, and then. that all beyond is
one vast hunting ground.
l have new been thirty five days gold
digger, and must say like the lfr it
compels me TO lead The "dlgger is the
mos: independent fellow in the world.
He has but two commands to obey "thou
shalt not take that which is not thine
own ''nor shalt thou dg in thy neigh
boris pincer" These commands are sell
dom violated, and when they are, wo 10
the transgressor il he be caught A few
days since Mexican "greaser" stole II
on. from an American; he was detected.
arrested, tried and sentenced to pay back
the "A OF, and OF, cost, and TO receive
IS lashes on his bare back, and then, if
found in Nhese diggings" twelve hours
afterwards, he was to be shot Gown by
the first man who saw HIM. You may be
assured this sentence was carried into Ell
feet, as the rardonIng power has never
been heard OF here.
The miner has no grim landlord expect
ing his quarterly rent: he "squats" upon
Uncle Sans land and burns his finest tin .
Der with IMMUNITY. He has no sulen
boarding-house keeper lool ing for his
weekly pay, nor does he encounter some
grnmbIng washer-woman who complains
OF "extra'' pieces. He is not compelled
to be dodg'ng some dunning tailor, and
consequently has not to complain OF had
fitting coats. No, he cooks, washes and
mends his own clothing, and seldom re-
qnires new garment. All the sickness
you read of in the mines is a humbug
Why, the miners are the healtheSt, hap
piest set of fellows in the world. The
hardships, toll and labor have been over
rated entirely. / have often been more
fatigued after day spent behind the coun-
ter, than after days use oil the shovel
and pick.
Acquiring gold is to some extent lot
terry, though any man can make good
wages. | can make ~ expenses with
simple TN pan ard pocket knife. The
first day worked made five dollars, and
a man within three yards OF me made
Sl27. My labor has so lar heen variousIy
rewarded. | have made from s. to $40
day and the average has been over Con-
gress wages / am satisfied with this be-
cause 1t is as good as expected had
no idea OF rushing upon a fortune as soon
as arrived IN California.
AS to tn" extent OF the mines-I believe
they are ineXhaustablr. l believe a very
few years will pass before individual mini
ing, as at present carried on, will cease to
be profitable. But then Will be developed
the real wealth OF California ' he pres
ent operations are mostly confined to small
ravlnes and bars in the rlvers--the noun
tans, the source OF the precious metals are
untouched Mining there will require
time, capital and organization of labor.
This California emigral on has caused
great change in the occupation Of many
men AT Stockton | saw 4 !orlher niuis-