The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-02-28
LErrER FROM CALIFORNIA.

| : We are indebted - MT. II. "a WAso's :.
ant VALLEY. Scott county, for the following inter-
eating and instructive letter from his brother. y
.hows more ID detail the struggles Of those VINO
90 10 California, than any we have YET haa '"s
pleasure Of publishing -
SAN Francisco, Nov. goth, l5av.
Dear Brother:-I arrived in this city from inc
Southern Mines about weeks ago, after an ao'
sence Of iour and half months, employed u
searching after the precious metals. inmed''
ately visited the post office in the firm belief tha
l should find score Of letters there for me, and
such was my anxiety to receive some intelligence
from INV friends that could hardly keep my pa
tience among the crowd until my turn came TO in
quirc, but what was my disappointment and IN.
dirnation when the clerk informed me that there
was not one for me. could not believe It, and
insisted upon his looking all the MS. over, which
he complied with and 10 my establishment there
was not single letter, could not reconcile my
self to this seeming neglect, and almost came 10
the conclusion tina, would never write another
letter to New York while lived
Mr.. Miller and myself went to the mines and
worked together while we remained there. We
worked very hard, and Jared as hard as we work
ed, and although our labors were not crowned
with great success, yet we have the satisfaction
Of informing our friends that there were no other
two live men in the diggings that did larger
days work or procured more Of the Ore, Tor Inc
same time and chance that we had, than we did.
We got S456 worth in one day, and had our luck
continued at that rate, we most undoubtedly
would have been pretty flush BY this time, but
such was not the case, there were nearly as ma
ny days that we did not get many more cents
than we got dollars that day; as there were that
we cot an ounce. We often got from $50 TO
$50 per day, yet We did not average an ounce
piece day. The day before we left the mines
we divided our gold aud found that We had l68
ozs. which at $l6 per ounce gives S2,6S8. Our
expenses in getting TO and from, and in the mines,
were nearly $500, which We paid in gold co'n'
considering it much to our advantage to do SO,
for in paying out dust in small amounts person
is liable to lose by it. We stopped in the mines
Just as long as we could make a per day, and
when that amount can't be obtained you are not
receiving pay for your labor, j; will cost you
half of it to live; and who would undergo the
harlships and exposure incident to such life,
for two dollars per day! No one would that
knows anything about California and its prices.
Two dollars here will not 60 as far as two shil-
ings in N. Y. Here you are charged S., 80 for a
meal which often consists OF nothing but pork
and beans and little coffee. Provisions within
the last six weeks lave raised to fearful price.
Flour has been lately selling from $50 to $40 in
quantities and $50 by the single sack, Pork has
brought from $40 to so, and almost every kind
Of provision and groceries Liquors excepted) are
selling at enormous rates, butter sells quick at
8, % per h., cheese ST. dry goods are also look
ing up. Common board cannot be got for less
than SIS per week and board and lodging $l9
Some OF the larger establishments charge much
higher. Rents are outrageously high, any kind
Of building on business street brings $500 per
month, and some Of the public houses fronting
the square, am told, pay $4,000, and even
these are small and of ordinary construction, not
ahording the accommodations Of common coun-
try Inn.
The city for the last month has been overrun
with people who have abandoned, or been driven
ont Of the mines by the heavy rains that have
lately fallen. The streets are in most horrid
condition, the mud being SO deep that il is almost
impossible for man or beast 10 get through them
Car,men get from S. to 81 load, which in ma
ny instances does not exceed 800 lbs. Common
labor is not in much demand, very few can get
employment for more than one day in place
Clerks wages are SI5o per month without board.
Common labor Sc per day.
l have been trying to get some steady employ
ment ever since arrived here, but have not sue
ceeded as yet, or had any encouragement Of get
ting any during the winter, was quite anxious
when got here to 60 about something that would
pay my expenses il nothing more. made ex-
tensive inquiry and several applications for EN-
ployment, but il availed me nothing, every situa-
ton was filled and many OF the occupants receiv-
ed nothing but their board.
Things are assuming al alarming appearance
here just now, aud should they continue three
months longer they would present scene ofvice
and misery unparalleled among civilized men,
There are thousands in this city and other por-
lions Of upper California who are destitute OF
means or resources to procure scanty subsis-
tence through the winter, and great many who
through want, exposure and other causes. are Ian
gushing, not on beds Of sickness, but lying on
the cold damp ground with no covering but a
blanket and nothing to protect them from the
cold rains and chilly winds but miserable tent;
many of which are made of common cotton
There is a hardly boarding house in this city
and most are devoted to that business) but what
have more or less sick ones in them. A young
man died at the house am stopping at, last Tues
day morning, his complaint was chronic diar-
rhaa, and out Of 10 boarders there are six who
are complaining. ] have enjoyed pretty good
health most Of the time since left New York
and am at the present time quite well, but God
only knows how soon may be Frustrated with