The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-03-23
The Albany COmpany-The Mines
Large Lnnmma.
San Franeisea Ian,1arr al 1s5f

Large LNnmm@s
San Francisco. january 81, 1850
To the Editor N. Z Tribune:
have learned that the Albany compan
Immediately on arriving here followed the e1
ample of most other companies,) dissolved an
divided up their effects. The inducement
here are SO great for men to seek their owi
fortunes, that on arriving here they throw
away their consciences, and regardless of thei
duty to God or man rush headlong to tn
mines
4 The riches Of the mines are being develop
ed more and more every day. Operation
have been very successful this winter-nev
placers are constantly being discovered; in
deed, at a certain elevation, the whole exten
tof country from Oregon to New Mexico ap
pears to be one vast mine of gold. The sand.
at Sacramento city are shining with the pre-
eious metal. Gold has been picked from the
sand taken from a well some eighteen feet from
the surface Of the ground at San Francisco
At Sacramento city many dollars worth was
washed from the sand by the late freshet; in
short, over this whole region, where the coun-
i try has the appearance of having been raised
or disturbed by volcanic action gold is found.
When it is obtained from the esrth it is found
1imbeded in or resting on clay or slate and as
sociated with black sand; when found in the
rock it is associated always with white
quartz.
Some astonishingly large gieces of gold are
reported TO have been found at the Stockton
mines within the last two weeks One piece
weighing ttOenty-tkree poands was brought to
Stockton on Thursday. Another piece of in
credible size and weight was also reported to
have been brought to Stockton on Friday-it
was said to weigh ni'eetyeight pounds. saw
a number of persons on board the Stockton
boat who had seen the lump weighing twenty
three pounds The gentleman who carries
the express between Stockton and San Fran
cisco, told me he soaO and had an his hands the
piece weighing minety-eight pounds If this be
true it is the largest piece of gold ever found,
except one found in the Ural Mountains, which
weighed nearly one hundred pounds, trov
Digging gold is like every thing else in
which men engage-sone succeed while 9TH
ers get discouraged and go home penniless.-
However, among us those who are dilligent
and not too fond of prospecting, believe there
are but. few unsuccessful, however widely
their success may differ
A Mr. Arnold worked six weeks and obtain
ed, clear of expenses, 800. Another man
Just from the mines told me he had worked
81 days and had collected $1,000. Another
gentleman from the same diggings had col
lected in three months $4,000. l could emu
merate perhaps fifty cases with similar result,
judging from accounts given by those who had
worked in the mines The above is about what
is averaged by those who dig faithfully
Some by chance open pocket las it is call
tab,
weeks; but cases of this kind are rare.
At present only the coarse particles of gold
are sought after: but few machines for separ-
ating the fine dust from the sand are in ope-
ration. / know of but one, and am inclined
to believe there are no others of Importance;
this is or was on Mormon Island. A number
had been put up at this place by one eompa-
ny just before the rains commenced, but have
been washed away since. These are quicksl-
yer machines, and | am satisfied that an i'm
mensity of money can and will be made with
them the coming season. The one in opera
ton cleared $12, 900 week.
Of those who go to the mines probably
about one-third work in them, another third
enter into speculation, trade, or gamble, the
other third return to the cities satisfied with
seeing without digging and seek employment
there, or if they are SO fortunate as to have
sufficient money or friends to send it to them,
they take the first steamer home. 1t is here
as in all other places the world over, only the
dilligent and persevering succeed. Unprece-
dented facilities for enterprise and business are
daily opening, but 20 take advantage of these
opportunities the same business TACT persever-
ence and industry is necessary here as else
where.
There are three points in this territory
which will unquestionably be of considerable
in business point of view, viz
San francisco, from the start she has got and
the amount OF capital she has got to sustain
her. and Sacramento city and Stockton from
their natural positions
An effort is now making for Benicia, but it
will not succeed SO far as THE PORT of the Pa
cifc. New York of the Pacific has fine site
for city and good harbor, but no better
than Benicia and no further out of the way.
Sacramento city is at the head of ship nayiga
ton on the Sacramento river Nothing can 90
above with more than 8 inches water in the
dry season. The business from the vast coun-
try and mines above, which must secure their
supplies from her, will make her one of the
first places in the territory. True, the city and
county about, was submerged some twol
weeks since, but the fact will IN no way de-
tract from the value of property or her growth
-OS-
HUNGARY.
and Misery of the Country.