The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-11

Glance at Matters and Inings in California Gold
Dsggipgsr,D Disappearance Hardship and Suffer.
gEg.-1tatasts and Lynch LaU.-ErtsrmiaahO" Of
In my last letter promised TO give you account
OF matters and things in California, and shall now fulh
my piomlse. am, however, AT a loss where 10 begin
So much has been written and published almost every
subject connected with this iarfamed country that nue.
II anything. OF lis past history viii be new 70 you
am therefore, under the necessity oil travelling over
beaten path and Only expect TO interest you Dy the
different views take oil il from the many accounts you
have seen The prominent object oil interest is the
gold which Is found extending large scope OF the
mountain region but Tor this, California would at this
time have been nearly a desert when Inc discovery
wss first made that gold in considerable quantity existed
here there was but very small population here conse-
quently few persons having the whole range of the
placer open them very suddenly possessed themselves
of large Many OF the rayines mountain guches
washed by The winter torrents, but left dry summer
exposed large Quantities OF the metal the surface
which was gathered with but little labor, and pad
much better than digging that great portion OF the
northern pacers ranged over, and The cream gath
cred the rst OF the season but said by persons who
were here at that time that not few then
successful IN meeting their expectations, and after short
experiment left the diggngs disappointed aud Disguised
During the winter OF ls4s49 and the spring following,
very liberal returns Tor the labor expended were real
lzed by many adventures, but the dlsapponed IN.
creased IN number; and since the commencement OF the
Hood OF arrivals here, year feel warranted IN
saying that not one in fifty realized his expectations, or
at all satisfied with the result OF his aboTs But the
few who were successful sent home 10 their friends
such glowing OF their good fortune, and thou
sands of traders, gamblers, lawyers ot and land specua
tors, and persons OF every class interested in bringing
large population here have manufactured and published
such exaggerated reports (mxed up with little truth
respecting the extraordinary advantages OF this country
over all others not only in It's mineral products but IN
climate SOIL adapedness TO agriculture, and position in
reference TO extensive commerce. that the people at home
seem 10 have been carried away aud beweed by these
fctonsat least so should Judge from the floods OF en-
grants now pouring here, and the many thousands
known to be now on their way. We have such intor-
nation induces the belief that eighty thousand persons
Will attempt to cross the mountains hltheward this
u,If that nh.r h.r.
certain. Many doubtless will turn back appalled, by the
difficulties and dangers OF such extended journey,
with the inadequate OUTFIT and appliances within the reach
OF their scanty means; and numbers less
prudent. will perish BY the way from disease and sarva
ton Several parties by the northern route have already
arrived, and the last arrivals report that numbers OF
grants have died of starvation Many ate their cattle,
horses, and mules and were unable 10 proceed further or
subsist where they The grass, always sparse on
portions OF the routes is unusually SO this season. and
where it is ordinarily sufficient for moderate emgra
ton, will become exhausted by the hosts that are
coming. Teams and riding animals will necessarily be
starved out, eaten, abandoned and then what TO
become OF families, embracing women and children
Late advlces induced the call of meeting here
yesterday to raise funds for purchasing provisions and
supplies to be sent forward to meet the sufferers Similar
action had already taken place at Sacramento city and
other towns above, for the same purpose and many will
doubtless be saved who would otherwise inevitably have
persisted But the utmost efforts OF philanthropy will
not be able 10 reach all the and the humane heart
sickens at the idea OF the and suffering consequent
on the weak and folly of letter WRITER'S and the
criminal cupdIty OF Others by whose influence these
fortunate people have become the victims the fell de-
stroyer The deusion under which so many thousands
OF persons have been induced TO break up their establish
ments, disrupt family ties sacrifice their property and
even abandon good iams and encounter the prvaons,
hardshps, suffering and dangers oil tedious Journey OF
three thousand miles has been produced By partial state
ments OF facts-whch because partial more dan.
gerous, and have done more injury than il altogether
false. For instance, several hundred persons will be
gagged digging on one stream gulch. OF these one
lucky fellow will strike rich vein and perhaps get
Gut pound or two OF gold the first day. next day little
tha nF Hntrtt
run out and that individual may perhaps prospect around
for weeks month, before finding another vein that he
considers worth working Ills extraordinary success at
FIRST renders him dissatisfied afterwards because he cannot
make more than bare compensation for his labor Yet
the trader from whom his supplies purchased (hose
interest is 10 collect all the dlggers around him. and
who is OF acquainted with all the transactions OF
his customers, instantly sends of bulletin the nearest
newspaper, relating the extraordinary OF this
dividua giving name, dale and particulars, with
exaegerations, and inmang that such is the average
result OF digging thereabou while, out OF the whole
number al The same dagings, not one IN twenty will
There is PROFESSIONALLY great deal of gold yet in
the pacers OF California and digging will be prosecuted
with various results for many years But owing to the
the personal exposure and rude living be endured by
the operatives the great OF the present class
cuped there will very disappear, and the work will
bedone exclusively by much inferior employ
ed and controlled by large capitalists. Before January
next ninetynine huHdredhs OF all the Americans
digging in the pacers will have left them and as many
rs have means TO bear their expenses home will return
thiiher The beds OF the large rivers are always the
richest and they inaccessible during months OF
the year, the water being TOO high operate. The sea-
son for river digging wall commence about the middle OF
August, and close 10 November
The excessive heat OF the weather this season. the
cold nights, hard labor had fare, and irregular habits o
dggers, will produce much sickness and many deaths
especially IN the northern mines The southern have
hhero been much the most healthy; but the present
state oil affairs there is truly awful The legislature OF
our new State during their late session. having been dis
appointed 10 the expectation OF cuichng the pre-
vously collected for duties imports into this territory
were bestead for money TO pay their per diem, and
TO keep IN motion the machinery OF the government,
conceived grand financial scheme the wind sud
denly. Twenty thousand foreigners were at work in
the southern placersthree ourths OF these Mex
cans from the mining district OF Sonora experienced gold
dlggers and IL occurred 10 sapent legislators that
these persons could be made fruitful aud plant sub
lects oil taxation. Accordingly law passed requr
ing that all foreigners should be prohibited from working
the mines without license, and imposing tax Of twenty
collars per month on each, a bonus for the license
MOST persons here not Immediately interested in this
revenue measure, were curious know where the egs
ature got authority 10 license people 10 rob Uncle Sans
gold banks and many thought they had violated that
clause oil The constitution of United States which re-
qufes that "a taxes shall be equal The preamble 10
the bill furnishes the only solution OF these questions
with which the public has yet been favored n hat pre-
amble, IN substance, sets forth the declaration that
including criminals and cupnis from Mexico, and con-
vcts from the British islands, have emgraled hher and
engaged in robbng the United States government Of
It's unprotected treasure; and whereas the said govern
ment has adopted protect its property
therefore, the legislature deem their duty take their
hands the guardianship OF said properly and pursuance
o. TINS duty, authorize certain agents TO issue licenses TO