The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-02-07

LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
We are indebted 10 Mr.. WIN. Cfossan
for ,he following letter from frieod:-
NoRru roaK of rnE AMERlcANo,l
Oct. 18th, lBA9.
Dear FRrsxp: IL have been on this FORK 'ou1
weeks to. day. am forty miles from the city o.
Sacramento. The first week prospected ana
only got one ounce. There Is very little chance,
a. every place Is taken up BY companies A
company BY draining the river at the head o.
bar and digging canal, claim the whole o. the
bar. The next weak |. went to work for the Tn
ion Company at 10 dollars per day and board
worked four days snd then bought share IN
the company, paying one hundred dollars. Inc
next day I bought two more shares. MessFs
Emory and Thompson came up with me, they are
from Aliens Grove; they were at work only ma
king from to 10 dollars per day. let them
have two shares. The first four days we made
$500; the next week we divided two pounds; this
week we only made 800 each, as we lost some
time in keeping off intruders. There were some
two or three scoundrels who sold their shares in
the company and went 10 work on the head Of
the canal. We called meeting and sent COM
mittee 10 drive them eff. They left, but swore
they would 20 10 work there the next morning.
They got lot Of English and Chilians, and some
loafers, (who will do any thing for whiskey) and
hoisted flag at the head Of the canal. There
were some towards on both sides-enough to
have it settled by arbitrators. We gained It and
thus saved some lives. Our men were armed aud
would no doubt have used their arms il the other
party had discharged pistol, as they threatened
We have eighteen share holders in our company,
mostly eastern men, fine fellows all OF them 10
save any more trouble We sold 200 feet at the
head Of the canal for 500. We have sill 3oo
feet left, besides our old leads which we can
work some two weeks yet; we can work here till
the last Of December. There are good dry dig
eings within five miles of us. We have bad no
rain, except two little showers, nor do we look
for much soon.
Oct e6th, stopped writing to 90 hunting.
Deer are ve-y plenty in the mountains. There
are number of wild cattle within three miles.
some wild mules and sometimes grizzly bear.
One of our Chiians while out one day this week
encountered bear, he had nothing but small
pistol which he fired aud wounded it. II rushed
at him and be took to tree where It kept him
till the next morning, when three others came to
assist the wounded one, stayed about an hour and
then left A man came along hunting about
noon and shot the bear. have been out two
mornings and got deer each morning. Yesier-
day hired man to work in my place, shot four
and got two Of them into camp by noon. Veni-
son sells at 40 cts. per pound. / made two oun-
ces yesterday out Of my lead and two ounces on
venison. We have been doing fine business
This week, we have taken out better than four
hundred in the last four days. am going down
10 Sacramento City day after Tomorrow on bust
ness Tor the company. I expect to have some
wo thousand in dust with me. Would it not be
nv best plan to clear out with it for the States!
There was fellow last night stole 90 ozs. and Al
gold a,ch and left on stolen mule, three men
have gone after him. would not be in his place
for all the gold in California. Sam Stockton
came up here last week. ] bought share in ihe
company for him, he is doing well. Rogers,
Haxley, Scroggins and Lambert have gone up
he South Fork Of This river. Dr.. Brown is in
he city practicing. The rivers are lined with
nea; / suppose there are less on this fork than
~ any other river in California. There are lots
If loaiers here; they work just enough TO keep
hem in liquor and food, then loaf and sponge oil
f their friends, if they have any. suppose
where there is one man doing well, there are ten
lot making more than their board. Mining is
he hardest Of work and very few can stand it.
Many wont stand IL, for work don't agree with
hem. expect to stay here this winter. Think
have diggings that will average me one ounce
er day for two months yet My business to the
,iiy is TO lay in provision for the company for
winter, as the Stores here charge TOO much. As
Don as the rains come on, the roads will be i'm
as.able. Pork, in the City, is worth $45 per
ariel. Flour $24. Hauling up here, ten to iif-
pen dollars per hundred. 1t costs two dollars
er day to live here, and cook yourself. II you
nv provisions from the Stores here you will have
0 ply the following prices: pork 20 cts. per h.;
our 40 cts; beans 40 cts; sugar 40 cts; cheese
2 per ID; molasses 81 quart; vinegar ST. quart;
potatoes 81 per pound; salmon SO cts per lb.;
iquor SO cts. per drink. There are thousands
ere who, if they had funds 10 60 back 10 the
'tates, wouldn't stay here tor all the gold in the
country. There is plenty Of gold here, but it
-. d,,J ,rcrty ~ not IL TIT 4 een my he alth
calculate to get some Of il before come back.
Your friend,
ISAAC THOMAS.