Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-03-01

bred for it. Why split clapboards of the
toughest kind. four feet long, cost forty
dollars a thousand, and I did not know
how soon / might find Thomas, and leave
here Vineyard and | will work together
this winter we bear equal proportions of
the expenses of the table We shall com
mence working next Monday, in some of
the dry Kanyons We shall throw out the
dirt, and wash it when the rainy season
commences. The miners work now at
great inconvenience for want OF water.
went out and worked two or three hours
day before yesterday. l took pan and
partly filed it twice with dirt that | took
off from very near the top of the ground,
and washed it and got out about $50
worth. Wages are from - TO $40 day,
and board 50, making ss2l a week, and no
lodging at that If they have no tent to
sleep in, they have to sleep under tree,
or wherever they can find a place Pro
visions are very high Flour sells at from
3lS to $50 per Dbl Pork from $50 to
SIS, according to quality Coffee II TO
l6 cts per ID. Sugar Is to 20 cts. Rice
s to 10. These are the prices at Sacra-
mento city, but they sell much higher
here This place is on pleasant Val
ley" As miles from the city, and they
charge twelve dollars a hundred for haul
ing from there here The scarcity Of
grass makes hauling so high Flour sells
here at $50, Pork about 385, Salt a dol
lar a pound, Saleratus SO, Butter 81,
Cheese 81, Fresh Beef 80, Dried Apples
> % per ID, Dried Peaches 81 so, Sugar
40, Coffee 80, Molasses 81 per gal, Vim
egar So, Sperm Candles 1925 per ID,
Picks 81 to So. Shoyels s. to $50, six
quart tin pans s. to 81, tin cups so,
coarse Boots from 50 to IS, coarse Wool
en- Pants about 81. Calicoes are tolerablv
reasonable. You will perceive from the
above prices that it costs something to
live here, and am of the opinion that
provisions will be much higher after the
rainy season sets in There can be no
hauling done during that season. All
who are able are laying in their winter
stock of provisions now.
[ am not able to tell you much about
the country yet. These are the first mines
that l have come TO, and here | am vet
and expect to stay here until spring The
country, as far as [ have seen it. looks
very unpromising But we expected moth
ing else of the mining regions This
place is situated among the mountains,
away up in the Pine regions The great
er part Of the timber here is Pine There
is some serubby Oak, but they use Pine
altogether in building whether log build
lngs or frame, The ''diggings" here I
suppose are not as rich as in some other
parts of the mines, but great many are
leaving other parts and coming here to
winter. These are what are called dry
diggings, They are not profitable in sum
mer on account of the scarcity of water.
but IN the "raTny season" they can be made
profitable. This is considered the hottest
and sickliest season Of the year. The
days are very hot, and nights cold. though
the days are no hotter than summer DAYS
in Wis, if as hot When | said thev are
very hot, | meant, compared with the
R1@hfS. / think it Is a most delightful
climate There arc several sick here at
the present time, with the scurVy, owing,
| suppose, to the practice Of eating salt
provisions. We have no vegetables of
any kind. There are some onions in town
for sale at - ,25 per b., Ueyqy cheap that!
Those who viii work in this country. can
make money, and OnlY those who work
The t0ater has no better chance Of living
here than he has in Wis. To make mon
cy he must be Industrious The gold is
scattered al along in the ravines. or hajs-
Y2l5S, as they are here called much more
plenty III some places than in others. Of
course: and while some make fifteen or
twenty, and even fifty or a hundred dollars
day, others viii not perhaps, make dol
lar. / should not advise any one who can
make money at home to come here. 1t is
OF ha.A Z.
whole summer, besides considerable mon
ey, to come here; and it is real hard work.
and no mistake, to travel, and he might
work here some time and not make it up
and again, he might get a-jch in a week -.
II | were in Wisconsin now. and had
family, l should stay there if | were
S1nSLe man, | might come / only speak
though, as far as my present knowledge is
concerned. L have never been below this
they say there are better places than this
If | live, I shall move further down next
summer. Respecting California for fl2y5,z-
ing, Of course I can say nothing 4 great
many gentlemen from the Eastern cities,
who expected tocome here and pick up gold
on the top Of the ground have discovered
their mistake, and left the country in de-
spair. [ think that real business man
would do well in this country almost
every one makes great mistake in their |
'it-out." They lay in q hundred things
that they ought to leave at home; and
however splendid their ft-out when lcav-
ing home, they almost invariably come
here with nothing more than they can car
~ about their persons. III were to start
again, | would bring, instead of a Heaev
lrago'1, a carriage, or rery light acagoa:
that IS if | had children; but start with /
only myself and wife, should pack thro'
Clarinda rode on horse back all the wav
from Salt Lake Valley here, and kept in
most excellent health If brought wac-
ons, [ would mules, or horses in prefer
snce to oxen. Mules would be my choice.
II l could get good ones, that is, heavy
made mules, not tall Ionglegged ones
Ii | could not get mules to suit me. 7