The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-04-18
: rrrrp FROM CALIFORNIA.

The following letter from Mr.. WHEELkR' 20
merIy representative Of this aud Clinton cou"y
IN the Legislature, will interest our readers '1o"'
AZ. r.,;ahlc nature. We obtain il from the In
buque Iiibunc:-
FEATHER RIVER, Caltiornla,l
January 9th, 1850.
Ihscan this letter on yesterday, when Was
called away 10 assist in bnrying man from WASH
inston Co Iowa, who had been living but a lew
rods from nv tent, and has been very sick for tw o
= 81 aud did not know Of his sickness but
fsw hours before his death. The present pofula-
tiou of California know but little Of each other,
which Is caused BY the greatdesre 70 proc. eolu.
Every man hunts it with that slngseness liee''hs,
that Il you could see US at q distance you wou'"
be compelled to think that We believed we were
created for no other purpose, and that we were
bound by every moral obligation that u KNOWN IN
this world. to vie with each otherfor the most gold
We have no acqnaintances except such a. weiorm-
on the road over the plains, and theiew we mess
with in camp. The fact is, every man IS Tor ms
dear self, and irhe can get plenty Of the yellow
dust he does not seem TO care who dies OF VINO
lives, so they let him alone and keep Their nanas
GU, Of his gold bag. Every person seems honest
as Ear as known, which nave iouna 20 ue ue
case in all countries where money IS plenty anu
easily procured. Yet ! have no douh 1ut there
are many instances where men are rooped Of ,helr
gold and their bodies put ont oil the way. Ihere
has been one proof oft come under my observa-
ton within few days, q man was found ~ me
river strpned Of "a II his clothing and stabbed IN
thee places. Ihave no doubt BIZ, he wa murder
ed for his money. Thus have given you an IN
martial view Of the social relations IN California IN
1850. believe il true picture oil the present
state OF society in the mncs; but how It IS n the
towns am moi able 10 Judge, as have only been
in Sacramento City, and was there but short
time. However, from the number Of Gambling
shops could look into in the business part OF tue
city, should think the tone OF moral sentiment
has moi improved much faster than IN the diggings
The prospects for making money here are guile
as good as expected before left Iowa, PROVIDED
a man will work and take care OF what ne
earns. Blu, all he big blasts you have seen and
will see daily hereafter in the papers about the
gold are imaginary puffs Of newspaper scribblers
who are paid for their wind in proportion 10 The
excitement they get up. The accounts you see
in the napers Of Messrs. A. & b. having within
the last few days made their fifty and hundred
thousaa al are aistuff or am not correctly informs
ed bythoye that have resided in California ever
since gold was discovered here The man that
makes money here has to work for It, and ne has 70
work as hard as he does in the States but is better
paid. Judging from what have seen and what
l
pay about 81, so man per day, and It costs for
provisions from 81, o5 TO S2,50 per day. have
known men to make over 500 in a day and
have heard that that amount and over has been
made by the same persons for several days IN
succession. | never have done il. ! am now
work ing in what i, called good digginss, aad
day before yesterday Alvin, man by the name
Of Miller, and myself washed out Sloo,lO II
was the best days work we have had in Calior-
MIA. ! think mining for gold much safer BUSH
ness than digging fer lead, for this reason ::
mining FOR gold think man can safely calculate
on making his board every das, and anan mining
for lead may work equally as hard for month
and not make one cent
Provisions Of all kinds are very high, but much
lower than they were one month ago. -Four is
now from 30 to 50 cts. per pound, and The first OF
last month it was sold here for 81! .e5 and so.
These are the prices we have paid in the mines,
but in the city provisions are much lower. First
OF December paid in the city S35 per tbl. on
board cf ship. but in stores i, was held at $40
and not as goodan article, Polk is selling in the
mines at 50 cts. per pound. feans, 30; Coffee,
SO; Sugar, 60; Rice, SO: Apples 81 80. Molas-
ses, 81 90 per gallon; Boots and Shoes are very
high. When was in the city / could not get
good boots for less than $50, and have been told
hat since that time they have been much higher;
But boots are now much lower in the Mines
They have been sold within the lastweek for $50.
Every thing was reasonably low about the tine
se arrived in the mines, but abont that time the
Emigrants came in so fast the stock Of provisions
In hand were not sufficient to supply The demand,
every thing eatable went up in a
harry. Hauling went mp with every thing else,
and that las had 10 come down with provisions,
so that men can do better at mining We shall
not want provisions in the mines daring the bad
weather which will last until about the first OF
March. ! suppose We have enough on hand TO
asst US three months or over, except pork, and OF
hat ar,icle, We do not use much. We do not
consider il healthy, il is said that the use OF pork
gives men the scurvy, which has proved very IA
al on the road and in this country. do not
hnk this country is healthy at present, and il is
doubtful whether the cultivation OF the soil will
make il much better. II Is the most miserable
country for farming that have ever seen. Only
small portion OF the land is fl for cultivation,
md that part is confined 10 the Sacramento Val
ey, where the timber is OF an inferior quality and
rot very plenty. I would advise all who think
# enigraing 10 California with their families, 10
abandon it, for am sure no person now in Cali
ornia wants his family here. If he values their
,eace and comfort. 1t will do for working men
o come here and make few pounds OF gold,
,ut loafers and srelled head. better STAY where
1ork and flour are plenty. got in here so late
n the season. shall not be able 10 make much
his winter, and here let me sly TO you and all
,thers that think ofemisraling TO California, new
II to axe the route over the mountains. II is he
most expensive and dangerous-and by taking
he Southern Route You will save from three to
our months time which is wo.ih considerable in
California. must close this letter without the
tory being half told Remember me 10 your
lear old mother and family and EXCEPT for your
eli the esteem of
Your humble servant,
l.. WHEELER
ToJ. II. Harrison, Esq
ADDITIONAL NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA.
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