The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-31
THE UNION.

was cre4ted IN combination with quartz too numerous
and striking to admit Of doubt or cay IKsy are found
Ia combination IN large quGntitiss
very large proportion Of the pieces OF gold found in
these situations have more o. less quartz adhsing 70
cannot be separated without reducing the whole mass 10
powder and subjecng il TO the action Of quckslve
This gold not having been exposed to the airton OF
strong current q water retains, in great degree, its
These diggings in some places, spread over valleys
OF considerable extent which have the appearance OF
OF decomposed quartz aud slate EARTH and vegetable mat
ter.
In addition to these facts il is beyond doubt true that
several VEIN mines have been discovered in the Quartz.
from which numerous specimens have been taken show.
ing the minute connection between the gold and the rock
and indicating value hitherto unknown in gold-min-
ing,
These veins do not present the appearance Of places
where gold may have been lodged by some violent erup
ton. II is combined with the quartz, in all imaginable
forms and degrees OF richness
The rivers present very striking, and, il would seem,
conclusive evidence respecting the quantity OF gold re-
naming undiscovered in the quartz veins Il is not prob
able that the gold in The dry dggngs, and that in the
created by different processes That which is found IN
the rivers has undoubtedly been cut or worn from the
veins in the rock with which Their currents have come
IN contact All oil them appear to be equally rich This
is shown by the fact that aborng man may collect
nearly as much in one river he in another They
nersect and cut through the gold region running from
east to west, at irregular distances of fifteen 10 twenty
and perhaps some OF them thirty miles apart.
Hence appears that the gold veins are equally rich in
all parts OF that most remarkable section OF country
Were wantng there further proofs OF this in the
ravlnes and dry dggings which uniformly confirm what
nature so plainly shows in the rivers.
For the purpose OF forming. some opinion respecting
1ss proGsSs amount nc Of value gold
have been state the estimates wl aia
cove"' -, SAt'Ji the quanuty conecleu since iS u'o
Gold was first discovered on the south fork Of the
American river, at place called Suffers Mill, now
ton which could be relied on announcing this discovery
not received in this city until late IN Inc following
autumn -
taken place from the old States in thai year The num-
Der Of miners was consequently limited 10 the popula
ton of the Territorysome five hundred men from Ore
in the country or into it during the summer and
auumn and the Indians, who were employed BY or sold
their gold to the whites
II is supposed there were not far from five thousand
men employed in collecting gold during that season. II
we suppose they obtained average Of one thousand
dollars each-which is regarded by wsll-informed per
sons as low estmae-the aggregate amount VIII Do
information Of this discovery spread in all directions
during the following winter; and or the commencement
from all auarers-from Chill Peru and other States on
the Pacific coast Of South Americarom the west coast
OF Mexco-the Sandwich Islands, China, and New Ho.
land. .
The emigration from the United States came in last, if
we except those who crossed the Isthmus of Panama,
and went up the coast in steames and few who sailed
early on the voyage round Cape Horn.
The American emigration did not come in by sea, in
much force until July and August and that overland did
begin arrive until the last OF August and hrst oil
the country In the month Of July was supposed there
were fifteen thousand foreigners in the mines AL a
place called Sonoranan camp was believed there were
of tents, booths, and log cabins; hotels, restaurants,
stores, and shops of all descriptions furnished whatever
money could procure Ice was brought from the Sierra
- 1rfhn rlnytr N
enclosure made OF the trunks and branches OF trees. and
lined with cotton cloth, served sort OF amphithea.
tire for bull fights other amusements characteristic o,
the Mexicans, were to be seen in all directions
The foreigners resorted principally to the southern
mines which gave them great superiority in numerical
force over the Americans and enabled them to take pos
session of some OF the richest in that part OF the country
In the early part OF the season. the Americans were mostly
employed the forks OF the American, and on Bear Uba,
and Feather rivers. As their numbers increased they
spread themselves over the southern mines and collisions
were threatened between them and the foreigners The
latter, however for cause, either fear, or having
satisfied their cupdiy, or BOTH began to leave the mines
late in August, and by the end OF September many OF
them were out OF the country.
II is not probable that during the frs, part Of the
there than five or six thousand Americans in
the mines This would swell the whole number, inclu-
ding foreigners, about twenty thousand the beginning
OF September This period embraced about half OF the
during which gold may be successfully collected
Very particular and extensive inquiries respecting the
daily earnings and acquisitions OF the miners lead 10 the
opinion that they averaged an ounce per day This is
believed BY many be low estimate but from the best
information was able 10 procure, am OF opinion it APP
proaches very actual results. The half Of the sea
SON. up TO the LIST OF September, would give sixty
working days, and to each laborer, at $40 per
81 040 IT, therefore, assume 81 900 as the average
collected by each aboer, we shall probably not go be-
yond the mark.
This would give an aggregate Of s2ooooooo for the
first half OF the 100000 OF which prob
ably collected by foreigners During the last half Of
the the number OF foreigners was very much d.
minished, and perhaps did not exceed five thousand Al
this time the American immigration had come IN by land
and and the number OF fellow citizens in the
and fifty thousand. They were, most OF them, inexpe
renced in mining and 1t is probable the results OF their
abos not great has been estimated for the
first part OF the and experienced miners; as
ming that the average OF half ounce per day ought
TO be considered remarkable, It would give an aggre
gate OF about S20,000000 II from this we deduct
fourth account OF the early commencement OF the
wet season, we have estimate OF 900 at least
FIVE OF which collected by foreigners who possessed
many advantages from their experience in mining and
knowledge OF the country.
These estimates give, the result OF the operations in
900, one half OF which was probably collected and
ried out OF the country by foreigners.
From the best information could obtain, am led to
believe that at least 900 OF the S400O0O00 were
taken from the rivers, and that their richness has not
been sensiby diminished except in few locations, which
has principally been taken from the northern rivers,
those which empty into the Sacramento the southern NV
those which flow into the San Joaquin having been,
comparatively, but little resorted TO until the close OF
the last These rivers however. believed by
those who have visited them TO be richer in the precious
There is river which from reported recent discov
cries. and not included in the description of those flowing