The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-02-13
Another Letter from California.

MIR. JONAS CLARK, of Maquoketa, has furnisha
ed the "Jackson County Democrat with let
ter, received few days since from his brother,
Jonathan Clark, who left this country last spring,
and is now IN San Francisco.
We make the following extracts from this let
ter, knowing they will be of great Interest to
our readers, many of whom are acquainted with
the writer.
1t will be seen, that in this letter, as in most
others from the golden land, the reports that for
tunes are made, not by the digger, but by the
Spectator: y
SAN Francisco, CAL,N
Nov. 80, 1S49. 81
JONAS CLARK-Deur Brother: / arrived in
this city yesterday from the Feather River Gold
Mines. l arrived at Mr.. Lawson ranch, the
settlement in California, (by the route travel
ed) on the goth October, and in the Feather Riv-
or gold mines on the 14th Nov. When arriv-
cd in the Sacramento Valley, the rainy season
had already commenced, and have been in rain
and mud ever since. For the want of time,
will particularly describe the road travelled
from the States l lost on the desert almost ev-
cry thing.--1 left my wagon, and doubled teams
with another man, throwing to the four winds
great portion of my loading; lost yoke of oxen
and broke down the rest-but I got thro' with
life and health, and feel we'll satisfied that had
kept the old route by the Bear River Pass in the
Sierra Nevada, would have arrived in good sea-
son and without any material loss. But I, with
thousands of others, were duped by set of
scamps who had opened new road from the
north bend Of NIary's river, crossing the summit
Of the Sierra Nevada on Applegate's Oregon
route, striking the Sacramento Valley at Law
sons ranch, three hundred miles from the bay.
of San Francisco Crossing the desert on that
route, the destruction Property was immense
Many lost their all. Families were left desti-
tute, many got out of provisions, and many
would have starved, had it not been for the aid
sent out by Uncle Sam The cmigrants suppos.
ed this route to be a nearer and better one In
stead of that, it was $50 miles further
made my escape from the snow by about six
hours travel Many were caught in the snow
three feet deep, and left everything making their
way out on foot, and some, have been inform
ed, are attempting to winter on the mountains
Now will tell you something of the gold
mines, and of California. I remained in the
mines from the 18th to the 25th Nov, durinp
which time worked hard when it did not rain.
There is gold in great abundance, but the labor
to be performed in getting it is very great The
gold is found in the low sand bars Of the rivers,
in the dirt dcpostcs, in the crcvices of rocks be-
low high water mark, and to some extent on the
mountain tops and deep ravincs leading down
the slopes of the mountains. The mines arc not
worked to much profit during the rainy season
the best diggings are overtiowed Old min
ers, however, who have good dry diggings, and
who have laid in their winters stock of provi-
sons, and built cabins, can make it profitable
but those who came in late, without provisions
and means; cannot much more than a living un.
Every in thr
the mines was from 81 to 81 so per h., except
Beef, which was $50 per cwt. 1t cost me from
81 to 81 per day to live, and half the time
could not obtain flour, and worked hard, LIVING
on beef and coffee Had arrived early cnouph
to have made preparations to winter comforta-
bly,, would have remained in the mines. As it
is, l will not return to them before spring Now
as to the country: have seen much of the Sa-
cramento Valley, and do not think favorablv of
it as an agricultural country In the first place
the ground is too fiat, and in the rainy season is
covered to great extent by water. In the Sc
cond place. the crops in the summer season have
to be irrigated; and thirdly, timber is scarce
The timber of the valley is the ever green oak;
it grows to large size, and branches out from
four to ten feet from the base, and will not an
swer for either lumber or rails l doubt very
much the healthincss of the country, with the
exception of the coast. Sacramento CITY is
| sltuatcd on the river sacramento, at the mouth
of the Rio de los Americans, and is place of
great business-probablc population 5000. Here
met with Judge Hastings, (Old Rcd.) He is
going it strong in the broker business, and has
already made fortune.
In one hours walk through Sacramento CITY
you will sec more money exposed to view on the
gaming tables than you would see by visiting all
the brokers offices in the city of New York
Dollars are bet by the half bushel, and gold by
lbs. Money here is so plenty, that it seems no
object to any one. Boarding without lodging at
the principal Hotels in this city, is $25 week,
Travellers in this country generally carry their
beds with them, which generally consists of a
single blanket, and pay from ST. so to So for a
sing lie raeal, and from 81 to So for plank to
lay his blanket and weary bones on at night, &
$3 for choice of boards. From Sacramento Ci-
ty to this place | came in the steamer Senator,
and paid $50 for passage and 50 extra for meal
was ten hours coming down.
Bro. William has shown me a letter from ia.
thcr, mother, and yourself, of August 7th, that
is the only intelligence | have received since
left home. He is said to be the weaIthiest man
in the city; is not in business, but lives rather
retired life. His daily receipts for rents must
be immcnsc--more money than he knows what
to do with.
This city is destined to become New York,
and perhaps the wcalthest city in America, or
the world.
will write at length by next steamer, and
will then be enabled to give you an accurate de-
scripton of matters and things in general
Your brother,
JONA. CLARK