Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-10-26
MINING IN CALIFORNIA.

coRREsPoHDEncE OF TIE JOURNAL or COMMERCE.
sf SAN FRASCIsco, SEPTEMBER IL, 1850.
Since my residence here, find that our city papers are
filed with flaming articles about the great success Of miners
Just on the Of departure Of every the States
The truth is the game desperate one and those interested
in the mines are all anxious see that they may
have chance to pluck 81 clean bird" IN selling out their
sslea" their company stock" their stock Of goods
in other way hope shift off their stock in trade,
and cear for home The following letter. just received by
me from old miner, "a gentleman of your city, send tc
you for publication as it corresponds exactly with the report
made to me by of Others who have recently travelled
extsnsvey the greater part Of the mining country.
have no doubt is true nayratie and trust the publca
tion Of it may tend to save some from ruin
Middle Fork Of the American Forko
Sacramento Rirer, September a, 1850.
Your favor Of the l August has been long in receipt by
me- but my hands have been such sad plight that
been unable to write make any Of them whatever In
spite of all my Of myself and in the very teeth Of every
pecauon, the scuvy has taken good bold my SYSTEM and
Of its most peserng and annoying consequences
great my hands and fingers Judging from the pros
poets in this section, of opinion that the pamy days of
this false Sci Dorado have paseed-he mines about here
do yield their anticipated wealth, and the reports
have heard from other sections. is with this knowledge
that would not have any friend Of mine in this
try, depending upon precarious contingencies may in
this opinion but really think that there is 10 be much want
and suffering in California the coming already has
labor fallen The who, last season, could get his $l2
to $l6 day, will be glad to get his SIS; and have
seen those who would work for their board This surely
Of some great radical changes and mark you
the immigrants keep swarmng in from the plains to
swell the number of the needy The truth Of it is that the
mines do not pay labor bestowed upon them the pre-
sent high rates Of the necessaes of e il takes all that
makes 10 pay for his food This contrary to the well
ceived scriptures Of the avarcous-I the newspapers
But wal. for time to develop the truth.
Several large undertakings about here have failed The
Horse Shoe" this river where tunnel had been made
through the ro has been found not 10 pay the entepng
few who undertook and successfully turned the river from
s channel no gold having been found in that part Of the
river. On "Bg Bar" the company who commenced last
April to dig large for the water pass through, have
found that their work is not Of sufficient capacity. Their
labors, therefore, have been OF no profit.
You can imagine how dampening s to those who
enter into such enterprises They invest their whole wealth
III O., their labor; they even pledge that capital Of the
future by running in debt for their board and when they
expect to reae to find meet reward for the past it is crush
ing disappointment to their hopes and energies one
whom upon trial his work had proved itself Of account
weep like child He had centred every thing upon it.
Long separated from his wife and little ones he had cherished
the fond hope Of carrying TO them this fall competency
How many there like him Many, many
Again, there are some works which pay. One mining
dam alone paid its company (nne in number) last week
S. 900. One day they took out Sl,560. Another d.
vded about s. 400 among twelve persons for six days work.
II hs3ardf however They have TO wait for low water
and the labor great, and dangerous health and there
of ascertanng whether the ore is be found
not until 10 tried BY drawing the river and getting its
bed. t34
have based my all upon mining dam In few days
shall know if all my time expended and labor bestowed will
reap any harvest have been compelled put in my
place shares my health being shattered make
imperative for to take the greatest of myself In
addition to the scurvy, have had low fever I should
have left the mines two weeks ago, but work so
near completion that determined to bde" the result, SO
settled shall bc compelled leave the Mines the
doctor advising so. In fact should leave now.
Individual mining is done with. Henceortb, associated
capital and large enterprises be the OF finding
the Of this California.
Yours, most truly, B. l.. ].