Democratic banner., 1850-02-25
LATE FROM OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
LETTER FROM MR.. FORD.
SACRAMENTO DIsfRIcr, I
Californis, Nov, 18th l849.

IL my former letter reached you
and you had the patience 10 publish Il, you and my
numerous friends and acquaintance in sold Pike
will be-expecting something further from me on
the same subject By this time. Ny acquaintance,
personally, with California, is limited, for. during
the time l have been here I have travelled but lit
tie. 1 came here not TO explore the country, but
to dig for Gold, and while able, I am constantly
engaged at it. An ounce a day is considered good
wages, and as a general rule, if a man is not ma
king that much, he goes out a prospecting. How
long this state Of things will continue, l cannot
say, but / should judge not very long, for every
river, creek, vally, branch and ravine is crowded
and every vessel that lands brings on a fresh sup
ply. Think, however. that a man will be able to
make from 8 to IL dollars per day, for several
years to come. If a man is not making 8 dollars
he is doing poor business, I mean for every day he
actually labors in the mines for, there are so ma
ny days in the fear he can do nothing at all and
provisions and all kinds of mining apparatus are
remarkably dear. The old settlers tell me that
THE Gold region is very extensive being some 8
or 600 miles in length N. g. S. and from $50 to
300 miles in width from E. to W. situated between
the Coast range and the Snowy mountains. The
western slope of the latter being the richest. How
the Gold came here at FIRST, or when it was put
here Is an inexplicable mystery, 1t is the opinion
of all, however, that it was at some time in a mel
ted state, and perhaps thrown into the air in that
state during some Volcanic eruption and falling
upon the hills, the heavy rains have carried il
down 10 The valleys y here it IS now found,S and
that all this has been done within the last few hun
dred years is proven from the fact that no gold is
found below formations of any great length Of
standing. email bars, on the tivers Of compari-
lively recent forming, are rich, and reach down to
1.-THE solid granite; whereas larger ones of longer
standing have the gold OH them nearer the SUI
face, and none below a certain depth. The size
of the gold is, from particles scarcely discernabIe
up to pieces of several pounds weight. l have
never seen q piece of more than 6 ounces myself
pieces Of, from one TO 5 dollars weight are quite
common, especially, far up IN the hills, but far the
greater portion is about as large as our fax seed
generally Cat and in all manner of shapes in other
respects. There is no other metal like il, or
that a man wonld mistakefof IL, so that no tests
are needed by the miner butthe naked eye
There is every thing tere the Emigrants want
and that too in the greatest abundance. And
would just here say to any Of my friends who may
wish to cross the plaias next spring not TO act as did
the Emigrants of last year, but listen 10 expert
ence and not overload. Three men should outfit
together, get q good well made 2 horse wagon, moi
too heavy ; yoke Of cattle, the best the country
affords, not too large nor too small, say such as
weigh 8 or 900 a piece, let long legged, CANT cat
tie alone, get close built heavy set fellows II does
not matter about the sge, anywhere from 4 TO 8
years old will do. Have your Jokes light and
broad on the neck and lined with sheet lead, Qei
every thing be light also take a good pair Of
cows. They will stand the trip and give you
plenty Of milk and 10 spare and be worth 800 q
piece when you get here For provisions take TO
each man l25 lbs -four Is lbs bacon 20 lbs died
beef % lbs coffee I ID salaratus, l do. pepper lOlbs
dried fruit 5 rice I peck 0f beans 3 lbs soap ? d.
candles, q few lbs Of butter put up in air tight Tin
vessels would be desirable, or any little notion that
you are fond Of, If not too heavy,Ey on may hiring
along. For bedding 2 blankets to the man and
clothing 3 flannel shifts and 2 good pair pan:aloons
l vest and . coats, 4 or s pair socks l pair Boots
and 2 pair ofshocs a gume!astic cape OF cont (take
just as little as you can get there with For arms,
a good rife aud ievol7erIs what you want, (Hol-
sters will only be in your way) and a good butch
er knife, l ID powder and 3 or 4 los lead-you will
not shoot half 50 much as you sGippose-a little
ammunition is suficient-a few jars of pickles you
will find a delicacy OIL the plains, and a gallon or
so of vinegar to the man, you will find qni's a rel
ish. Have your wagon bed made in the form of q
ferry boat and made tight With square joints a
that two such dashed together will take you over
any of the streams with greater safety than ATTY
other mode | saw on the road, they need not be
long, the usual length is sufficient. With such an
outfit you can cruss in so or 100 days you have
no idea what an OK can stand, if not oveII9ad ed.
you can travel from % to 30 miles every day
Start from St. 10 by the LIST, day Of May grass 81
no grass. Have each a good, big, strong, horse;
and don't break him down by running after dee''
antelope and Buffalo, but keep him to ride Through
upon, and he will keep in good order and be worth
something when you get here.
For extras, bring a few nails and screws, horse
shoes aud nails, an axle for your wagon and q
bolt pin. Pit up all your goods in socks, have no
Ids or extra boxes to y6nr wagon. I repeat it,
come light. All the directions ] can give in rela-