The New York herald., 1850-12-27


has been so thoroughly explored and prospected,
do not believe there will be many, and for the
mass OF people, this winter in the mines, it will un-
doubtedly be hard, and there must be much disap-
pointment and distress. | hear of large num-
bers who intend winteribg in the places that
have been dunng my stay, and for the purpose OF
mining. From what know of these mines and
the country for several miles around them, l know
not where they can make sufficient to pay for
their provisions. And these are the facts, heard
from all parts OF the mining district. Many who
wintered here, and intended to return this fall
to the East, are prevented from doing SO by meet
ing with such poor successduring the summer, and
they will remain in the mines another season, to
raise sufficient, as some have informed me, to
enable them to return in the spring. and be assured
there are thousands here that have not sufficient
to pay the passage, who, If they had, would gladly
leave the country. and that speedily II is useless
to tell people in business here facts about the
mines, for they will not believe them, and the rea
son is they do not want TO believe them, and con-
sequenty will not; butih thousands of hard work
ing and disappointed miners can testify to the
truth, and the time has gone by to deceive many
more with false impressions or by false statements
of the richness of the mines Many who came to
this country poor have returned home with large
fortunes, and they are reported throughout the
country az lucky Californians and lucky miners;
| thereby conveying the idea that they have made
their money at mining, when, in nine cases out OF
ten, they have made 1t by trading and specializing,
while many have never even visited the mines,
who have returned with their tho usands.
A far greater number of men have been made
poor and miserable, with no success in the mines,
with the loss of health and broken constitutions by
even moderately well. Yet, Notwithstanding such
facts, thousands have arrived, and probably will
continue to arrive. Ii is reported that some &, 900
have crossed the plains this season, and are now
here, besides those who have arrived by other
routes; and from the numbers that have returned,
and will continue to leave this fall, there must be
more in the mines the coming season, by far, than
the last and what they all going to do, to even
rhaV Itxa atr.Ixy
AT this time, all kinds of provisions are high, and
those who lay in a stock to retail out TO miners
during the winter, must necessarily make large
profits, to enable them to pay themselves, and the
expenses of transportation, Nc., thus making il
expensive living for the miner. During the rainy
season miner cannot work more than half of the
time, in consequence OF rains and the rush of water
in the guches and creeks; therefore he must have
his health, and make good wages when he does
work, TO enable him TO pay expenses, especially
when he is obliged TO pay from fifty to seventy five
cents per pound for flour, and every other article
in proportion; and should he be short Of funds, and
health poor, it will readily be seen what must be
the consequence. For my part, have not the
heart TO msrepresent this country in the least, and
far be il from me to do so. If there were the in
ducements here that are represented by many,
nothing would afford me greater satisfaction or
pleasure than to recommend others to come; but
as know there is no inducement, from experience,
/ can but recommend all to stay at home rather
than emgrate, as ! hesitate not in saving that by
coming here they will be disappointed.
can speak for myself in regard to a winter in
the mines-that, having passed through one-or,
as II is termed here, after having "seen the ele-
phanr-l am perfectly satisfied, end wish not to
zee il again. 1t would take not a small fortune TO
induce me to go through another rainy season in
the mines and at mining | think hear you ask
me how have succeededl-to which read ly re-
ply; i cannot complain, although have not made
fortune have done moderately well much
better than thousands around me yet not one
quarter up to my expectations or even moderate
desires; and what | have has been obtained by
hard working, constant, nceasing, and energetic
perseverance, at all times and seasons, and amidst
every exposure of health, and even life itself; and
more especially am indebted TO fortune, or an
overrullng Providence, in giving me constant and
perfect health. to enable me 20 perform the labor
and TO endure the hardships and privations of
miners life, and to gather by Titles what have,
than to the richness of the mines or an abundance
otgold. The actual state Of the mines, and calcula
tons being made by spectators and traders for
The future, in this ntry in widely extended city
improvements, and humbug cities and towns, in the
face Of the actual resources Of the country, natu-
rally lead to a few reflections upon its present
state and probable future destiny. But | find my
letter has become rather lengthy, and will occupy
too much room in your valuable Herald. will
therefore close this, and write you another soon
r H.. a
MARYsvnLE, (CaliforAa), Oct. IL, 1850.
The Trials, D,6fnsities and D,sappoi~tments Of
Iife ~ California Unproducftpeness of the Mines
-Dssuipttow Of Them, &c.
] am almost ashamed to write to you, hav-
ing nothing to relate but the same chapter of
misfortunes that has attended me since l arrived
in this Internal country. When last wrote, May
Sth, was on the eve oil starting for the mountains,
TO try my luck once more at the shovel and pick.
did start the next morning with my bed on my
back, and travelled five days over mountains and
rocks until j arrived at place called Indian
Valley, which is an Indian settlement, with very
few whites. The first two or three weeks work
ed on the bank of the river, as the water was too
high 10 attempt cutting races or making dams
made out pretty well, making enough to feed me,
and lay a little by. j then joined a company of
eleven, and we commenced TO cut race for the
river, intending to make dam and turn the water
off the bed of the river. We went TO work, and
cut a race two hundred and seventy yards long,
fourteen feet wide, and twelve feet Deep this kept
us busy for seven weeks, during which time we
made nothing, unless We worked Sundays, aHd
our two hours resting time during the extreme heat
OF the sun. This generally did, aud made enough
TO keep out of debt az the provision store, while
the rest OF the company, were running in debt for
everything they used. When we got the race done,
and the river low enough, we commenced our dam,
and iinishnd IL in four weeks and half We all
had TO work up TO our hips in water all day while
az this part OF the work When we had all flushed
ana the water ready to turn into the race, we were
offered 5000 dollars in cash for our rwork by
company near us, butwe would not take ten, as we
lett cOnfdent OF taking out hundred thousand dol
lars, and every one round US thought so likewise
everything look ed more favorable than any other
place on the river, for twenty miles at either side
Of us.
We TUNED the water into the race on Saturday
morning, and allowed IL TO driin all sunday, on
Monday we went in with our picks and shovels,
and sunk ten holes from eight To twelve eet.deep,
going TO The bedrock in each instance, and ina
gine our feelings when the most we could get was
six cents TO the painful Of dirt. This would not
pay more than five dollars day TO the hand,
and even to make that we would have TO work
from morning till night. We concluded that
night TO abandon the place, aud each man do tho
beet he could for himself. When | went TO bed |
lay awake for the greater part OF the might,
thinking what | should do, and | cried biz
terly, with vexation, at the loss of my four
months work. An hour before daylight / was
up, and having tied up my blankets, and pat
them on my back was half way up the hall be-
fore the sun was up. | travelled this way for i've
days, eating only once day, and drinking a large
qusntity OF water at every spring came 10, which