Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-04-10

This is shown bv the fact that a laborn g
man may collect nearly as much in one
river as he can in another. They in
tersect and cut through the gold region,
running from east TO west. at irregular
distances Of twenty. and perhaps some OF
them thirty miles apart.
Hence it appears that the gold veins are
equally rich III all parts of that most re-
markable section OF country. Were i,
wanting. there are further proof Of this in
the ravines and dry diggings, which uni
forinly confirm what nature SO plainly
shows in the rivers.
For the purpose of forming some opin-
ion respecting the probable amount or
value OF treasure in the gold region. it
will be proper TO state the estimates which
have been made Of the quantity collected
since its discovery.
Gold was first discovered on the south
fork Of the American river. at a place
called Suffers mill. now Coloma. late in
May or early in June. i848 Information
which could be relied on announcing this
discovery was not received in this city
until late in the following autumn.
No immigration into the mines could.
therefore. have taken place from the old
States in that year. The number OF miners
was consequently limited to the popula-
ton of the Territory. some five hundred
men from Oregon, Mexicans and other TO-
reigners. who happened to be in the coun-
try. or came into il during the summer
and autumn, 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 cole citing
gold during that season. If we suppose
they obtained an average Of one thousand
dollars each, which is regarded by we'll
informed persons as a low estimate, the
aggregate amount will be 5000, 900.
Information of this discovery spread in
all directions during the following winter:
and. on the commencement of the dry
season in 1919. people came into the Ter
rltorv from all quarters. from Chill, Peru.
and other States on the Pacific coast OF
South Ameria. from the west coast OF
Mexico. the Sandwich Islands, China, and
New Holland.
The emigration from the United States
came in last. if VIC except those who
crossed the Isthnus Of Panama. and went
up the coast in steamers, and few who
sailel 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 not begin
to arrive until the last of August and first
of September The Chlinos and Mexi-
cans were early in tlIc country. In ia o
month of July it was supposed d there were
fifteen thousand foreigners in the mines
II Il loI &
believed there were at least ten thousand
Mexicans. They had quite city oftents.
booths, and log cabins: hotels. restaurants.
stores. and shops Of all descriptions
furnishing whateverm money could procure
Ice was brought from the Sierra. and ice
creams added to numerous other luxuries
/ IN enclosure made Of the trunks and
branches Of trees. and lined with cotton
cloth. served as sort Of amphthea atre for
bull fights: other amusemenis. characteris-
tic Of the MeXicans, were TO be seen in all
directions.
The foreigners resorted principally 10
the southern mines. which gave them a
great superiority in numerical force over
the Americans. and enabled them to take
possession of some of the richest in that
part OF the country. In the early part OF
the season the americans were mostly en-
ploved on the forks Of the American and
on Bear. tba. and Feather rivers As
their numbers increa ased they spread them
selves over the southren mines. and col
liSions were threatened between them and
the tocelg gners. The latter, however. for
some cause. either fear. or having satisfied
their cupidiiy. or both. began to leave the
mines late in August. and by the end o
September many Of them were out of the
country.
1t is not probable that during the first
part Of the season there were more .han
FIVE or six thousand Americans in the
mines. This would swell the who'll .'um-
ber. including foreigners. 10 about twenty
thousand the beginning of September
This period embraced about half of the
season during which gold may be suc-
cesstullv collected in the rivers
Very particular anI extensive inquiries
r,Snec,inn the daily earnings and acqul-
s;,;n.~ me miners lead TO the opinion
that they averaged an once per day. This
IS believed by many TO be a low estimate:
but. from the best information was able
10 procure. | am Of opinion it approaches
verv near actual results. The half Of the
season. up to the lst of September. would
give six,y-ive working days. and to each
laborer. at : Is per ounce. S1.O4O. If
therefore. We assume 81 900 as the aver.
age collected by each laborer. we shall
probably not 90 beyond the mark.
This would.give an aggregate Of $50.
7 100000 for the first half of the season
I >lo.oOo.oOO of which was probably col
lected by foreigners. During the las
half OF the season the number Of foreign
ers was very much diminished. and. per
haps. did not exceed five thousand. a
this time the American immigration haC
come in by land and sea. and the numbe,
of our fellew-ci,izens in the mines had. a:
was estimated. increased TO between fort,
and ff,y thousand. They were most o
them inexperienced in mining. and it is
probable the results of their labors were