The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-02-06
Letter from Mr.. Merritt.
ToWELUMN1E RIVER, Nov. 9, Il


My Dear Brother:-A rainy day has at length
made its appearance, the first since l arrived in
the country, and being compelled to suspend OPP
erations, I have concluded to occupy the after
noon in writing to you. have written you three
letters since I arrived in the country, but being
San Francisco, am unable to acknowledge the
receipt of any answers, if written and forwarded.
Do not understand me that there is no commu-
nication with San Francisco from the mines, but
merely that it is impossible to get letters, unless
you 60 in person to the Office. AS al evidence
of this, have sent four times for letters, and
twice have taken the trouble to write letters to
the P. NJ. politely and urgently requesting his
honor to forward them, but to no purpose. !
trust however, and indeed have reason to know,
that you have not forgotten me, although were
you to see me now in my old rusty ind tattered
garb, I cannot but think you would feel strong
disposition to pass me unsaluted, were you so
fortunate as to recognize me as an old citizen
and friend. am really what the old adage
says, "fat, ragged and saucy."
| My health is good and has been since l arriv-
ed in the country, a circumstance quite fortunate
in more respects than one. 1t only costs $12
hospital, which is merely a canvass tent, and
even at this enormous pIice, there is no solicit
alton for custom. Men in the mines are as in
dependent as woodsawyers, and with pick,
pan and spoon, in place of a saw, buck and file,
resemble them very much. Without exagera-
ton California miners are the most wolish and
frightful pictures of mortality that ever beheld,
but like singed cats, they are much better than
they look.
Speaking Of my own health reminds me that
I must aot forget to say word as to the health
of the miners. There is good deal of sickness
in the mines, and think in great measure un-
necessary. Scurvy and dysentery are the only
complaints known here and think three fourhs
of the mortality would be avoided if people
would expose themselves less am aware that
exposure to some extent is absolutely unavoida-
bic, the newncss of the country and the absence
of building materials and the production of veg
ctables make it SO. But my dear friend, expe-
ricncc has taught us, that We travel out of the
line Of custom, we are very apt to 60 too far
Example with us, is powerful teacher, and
while little lcnity might not injurc us, are
very apt to experiment, by travelling on step By
step, until we are brought down by sickness and
punished for our folly A large portion Of the
miners here, make their diet almost entirely Of
~.
produces scurvy, one of the most loathsome dis.
eases on record The Doctors advise to the
contrary, but the mass pay no regard to it
suppose they think, as they have come all the
way to California to be the makers Of their for
tunes, they must play Doctor, and be the curers
of their own complaints. Well, poor fellows
they have come a great distance from home tc
die No doubt they have left warm hearts BE-
hind to deplore their loss.
One thing is very much neglected among the
miners, a total neglect to erect any monument!
at the graves Of those who have died. In my
travels to the different Southern mines land
have been to all of thcm) | have never yet wit
messed single token to distinguish that fellow
creature had returned to mingle with his mothe
earth The reason for this am unable to di
vine, for in many cases the graves arc dug ada
cent to large trees, which with a very little
trouble could be made most admirable monu
ment to their mcmory-and certainly it woule
be very great consolation to the friends of the
deceased, should they ever come to the country
But must pass on to other subjects. Wei
my dear brother, how would you and my frient
Judge Dyer, like to take little turn with me
at digging' Did you ever imagine what gole
digging was If not, let me ask you how yor
would like digging on the canal, quarrying rocl
under broilng sun, or going into the cold wa
ter up to your waist before sun rise. Gold hunt
: ing is decidedly and emphatically the scveres
labor known to man, have seen the ambition
Yankee, the hard listed Irishman, and the unit
ring German, give way and abandon the mines
with the benediction,-God save the man that
compelled to work in the mines-a very sensi
bic and lust benediction. | first landed upo
this river, but have since visited Woods digg
:, ings, Sullvan's, Sonorian Camp, Curtis Greek
Mormon Gulch, Stanislaua River, Angels creek
three branches of the Calivanus, Nc Calomy an
, Mariposa. Among this number Woods, Sul
vans, Mormon Gulch, Sonorian Camp, Curt.
=, creek, Angels camp and Mariposa, what
styled dry dgglngs, where exclusive coarse gol
is found. On the rivers the gold is fine. TIL
- river diggings are wet, but as general thin
~ pay much better than dry diggings. The mar
. ner of working is to dam out into the river an
wash the dirt in the bed of the stream, but wit
the poor materials for daming the holes rcquil
o much baling, which is extreme hard labor
The manner of working dry diggings, is to sin
=. down from to 90 feet, to the clay ar slate roc
and then drift. The work in dry diggings
much pleasanter than wet, but much more III
4 certain. If lucky, you get the gold in larg
quantities, but not more than one in fifty is su,
cessful. Hundreds and thousands here are NJ
- making their half o. and thousands are discou
aged and using every effort to get out of tt
country. God speed them in their efforts.
: There is no doubt but there is large quantitit
- a.: l,Ix a.