The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-05-15
Letters from California,
Exttact of n Letter from Jas, Fanni

Exttact Of n Letter from jas. Tanning.
Life IN tic Mines.-Prorisions, S.c.-Thc Jour-
ney.-1hc Country.-Summer Prospect, &c.
We had pleasant time here for the winter.
among old acquantanccs; but it would be called
dogs life at home. Our chief diet is pork,
bread, and coffee-cotfee, bread, and pork, three
times day--when you are not tired oft. Team
sters charge to this place, at times, fifty cents
per lb. for hauling forty miles. .
Our little town is composed Of few cabins
and tents. c. H Gratiot & Co., Leon Perdre-
awhile, the funny fellow, Chas. Lorin,ier, E.
Allen, Jas. Hcecock, Henry Godaire, George
Mcdaniel, John, Jesse Il E. Morrison, Henry
Saucier, Abraham Whitesidcs, Thos. Crane,
Joseph Harris, Hart, from about Shullsburg,
John Moloney, &c, all in good health and we'll
conditioned, though we do live on bread and pork.
There is kind of potatoes here that would
starve Iowa hogs; they sell for rs cents to a
dollar h.; refuse onions same price; barley for
horse feed, one dollar b.; hay in the rag city,
(Sacramento) $1,000 per ton, wood from $l6 to
800 cord The butchers of Dubuque would
be ashamed to sell such beef as they sell here
for so cents pound;-l have seen some good
mutton at dollar pound
Though I am in awkward position, stand
ing beside bunk, will try and scribble all the
facts that can; but suppose Richard Cox has
told you all about the country verbally.
After describing the destruction of property,
caused by the overfowing of the Sacramento,
Mr.. Tanning goes on to say, 81 will not advise
any person to come to this country, as it is We
ry hard place to get to, attended by many dam
gers and difficulties; but if the fever is so great
that people must come, let them not oome by the
mountains; for, those who may not be disabled
by the scurvy, will be choked with dust. If they
persist after this, and say, "sure, others went
safe, and so can we,'' let them come with lipht
wagons, and with light loads, and leave all old
trash behind. (Here Mr.. Tanning
gives some directions for the journey, which
cannot now be applicable; he then goes on to de-
scribe the country) This country is good for
nothing but its gold. There is no fish west of
the mountains worth catching. Elk, Deer, An
telopes, Hares, and blue Partridges, are abun.
dant. There are very fine birds in the mountains.
called sage hens, of about 5 lbs. weight; also,
Prairie Hens, like those in the States.
The average of mems labor is from twelve to
to fifty dollars day. 1t is supposed there will
be fifty thousand miners to work this summer
am very handy at making cradles to wash the
dust in, and most of the old coons who 90 home,
will be quite handy about the nursery
Serre &, Co. were well when I saw them;
simpare was here for two days; he is going far
in the mountains with the Morrisons They
started yesterday. Morhiser, Demoneaux and
stger were we'll when l saw them last. r. C.
Childs Is keeping store in the city, and is we'll
Sam. Cox and Edward Corel are both we'll.
If get along in health as have done, hope
to be home next fall, as stout as a horse. John
Molony and l sleep together. He went to work
the first day with partner, and made $12, but
he wants to get big chunks. will write in ear.
nest when am settled for the summer
send you small specimen of virgin gold,
which dug out yesterday. c. Morrison got
very pretty piece, three days ago, which weigh
ed two ounces, equal to thirty two dollars.
saw John Corkery here; he is in good health
now, but has been sick .."
AS had so much trouble in stumping over
the mountains $500 miles from home, intend
to stay here until make spoon or spoil horn
| have had no chance yet to do much more than
make living, which is all that could be expect
ed for the winter. suppose we have made, in
the time that we worked, about six hundred dol
lars. -. l!5s-~ .-,s1y,.i ii .... 70. ....~ f..
Doctor Crane came to the city perfect show,
from sickness; and were it not for Childs and
Gratiot, he would be worse. Doctor O'Bren
is in the city; he had to leave his family one
hundred and thirty miles up the valley, at the
first ranch. -. T.. .ziu* *Jsis ~ n =, -,
In the course of one month, we hope to 90 up
in the mountains, where we will remain all sum-
mer. l will write again when have better
opportunity. Remember me to all friends g5
iH'l I'D. s l remain, &C., a. y..a .il~;. ...:
.,Yg.-..5 ~&lgr 80, JAMES TANNING.