The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-04-10
Another letter from California.

We are indebted to lessee NJ Harrison, ESQ.
for the opportunity of publishing the following
letter from Mr. l.. Wheeler, of Clinton County,
gentleman we'll known in Iowa.
FEATHER RIVER, CALIFORNIA. }
January 5th, 1850. !
DEAR JEssEE:-I began this letter on YES.
terday when was called away to assist in bury
ing a man from Washington CO. Iowa, who had
has been very sick for two weeks, though did
not know Of his sickness but few hours before
his death.
The present population Of California know
but little Of each other, which is caused by the
great desire to procure gold. Every man hunts
for it with that singleness fpurpose, that if you
could see US at distance, you would think
that we believed We were created for no 9TH
er purpose, and that we were bound by every
moral obligation that is known in this world, to
vie with each other for the most gold We have
no acquaintances except those formed on the
road over the plains, and the few we mess with
in camp. The fact is, every man is for his dear
self, and if he can get Il plenty OF the yellow
dust, he does not seem to care who dies, or who
lives, so they let him alone and keep their hands
out of his pockets and gold bag. Every pers on
seems honest as far as known, which have
found to be the case in all countries where mo.
ney was plenty and easily procured Yet have
no doubt but there are many instances where
men are robbed Of their gold and their bodies pu,
cut of the way. There has been one proof of il
come under my observation within a few days
a man was found in the river stripped of all his
clothing, and stabbed in three places have
no doubt but he was murdered for his money!
Thus have given you an impartial view of the
social relations in California in 1850. believe
it a true picture Of the present state of society
in the mines, but how it is in the towns am un.
able to judge, as l have only been in Sacrament
to City, and was there but short time. How
ever, from the number of gambling shops could
look into, in the business part of the city, shod
think the tone of moral sentiment had not i'm
proved much faster than in the diggings. The
prospects for making money here are quite as
good as | expected before left Iowa, provided
man will work and take care of what he earns
But all the big blasts you have seen and will see
daily hereafter in the papers about the gold, are
iminaginary puffs of newspaper scriblers who
are paid for their wind in proportion to the ex.
element they get up. .r...-.,5 ,...
The accounts you see in the papers of Mr.. A
a. B. having within the last few days made their
fifty or hundred thousand, are all stuff, or am
not correctly informed by those who have resi-
ded in California ever since gold was first discov.
cred here. The man that makes money here
has to work for it, and he has to work as hard as
he does in the States, but is better paid. Judg-
lug from what have seen and from what have
done, / think the Feather River Mines pay a.
bout 80 to a man per day, and il costs hin,
for provisions from 81 rs to $3.50 per day. % 1
have known men to make over 300 in day,
and have heard that that amount and over has
been made by the same persons for several days
in succession. never have done it, though ]
atm working in what's called good diggings, and
day before yesterday, Alvin, . man by the name