The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-04-10

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Hon. It. q. King's Keport ON C.lifornia.
IConcluded.1
METALLIC AND MINERAL WKALTH.--The gold
region of California is between four and five hun
dred miles long, and from forty to fifty miles broad,
following the line of the Sierra Nevada. Further
discoveries may increase the area It embraces
within its limits the extensive ranges of hills which
rise the eastern border of the plain Of the Saera
mento and San Joaquin, extending eastwardly from
fifty to sixty miles they attain an elevation Of about
four hundred feet terminating at the base Of the
main ridge Of the Sierra Nevada.
Gold is not found on the surface Of the country,
presenting the appearance of having besn thrown
up and scattered in all directions by volcanic action
Il II iOund pcCulidf IOCdlllIeb anu attended
| by peculiar circumstances and indications 1t is
found in the bars and shoals Of the rivers in ra-
vines, and what are called the dry diggings"
The rivers in forming their channels through the
hills have come in contactwith the quartz contain
ing the gold veins, and, by constant attriton, cut
the gold into fine flakes and dust; and it is found
among the sand and gravel Of their beds at those
places where the swiftness of the current reduces
it in the dry season to the narrowest possible limits
and where wide margin is left on each side over
which the water rushes during the wet season with
great force.
As the velocity of some streams is greater than
Others so sthe gold found in fine or coarse parti-
cles apparently corresponding TO the degree Of at
triton to which it has been exposed. The water
from the hills and upper valleys, in finding its way
TO the rivers, has cut deep ravnes and wherever il
came in contact with the quartz, has dissolved ol
crumbled it in pieces.
In the dry seasons these channels are mostly with
out water, and gold is found in the beds and mar
gins Of many of them in large quantities, hut in
much coarser state than in the rivers, owing, un
doubtedly, to the moderate flow and temporary con
tinuance of the current, which has reduced it t,
smooth shapes, not unlike pebbles, but had not sui
cient force TO cut it into fakes or dust.
4
tanning gold has cropped out, and been disniegra
ted, crumbled to fragments, pebbles, and dust, b.
! the action of the water and the atmosphere Th'
gold has been left as it made, in all imaginab,
shapes; in places, of all sizes, from one grain tt
several pounds in weight. The evidences that il
was created in combination with quartz are too
numerous and striking to admit of doubt or cavil.
They're found In combination in large quantities.
very large proportion of the pieces of gold
found in these situations have more or less quartz
| adheTing to them. In many specimens they sc
l combined they cannot be separated without redn
cling the whole mass to powder, and subjeciing j
| | to the action of quicksilver.
This gold not having been exposed to the attrtiol
of strong current Of water, retains, in great de
|: gree, its original conformation.
I These diggings, in some places, spread over val
leys of considerable extent, which have the ap
pearance Of an alIuvion, formed by washings fron
c the adjoining hills of decomposed quartz and slat
earth and vegetable matter.
ID In addition to these facts il is beyond doubt tru
q that several vein-mines have been discovered il
Y | the quartz from which numerous specimens hav
been taken, showing the minute connection be
tween the gold and the rock, and indicating valu
I, hitherto unknown in gold-mining.
e. These veins do not present the appearance G
Z places where gold may have been lodged by som
violent eruption. 1t is combined with the quartz
!, in all imaginable forms and degrees of richness
V The rivers present very striking, and, it woul
seem, conclusive evidence respecting the quantit
+ of gold remaining undiscovered in the quartz vein
1t is not probable that the gold in the dry dgging
! | and that in the rivers-the former in Jumps tn
latter in dust-was created by different processe.
| That which is found in the rivers has undoubted
been cut or worn from the veins in the rock, witt
5 which their currents have come in contact. All o
them appear to be equally rich. This is shown b,
, the fact that laborng man may collect nearly al
much in one river as he canin another. They in
5 tersect and cut through the gold region ruanins
from east to west at irregular distances of fifteen
twenty and perhaps someof them thirty miles apart
Hence it appears that the gold veins are equal,
rich in all parts of that most remarkable section
: country Were it wanting, there are further proof
i of this in the ravines and dry dggngs, which uni
! formly confirm what nature plainly shows in tn
q rivers.
q For the purpose of forming some opinion respect
ing the probable amount value of treasure in th
gold region it will be proper to state the estimate
which have been made of the quantity collecte
!. since its discovery
4 Gold was first discovered on the south fork Of tn
y American river, at place called Suffers Mill nov
1. Coloma, late in May early in June, 1S4S. In
n formation which could be relied announcing thi
discovery was received in this city until late il
ye the following autumn.
be No immigration into the mines could, therefore
have taken place from the old States in that year
y, The number Of miners was consequently limite,
re- re- to the population of the Territory five hun
= dred men from Oregon Mexieans and other for
'e eigners, who happened to be in the country. Q
came into it during the summer and autumn an
4 the Indians who were employed by or sold thei
Of gold to the whites,
- 1t is supposed there were not far from five thor
D sand men employed in collecting gold during tina
p season, If we suppose they obtained an averag
of one thousand dollars each, which is regarded
ls well-informed persons low estimate, the as
- - gregate amount will be $5000,000.
Information Of this discovery spread in all dire,
or tons dnring the following winter; and, on Ii
commencement of the dry season in 1S49, peop
came into the Territory from all quarters, frOr
lie Chilli Peru, and other States on the Pacific Goa
| of South America, from the west coast of Mexic
!, the Sandwich Islands, China, and New Hollan
q The emigration from the United States came
\ last il we except those who crossed the Isihmr
| ,F .NI ~. =