Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-06-27
BURLINGTON HA WK-EYE.
Letter from Rev. A. J. Huestis.

Letter from Rev. A. J. Huestis.
SONORA, Upper Cailornia, April Z, 1850.
DEAR BROTHERS AND FRlENps:-I recently re-
ceived letter from Bro. George which was three
or four months on the way. Our mails from the
mers the Atlantic and Pacific coast did not meet
at the Isthmus, and delay in the mails was the
consequence. Bro. George wanted definite inform
alton IN reference to the mines. that he and Bro.
Frederick might know whatto do about coming out
in the spring. But the letter came too late to get
the information back in time, and had to content
myself with what had already written on the sub
ject in letter from Sacramento City last October.
Twill now only say on the subject, that have
not been in the mines at all, and know nothing per-
sonally. But it is estimated that there are at least
fifty thousand persons digging gold, some Of whom
do remarkably well and others do but little. But
it is prevailing opinion here that they average an
ounce day, while some will occasionally make
many hundreds in one day, and this keeps up the
excitement. The god region is near four hundred
miles long, on the west side Of the Sierra Nevada
mountains. Some of it is washed out of the sand
bars and some taken from dry diggings ON the nu-
merous ravines, ana some picked up on the sur
face of the earth, and some picked out Of the ifs
sures Of rocks.
see no prospect of failure in the mines in ma
ny years. They will soon dig deeper and tunnel
for it, and also melt the Quartz rock, of which
there is an abundance and all of it contains gold.
This country is literally full of money in circula-
ton, and most articles command an exorbitant
price. In the winter paid $50 per barrel for -four,
but it is now down to $50. Dry goods are quite
reasonable. Labor is high. Carpenters, Joners,
and other mechanics have been commanding $40
per day all winter, and common laborers about $40.
man with his team can make an ounce Of gold
per day any where in the country where am &C
quainted. The health of the country is good, es-
pecially near the sea coast.
In this valley of Sonoma, where we reside, it is
very good. We are on the north side of the Bay of
San Francisco, and about IS miles in a straightlne
from the Pacific. The Sacramento Valley is con-
sidered unhealthy. especially in the summer. Our
rainy season was about three months long. Grass
grew finely all winter, and some plants blossomed
in the bottoms. The mountains in sight were COW
cred with snow two or three times during the win
ter, but it lasted only few hours when the sun
came out. The winter Of course was the mildest
ever experienced. I did not arrive here until the
with what is here called the Sacramento fever,
through which valley we had been travelling eco
miles. This fever dwinded into chiils and fever
and kept me down four weeks. l am now just up
from my third attack of chills and fever and have
some reason to believe that it has left me perma-
nenty. My labor was by far too hard on the route.
saw no one who had so much to CO. This prepar-
ed my system for disease. watched my team once
as many as six nights in succession while among
the Indians, and still the excitement kept me up
until got through. All my family have been well,
and are still well. We have done but little yet, be-
sides supporting ourselves. But we are now be-
ginning to do something. am at this time pailing
in garden where we live, for 1910, and it will take
Wilbur and myself about four weeks to do it. My
wife commenced teaching girls on the first day of
this month, at salary OF $4,000, for ~ weeks, and
house rent found for ourselves and the school,
which costs the patrons $1,000 more. And yet the
- --.''---~ than -hr ,nn tuition
for each scholar The house is very large, and the
school, family and my preaching place, are all un-
der the same roof.
There was no preaching in sonoma when came
here, and my own is all there is now. have sue
ceeded in raising up Methodist Society Of IS men,
bers and they are doing toleraby well. But it is
hard place foi religion TO flourish. The gold ex-
citement carries every thing before it, and humid
reds have lost the moral character they started with
from the States. have yet heard nothing from my
relation 10 the Missionary operations which pro-
posed before l left Iowa. Indeed, have not seen
Methodist preacher since arrived in California,
though there are goodly number here. was glad
to hear you were all alive, and hope that mothers
haalth is better
II keep my health now, and am rrospered, will
send some money this year to assist father and
mother. know not whether shall remain per-
manently in Sonoma or not. prefer being little
nearer the ocean where vegetables do not need wa
tering in the dry season. Gardening here now is
great business. 1t looks as though a may |
soon make fortune at it.. want you to write me |
Immediately to this place, and always hereafter
til otherwise directed. Should life be spared and
reasonable prosperity granted, in the course Of
couple Of years We will come by the Isthmus to
see you. We shall be able to come in four weeks
by that time and at reasonable expense. Our Le-
gislature is now in session and State laws are
just going into operation.
The country cannot compare with Iowa in agri-
cultural pursuits, taken as a whole, there is so
much more mountainous land. But like it better,
and a little land will make more money than much
In Iowa. Yours truly. Al. HUESTIS.
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