Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-11-12

~ An0 DonCh "SiGhS 7 lDs., dHu IOfHio
y perfect sheaf from one grain. The editor c
e the ''Boston Traveller" has received sampl
o of wheat, the head of which is six inche
s. long, and contains about 100 kernels, mos
n of them remarkably large. The pape
II says, "Ifthe land in California will pre-
: duce such grain as this, farming must b
t better business than gold digging"
+, In South California, the length of til
e dry season requires irrigation; but in tn
North, particularly about the bay of Sal
: Francisco, the dews and rains are abun
: dant. Back of San Francisco is the countr
$ watcred by the Sacramento, San joaquin
| and smaller streams, which empty int
the extensive bay This country is repre-
sented as exceedingly beautiful, and heav
lily timbercd; its soil rich and its mountain
, covered with cedars. If these fields were
all settled by the hardy population of ou
Western States, as some Of them are, ther,
would not be more productive territory
in the Union. So abundant is the vielo
from this young soil, that it is confidently
asserted California may become the granary
of all South America. When the present
diversion of the public mind shall have
ceased, the application of agricultural skill
will elicit the fact, that this soil is second
to none in point of agricultural resources
But the great assurance of her intrinsic
worth, is now considered to be in her
mines. Millions upon millions of the
precious ore have been shipped to different
parts, and scores of adventurers have real
lied immense fortunes. Reports, which
were regarded as baseless inventions or
unreasonable cxaggerations, have been
reduced to amazing truths. The existence
of large masses Of virgin gold has been
repeatedly demonstrated, and numerous
assays have shown it to be of the finest
quality. The incredulity with which the
first statements from the gold region were
received, is still familiar But an explo-
ration Of the discovered spot abundantly
verified the most extravagant rumors. The
manner of its discovery, deserves attention.
Al 4 point on the American Fork, 80 miles
above Suffers Fort, grows in large quan
titles, a species of pine tree. which Capt.
Sutter wished to make available for timber.
Accordingly, saw mill was built, and
dam and race constructed. Upon letting
in the water, however, it was found that
that the tail race was too narrow to permit
the water to escape with sufficient rapidity
To save labor, therefore, the contractor let
the water, with strong current, directly
into the race, so as to wash it wider and
deeper ; and in consequence, a large bed
Of mud and gravel was deposited at the
foot of the race. One day, the contractor
observed some glittering particles in this
deposit, and becoming convinced of their
value, he Informed Capt Sutter of his
discovery, and the two agreed to keep it
secret The news, however, became known;
and hundreds of people were soon on the
spot, searching for the yellow treasure
From this accidental circumstance has
arisen the tremendous agitation, which has
radically altered the whole face of the
Pacific coast.
A few months after the discovery, Gov
Mason describes the wealth Of the region,
as follows "a small gutter, not more
than 100 yards long by feet wide and 3
feet deep was pointed out to me, as the one
where two men had obtained, short time !
before, SIT 900 worth of gold, Captive
Der informed me, that these two men had
employed white men, and about 100
Indians, and at the end of one weeks
work, they paid off their party, and had
left $4,000 worth of gold. Another
small ravinc was shown me, from which
had been taken upwards of 81, 900. Hun
dreds Of similar rarines, to all appearance,
are yet untouched. Mr.. Lyman, a gen
tleman of education and worthy Of credit,
said he had been engaged with 4 others,
with 4 machine on the American Fork,
just below Suffers Mills; they worked S
days, and his share was at the rate of $50
per day. Mr. Sinclair, whose rancho is 8
miles above Suffers, on the north side of
the American, employs about so Indians
on the North Fork He had been engaged
about weeks, when saw him, and up to
that time his net proceeds, which l saw,
we're about $4,000 worth Of gold. The
most moderate estimate l can obtain from
men acquainted with the subject, is that
from $4,000 to $50, 900 worth of gold is
daily taken from the mines. l have no
hesitation in saying, that there is more
gold in the country drained by the Saera-
mento and San Joaquin rivers, than will
pay the cost of the war with Mexico, 4
hundred times over"
In letter from Mr.. Larkin, U. s. Con
sui at Monterey, written to James Buch
anan, Secretary of State, are statements
like these: 81 was two nights at tent
occupied by eight Americans. The men
we're in partnership, and had two machines,
each made of one hundred feet of boards.
On these two evenings, I saw the men
bring to the tent, the labor Of the day.
Their own calculation was: lbs. gold col
Iectcd-4 o. to each man-S6l. I saw
two brothers who worked together by
washing the dirt in a tin pan; and the re-
suit of one days operations was 800. 1t
is the opinion of many in this region, that
the ground will afford gold for many years;
perhaps for century. My own opinion
is that at least for few years, the golden
products will equal the present year"
Rev. Walter Cotton, Alcade of Monte
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