The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-19
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENCE.
San FRAxc,sco, 30th April, 1861.
Messn SAsDERs & DAvIs,(
Davenport Gasettc,

San FRAxclsco, 30th April, 1861.
Messn. SAsDERs & DAvls,(
Davenport Gassstc,
Gcns'n.:--l have
deferred writing until this time owing u
the difficulty Of obtaining reliable informa
ton respecting the mining portion Of ,hi'
most interesting and unique country; ant
being desirous not TO communicate any 10
telliEencc of doubtful character, / prefer
red waiting until had visited portion o.
the mining region in person and thereb,
being better qualified to judge Of the miner
al resources Of this flourishing State.
Having lately visited one Of the most in
|teres.ing portions Of the Gold region, ant
as far as practicable acquainted mysell
with the produc.iveness Of the ''diggings'
visited, | am able to form some genera
opinion of,he richness, extent and duration
Of the gold diggings in California.
From tho number Of persons engaged il
mining throughout, the gold region Of tn,
State Of California, the yield Of gold dus
Cor the present year, may be safely estima
ted at not less than forty-6ye or fifty mil
lions dollars, and We need not be surprised
| if tho yield should exceed that estimate
fully fifty per cent.
Il is supposed that at the present tim'
nearly 100000 persons are engaged il
mining in this State, and owing to the re
peal Of the "Foreign Miners Tax" there
are constant accessions from Mexico, South
America, China, and the Islands Of the Pa
cifc, which will no doubt greatly augment
the product Of tho mines this year.
The miners throughout the State WIKI
are industrious, sober and economical, are
generally doing well, averaging from three
to ten dollars per day. In almost any sec
ton Of the mining region labor commands
from $75 to 500 per mouth and board
which is far better than laborers can do ia
any Of the older States. The great diff
Guilty among the mining population is their
not being satisfied with moderate success
it is very common thing for men who IRE
making three, five or even ten dollars per
day, to become dissatisfied with this slow
way Gas they deem it) Of making money,
and abandon their claims 10 search Of 9TH
ers more rich; thus great amount Of Ia
Dor is lost in prospecting without any ben
eft to the miner. On the other hand, those
who remain conten.ed with moderate sue.
cess and stick to their claims, almost inva-
riably succeed in the end in being well re.
warded for their labor.
At some Of the diggings which visited
the earth wss in process Of wnshiag the
third time and yielded handsome return
to the laborer. Il is not wi.hs,anding ~
unbeatable TACT that j. Ihe mines you meet
with some who are far from prosperous, gel
liz is generally owing to their lack ofindos
try, intemperance or gambling proponsi
ties, or sickness.
Comparatively very few arc lucky o,
fortunate enough to accumulate = fortune
suddenly, and in this country the minor d
most ordinary intellect is just as likely L
make his ..pile'' 10 short space Of time a
the most skilfut miner. tits by mere acct
dent or chance that sudden fortunes ar.
made in the mines and one industrious maj
is just a. likely TO make rich discover,
AZ another.
| OF all countries for '.humbugs" thi
soaps the Climax and many persons ar,
victimized BY the frequent schemes tina
arc started for quilting the unsophsticsted
among which humbugs may be enumers
ted those of "GoM Lake, and "Gol.
Bluff"
| There is one branch Of mining which
daily becoming more important, il il tba
Iof quartz,inisiag. Some veins Of quart
have been dissosSssdsthst promise TO b
very rich in the precious metal, snd.whe
proper machinery is brought into we, Their
is no doubt that this species Of mining wi
yield handsome profit to the,cspitalisl
These operations, however, must be CARR
ed on.by united capital, as this system Q
mining requires :. large outlay Of capita
and some iev. moqshs must elspse from th
time Of opening anime, before profits ca
be realized.
10 regard to the probable tima before tn
gold will be exhaustSdin this cous.ry, i. i
impossible for any human being tapredic,
My opinion is, tha..many years wit elaps
before they will cease to reward 6e pa
tient laborer handsomely.
| Although miners, ars generally bette
housed and have many comforts tbst' they
were deprived Of q year ago, ystamy ar
still subjec. to many priyasions and tn
labor Of digging il eftb most ssNsf9 kind