The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-02-24

record S. d. HUBBARD,
Postmaster General
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, FEBRUARY 2, 1853
I EMIGRATION TO THE PACIFIC.
As we, in common with all the newspa
pers, have published so many rose-coIored
stories from Oregon and California, we
think it but fair to present such statements
Of more sombre hue as are occasionally
sent from the Pacific shores.
A correspondent Of the Iowa Express,
writes as follows:
81 cannot attempt TO describe the scene
here-it is distressing beyond description
4 Hundreds Of mechanics are here who rush
ed in from all parts, expecting TO get EN-
lployment, but are disappointed on every
Inquiry for work. My advice to all classes,
whether mechanics, miners, farmers or any
Thing else, is that, let their circumstances
be what they may, they are far better of
where they are than they ever will, or pos
sibly can be here. The whole country is
in confusion, everything is hurry-aImost
every body spending money, and apparent
~ but few making anything. The mines
are completely overrun, dug and torn up TO
such degree, that where | have been i,
appeared impossible to get claim. Ny
last words to all are, stay where you are
!. do not believe the reports of this one or
THAT one doing well. As far as can sec
Fl aud hear, they are fabrications-nineteen
cases out of every twenty at least"
4 A Mr.. L. r. GRrGcs, a young man Of
the town OF Porter, Rock county, writes to
bis brother;
"Bui let me warn you that if you ever
feel a single spark Of gold fever arising
within your breast, subdue it at the very
first; aye, destroy i. ia the very bud. Do
not let it carry you across the plains, where
sou will lose all the better feelings of bu-
man nature, and retain only those of the
brute creation. ! myself have crossed
them, and one in family is enough.
! sMr. PHILIP STONE, who, according TO
the Springfield Qll) Journal, left this
county last spring, writes thus under date
Of "Lafay et,e, Dec. Cd, 1852 have trav-
!, eled over the best portion Of Oregon, and
find IN, self better pleased with some small
localities than | expected to be-but
would not sell in Sangamon county to buy
here. 1t will not pay any man that is ma
king a living in Sangamon county to come
here this time Of day. Hundreds of men
started from the States last spring worth
J two and three thousand dollars, and landed
here in the Valley without any thing, and
some of them beggars-they have families
, most ofthem-oiien motherless. How are
such to live? will tell you: their pros
poets if they are mechanics with friends te
help them, they will make from two to four
dollars day when they can work, which
has not been one-half the time since the
wet season set in. Now then for living
they pay S24 per Dbl. for -four, beef 10
cents, pork II cents, butter from 80 TO IS
cents, potatoes So per bnsbel, sugar 25
cents per pound, and coffee 80 cents. Now
make your comparisons and see where the
mechanic is best of. Health in Oregon is
like The milk sickness in !linois-'we nev-
er have the chils here, but on the other
side of the creek, they have them awful,
'lly!"
A letter from FRANCIS B. WHITE, dated
Salem, Oregon Territory, October 10Th,
contains the following paragraph:
heard more of "Fever and Ague," than J
did for the last FIVE years in Illinois. And
il is no, to this vicinity as far as ! have
heard from q have inquired particularly of
persons from different parts of the valley)
hhis seems TO be the complaint, not only OF
The emigranls of '52, but the old inhabi-
I,ants. A young NJ. d. told me few days
since, that he came 10 Albany, 30 miles
above here, in July last, a perfect stranger,
and since that time he had received, (and
charged on his books toge,her.) the sum of
$50, 900 for medical services"
At the burning of the Louisville Hotel
recently, the coolest incident took place
during the height of the fire, and when all
thought the entire building would be laid
in ashes. II occurred between Mr.. Moore,
clerk at the hotel, and one Of the boarders.
The latter, carpei-bag in hand, descended
from the third story, which was in flames,
and marching up to the clerk at the office,
around whom the hot cinders were drop
Iping, told him that he believed he would
move his quarters, and wanted to know
how much his bill was? Moore turned to
the ledger. counted ii up, made cut the bill,
took the money, and politely bowed him
out, at the same time expressing his regre.
a, his sudden departure Louisville Cour
PRINTING BY CALoRIc.--The proprle-
tors of the N. Y. Evening Post have en-,
gagged the construction Of a Calorlc engine
10 drive one of Hoes rotary presses. II is
Expected to exert force sufficient TO drive
that and four or five job presses, and to oc.
cupy the space enclosed in cast iron box
six Zee, square and between fTe and siS
feet high. II is to make on the Hoe press
10000 impressions in tn hour. This en-,
cine will be completed by the middle of
April. The Pos, says: IF ii fails, we
mean the world shall know il, and the rea-
ms Why, If we ctn ascertain them.
PRENTICE, the able and venerable editor
# the Louisville Journal, has reached his
serentieih gear. Time appears 10 have