, 1853-07-16
From an Occasional Correspondent.

anu bIcau'h OF w aShlngtOn IerTltOry, there
is a spirit Of speculation exceedingly rife,
relative to the long looked and much-hopcd
for discovery Of Gold, in either the Cascade
or Coast range Of mountains To every one,
the fact is plainly evident, that large ma
joriiy OF our citizens have all along indulg-
ed a strong hope that the precious metal
would soon Ire found in our Territory, and in
such abundance, too, that they would speed
lily be enabled to make their pile" and 90
home to the States, to enjoy their good for
tune in the midst of all the luxures that
wealth can purchase. Now this is a per-
lectly natural hope, for California, which
has proved prolific, without parallel, in the
precious metal, is but few degrees removed
from us, and has furnished to US a fair pro-
portion OF our population. Probably nine
tenths of our citizens who have come from
California, have been workers in the mines
Of that State with but very Indifferent sue
cess, but at the same time, have had their
hopes SO strongly excited by the great good
fortune Of many of their friends, whom they
have witnessed become wealthy in day, as
it were, that they are ready at moments
warning 10 try their hand at the old bust
ness again, if they can see but the remoiest
prospect of success. That gold exists in
our Territory do not for a moment doubt,
for have seen some that has been forud in
the immediate vicinity of both the Cascade
and Olympic mountains, and of the purest
quality too; but that the seeking for it can
ever be made profitable business, | certain
| y very much question, and were called
upon for advice by any one desrous of max
ing fortune by the discovery of gold in
this Territory, l should assuredly counsel
him to stick to his legitimate business and
leave to others the search for it. Now let
US take a calm and dispassionatc view of
California as it was, is, and probably will be-
Six years ago its geography, even, was but
imperfectly known 10 the great mass of the
people in our country and TO but few, very
few minds, did the thought ever occur, that
so soon would their be a rush of determin-
ed men from every city, town, village and
hamlet in our great confederacy TO this new
Dorado" of the West, and that in a
space of time so extremely short, as 10 make
one almost believe that the wand Of the ma
gician had swept over it, become a wealthy
and powerful sovereign State of our glori-
Gus and universally respected Republic
And TO what is California mainly indebted
for her unparalleled success and present
greatness! Simply to the immense deposits
Of gold that have been found within her
borders. There is not a sane man in our
country so totally reckless of his reputation
as person of reason and sense, who dares
to make the assertion, that California would
now be an important member Of the great
family Of States, and San Francisco the most
important and nourishng seaport on the
Pacific Coast, had gold not been found in
her mountain ranges and river beds. There
is another fact, to my mind, connected with
our southern neighbor, of which many prob
ably have not thought, and that is that for
her future prosperity she must depend rath-
er upon her agricultural and commercial
resources, than upon the gold that lies hid
den in the quartz rocks of her mountains
and in the beds Of her streams do not
mean 10 say that her mines are exhausted,
or that they will not be worked with great
profit to some few individuals for, perhaps,
centuries 10 come but from all that have
been able 10 learn from conversations with |
different individuals perfectly conversant
with these matters, and from ably written
articles in the best conducted journals Of the
day, am constrained to believe that most |
Of the companies now formed, or that may
be organized hereafter, for the purpose of
quartz mining, will, most decidedly do a
losing business. That such has been the
case heretofore, is truth well known to
Californians, and also, that the excuse that
has universally been given for this want of
success is, that the machinery for grinding
is very imperfect, and in fact almost totally
unfit This was certainly very plausible
story and pretty generaly gained credence.
Now, however, such tales will not be re-
ceiyed as truth by the more intelligent, for
they know that many Of the quartz mining
companies are now operating in some Of the
richest " leads " in the State, with machin-
cry manufactured upon the most approved
and scientific principles, and so very perfect
in all their arrangements as tol leave no pos
siblo chance for the most ingenious Yankee
10 suggest an improvement, and still with
great loss. For my part, honestly believe
that in nine cases out Of ten, these quartz |
mining companies are organized by unscru-
pulous Spectators and men of desperate for.
tunes, and that those are selected to manage
affairs who have the best knowledge of hu-
man nature-can tell the most plausible story
to the unsuspicious and innocent seeker after
gold, and wheedle the credulous out Of the
greatest number of dollars for a share in
their incomparably rich quartz claim.
This article will probably be read by
many men in our Territory who propose
dropping al once and at no matter what sac
rifce, any business that they may be enga-
ged in, at the very first intelligence they
may receive of the discovery of gold, and
nah forthwith 10 the maintains io trv their