Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-02-23
California letter.

With the experience 7.
have would not advise any persons to leave
constant employment in the Atlantic State.
with the view of lettering themselves BY gold
digging. And could those who, by New.En.
gland fresides, so fondly dream Of easily nc.
CURED fortunes in these mnes-see the miners
at their toll; sit and converse with them bv
their evening camp fires; and share with them
their bed and board, think that twenty four
hours experience would satisfy the greater
number that it was far better to be satisfied
with the sure and steady gains of their accus.
toned cangs at home, where they can enjoy
those domestic and social advantages of which
they are here deprived, than to endure the
hardships and privations Of a miners life for
such uncertain prospects.
The high rate Of wages here is often consid.
cred as conclusive evidence that lbaorinp
man must inevitably better his condition bv
coming; but it must be borne in mind that con
slant employment is as essenti al to prosperity
as high wages; and the lack Of constant emplov.
ment is nowheres SO much felt as in these mines
Many causes contribute to this result-of which
i
entity this is partially rcmedied by the water
companies, which, at great expense have CON.
structed canals from the head waters Of tho
Stanisaus and Tuolumne rivers, to conduc.
the water into the diggings, where they sell It
to the miners at the rates varying from $l2 .o
81 per diem for each "Suice" or "Tom - SIN
the evil is but partially remedied, for these
bitches are SO liable to get out of repair tn At
III The winter season can hardly expec, G
supply more than half the time and in sums,
mer they will fail entirely, for some months,
al least Good claims are scarce. and new
conner must either find one by a tedious course
OF 'Prospecting,' or purchase one at high
price, which may perhaps prove worthless
Many poor fellow las parted with his hard
earnings to secure a claim. which, when oh.
tanned. was of no value to any body.
| Ny next door neighbor informs me that he
paid $40, short time since, for claim from
which he finds it impossible to make his board,
have myself bought several in which / was
more or less deceived. And while on.,bis
subject could give some information in sela.
ton to the sale Of gold bearing quartz veins,
dia my limits permit Suffice it to say, that
the person contemplating such a purchase
would be invited to test specimens ofthc Quartz
for himself "Here are the utensils" ths.yen.
der would say, here is the rock, and here il
quicksilver; dig,grind. and test it for YOURSELF
But mark you The quicksilver has already
been charged with fine gold obtained else where
in consequence of which, the would. b.pur
chaser finds, perhaps. twenty five or fifty
cents worth of gold in his crucible from a,
pound of rock, Gas he imagines,) max 20 the
purchase erects machinery. and finds himself
ruined! This fraud Is easily practiced and,
d!fhcuit OF detection, except by an adept.
l have made these remarks to correct as,esr
as ! may be able, what 1 conceive to be- tina ,
erroneous views wich prevail in regard to Cal.
ifornia satisfied that this State, with her fue,
climate, and her exhaustless mineral, asr;cul.
tura' and commercial resources, needs to boz,
row no attraction from fasehood or exagera i.
ton; She will march onward to her grand
destiny, as the Empire State of the Pacific. j..
though pictured in the darkest shades that,
truth Will warranty. Y. Tribune.