The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-02-02
from California.

A friend having lately received letter from
former resident of Portage County, now in Cali
fornia, has handed in the following extract for in
sertion in the Star:
PLAcERvILLE, FL Dorado Co., Cal.
Decenber l, 1852.
FRIEND W--:-I was expecting to go into
cessant rain, | feel that to larry, and write TO a
few of my friends will be much the most sensible.
And in writing back to my acquaintances never
know what to say to Them. The country is so
different from any thing ever saw contemplst-
ed, that it puzzles me to know where to COM
mence, what 10 utter, or when TO end. In the
first place, the face Of the country is mountainous
and barren throughout the whole mining portion
of the State, covered over with huge forests of
pine, balsam FIR and red wood. Indeed, the tim
ber of this region is the best, by odds, that ever
| saw. But it has no agricultural capacities what
ever. The only business carried on in this part Uf
California is mining, numbering, and their incidents.
This is one of the richest mining districts in the
State and has large, thriving population. This
town Is the first we como TO in California, and
contains population, suppose, of about ten thou
sand At the late election it polled over twenty
six hundred votes, and since that time, thousands,
in consequence of the rainy season having set in,
have fiocked here to go to mining. The want OF
water in the dry season, ia many parts, here
among the rest, is one of the great obstacles to
successful operations in the disgins. Consequent
ly, when the dry comes on thousands go to
work in the river claims and there continue till the
rain commences, and then change back again
That fact gives towns situated like this one, q
much larger population in the winter than in the
summer. 1t is smart, lively, business place al
all seasons Of the year. l think the miners as
general rule not doing extremely well. They
may be making wages, say from three to six dol.
lars per day above expenses. but Ihear of bnt few
ten strikes. In fact, the first days of CaIifornia
mining have gone By. | do not mean by that, thu
the gold is exhausted, any thing like if, but tha
a great part of the mining ground that pays bes
with the least labor has been worked over. Tht
gold of the ceunlry, however, regard as mex
haustable, aud that mining will be carried on ex
tepsivey regular business of the people for al
time to come.
As for myself / intend to go South and West q.
soon as l can, into the agricultural part of th'
State, and see how the land lies there. looI
upon farming as by far the safest and best busnes
man can engage in. One thing is certain, a maj
can make money in any thing he chooses to engag
in, if he is industrious and persevering. Tae pro
:essions and trades over done, and therefore
think one can do better farming or mining thai
either of the former.
Gambling. however, seems to be the chief occu
patton of the inhabitants of this region. and if
should tell you the half you would say that ar
an arrant liar. You can have no conception OF th
extent TO which it is carried without yourself wit
Messing it with your own eyes. will attempt a
description of it.
] am well pleased with the country and now in
tend to spend my days in California. r. T. B.