The Sierra citizen., 1854-08-12

Saturday, August AZ. AS5A.
Hard Times.

SUCH Is the unlverSal complaint lfOHi
all parts of the State, from the Bay City,
where huge vessels freighted by all nations
are driving against the pier, to the distant
mountain village, where the jaded mule
tolls down the hill with his humble bur-
then. 1t is useless to deny the fact, for
times are hard; the pressure is felt by the
wholesale dealer in the great commercial
emporium as well as the humblest dealer
in the remotest mining town, and greatly
do the people wonder what can the matter
be.
There is no perceptible decrease in the
product of the mines; the hills are popu-
lous with miners, who are even in better
circumstances than two years ago. But
when the trader examines his salesbOok
ut the end of the week. he finds lamenta-
BILE deficit, and concludes that the mines
are giving out, or that the miners have
been seized by spirit of economy, very
different from their come-easy-go-easy no.
tions year or two ago.
Shippers in the Eastern States seem to
have been convinced of the extraordinary
rapacity of California consumers. Goods
of all kinds, good, bad and indifferent,
were rushed into the harbors on the Pa
cifc, completely overstocking the markets
and running trade for time. But q
small proportion of the gold dug in the
richer mining districts is expended for
provisions, else the miners prospects were
hopeless enough. Experience has taught
them that money is easily made, but diff
cult to retain after being once in their
possession.
The semi-monthly shipments of treasure
to the Atlantic will convince any one that
California is still yielding to the patient
arm of industry a rich reward; but people
come to this State as they would go to
hank with check, to be cashed at sight
md as soon as they are in possession of a
Few thousand or even hundreds of dollars
they return home without contributing
anything toward the support of the State
which has made them rich, unless it be
the poll-tax which is wrested from them
and which they consider dead loss. But
we have reason to confidently expect a
change for the better. Among the thou.
sands yearly arriving by land and sea-
there are mapy who make the Golden
State their permanent home. We do not
hear of so many heavy business transac-
,tions, tremendous strikes in the mines, or
q, and speculations whereby one man be-
com es rich and dozen poor; but business
is REQ 'uced to something like system
and th speculator ventures on no opera
tion wit hout some certainty of success
A vast a, Mount of capital that was floating
about two years ago is now invested in
city property, or in stock and water com
n.n;es. and tn ousandS and even millions are
annually swept away by fire and flood
leaving scarcely a foundation for industry
to build on; still California is the country
toward which the e.uigrant takes his way
when fortune frowns en- him elsewhere.
The present business panic cannot con
tinue long. There are in the hills auo
streams of California sufficient gold to
attract to our shores large proportion
of the commerce of the worl,', and strong
arms are not wanting to force the hills to
give up their treasures. But the miners
have been taught severe lesson, at least
such of them as were here in Caiifornia's
flush times. Enormous sums were squan-
dered by men who did not dream Of be-
ing extravagant, but when the empty
Golfers were to be replenished they saw
their folly too late. Every one now has
an eye to rainy day; little or nothing
is spent unnecessarily, and consequently
places of public resort and amusement are
not crowded as formerly. But if one
should take the trouble to inquire in the
miners cabin, he would find an ample
stock of provision, all paid for, and per-
haps few ounces slowed away in place
so odd, that nothing but o wizard could
find them.
The most singular feature in these hard
times is, that the miner is well supplied
with food and raiment, the laborer who
is worthy receives his hire, ,,aud tina: each