The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-07-24
CalifoFmia.-A Minnesostan's Opinion
OF the Golden state.
'pepixnc. e tn. P.onsor and Drmssral
M,x,sy,tLy. Gal. june ls.

Correspobdsnr. Il IN. P.onsor md DesssSnl
MAxYsvItLE, Cali June 10, lsj6.
When left st. Paul las, spring, promised
vhen shonld arrive in California, 10 write to
number Of my neighbors in 1t. Paul. IN re-
gard TO tbs prospects in California now
think that the best way TO redeem thosc prom
ises. would be TO give the result of these obscr-
vatioos in your paper in the hops Of lettering
some Of your reaiers from coming 10 this hum
bug country.
believe were il not for ocean steamship
and river steamboat interests, and the efforts Of
stage companies and hotel keepers, that emf
grafton to California would at once cease.
cannot understand how person who has once
seen this country, and has lived in Minnesota
can think Of bringing his family here and Of
settling down even for term Of years and
yet, by the last steamers news ] lcarned that
number Of people were coming across the
plains from Minnesota one company headed
by Capt FosrgR and another by Mr.. NoBLEs
Of ST. Paul. sincerely hope this item Of news
may prove false
| The time has been when farming paid well
in California, but like everything else here, it
is now overdone. know at this time il pays
better in Minnesota than here. | have not ca,
. good potato, nor seen any one that has, since
| have been here, and do not think that our
vegetables. for size vii! compare with those
raised in Minnesota As far as can learn,
every foot Of land suitable for farming purposes
Is claimed. and claims sell at enormous prices
10 Short friend Emigrant, go 10 Minnesota. il
you would make money at farming
All kinds OF mechanical business are over
overdone. There is 30 much competition that
every description Of business is oyerdonc and
so many journeymen that wages are very much
reduced. A good Engineer informed me the other
day, that he applied for situation MS Engineer
~. 9 stsaylSss. s1splas %. This. plseG. lpl tbs
Captain told him he had registry Of the names
Of applicants for the vacancy. and advised my
friend TO apply for other employment.
As to gold mining. so often deccitIul and
yet so fascinating, weeks and months the miner
tolls without even earning his provisions, and
when just upon the point OF quitting his claim,
be finds few pieces that encourage him 10 re-
double his efforts, and causes him to hope
against hope. Often not until rheumatism. or
fearful cough. caused by laboriug in the water
and unhealthy places disablcs him does he stop
10 recruit
( have found many acquaintance herr, and
they oil have told me that two-thirds of the
miners in California do not average laborcrs
wages. have seen mining in alI ls various
modes have seen the rockers. forms, tunnels,
fumes. and sluic,s--havc s.cn miners pressing
and drifting down the mountains, and have
sen them cleaning up their gold hut many,
very many miners have told me. that If men
with the same amount Of capital the snmc
economy practiccd @lerr. and with one half the
labor required 10 mine, would go into any ga.
,erprise in the Western States they would hc
sure 10 make more money than they could
HHiluE vi w Hllt III iilt lIl'lullilli@
! saw miners travelling from one mining local.
ty to another seeking employment. How then
il the emigrant TO get work. when the miner
who has had experience in the business, can get
no work
The time has gone past when gold could he
got easily The placer diggngs have been dug
over often, and il requires rich companies TO
mine with success. Often in prospecting deep
shafts have to be sunk and long tunnel, have
to be cxcavated at enormous expense.
might speak Of poor dishcar,encd men here
who have lost all hope, even to earn money
enough to take passage back to the States, and
who are shortening their days by dissipation
and drunkenness might speak OF the peril
Of property; and even life in the country, but
perhaps have written enough Ifauy Of your
readers who doubt the truth OF my statements
will come to California they will verify oil
have yaid. and tell you have not told the half
lour, CHARLES \ G,rFs.