Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-09-26
The 1dines and Population Of Northern
California.


But few who pretend to knowledge OF the cx-
tensive mineral districts of Northern California,
will be found to contend that any other portion
Of the State equals it in its vast resources of min
eral wealth. The exact extent Of mineral terri
tory is scarcely known, even to those who have
resided for years, and worked in the mines Of
Northern California. Causes might be assigned
to show why the mineral wealth of the northern
mines has been so slowly developing itself 1t
is not, as a general thing, the number, but the
character Of the population Of any place that
gives it rank and Importance. Northern Califor-
MIA wants population Of a different caste to what
ii has at present both in numbers and character.
1t will not be denied by those who have the
strongest local pride and attachment to this por-
ton Of the State, that there is more mineral
wealth and less enterprise amongst the people in
the mining counties of the North. than in any
other section OF the State. Throughout the vast
scope Of country lying between the head Of nayi-
cation on the Sacramento river, aud The 45d deg.
of north latitude, extending into Oregon, rich
mines are interpreted, which require nothing
but industry and enterprise to dcyclope unparal-
lelled wealth. Wherever capital concentrates
population is sure to follow, hence it is that the
Southern mines has treble the mining population
that is now in the Northern mines.
The ready facilities which the people in the
Southern portion Of the State possess, arc amongst
the causes of its rapid development and settle
ment. When capital has the privilege to expand,
there must follow proportional prosperity to
the working classes in such locality. The supe-
ror advantages arising from thorough system
Of mining is everywhere to be seen in the South
crn mines. and although the standard Of wages is
much higher in the Northern mining Counties
the high price which the miner is compelled to
pay for provisions reduces his wages. or rather
the profit of his labor to a sum but little, if any
higher than the amount paid to the miner in the
Southern mines where climate and the facilities
/ for living are much superior.
The same old system of mining that was follow
ed six years ago is still followed in some Of the
sequence The best claims under such system
will only afford but moderate pay. We want a
population of working men to make the mines
yield as they should 1t is not mining alone that
is carried on so disadyantageously. but almost
every other species of business is carried on on
the same hasty and irregular principle One hall
the present population Of Northern California
with an cntcrprising character and turn OF mind
would have placed her within the last three years
at least ten years in advance Of What she is at pre-
sent. Whore in any other portion Of California
could be found, except in the County Of Trinity
people who would have trusted for years tC
chances Of hiring pack trains to pack everything
that is imported into our County by mule, wher
a good wagon road could have been completed
for twenty thousand dollars, over which all spe
ces OF merchandise might be transported, at lesi
than onc-hall the present price of transportation
Yet it seems difficult to convince this same peo
pie of the imposition which they have tamely
submitted to for years.