Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-07-24

Through the pOIiteness Of DIR. c. B. Petit
If this city we are indebted for the following
interesting letter from our old friend and fcl
Low tOwnsmAn s. Conrad Mr.. C. is one Of
the pioncer settlers of Placcrville and from the
f.et that be is vel known for truth and vera
c;tv. his letter will be read with interest:
VICTORIA, July 18th, 1855
Ma C. B. PETTIT-DEAR SfR:-F left San
FRANCISCO on thee2nd and landed at EsqumaIt
an The 9Th. From there came to this place
hv laDd-distaBce three miles came up on
IL Steamer OrisdG0. She had about nine
teen hundred passengers on board! The
C0rtes landed here about the same time we
did with large number Of passengers which
toeether with those of the OrizdLG made in
ali over three thousand arrivals in q single
dsv! There were already more than double
that number here all anxious to get convey.
ance up the river or, for the river to fall The
streets are crowded with peopl,, and the su.
burts Of the town are covered with tents and
brush camps which gives the plscc an appear.
ancev very much like California in 40. A. to the
truth about the gold up Fraser River, you
know ~ much about it a We do here. This
much do know however, that there are hun
dFeds Of men here without . cent Of money
Who would be glad 10 60 back If they coulu;
and that hundreds more will so0n go back if
We do not shortly receive more favorable news
from the mines. have had persons 10 come
70 me and offer to work for their board until
they can do better. The steamer Surprise
has lust got in and | learn from one Of the pas.
sengcrS that there Is . large body Of men up
the river destitute Of provisions and that Sonc
Of them are actually starving. Real estate
here is held at enormously high rates, bat
de not know o. single sale being effected
since my arrival. Ground rent is also very
high. They demand for = lot 20 x 80 feet
from $50 to 500 per month. There are
hundreds Of small boats being built here for
the purpose Of ascending the river. In many
instances these boats swamp in crossing the
Bay. Hit were not for the Hudson BAY Co.,
provisions would be bought up by spectators
and thereby cause much suffering amongst
the immigrants; the company, however,
keep every thing at regular price and keep
. good supply on hand. The officers Of the
company Secm to be clever gentlemen and
ere doing all in their power for the comfort Of
smiCantS.
sill not say to every one" don't como"
for it is still possible there may be good dig
EinSs up the river; but vii Say to oEc and
ell that u thcy 90 come, to bring money
enough to take them back in case they may
xiSh 10 return. There is inany a poor fellow
here who would gladly give double the amount
Of the cost Of getting back if he could only DO
-. A. am writing Scc old Ned McGQfen
the ubiquitous" lie Looks as if all Ills
friends had Eorsakcn him. The water here
is tolerAbIy good but scarce and the cngrants
have TO haul il about two miles 1t sells fnr
bit per buckeIful aud some Of tho chaps who
aTs strapped are rolling il to town in barrels
In order TO make living. Ncwbaucr. Ilaftc.
meyer, Peters. Dutch Louie and others are
here from Hangtown. ! expect to put my
toola Up under a tree and commence work To.
mOsTow. ] AM on . piece Of ground that
tound vacant but am liable 10 be OuStcd at
any moment. Lumber is worth 500 per
thousand and scarce At that There is but
one brick building in the place and not more
than fifty tolerAble wooden ones