San Andreas independent., 1858-06-26
ATURDAY, JUNE 2e 1850
The Gold Mania.

elrard, was asked how he managed In
make SO much money, he answered alb
ruptly-"by buying when everybody sold,
and selling when everybody bought" -
The great rush Of people from California
Tor Frazer river, makes this pithy little
remark apply just now most forcibly, to
the common sense that is left in the coun-
try. Hundreds are trying to sell their
property at killing sacrifices, and join the
rabble on their way to the north; they
are doing well here, but they think they
can do better still in the new FL Dorado
A month ago, it was only the bold and
adventurous who took the fever; now,
all classes seem alike subject to it's influ-
ence. We hear of our neighbors engae-
Ing In new enterprises that would identify
their lives with the country, and the next
day abandoning them for Frazer river
We'are Informed that A sold claim for
SoO, which, ten days ago, would have
brought 81 1000; that B bought lot and
laid out $500 in lumber to build upon it
yesterday, all of which he has sold to-day
for 500, and went to Frazer; C says that
he is compelled to close his business and
follow the crowd because no one will be
left to patronize him. The old proverb
says, ''it is an i'll wind that blows good to
no one; we hope this, wind may be diff
1ercnt, and blow good both ways; but we
entertain the belief that those who will
proht most, are precisely the ones that
stay at home, attend to business and pa
tlently bide their time. If you have ready
money and your neighbor offers you his
property at bargain, buy it. Rest as
sured you will not live long without soci-
ETY. and business; the places now being
vacated, will, in less than year, all be
filled; for every one that leaves, two will
be supplied from the States.
We do not assume that there is no gold
worth the seeking in the north; we shall
not attempt to convince our readers that
the accounts received from there, are fab
ulous; we shall not resist the passions of
the tickle and adventurous that would
be idle. But, admitting alb TO be true as
related, we say that men of property and
business identifying them with this State,
had better stay at home. In 1S49 and
1850, thousands of this latter class, in the
west and northwest, sacrificed everything
they owned for an outfit to California.
How many of them have bettered their
condition thereby? Let us take glance
backward: We had farms, and work
shops, and stores, and town-property in
Illinois, in Missouri, in Iowa, in Wiscon-
sin, in Indiana, in Kentucky, &C.; they
told us that California abounded in gold !;
that $50 per day to the man, was the
fruit of average laboring men; that the
mines extended over vast area of coun.
try; that the mineral could be obtained
without the aid of capital. We believed
all, because each succeeding account but
corroborated the story in its details. Well,
we sold our stores, shops, farms and lots
for a song, and laid out the trihing pro-
ceeds III oxen, wagons and mules and
after the most horrible privations and suf-
fering, we at last reached the golden goal !.
A few made fortunes-say one out of
each one hundred; few more managed,
by closely scraping the bed rock, to " get
their money back" and return to the
States; large number remain in this
State because their pride revolts at the
idea of confronting friends and relations,
poorer than when they left, eight years
ago They are just now beginning to be
fixed and happy; they have lntermarried
with the daughters of the stranger; they
and are beginning !" to live" As for the
re>t-they are to be sought for in the
records of the Asylum; in the States
Prison; in the cemeteries, where the tear
of sorrow never moistens their grave; in
the lonely mountain and under the sod of
the long-deserted ravine; and those of
them who sank first into the grave, were,
perhaps, the least to be pitied. They es
capped that agony which tortures the soul,
and deadens the eye-which brings every
day new misfortunes and remorse to aug
ment the sum of human wretchedness, but
neoer death to end it, This is the sum
OF the golden fortunes acquired by the
grand army" of 1S49-'5O. What mis-
cradle compensation for the labor and self
denlai We have undergone. How differ
eht IL has gone with our old neiobbors.
who' Ike prudent men, stayed at home.
lhey have lived easily, happily. blest