The record-union., 1898-01-22
The DISCOVERY OF GOLD.
CELEBRATION OF IT'S FTFTIETH
ANNIVERSARY.
Sons and Daughters of Sacramento
Pioneers Assembled to Com
memorate It.

Pioneer Hall was crowded last night
at the celebration by the Sons ana
Daughters of the Sacramento Pioneers
and their invited guests, who celebrated
the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery
of gold by James Marshall, in a manner
most gratifying to all present.
A literary and musical programme
had been prepared, as follows:
Address by Winfield ]. Davis, His
torian of the Pioneer Society; vocal
solo, IF Hearts Could Only Speak" H.
Kidder; flute solo, L. B. Cummings;
recitation, Miss Connolly; vocal solo,
THE Days of 49," r. r. Cohn; in
strumental selection, Mandolin Club;
vocal solo, Mrs Hawley.
MR.. DAVIS ADDRESS.
The address of Mr. Davis was as fol-
lows:
The Golden Jubilee of the discovery
of the California gold mines should
have observance throughout the civil
lied world; it marks one Of the most
important civil events in history. SO
early as the sixteenth century the
northwest coast Of North America was
the dreamland associated with Utopian
romances of unsurpassed mineral
wealth The eXtravagant accounts
that were penned by the early chroni-
clers are curiosities Of literary fiction.
This century has, however, presented in
realization all and more than was pic
tured by the romancers of old.
At Coloma, in January, 1913, when
Marshall was attracted by the shining
yellow particles in the tail race of the
sawmill no person then present could
have conceived the influence that the
circumstance would exert. When the
primitive test of the metal was made
by Captain Suffer at the fort, now at
the eastern limits of this city, the gen.
erous old man read not the portent to
himself, nor did he know that the
grains he held would convulse the ma
tions of the earth. The news of the
discovery reached the Eastern States
by May, and in 1S49 the tide of immi-
grafton poured into California by sea
and by land. A great metropolis sprang
up on the shore of the Pacific; the New
Helvetia of Sutter was transformed into
an inland city-the seat OF the COM
merce Of the mines. Sacramento be-
came the Mecca Of a host of pilgrims
attracted by the golden wealth of the
Sierras They We're young and adven-
turous men-those pioneers of Califor-
mia They builded up at the western
confines of the continent a great COM
monwealth They brought with them
the lamp and the ring of Aladdin, and
bade the guardian slaves to unlock the
storehouses of the gold. They developed
the wonderful agricultural resources Of
a territory that had been esteemed a
desert. They supplanted barbarism
with civilization. They established
stable Government and home institu-
tions. Their work is nearly accom-
plished, and for its future promotion
their mantle will fall on their children
who meet with them tonight.
Compared with what they have
wrought that which win fall to your
allotment will be easy, but there are
many remaining finishing touches The
social standard that has been main
tained these fifty years by the Califor-
MIA Pioneers must be continued Their
patriotic devotion TO our country and
State must be emulated in its fullest
degree. That open-handed generosity
that has been a distinguishing charac-
teristic of the Californian of old should
endure. And, above all, the memory
of their great accomplishments should
be perpetuated by their kindred. Par
ticnlarly are these considerations due
from you who were born and reared so
near the place where the events trans
pired that are now the subject of such
imposing commenorse on.
fear that the results of the Califor-
mia gold discovery are underestimate
in this day. Aside from the material
development of the vast territory of
the Pacifis, and the adding TO the Fed
eral Union Of five sovereign States. the
treasure that was poured from our
mines made possible the successful
prosecution of a war that in result, as
we now view history, irrevocably ce-
mented the bonds of the American
Union and forever removed the menace
of foreign complication. Incidentally it
may be remarked that one who delved
in our mines remarked that similar
conditions existed in Australia. He re-
turned there and discovered the golden
treasure Of that island continent. Ex
plorations on our coast TO the north, to
the south. and to the east Of this cen
tral point have developed the existence
of valuable mineral deposits. At this
moment thousands Of our people are
impatiently awaiting the opening Of
the icy gates that bar the way to the
wondrous treasures that lie hidden in
the far North The millions Of gold
that have been produced for the use of
man and the millions that are in prom
ise are on the credit side, as against the
little incident that happened Marshall
at Colona on that winer day fifty years
ago. He was the humble instrument
that was unconsciously directed by Di-
vinity TO tncalculably benefit mankind.