The San Francisco call., 1909-02-28
By Marguerite Stabler

# HE account of John Marshalls dis
covery OF gold in the millrace be-
longing to General Sutter in 1S4S
Is TO California what the Romulus and
Remus story was to Rome. The Marshall
monument near the spot of his dis
coyery insures him the fame as the
first discoverer and every history of the
state starts off with it's In the be-
ginning God created and John Mar
shall discovered it,"
But while leaving the laurels bound
securely about the brow o; John Mar
shall-as tie official discoyerer of gold
in California, inasmuch as his report
ing 10 Captain Sutter put the fact into
authoritative hands, we are bound 10
admit the testimony of certain indis-
putable documents. For instance, in
August, 1913, from the United States
mint at Philadelphia, Abel Stearns re-
ceived the following report with the
gold he had sent from California: BE
fore melting 1884 ounces. after melt
ing 1871 ounces; fneness. .s06; value.
$34475; deduct expenses, sending 10
Philadelphia and agency there, S4.02;
net S340.72"
Wild rumors and picturesque legends
as to early discoveries of gold abound
as matter of course, but there are
hard and fast dates and figures that
tell their own story. Captain Suffer
was undoubtedly in possession of these
facts because the Indians and MeXi-
cans as well as the trappers who came
down from the Oregon region had been
hearing six or seven years before Mar
shall's discovery about the deposits OF
gold in certain parts of Alta Califor-
MIA. Consequently he had put all his
workmen on the alert to look out for
it, Any oddity of nature was to be
brought TO him whether Of the animal,
vegetable or mineral kingdom. Gen
eral Bidwell speaking OF an expert
ence in California prior to 1S4S, tells
of a trapper who found a small piece
of gold metal in the pocket of his coat
in which he had been carrying a stone
to sharpen his knife upon, but having
no knowledge of auriferous, rock. IL
remained in his estimation still noth-
ing more than a whetstone.
The Mexican government recognized
the fact of gold deposits in California
to the extent that its laws provided
for the taxes of gold mines and the con-
ditions of private ownership, while Cal
ifornia was still in her possession. The
MeXicans, however. took the fact calm
ly That there was gold in the noun
tains did not seem such stupendouS
mountains their experience had taught
them. 1t was arduous work to extract
this gold from the rocks and sand. and,
so far as they were concerned. the.
gold might remain in the mountains
until they We're forced to dig for it.
1t was very hot to work all day in
the sun just for a little gold, but very
easy to plantN field with seed and
smoke cigarettes in the shade until the
seeds grew into grain. There is rea-
son in all things. The Mexican mind
saw no reason why there should be a
great stampede for the developing of
these mines ''Manana, manana, the
mountains will always be there
On the rancho of Ignacio del Vale.
near the San Fernando mission. a gold
mine was discovered and worked as
early as 1912. Varying accounts of its
discovery are told, but in substance
they all agree in the facts that
vaquero,. Francisco Lopez, while watch
ing his cattle and idly digging in the
sand noticed some shining particles.
Tucking the specimen of what he
thought to be copper into his coat, he
waited until he returned to the settles
ment to inquire into its value The
people in the settlement. with even
their limited knowledge of mineralogy.
decided the grains were more like gold
than copper, and party was organized
gold Juan Manuel Vaca carried the
news of the discovery. of gold to Gov
ernor Alvarado at Monterey. showing
him specimen of the dust he had pre-
served in a quill. In 1912 these mines
We're worked a distance of 10 leagues,
and in 1914 to a still greater extent.
The Mexican government was apprised
of the existence of these mines, but in
the documentos relatives al depart
mento de CALIFORNIA; one Manuel M.
Castanares opfned that this branch
ought to be considered less worthy OF
attracting attentions than agriculture"
adding, however, Nevertheless it is of
great Importance, and have the satis-
faction of assuring you that it forms in
California one. of the most valuable
resources which that department con-
tains."
There was an easy going focking to
these mines at first when the existence
of gold in the San Fernando region be-
gan to be known. and in May. 1914,
Ignacfo del Vale was appointed juez de
policia to keep order, to portion out the
land and impose taxes IL necessary.
The year 1914 must have been dry
season. however. for the flow of water
gave out very early. making washing
of the gold impossible, and as the best
the miners Irad been able TO do for
themselves with their primitive meth
DDS and disinclination to work was 81