Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas. : 1828 - 1857), Tuesday 12 June 1849, page 2


CALIFORNIA.

The following; article, in consequence of its length, and the late hour at which we re-ceived our files, we were obliged to omit from our last number. We doubt not it will be read with deep interest by those who are on the qui vive for the golden region :—

THE CALIFORNIAN GOLD FINDERS.—The ac-counts continue to increase in interest. The New York Herald introduces a highly interesting letter from a correspondent at Monterey. Califor-nia, with the following mysterious paragraph :— " We have also received a private and confiden-tial letter which contains intelligence so astounding concerning the gold regions that we forbear giving it to the public at this time lest they should not credit it, and might only laugh at us, for our pains, and accuse us of attempting to hoax and deceive the public." The Herald then goes on to declare that there wrro strong reasons for be-lieving that Governor Mason and all his officers, men, mules, and waggons, were engaged digging on the banks of the Sacramento river. Colonel Stevenson had also disbanded his regiment, and gone on the like errand. This officer is said to have collected upwards of 1,000,000 dollars north

of gold dust. Captain Marcy. son of the United States' Secretary of War, was engaged in the samo pursuit. The correspondent's letter, which is dated Monterey, Nov. 10, is highly interesting : we therefore give it entire :—" We can now call ourselves citizens of the United States. We have now only to go by law, as we formerly went by custom, that is, when Congress gives us a govern-ment and code. The old forign residents of Cali-fornia have done very well ten or twenty years without law, and oare but very little whither Congress pays early or late attention to the sub-ject. Those who have immigrated from the At-lantic States within the last three or four years deem the subject an important one ; I only call it difficult. The carrying out a code of laws, under existing circumstances, is far from being an easy task. The general Government may appoint governors, secretaries, and other public func-tionaries: and judges, marshals, collectors, &c, may accept offices with salaries of 3000 dollars, or 4000 dollars per annum ; but how they are to obtain their petty officers, at half those sums, re-main to to be seen. The pay of a member of Congress will be accepted here by those alone who do not know enough to better themselves. Me-chanies can now get 10 dollars to 10 dollars per day; labourers on the wharfs or elsewhere, 5 dollars to 10 dollars; clerks and storekeepers, 1000 to 3000 dollars per annum ; some engage to keep store during their pleasure at 8 dollars per day, or 1lb. or 1½lb. of gold per month ; cooks and stewards, 60 dollars to 100 dollars per month. In fact, labour of every description commands ex-orbitant prices. My previous information to you 1 merely forwarded to your office to opon the way to the future belief of your many readers I had not much expectation of being believed. The idea of mountains of quicksilver only wanting the ingenuity of man to make them pour forth as a stream—of rivers, whose bottoms and banks are of gold, is rather too much to play upon the credulity of New Yorkers or Yankees. I suppose my story passed as an enlarged edition of the Arabian Nights, improved and adapted to Cali-fornia. " Whether you or your readers took the tale for fiction or truth I know not. Your last paper that has reached us is of April. This I know ; the Sandwich Islands, Oregon, and Lower California are fast parting with their inhabitants, all bound for this coast, and thence to the great 'placer' of the Sacramento valley, where the digging and washing of one man that does not produce 100 troy ounces of gold, from the size of a half spangle to one pound in a month, set the digger to 'prospecting,' that is looking for better grounds. Your ' Paisano' can point out many a man who has, from 15 to 20 days in succession, bagged up five to ton ounces of gold a day. Our placer, or gold region, now extends over 300 or 400 miles of country, embracing the creeks and branches on the east side of the river Sacramento and one side of the San Joaquin. In my travels I have, when resting under a tree, and grazing my horse, seen pieces of pure gold taken from the crevices of the rocks or slate where we were stopping. On one occasion, nooning or refreshing on the side of a stream entirely unknown to diggers or 'prospec-tors,' or rather, if known, not attended to, one of my companions, in rolling in the sand, said, ' Give me a tin pan ; why should we not be cooking in gold sands?' He took a pan, filled it with sand-washed it out, and produced in five minutes two or three dollars' worth of gold, merely saying, as he threw both pan and gold on the sand, ' I thought so.' Perhaps it is fair that your readers should learn, that howover plenty the Sacramento valley may afford gold, the obtaining of it has its disadvantages. From the 1st of July to the 1st of October, more or less, one half of the people will have fever and ague, or intermittent fever. In the winter, it is too cold to work in the water. Some work in the sand by washing from the sur-

face in a wooden bowl, or tin pan ; some gouge it out from the rocks, or slate ; the more lazy ones roll about and pick up the large pieces, leaving

the small gold for the next emigration. The ex-

tent of the gold region on the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers extends a distance of 8OO miles in length by 100 in width. It embraces not only gold but quantities of quicksilver in almost general

abundance. It is estimated that a small popula-tion actively engaged in mining operations in that region could export 100,000,000 dollars in gold every year, and that an increased population might increase that amount to 300,000.000 dol-lars annually. You may believe me when I say that for some time to come California will export yearly nearly or quite 500,000 ounces of gold, 22 to 24 carats fine ; some pieces of that will weigh 16lb, very many 17lb. Many men who began last June to dig gold with a capital of 50 dollars, can now show 5000 dollars to 15,000 dollars. I saw a man to day making purchases of dry goods, &c, for his family, lay on the counter a bag made of rawhide, well sewed up, containing 100 ounces. I observed, that is a good way to pack gold dust.' He innocently replied, 'all the bags I brought down are that way ; I like the size ! Five such bags in New York would bring nearly 10,000 dollars. This man left his family last August. Three months' digging and washing, producing four or five bags, of 100 ounces each, is better than being mate of a vessel at 40 dollars per month, as the man formerly was. His companion, a Mexican, who camped and worked with him, only had two or three cowhide bags of gold. In this tough, but true, golden tale, you must not imagine that all men are equally successful. There are some who have done better ; even to 4000 dollars in a month; many 1000 dollars during the summer ; and others, who refused to join a company of gold washers who had a cheap made machine, and receive one ounce per day, that re-turned to the settlements with not a vest pocket-ful of gold. Some left with only sufficient to purchase a horse and saddle, and pay the physician six ounces of gold for one ounce of quinine, calo-mel and jalap in proportion. An ounce of gold for advice given, six ounces a visit, brings the fever and ague to be rather an expensive compa-nion. A 'well' man has his proportionate heavy expenses also, to reduce his piles of bags of gold. Dry beef in the settlements at 4 cents per lb., at the Placer, f1dollar to 2 dollars per lb. ; salt beef and pork, 50 dollars to 100 dollars per barrel; flour, 30 dollars to 75 dollars per barrel ; coffee, sugar, and rico,'50 cents to 1 dollar per lb. As washing is 50 cents to 1 dollar a garment, many prefer throwing away their used up clothes to paying the washerwoman; that is, if they intend returning to the settlements soon, where they can purchase more. As to shaving, have never seen a man at the Placer who had time to perform that operation. They do not work on Sundays, only brush up the tent, blow out the emery or fine black sand from the week's work. Horses that can tra-vel only one day, and from that to a week, are from 100 to 300 dollars. Freight, by launch owners for three days' run, 5 dollars per barrel. Waggoners charge 50 to I00 dollars per load 20 to 30 miles on good road. Corn, barley, peas, and beans, 10 dollars a bushel. Common pistols any price ; powder and lend very dear. I know a physician who, in San Francisco, purchased a common made gold washer at 20 dollars or 30 dollars, made of 70 or 80 feet of boards. At a great expense he boated it up to the first landing on the Sacramento, and there met a waggoner bound to ono of tho diggings with an empty wag-gon, distant about 50 miles. The waggoner would not take up the machine under 100 dollars. The doctor had to consent, and bided his time. June was over, rich in gold ; all on that creek, did wonders, when the waggoner fell sick, called on his friend the doctor, whose tent was in sight ; the doctor came, but would not administer the first dose under the old sum of 100 dollars, which was agreed to, under a proviso that the following doses should be furnished more moderate. When a man's time is worth 100 dollars a day to use a spade and tin pan neither doctors nor waggoners can think much of a pound of gold, and you may suppose merchants, traders, and pedlars are not slow to make their fortunes in these golden times In San Francisco there is more merchandise sold now monthly than before in a year. Vessels after vessels arrive, land their cargoes, dispose of them, and bag up the dust and lay up the vessel, as the crew are soon among the missing. The cleanest clear out is where the captain follows the crew. There are many vessels in San Francisco that cannot weigh an-chor, even with the assistance of three or four neighbouring vessels. Super cargoes must land cargo on arriving, or have no crew to do it for them. Some vessels continue to go to sea with small crews at fifty dollars per month for green hands. Old hands are too wise for them, and

prefer digging an ounce or two a-day, and drink-ing hock and champagne at half an ounce a bottle and eating bad sea bread at one dollar per pound. I have seen a captain of a vessel, who by his old contract in the port whence he sailed was getting sixty dollars per month, paying his cook seventy five dollars, and offering one hundred dollars per month for a steward ; his formor crew, even to his mates, having gone a 'prospecting.' Uncle Sam's ships suffer a little the same way, although they offer from 200 to 500 dollars for the appre-hension of a deserter. The Ohio, however, laid in the port of Monterey about a month, and lost only about twenty or thirty men. Colonel Ste-venson's regiment is disbanded ; ninety-nine out of one hundred of whom have also gone 'prospect-ng,' including the colonel, who arrived in Mon-terey last month from his last post, and was met by his men at the edge of the town to escort and cheer him into the town. The captains, &c., have brought up country carts and oxen, turned drivers and gone to the placer. Our worthy Governor, Colonel of 1st Dragoons, &c., having plenty of carts, waggons, horses, and mules, with a few regulars left, has also gone, but under better ad-vantages, for the second or third time, to see the placer and the country, and have justice done to his countrymen or himself. Commodore Jones, lately arrived in Monterey, supposed it to be the capital, head-quarters, &c , but found not even the Governor left. Where head-quarters is, may he uncertain, whether in Monterey, Sutter's Fort, or in a four-mule waggon, travelling over the gold region. Now, whether head-quarters are freighted with munitions of war, &c, or whether the cargo consists of blankets, shirts, &c , to clothe the suffering Indians, for the paltry consideration of gold, no one cares or knows. But the principle should be, that if privates can or will be off, making their thousands, those who are better able should not go goldless." The Walkington Union contains a letter from Lieutenant Larkin, dated Monterey, Nov. 16, received at the State Depart-ment, containing further confirmation of the pre-vious despatches, public and private, and far out-stripping all other news in its exciting character. The gold was increasing in size and quality daily. Lumps were found weighing from llb, to 2lbs. Several had been heard of weighing as high us 16lbs., and one 25lbs. Many men who were poor in June were worth 30,000 dollars by digging and trading with the Indians, 100 dollars a-day is the average amount realized daily from July to October. Half the diggers were sick with fevers, though not many deaths had occurred among them. The Indians would readily give an ounce of gold for a common calico shirt-others were selling for 10 dollars each in specie. The gold regions extend over a tract of 300 miles, and it was not known that it did not extend 1000. A letter from Commodore Jones states that many of the petty officers and men had deserted, and gone in search of gold. He adds, the Indians were selling gold at 30c. the ounce. Many vessels were descried by captains, cook, and seamen. The ship Isaac Walton offered discharged soldiers 50 dollars a month to go to Callao, which was re-fused. She was supplied by Government sailors. All the naval vessels on the coast were short of hands. Nearly the whole of the 3rd Artillery had deserted. Provisions were scarce and high ; board, 4 dollars a day ; washing, 6 dollars a dozen. Merchants' clerks get from 2000 to 3000 dollars a year.

CALIFORNIA.—In a number of the Californian published at San Francisco, there is an advertise-ment strongly indicative of the lawless state of the community, and the necessity which the Govern-ment are under of taking measures which have been obsolete in civilised communities. A Mr. Von Pfister having been murdered, a reward of 5000 dollars is offered for the apprehension of one Peter Raymond, his murderer, and the advertise-ment contains the significant announcement that the same sum will ho paid for the delivery of his head at the office of the Alcade of San Francisco. There is no doubt that the delivery of the head would prevent any doubts as to the legality of or competency of the tribunals to a try a murderer, and would rather baulk the exertions of the phi-lanthropical advocates of the abolition of capital punishments. We notice in the same paper that the American Commodore offers a reward of

40,000 dollars for the apprehension and delivery of deserters from the squadron ; the sum of 500 dollars being given for each of the first four ap-

prehended, and 200 dollars for any one appre-

bended afterwards.—Sydney Morning Herald.

NEW YORK, DECEMBER 12—The California gold fever is raging here with terrible violence. No less than 24 ships have sailed, or are about sailing, in the short space of three weeks. One house yesterday refused 700 passengers. Me-chanics are all leaving their trades, farmers their farms ; in fact, every body is " Heigho for Cali-fornia !" The great difficulty, however, is the want of means to pay the passage, the price being 250 dollars, and by sea it takes five months ; over the Isthmus of Panama not more than two months, but the price is 500 dollars. A gentleman of my acquaintance, who sent a venture of 12 dozen of spades, which were here dull of sale, being old fashioned, and which cost him 70 dollars net, has received an account of the sale of the same amount-ing to a little over 4000 dollars ! and the remit-tance is actually on the way in gold. This ship-ment, however, was made before news of the dis-covery of gold was known in New York. The gold is 20½ carats (pure gold being 24 carats). The President intends sending a special message to Congress on the subject of the lands, which are public property, and belong to the Government ; but what can they do? An army would desert en masse. The gold region covers a surface, it is supposed, of 500 square miles. I would go out, but I think the business will be overdone, as there have been goods enough sent out for five years' consumption, and I am not strong enough to work, If you have any relations, strong, able-bodied men, advise them to go at once ; and if they can command some 2000 dollars in bright American half-dollars, they can double their capi-tal six time's in twelve months—go at once. You may think me enthusiastic, but I refer you to the official report of Governor Mason, Secretary at War. If is supposed that gold to the amount of 20 000,000 of dollars will be sent to the States within twelve months.—Private Letter.

ANNEXATION OF UPPF.R CALIFORNIA. — A communication has been received by the Commis-sioners of Customs from Mr. Parker, one of the secretaries to the Lords Commissioners of her

Majesty's Treasury, stating that, with reference to the request contained in their report, on an ap-application of an eminent firm for a return of export duty paid on a cargo of coals exported from Cardiff, in an American vessel, to California, he (Mr. Parker) had been commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to transmit for their information a copy of a letter received by their Lordships from the Foreign Office on the 7th instant, intimating that Upper California is to be deemed a part of the United States of Ame-rica. The following is a copy of the communi-cation from the Foreign Office to the Lords of the Treasury alluded to:—" Foreign Office, Dec. 7, 1848—Sir,—In answer to your letter of the 30th ultimo, I am directed by Viscount Palmer-ston to state to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, that the province of Upper California, in which the Bay of San Francisco is situated, was coded by Mexico to the United States, in conformity with the 5th article of the treaty concluded be-tween those two States on the 2nd of February last ; and that as the British Government does not dispute that cession, Upper California is to be deemed a part of the United States. I am, &c, (signed) EDDISBURY, To Sir Charles Tre-velyan, K C.B., &c." In pursuance of this com-munication from the Treasury, the Commissioners of Customs have caused copies thereof, together

with copies of the letter from the Foreign Office therein referred to, to be transmitted to the prin-cipal officers of the revenue at the several depart-ments throughout the kingdom, for their infor-mation and government.

CALIFORNIA.—The rage for digging gold in California has extended to England and the Con-tinent of Europe. Not less than eighteen vessels are advertised to sail from London for San Fran-cisco, and a still greater number are equipping at Liverpool. Several have already quitted England for the El Dorado, filled with passengers afflicted with the auri sacra fames. Books upon the sub-ject, intended as guides to the adveuturers, mul-tiply hourly.

CALIFORNIA.—By letters recently arrived from

Rio, we learn that an American Government steamer had arrived there, on her way to San Francisco, for the purpose of laying an embargo on the gold brought from the interior, until, the arrangements for the establishment of a mint, when a duty of four per cent., it is stated, will be fixed prior to exportation.—South Australian Re-gister.