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Correspondence of the Whig.. (ft- [Accompanying the following letter, addressed to Mr. W. LaDius of this place, wore several particles cfgold, valued st about 92. “Seeing is knowing? for tbe shining dust we* actually spread out on our table, and we looked at it with out own eyes. Ah, gold—'•Nay, aamciimcs, hangs boih thief Rood mao; WhatCan it not do, and uadoV*We commend the following interesting loiter to our readers:—]to G5c. 1 saw ten yoke^of oxen to oneiwhil wagon, containing only 1000 lbs, stall.( theWe unloaded, and packed most of ouTjmer .kt ‘Lr. on oor backs,things up to this place on our Decks, a wee distance ol from ilo £ mile. When reach- ceh tng “Pleasant Valley” the “first diggings” 1 our spirits fell below zero, cs nothing a pleasing, presented itself to our view. dayTbe timber from here to Sacramento j pin city, [fifty miles] is mostly scattering oaka,J ^ presenting a similar appearance to our j gob old decayed apple orchards, and is entire-jdig{ ly destitute of grass. (payThe luxuriant meadows c., spoken of met by certain writers, must be fartherS. as; UgtrteleSlCRAMEKTO ClTYt-CALIFORNIA,?September'21,1840. $Drar Willum:—I write you from the Slough near the sink of the Humboldt river, and sent it by Rev. Mr. Lambdin of Wheeling Va., but have since learned he did not reach San Francisco till one day after the steamer sailed, consequently you of course will not receive it before this comes to hand, which I regret exceedingly.We arrived through safely with the loss of tho French Joriny mule, which we had strayed or stolen the night before we reached the “diggings.” Our party agreed to divide off, and some dono so, Shepherd,Ira and myself to ourselves in company with Vancc, who got heartily sick ot his associates. This trip is the place to find out men—you maj know them 50 years in tho States, but if you want to know them effectually, cross tho Plains with them. We have all been well, except Vance, who had on attack of diarrhtna, common to this climate, but I took him in and cured him at once.We are engaged with nine others in darning and turning tho south fork of the Americano, - J miles below Sutilci’s Mills, and fiftv from this place. As to the prospects 1 can say now, some Hava made fortunes, While others did not do much by dadlitifr. We expect to get ready to mine in the bed of the river by tho first of October, and by next steamer (November) can write you mote definitely. Gold digging is no easy job, 1 can assure you. Wo have to quarry among fbeka in tho ravines, croaks and beds of rivets, and have to dig frequently5 to 8 feet deep; Some are making loitunes, while others (I think a largo majority) ate not averaging 85 per day—spme not paying expenses. We will try mining awhile, and if wo cannot j make it pay, will go at something else. ere' A man with a capital of 82000 hero now,1 think could make20,000 in o year. We shall work for the capital, first, and then probably try some other method of making money. There is one universal expression of disappointment among the emigrants, many that have the means return home at once. 1 of course shall not, as 1 have corae here to make money, and if it can be done honestly, I mean to have it.Ira Lgnius is very hearty, and takes hold Of the shovel and pick with a good will.I think tho trip wilt benefit him as to bodily strength.I come to this city to sell our team* which I have done for 8585, including Vance’s mule at 8142,50, Including what provisions we have left, our expenses out will fall considerably short of 8100 each, much less than wo had anticipated. I have bought an ox team to haul out our provisions, and think I can make enobgh onthere is nothing of the kind fcere, except in the lowlands, immediately on the Sacramento.The fact is this part of the land is odd vast de?ert of miserable land, and almost destitute of water and gross, in the dry season.The rainy season usually commences about the first oi Dec. We have not hod any rain except one or two slight sprink-lessince we left the South Platte. They haul ha) from hero to Sutter’s Mill [oil miles] and it is worth from 3 to 5 hundred dollars per ton, I will give you a Price Current of SacramaAo City.Pork, per bri SiU 00 to S 15,00. Flour, parbl S3,00; beef perbrl, 812 to 18; fresh beef, per lb 25 and 3Ulc; beans, pei1 lb 10 and 67£c; auger, 15 lo 20; molasses, per gallon 75 losOc; rice, 8 to 6c; corn meai, per lb Sc; cheese, 40, to 55c; butter, 81,25; milk, 1,00; per qU G. P. Tea, 05 per chest; coffee, per lb 10c; boarding per week 821; boarding, per meal, 81,50; bread, per loaf 50c; pica 50c; spruce beer, 50; labor, per day 810,00; Mechanics,higher wages; wood, 826,00 per cord; shingles, 830 to SoO,00 per M.; boards, 50c and 00c, per ft; clothing tyc., very low.Prices at Sutter's Mills—Pork, per br, 50 dol, flour, 20,35 dol; fresh beef, 37 lo 50c per lb; bacon 00c to 1 do!; sugar 30a 50c; molasses3t50 lo 5 dol, per gal; rice, 25a40c per lb; corn meal, 30 to 33c per lb; cheese, 1,25c lo 1,50c; boarding 21 dol par week, single meal, 1,50c; apruco beer, 25c pr glass; Lumber, pr ft, 40c.You can see from this that living is pretty high. Wo board ourselves at a much less rate of course. A frame house that would have cost soy 6,000 dollars in Indiana, is said to have cost 100,000 dollarsher.at r ask day brohe * 1yet.craimuSKEvlt;Tinwh$00thaan)theVagocprIOunesno\cormilantcenccnneorJwolik-penLots are very dear here. Out lots 20 by 86 ft,806 to 20,000, and in the central part of the city, ten times that price. There will undoubtedly be a great crash here, in a few years, when gold digging becomes unprofitable^ which I think will' soon be the case, 1 will notice this subject again when 1 see more of the country. This city has sprung up within two monlhs, and contains several thousand inhabitants, sheltered in part, by frame houses; others light frames, covered with muslin, and any quantity of tents. There will be a great scampering when the rainy season sets in, as a large portion of the city is subject toinundationduringlhe spring months. It is quite a rare sight to seo a city built among the heavy bodied oaks, and see tho tall masts of tho ships, raising above the tops ot the trees, with the spars mixed with tne branches. The Sacramento is anoble stream of dark green colored water, visions, ana mum i can make enougn eboul j tbe width of lhQ 0hio Rivcr( wi(hwhat 1 take out to sell* to clear - or butver» little current as the lido extends8300.Now for a short description of the route.above the city.You cansay to Vance’s and Shepherd’sc id r, idri-ieidP-»t-n,♦toBS10a!idofvehotoim»e-thThe land from St. Joseph, Mo., to Foil, friends that they are in good health. The Childs (or new Fort Kearny) is most ofj “Oregon” has just been reported as ha*-the way high, rolling prairie, with plenty ing arrived at San Francisco, but has fail-U*veci*boonAxin.anbendof grass and a scanty supply ot water, and ed to bring a mail. Newspaper reports that not good, except few running show the cholera up to July 11 to bestreams. In the ravines end along the I prevailing alarmingly at Cincinnati and margin of the creeks and rivers, there iaj othercities,buldoes notsay anythingabout some scrubby oak and cotton wood, but; country towns, 1 hope and trust you racy not as much good timber in sight of the ■ be pasded by harmless, as it is a scourge road, [a distance of some 280 miles] as'you may well desire to keep clear of, for there is in Indiana on a single section of: 1 have witnessed same cases myself. Tell land. Up tbe Platte River, the land is: J, J. Hoyden 1 will write to him next moil, pretty good in someplacer in the bottoms, Send letters direct to Socremenlo city.— but immediately skirled on both sides ofi Everything roes on quielly—no stealing or the river with chains of miserable burrow robbing, as~lhat is death by the EmigrantsI1UJtoriteCORCtumilof •ofihicosmoEarecde|preOCifrogeitomifriifroratcatgraRecilt;DaalcormimehacrsoutheforInA*wbere-he. iiitjR6idssand hills, and entirely destitute of vege tation, except a few scattering dwarf ce dar. From Fort Lrimia across the Rock Hills, a distance ol some 00 miles is a still poorer body of land to where you again strike the North Platte. Here again you find some vegetation, grass, ^c. Alter crossing the Patte to Sweet Water, nothing but wild sage, grass, wood, c. The Sweet Water is a small stream about the width of Laugheiy creek, but affording morewxter. This stream beads neorlhe the South Pass, in the Rocky . Mountains, and tlje roed follows its course most of the J tc way. ‘The Pass is a mere name as you' e hardly know when you reach it. From, jc here to Fu Hall, is a continuation of poor lc deserts, with but very little timber except in spots in the high ranges of tbe Mountains, the rides of many were crowned with snow of which we had plenty, and wa experienced cold nights; [frequently frost,] and it was not considered much of’ib luxury. From Ft. Hall onward is a miserable country except in tho Hum* bolt river for some 200 miles, which is in mny places covered with a luxuriant growth oi grass. Tbe Hurobolt is very serpentine m its course and about the size of the Sweet wale?.—From the aink of the Hombolt to the Siena Neuvada mountains, is almost entirely barren—the first 45 miles is destitute of grass end water, except salt walls, the walerof which is salt as brine. The boiling springs ore a groat curiosity—Ihe water of which stood ly the Thermometer at* 206°; it makes a rumbling.noise that can ba heard at considerable distance. . .The Sierra Neuvada Mountains, present a much grander and loftierppea-rancethen the Rocky Mountain*.—Sorne of the ascents were at an angle of from 45cLaw. Respects to all friends.Yours c., P. A. ATHEARN.oilim$0nCitigh1!Ut!li1av«iriueSha84VItltl
Newspaper Details
Rising Sun Indiana Whig
Rising Sun, Indiana, US
Sat, Dec 01, 1849
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Shelley N.
USA 14 Apr 2023
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