The following letters were communicated to the "Californian" newspaper,
and exhibit very graphically the state of excitement and the actual
state of things in the Gold Regions during last summer.
NEW HELVETIA, June 30, 1848.
I have just returned from Fort Sacramento, from the gold region, from
whence I write this; and in compliance with my promise, on leaving the
sea coast, I send you such items as I have gathered.
Our trip after leaving your city, by way of Pueblo, San Jose, and the
San Joaquin river, we found very agreeable. Passing over a lovely
country, with its valleys and hills covered with the richest verdure,
intertwined with flowers of every hue. The country from the San Joaquin
river to this place, is rich beyond comparison, and will admit of a
dense population.
We found the fort a miniature Manchester, a young Lowell. The
blacksmith's hammer, the tinner, the carpenter, and the weaver's
shuttle, plying by the ingenuity of Indians, at which place there are
several hundred in the employ of Capt. J.A. Sutter. I was much pleased
with a walk in a large and beautiful garden attached to the fort. It
contains about eight or ten acres, laid out with great taste, under the
supervision of a young Swiss. Among the fruit trees I noticed the
almond, fig, olive, pear, apple, and peach. The grape vines are in the
highest state of cultivation, and for vegetables, I would refer you to
a seedman's catalogue.
About three miles from the fort, on the east bank of the Sacramento,
the town of Suttersville is laid out. The location is one of the best
in the country, situated in the largest and most fertile district in
California, and being the depot for the extensive, gold, silver,
platina, quicksilver, and iron mines. A hotel is now building for the
accomodation of the travelling public, who are now obliged to impose on
the kind hospitalities of Capt. Sutter. A party of men who have been
exploring a route to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains, have just
returned, and report that they have found a good wagon road on the
declivity ridge between the American fork and the McCossamy rivers, the
distance being much less than by the old route. The road will pass
through the gold district, and enter the valley near the American fork.
A ferry is to be established at Suttersville, on the Sacramento, and
the road across the _tularie_ improved soon, which will shorten the
distance from this place to Sonoma and your city, about 60 miles.
After leaving the fort we passed up on the south bank of the American
fork, about twelve miles. This is a beautiful river, about three
fathoms deep the water being very cold and clear; and after leaving the
river we passed through a country rolling and timbered with oak. We
soon commenced ascending the hills at the base of the Sierra Nevada,
which are thickly set with oak and pine timber, and soon arrived at a
small rivulet. One of our party dipped up a cupful of sand from the bed
of the creek, washed it, and found five pieces of gold. This was our
first attempt at gold digging. About dark we arrived at the saw-mill of
Captain Sutter, having ridden over gold, silver, platina and iron
mines, some twenty or thirty miles. The past three days I have spent in
exploring the mountains in this district, and conversing with many men
who have been at work here for some weeks past. Should I attempt to
relate to you all that I have seen, and have been told, concerning the
extent and productions of the mines, I am fearful your readers would
think me exaggerating too much, therefore I will keep within bounds. I
could fill your columns with the most astonishing tales concerning the
mines here, far excelling the Arabian Nights, and all true to the
letter.
As near as I can ascertain, there are now about 2,000 persons engaged,
and the roads leading to the mines are thronged with people and wagons.
From one to nine ounces of pure virgin gold per day is gathered by
every man who performs the requisite labor. The mountains have been
explored for about forty miles, and gold has been found in great
abundance in almost every part of them. A gentleman informed me that he
had spent some time in exploring the country, and had dug fifty-two
holes with his butcher's knife in different places, and found gold in
every one.
Several extensive silver mines have been discovered, but very little
attention is paid to them now. Immense beds of iron ore, of superior
quality, yielding 85 to 90 per cent., have also been found near the
American Fork.
A grist mill is to be attached to the saw mill, for the purpose of
convenience of families and others settling at the mines. The water
power of the American Fork is equal to any upon this continent, and in
a few years large iron founderies, rolling, splitting and nail mills
will be erected.
The granite of the mountains is superior to the celebrated Quincy. A
quarry of beautiful marble has been discovered near the McCossanny
river, specimens of which you will see in a few years in the front of
the Custom House, Merchants' Exchange, City Hall, and other edifices in
your flourishing city.
P. S.-"The cry is still, they come." Two men have just arrived for
provisions from the Abjuba river, who state that they have worked five
days, and gathered $950 in gold, the largest piece weighing nearly one
ounce. They report the quantity on that river to be immense, and in
much larger pieces than that taken in other parts.
SONOMA. Aug. 5, 1848.
The mining fever is raging here, as well as elsewhere. Not a mechanic
or laboring man can be obtained in town, and most of our male citizens
have "gone up" to the Sierra Nevada, and are now enjoying "golden
moments." Spades, shovels, pick-axes, hoes, bottles, vials,
snuff-boxes, brass tubes, earthern jars, and even barrels, have been
put in requisition, and have also abruptly left town.
I have heard from one of our citizens who has been at the Gold Placer a
few weeks, and he had collected $1,500 worth of the "root of evil," and
was still averaging $100 per day. Another gent, wife and boy collected
$500 worth in one day. Another still, who shut up his hotel here some
five or six weeks since, has returned with $2,200 in pure virgin gold,
collected by his own exertions, with no other aid than a spade, pick
and Indian basket.
Three new and valuable lead mines have recently been discovered in this
vicinity, and one of our citizens, Mr. John Bowles, of Galena, Ill.--a
gent, who has been reported by the Boston press as having been murdered
by the Indians, on the Southern route to Oregon, from the
States--informed me that the ore would yield 90 per cent., and that it
was his intention to erect, as soon as practicable, six large smelting
furnaces.
The Colonnade Theatre, at this place, has closed for the season; it was
well attended, however, from the time the Thespians made their debut
till they made their exit. The "Golden Farmer," the "Omnibus," and a
Russian comedy called "Feodora,' (translated from the German of
Kotzebue, by Mr. F. Linz, of Sonoma,) were their last attractions.
The military company under command of Capt. J. E. Brackett, are today
exchanging posts with Company H., under command of Captain Frisbie,
both of the New York Volunteers. Company C. has been stationed with us
more than a year, and much praise is due its members, not only for the
military and soldier-like manner in which they have acquitted
themselves as a corps, but for their gentlemanly and orderly deportment
individually and collectively. We regret to part with them, and cannot
let them go without expressing a hope that when peace shall have been
declared, their regiment disbanded, and their country no longer needs
their services, they may have fallen sufficiently in love with our
healthy climate and our beautiful valley to come back and settle.
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