262 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



but many are of opinion that it is .too high. A lighter 

 tax would more readily receive the assent of the mass 

 of foreigners ; but whether it is not just that they 

 should pay a tax of eight dollars for every ounce of 

 of gold they ohtain from the land of others, is another 

 question. The greater portion of the gold region 

 belongs to the government, and was paid for by the 

 government. The people of the United States should, 

 therefore, have the sole right to occupy it ; and it is 

 but just, that those people of foreign nations who wish 

 to reap a profit from it either by digging gold or culti 

 vating the ground, should pay for the use of it. The 

 effect of the tax is, that those who must pay it, either 

 must give up mining or work harder to reap sufficient 

 profit. In either case, the country is benefited. 



The mining region is constantly increasing in ex 

 tent. The placers first worked still yield a profit suffi 

 cient to reward the gold seeker for his labor, and the 

 frequent discovery of new ones by parties prospect 

 ing, keeps up the heat of excitement. The region is 

 constantly extending towards the north. The vicinity 

 of Trinity River is the most northern part of Cali 

 fornia where gold is obtained in any considerable 

 quantity, and the source of the San Joaquin, is the 

 most southern. The entire region embraced between 

 these two points is known to abound in the precious 

 metal, and is traversed by the gold " prospectors." 

 Of the gold obtained, a great quantity a third, at 

 least, remains in the country. Another is carried 

 out of California by the foreigners, and the remainder 

 is sent to the Atlantic States of the Union. This is 

 but a rough estimate ; but it seems warranted by the 

 facts of the number of foreigners in the country, and 

 the necessary current money of the residents. Cer- 



