i64 ELDORADO 



Atlantic States and the whole territory felt the pro- 

 gressive and enterprising- spirit of the gold-seekers. 

 The Americans generally took possession of the mines 

 on the American, Yuba and Feather rivers and their 

 tributaries. But as their numbers increased they 

 pushed towards the Southern mines and frequent col- 

 lisions with foreigners were the consequence. Fin- 

 ally a great number of the latter were compelled to 

 leave the country, mainly in consequence of excessive 

 taxation. 



The following item appeared in the "Californian," 

 published in San Francisco, August 14, 1848: ''The 

 publisher of this paper, while on a tour alone to the 

 mining district, collected with the aid of a shovel pick 

 and tin pan, from $44 to Si 28 a day — averaging $100. 

 The gross amount collected up to date will probably 

 exceed v$6oo,ooo of which amount our merchants have 

 received $250,000 worth for goods sold, all within the 

 short space of eight weeks. The largest piece of gold 

 known to be found weighed four pounds." 



On January i, 1849, the total population of Califor- 

 nia was estimated at twenty-six thousand, thirteen 

 thousand natives, eight thousand Americans and five 

 thousand of all other nations. 



During the year 1848 ten million dollars in gold 

 was extracted from the mines, principally from the 

 Yuba, Feather and the American rivers and gulches 

 connected therewith; the rocker, shovel, prospecting 

 pan, and crevice-knife being the only machinery em- 

 ployed. Over forty million dollars was obtained in 

 the year 1849, ^"^ from January 19, 1848, the day of 

 the discovery of gold in California, to the beginning of 

 1870. the gold product of the State was one billion 



