DISCOVERY OF GOLD ITS POSITION. 



387 



wine of which was abundant and delicious. The fine natural grasses 

 and oats of California, aided greatly in satisfying and perpetuating 

 the nomadic vaquero or herdsman, who was the type of the region 

 before the cession to the United States ; and it is calculated that 

 the grazing grounds in the State are extensive enough to produce 

 many thousand more cattle than will be required annually, for the 

 vast increase of population. 



Notwithstanding the union of California with her sister States, 

 and her favorable position for commercial purposes, it is scarcely 

 probable that she would so soon have assumed almost a national 

 rank, had not a mechanic, named James W. Marshall, who was 

 employed during the latter part of February, 1848, in building a 

 saw mill for Captain John A. Sutter on the south branch of the 

 American Fork or Rio de los Americanos, discovered certain pieces 

 of gold glistening at the bottom of the sluice. In a few days frag- 

 ments to the amount of one hundred and fifty dollars were removed 

 from the water ; and as the news spread among the settlers all over 

 the region, farms, workshops, professions and homes were deserted 

 to explore the promised Dorado. 



The results of this accidental discovery are already known all 

 over the world. California has become a centre of attraction for 

 population, wealth and trade. The grand auriferous region which 

 has thus far been examined and partially drained of its deposits, is 

 between four and five hundred miles long, and from forty to fifty 

 broad, following the windings of the Sierra Nevada. New disco- 

 veries will doubtless enlarge this area, but the present recognized 

 limits are the hills and lesser ranges rising from the eastern border 

 of the Sacramento and San Joaquin plain, and extending, fifty 

 or sixty miles eastward, until they reach an elevation of nearly 

 four thousand feet, where they mingle with the main ridge of the 

 Sierra Nevada. The numerous springs, originating in the snows 

 and rains of the mountain summits, pour down their rugged sides, 

 cutting deep channels or barrancas through the talcose slate, and 

 even down to the quartz of which the foot hills are formed. The 

 streams, in creating these gorge-like channels, have come in con- 

 tact with the quartz containing gold, and, by constant attrition, 

 have cut or ground the metal into fine flakes, scales and dust. The 

 precious deposit is, accordingly, found among the sand and gravel 

 of the river beds at those places where the swiftness of the current 

 reduces it in the dry season to narrow limits, or when the streams 

 may be darned and turned. In other places auriferous quartz has 



