cams_CRichmond_b13_F003_002_002

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at 120°. Then at night they are exposed to cold damp
dews and before morning they feel the want of two
& even three pairs of blankets to Keep them warm. Such
is the information which I have recieved from a friend
of mine who has been to work the last two Months in
the Mines, but has come down sick & worn out from
the effects of it. "Yesterday I heard from a person who
came down that they had found a new branch of
the river, and that the diggers were collecting from 2
to 3 oz. a day each." He says they do not think of washing
but pick up the real lumps. I cannot vouch for the
truth of it, "not being personally acquainted with the
man who told me," but as soon as the rivers are
low and take their natural course, you may rest
assured that you will hear the most astonishing reports
from them, yet I fear twill be dearly bought "and
many in digging for Gold, will dig their graves, as
it must be very sickly" ... We have vessels which go
up almost every day to Sacramento City and carry passengers Passage $16 and from there
you have to go about 100 Miles before you get to
the Mines. To the mill about 60 miles you can ride
in a cart, for which the price is $40.

Every day we have arrivals from the Mines - persons who
come down to spend their money which they have worked
hard to collect "have a drink, Gamble and get
rid of it and then go back again to work, perhaps