Frank Lawton

Vernon City Mouth of Feather river Jan 8^th 1850

Dear Dan

I have often thought of you and as often "made up my mind" to write you but California is one of the places where one never has a quiet moment nor an unoccupied hour the great strife is to use every instant for the purpose of gain that the sooner you get where you can enjoy it. I will give you a little programe [program] of my movements since arrival, on the way from San Blus (the point of our embarcation from Mexico) I formed an intimacy with the captain of our vessel whichh on landing led to an offer of copartnership with many advantages, one, a lot of lumber sufficient to construct a house 50 by 40, a thing not to be found out of San Francisco at the time of our arrival in this country, locating livires and building was just in its infancy this I at once perceived was the quick and profitable game we concluded to push up the Sacrimento [Sacramento] to the head of navigation and locate, some parties had already purchased the site but offered us liberal inducment to build on that point (Vernon) we accepted and I have been located here ever since. Now commenced my labors whils't the house was in process of erection I amused myself with ferrying the trains from Oregon across the river their rout [route] brings them direct to this point, and with six canoes and a tribe of Indians located here which we have under our controll [control] through Cap Sutter. I frequently earned $2.50 a day this was my startes I next bought teams and took merchandize to the diggin's this at that time was very profitable always clear 800 pr ct besides gaining a

perfect knowledge of the country and making many valuable aquaintances for purposes of trade thus four months passed since which time my presence has been constantly required at the Hotel the purpose for which we constructed our house this I shall retire from at the end of this month my real estate and buildings not allowing me time to give it the attention it requires although the house has been very profitable. drinks here 50 cts a glass, Liquor to be bought by the quantity as cheap as in New York but Lodging is the business 2.00 a bed blankets meattrass [mattress] & cot, sheets unheard of.

Now Dan it looks to me as though I should return next fall for evry [every] thing I have touched has turned to gold I shall have in a few days a house 22 by 44 2 stories finished and paid for in this country, (I never run in debt a dollar) which will rent for $1,000 a month also 20 of the best lots in this town for which I am offered from 2 to $3,000 apeice 1 mile square on feather river 2 miles from town where I keep my horses 30 in number and the finest in the country, with the prospect of a ride on this of from 2 to 400 pr ct in the Spring I think my chance of soon getting back to New York where there is so much fun if one only has the friends to pay for it good. It makes me sad to think of home and there is nothing here to repay one for the loss of it, gold can not do it,

The large fortunes acquired mde in this country are not as many in the United States think made by digging the average amt gained in all the mining districts certainly does not exceed $4 pr day to each man although occasionally large deposits are found in one place for instance on a slate bar near the Source of the Yuba I have seen men take Earth from between the Slate and wash

2 oz to the single pan but this was considered the richest deposit in California at the time I speak of it was known to very few I went up with some Oregon men who had been on the Yuba the year before but not so high up these men gained $500 a day in this place for one month I supplied them with provision it is the darn-dest place to get to men ever ventured in, there are other deposits on the small tributaries of the Yuba in my opinion equally rich but the working season here is very short the mountains through which these streams find their way are covered with snow till late in the Spring and the water does not fall until this is all melted the first rain in the valey [valley] in the fall is snow here and woe betide the man that lingers, there being no food for animals he must pack his own traps and a few pounds of gold are awfull [awful] heavy when you carry them all day and have nothing to eat.

Large amounts of gold will be collected newt Summer with the aid of quick silver and the use of the Binsmair washer by those who have good claims to work on; this machine on bars that have been worked over in the ordinary manner has yeilded [yielded] $600 pr day 4 men working it men can be hired by those holding claims for $8 pr day Some men you know never will work on their own a/c it is a responsibility they never like to take.

Dan if you had come here when we did you could have made by your profession in San Francisco $50,000 a year or can yet that is if you refuse to gamble altogether that ruins the prospect of hundreds here as well as in New York I never think of such a thing as gaming I have made up my mind it is the poorest business a mans can enter in unless he does it professionally.

This is the only letter I have written to the States with the exception of those sent home so you will have this as an evidence dear Dan that you were held in higher regard than any other man I knew, whether this will be appreciated by you I shall have an opportunity of judging when I receive your answer with me all the small news of the day no there is nothing of that kind here it will be very refreshing. Remember me to your farther and believe me Dan

Your Sincere friend Frank Lawton

Dan E Sickles Esqr New York

F. Lawton Jan 1850 California