note: The conclusion of this letter to the editor and name of the sender wasn't included within this article (it was cut off when printed.--sorry) However, it uses the same return address, & I believe it was probably sent by the same person as the one earlier sent-in the Wyo. Co. Mirror edition, of June 22-1852 - letter from: F.F. FARGO, of the California Gold Mines; Feather River, Cal., which was dated: May, 8th, 1852. **************** Wyoming County Mirror Warsaw, Wyoming Co., NY August 10-1852 -cont'd- California Correspondence. Fairfield Bar, Feather River, Cal., June, 15th, 1852. Friend Holly:-- A change of pace and occupation have offered me less opportunities for writing the Mirror. Being removed from the busy and active scene of the City to an isolated mining precinct, I have but few facilities for gathering up much, that to me would seem to interest; your readers, and for this reason have not written you so often of late. And should my communications prove too dry for a place in your columns during the exciting time of a Presidential Campaign you are at liberty to throw them aside. I am still at the place of my last writing--in the mountains, where the admirer of nature can not fail to be pleased and interested. The "wet season" is passed and succeeded by our long dry summer. The rains ceased falling about the middle of May which is the time the seasons generally change. The month of May, as with you, is the most delightful portion of the year. The rank growth of vegetation caused by the warm spring rains is now in all its prime and countless varieties of the most beautiful wild flowers, are everywhere to be met with. Making the mountains a perfect garden of fragrant blossoms, excelling by far the best arrangement of domestic flowers, by the most experienced Florist. The weather thus far has been much warmer than any season, since the settlement of the State. Snow has already melted away in the Sierra Nevada that has withstood the heat of the last three summers. Consequently the streams are much augmented and will probably remain considerably swollen during the season. The rivers in the San Joaquin section are said to be overflowing at the present moment, and serious damage is being done to agricultural interests. The surplus of water will greatly hinder operations in river claims for this year. There is thought to be much more water now than there was in the famous summer of '50. While those engaged in rivers will suffer a partial delay, those pursuing placer digging will find their facilities for working greatly enhanced. The vast improvements that have been made since last season for supplying the dry diggins with water, are wonderful and truly worthy of the age and characteristic of California enterprise. Canals, races, and flumes are being projected all over the mining section and thus bringing the various streams to the immediate vicinity of the best diggins. Large companies, with an immense capital are engaged in this work, and their stock proves equal to any in the State. There is nothing new of any great importance concerning the mines. As usual, new diggins are daily being discovered; but no such excitement as prevailed during the first year of the discovery of gold here, exists now. Mining is becoming a more permanent and settled business, and men begin to pursue it in a more scientific manner. The idea of scraping up a fortune in a week or month is not so generally entertained here as at home. Men are becoming satisfied with reasonable wages, or willing to work a claim that will pay moderately. I have met with many who during their first year in the mines would run over good dirt that would pay twenty dollars per day, looking for better, that are now quite content to find a place that will yield five dollars. The present price of labor is from seventy five to one hundred dollars per month,--board furnished. The emigration to our shores this spring surpasses the predictions of the most liberal estimate. Every Steamer comes loaded to the fullest extent, and reports leaving others behind who could not get passage. Clippers, Schooners, Brigs, and all sorts of crafts are eagerly sought for in the absence of Steamships, and find good employment in bringing up the thousands that better facilities on the other side have thrown upon the Isthmus. The proportion of females and children among the present arrivals, is very large compared with any time before. Some overland trains are in from Salt Lake, but none have as yet arrived from home. About fifty thousand are said to be crossing the plains this season. Our Legislature has adjourned. A very little business of importance has been transacted. Its deliberations were characterized by frequent disputes and quarrels, according to the modern manner of legislating. The Compromise was unqualifidly approved; gamblers and their profession were unmolested and they are legally permitted to continue their hellish practice by contributing to the revenue; houses of ill-fame were licensed also to augment the treasury, to create a larger fund to be pilfered by official libertines; a fugitive slave act was passed, to aid owners in recapturing their negro property brought here prior to the admission of California into the Union. Enclosed I hand you a copy of said act which passed with but little opposition. [The act to be found on the first page.--Ed. Mir.] So you will see that Eureka State is pretty strongly pledged for a compromise President. Both parties are avowedly committed, and there is not a political press in the State that dare take opposite ground. My impression is that no person, either whig or Democrat can get the electoral vote of California ...[article cut at this point] submitted by Linda C. Schmidt & Kathy Then ******************