Rare Antique American West 1850 ' S Gold Rush Letter Indian Springs California
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:31182757 | Modified Item: No |
| Time Period Manufactured: 1800-99 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
UP FOR SALE:Rare Antique American West 1850's Gold Rush Letter! Indian Springs California!
Fantastic Antique Western American Gold Rush Letter! Gold Mining!
Some VERY COOL CONTENT!
Including: Cost of Labor, Mining, Tools, Housing etc. How the gold mining business is run!Labor Dispute over Loaned Money and Group of Miners confronting a gentleman!
From: John F. Cummings To: William Cummings Location From: Indian Springs, California (CA)&n...bsp;Location To: Ware, Massachusetts Date: March 9, 1852
Reads:
"Dear Brother
I have not received any letters yet although there may be some at the Office I don't have a chance to send to the City very of often. I sent word to C. H. Cummings to remain my letters and send them to me, he may have forgotten to do so. My health has been good since I wrote to Simeon, I have had a boil on my knee, which laid me by, from work eight days, it commenced raining the 1st of March and has rained every day since, yesterday it did not rain much, the streams are high now and we have plenty of water to wash our dirt without drawing now, and we are hiring help so as to wash it as fast as we can while water lasts, we can do better to hire help and wash our dirt when it is than we can to draw it. We are paying $25.00 & $26.00 a week besides paying $10.00 a week for their Board. Some are paying as high as $6.00 a day and Board while water lasts, Yesterday I washed with a man with me $37.60 the best days work I have done (Since I wrote we have bought water pan of hoses, waggon and harnesses, the two teams cost me $175.33 for one third. One third of mining tools $25.00 One third of claim $300.00. I pay about $7.00 a week for Board) I shall not know how much I am a making until we get our dirt washed which I think will take us till July, unless there is a good deal of rain if I have my health. I see nothing hinder my making money here in California in knowing how to tend saw mill is an advantage to me as there is a number in this section. Two of our neighbor miners one day last week dug out $176.00 The best days work in this neighborhood that I know of since I have been here. If there is any more Emory Balls in Ware, I don't want them to send them out here.
If we save their lives they don't thank us for it, the we got to Panama Mr. Ball had not money enough to buy a passage to San Francisco. He came to me a number of times with a trembling voice and tears in his eyes for money to help him through. He said if I would let him have $25.00 he would pay me $50.00 the first money he got after get got about $200.00. I asked him for it, he kept putting me off making excuses that he could not then pay me but come such a time and he would try and pay me some, I went five miles two or three times. I found out he could have paid me if he had been a mind to. He never meant to pay me. I called a lot of miners to gather. They told him that it had probably saved him $100.00 and perhaps his life and he had ought to pay me what he agreed to, they asked him what he was willing to pay me for the use of the money. He would not say that he was willing to pay me any thing, before I left him I got the $25.00 and $5.60 for the use of it for three months, $25.000 would no more than paid me for I had to borough the money twice. I borrowed it from Cummings at Sacramento to get to the mines, I had money enough if I had kept it but I helped two from Panama, but enough of this for it would take a whole sheet to write it all.
We had a thunder storm today with some hail. My work has not been as hard here as it was at home and when I have done the work, I don't have to go all over town to get my pay. I have got here where the Shining Ore is and I think I will get some, I don't think I will Bigsby. I shall write as often as once in four or six weeks. I don't think of anything more worth writing now. I may have more to write when I get some Letters. I would inform you that all California are not lousey. I have not seen one since I left home and not but a few fleas.
John F. Cummings"
A great piece of 19th Century American Gold Rush History!
(NOTE: More Information can be found at the end of the gallery images. This Info is for Reference Only and does not come with the Letter. Please see all photos)
Actual item pictured! Item comes as seen and as is! Please see all photos!Shipping includes insurance & tracking for both buyer and seller's protection!If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Thanks for stopping in! Scantic Antiques
Fantastic Antique Western American Gold Rush Letter! Gold Mining!
Some VERY COOL CONTENT!
Including: Cost of Labor, Mining, Tools, Housing etc. How the gold mining business is run!Labor Dispute over Loaned Money and Group of Miners confronting a gentleman!
From: John F. Cummings To: William Cummings Location From: Indian Springs, California (CA)&n...bsp;Location To: Ware, Massachusetts Date: March 9, 1852
Reads:
"Dear Brother
I have not received any letters yet although there may be some at the Office I don't have a chance to send to the City very of often. I sent word to C. H. Cummings to remain my letters and send them to me, he may have forgotten to do so. My health has been good since I wrote to Simeon, I have had a boil on my knee, which laid me by, from work eight days, it commenced raining the 1st of March and has rained every day since, yesterday it did not rain much, the streams are high now and we have plenty of water to wash our dirt without drawing now, and we are hiring help so as to wash it as fast as we can while water lasts, we can do better to hire help and wash our dirt when it is than we can to draw it. We are paying $25.00 & $26.00 a week besides paying $10.00 a week for their Board. Some are paying as high as $6.00 a day and Board while water lasts, Yesterday I washed with a man with me $37.60 the best days work I have done (Since I wrote we have bought water pan of hoses, waggon and harnesses, the two teams cost me $175.33 for one third. One third of mining tools $25.00 One third of claim $300.00. I pay about $7.00 a week for Board) I shall not know how much I am a making until we get our dirt washed which I think will take us till July, unless there is a good deal of rain if I have my health. I see nothing hinder my making money here in California in knowing how to tend saw mill is an advantage to me as there is a number in this section. Two of our neighbor miners one day last week dug out $176.00 The best days work in this neighborhood that I know of since I have been here. If there is any more Emory Balls in Ware, I don't want them to send them out here.
If we save their lives they don't thank us for it, the we got to Panama Mr. Ball had not money enough to buy a passage to San Francisco. He came to me a number of times with a trembling voice and tears in his eyes for money to help him through. He said if I would let him have $25.00 he would pay me $50.00 the first money he got after get got about $200.00. I asked him for it, he kept putting me off making excuses that he could not then pay me but come such a time and he would try and pay me some, I went five miles two or three times. I found out he could have paid me if he had been a mind to. He never meant to pay me. I called a lot of miners to gather. They told him that it had probably saved him $100.00 and perhaps his life and he had ought to pay me what he agreed to, they asked him what he was willing to pay me for the use of the money. He would not say that he was willing to pay me any thing, before I left him I got the $25.00 and $5.60 for the use of it for three months, $25.000 would no more than paid me for I had to borough the money twice. I borrowed it from Cummings at Sacramento to get to the mines, I had money enough if I had kept it but I helped two from Panama, but enough of this for it would take a whole sheet to write it all.
We had a thunder storm today with some hail. My work has not been as hard here as it was at home and when I have done the work, I don't have to go all over town to get my pay. I have got here where the Shining Ore is and I think I will get some, I don't think I will Bigsby. I shall write as often as once in four or six weeks. I don't think of anything more worth writing now. I may have more to write when I get some Letters. I would inform you that all California are not lousey. I have not seen one since I left home and not but a few fleas.
John F. Cummings"
A great piece of 19th Century American Gold Rush History!
(NOTE: More Information can be found at the end of the gallery images. This Info is for Reference Only and does not come with the Letter. Please see all photos)
Actual item pictured! Item comes as seen and as is! Please see all photos!Shipping includes insurance & tracking for both buyer and seller's protection!If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Thanks for stopping in! Scantic Antiques
