![]() ![]() ![]() Henderson County, Illinois
| History & Genealogy
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Mr. Jas. Ryason permits us to make some extracts from a letter received from his son dated as Placerville, Oct. 30th:
"I am mining near Placerville (or Hangtown) and am making from $5 to $10 per day - that being more than any other claim I know of at present. It is now the dry season, when there is but little mining going on. It is very seldom we can get water without paying for it at the rates of 25¢ to 30¢ per inch - 30 inches being required to run a sluice.
"Emigration has been flowing in here for months past in a perfect stream. Work oxen are not worth as much here as they are in the States. There are hundreds of men in this country, who came across the plains this summer, that are going about without a penny in money and cannot get any thing to do until the rainy season commences.
"There are a number of persons here from our county, among the number are John Harbison, Albert Black, Mr. Waggie, Mr. McClinton and Henry Kemp.
"This is a great fruit country. Peaches grow of the size of a pint cup, and weigh from one to two lbs. Grapes sometimes weigh ten to fifteen lbs to the bunch. ** A best was exhibited at the State Fair that weighed 200 lbs.
"Flour is worth $4; beef $18 to $20; pork $25; potatoes 3¢ per lb; onions 5¢; green peaches 5¢; grapes 8; butter 50¢ to 75¢; eggs 75¢; chickens, each $1; turkeys, $2.50; coffee, 25¢; tea 75¢ to $1.