Three-page letter from "Gold Digens near Aurburn Cali" dated March 22, 1850. The letter is to "Dear Father & Mother" and signed by W. Buchanan. It is addressed to Mr. John Buchanan, Esq., Moscow, Clermont County, Ohio and has a postmark of Mar 30 at San Francisco, 40 (cents?). Includes transcription. In early 1850 Auburn was a booming town, with a stage route just established to bring in eager miners. The year before there had been only a dozen or so inhabitants of what was then called "North Fork Dry Diggings", to be renamed Auburn in August. By the time of the 1850 census the population had grown to ca. 1300 -- among them (but not enumerated) was William Buchanan from Moscow, Ohio. In this letter to his parents, William begins with a reference to his father's political views (John Buchanan was an active Democrat): "... we all have as much as we can do to mind our own buisiness in the real Democratick stile. We are nearly all Democraticks in this country and will be for a long time to come as a large portion of the popalation are labouring men and upon an equality ... " He goes on to discuss his success at mining but remarks on the work involved: "Well as for Gold diging it is the hardest work that I have done in a long time. You may form some Idea of the nature of the work, you have seen a person working on Canals & Rail roads -- well is eaquilly as hard to dig Gold and wash the dirt as nearly all the Gold is in small partickels &c." He states that he is making from $5 to $20 a day but goes on to quote prices for commodities, including: "You can tell the Temperance men that we have to pay from 25 to 50 cts pr Drink and the last figure is the comon price &c." He concludes by reassuring his parents as to his well being: "I must close this by saying that I am in good health and spirits and you need not fear my getting Low spirited as you speak of in your letter ... " And by noting: "Excuse this writing. I have to make a desk of my Knee, &c."
