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Original Autograph Letter Written by a San Jose Resident to His Brother Professor of Music in Hamilton Ontario C.W. Giving Detailed Advice for his Brothers’ “Quickest Route” to California Suggesting to Cross the Isthmus of Central America at San Juan Nicaragua or Panama the Best Place to Stay in San Francisco as Well as Underlining the Importance of a Thorough Knowledge of English to Find a Job in California. San Jose California 12 April 1854.

Best.-Nr. MA71Quarto bifolium ca. 255x20 cm 10 x 8 in. 2 pp. Brown ink on blueish watermarked laid paper watermark "Moinier's London ". Fold marks paper slightly age-toned but overall a very good letter. A historically interesting California Gold Rush letter giving details on the quickest way to get to California from the United States’ East Coast - via the Isthmus of Central America crossing either at San Juan Nicaragua or Panama. The letter was written by San Jose resident M. W. Packard ca. 1822- to his brother Charles R. Packard - at the time one of three professors of music in Hamilton Ontario Canada West 1853 Hamilton And Dundas Directory. M. Packard discusses Charles’ and presumably their younger brother’s Francis trip to San Jose suggesting the best possible route to California the most comfortable accommodation in steamboats and the finest hotel in San Francisco. Providing a vivid insight into the peculiarities of North American migrants’ journeys to California the letter dates to the end of the California Gold Rush 1849-1855 when the tide of migration from Canada to the United States relatively slowed after its peak approximately 40000 migrants in 1849-1850. In the letter the author who apparently moved to the US three years earlier plans his brothers’ travel itinerary and recommends taking the quickest and most popular route to California across the Isthmus either by Panama or San Juan. M. W. also elaborates upon peculiarities of accommodation in steamboats giving preference to the second cabin for roominess and indicating an approximate price for the journey 200-300$. The author warns his brothers to “.take as little baggage as possible” apparently not to overburden themselves while crossing the Panamanian jungle by foot or horseback The Isthmus route was traveled from the east coast of the US to Panama by steamships through the Panamian jungle by foot or on horseback and up the coast of San Francisco by ship. The journey took from 6 to 8 weeks. During the trip the travelers often faced the risks of catching Malaria Cholera etc. Upon arrival in California M. W. recommends to “.put up at Wilson’s Exchange” San Francisco’s principal and most luxurious hotel built in 1850 by a theatrical manager and miner Baily Sargent. The second brick building erected upon Sansome Street Wilson’s Exchange 1850-1896; later American Exchange had 153 rooms with prices ranging from 6 to 10$ a day. With average receipts from 17000$ to 18000$ a month the hotel was constructed and furnished on a scale of grandeur and magnificence previously unknown to San Francisco San Francisco Chronicle/ 29 Jan 1896 p. 9. From the mid-1850s Wilson’s Exchange had several lessees among them being W. W. Eastabrook whom the author M. W. Packard mentions in his letter: “.and enquire of one of the proprietors - Maj Easterbrook - for me he will assist you to ‘telegraph’ me at San Jose….” The California State Telegraph Co. line between San Francisco and San Jose opened six months before this letter was written and at the time was still considered a novelty which explains why the author uses quotation marks with the word telegraph. An interesting passage about Francis’ education subtly reveals the state of literacy and job market in California of the 1850s. In 1847 when the state was annexed from Mexico and became incorporated into the US California had one of the largest populations of Spanish speakers in the US with only a few hundred literate residents out of 26000 people 2% literacy rate. Although in 1849 California established Spanish and English as the state’s official languages all business matters and high-ranking positions required a profound knowledge of English. Against this background the author of the letter writes: “One thing however is indispensable and that is a thorough knowledge of the elementary formation of our own language a mistake in the orthography of a word or the grammatical formation of a sentence is a fault not to be overlooked although not uncommon.” Overall a historically important California Gold Rush letter providing details on the quickest route to California from North America unveiling one of the fanciest places in San Francisco and subtly revealing the state of education in California in the 1850s. It is highly likely that Charles R. Packard traveled to California in the mid-1850s and returned to Canada by 1858 since Shepard’s Hamilton City Directory of 1856 omits his name from the list of Hamilton residents but indicates him in the next city directory published in 1858. The text of the letter spelling and syntax are original: “Dear Brother Charles I read your letter of latest date on subject of Bro Francis coming to California. I had already written to him fully on the subject and that letter will serve as an answer to much of your own. I would be much pleased to have him here with me but shall not decide which course he had better take decide among you and I will act accordingly. You say something of his education. Latin etc. It would be very desirable for him in a professional career to read and translate the Latin well but not indispensable. One thing however is indispensable and that is a thorough knowledge of the elementary formation of our own language a mistake in the orthography of a word or the grammatical formation of a sentence is a fault not to be overlooked although not uncommon. I shall await your and his answer to this reflect much and decide wisely. Should he decide to come and could make arrangement there for the lacking funds to save time let him do so and draw on me for it immediately on his arrival. His quickest route would be across the Isthmus either by Panama or San Juan. There is really little difference in the routes. Take as little baggage as possible what you can wear & carry in a carpet bag is sufficient. I would not advise you to come in the steerage although that is much the cheaper mode your health would be exposed. There is little difference in the accommodations of the first and second cabin for a single man. The second generally having the preference for roominess etc. It will probably cost you from 2 to 300 dollars to come. Should you come without further notice when you arrive in San Francisco put up at Willson’s Exchange and enquire of one of the proprietors - Maj Easterbrook - for me he will assist you to “telegraph” me at San Jose and I will come to meet you. You will need some thin clothing to wear across the Isthmus unless it should be the rainy season there. I have written this partly to you and partly to him but you can understand it. I have been particular to avoid all mistakes or misunderstandings act accordingly. I am well but doing very little. Times are very dull but prospects a little brighter ahead. I can hear nothing from John where is he. I have sent him a ring and a miniature but have heard nothing from them. Remember me to Brothers and Sisters and particularly to Mrs. CRP and anybody else that may enquire. Yours in haste M.W. Packard.” hardcover

Globus Rare Books & Archives · Vereinigte Staaten650,00 $≈ 579,58 €

CALIFORNIA GOLD MINING & GOLD RUSH DISTRICTBiblio.com

Original 1914-1915 Mining Company for Union Hill Ming Company - Union Hill Mines of Nevada County California

1419Best.-Nr. 16009JUnion Hill / Grass Valley California 1914-1915. Original hardcover ledger 11.5” x 8” bound in half leather with gilt stamping over light brown corduroy metal spine with locking mechanism no key marbled paper pastedowns and gilt embossed leather alphabet tabs on front page edges. 168 pages of handwritten text showing detailed internal records from the historic Union Hill Mining Company that had offices in both Grass Valley and San Francisco. Union Hill is adjacent to Grass Valley. Detailed information for 1914-1915 including operating expenses profit and loss income expenses production vendors payroll cash bullion production tungsten production names vouchers insurance and marketing. Entries include operating expenses for the South Idaho Mine and names of the local companies they did business with such as Grass Valley Hardware Empire Mining Company Nevada County Narrow Gauge R. R. Company and Thomas Diggs Company an entry for Augustus D. Cox who was the Mine supervisor to very specific mining operating expenses for example: “Shaft Above 600’ Level” “Shaft Below 600’ Level” “Storage Dam 600’ Level” with expenses for mining tools hoisting compressing fire protection etc. A rare and unique Gold Country artifact this original handwritten Ledger offers compelling insight into an historic Mother Lode gold mine. The corduroy covers have some staining the rear leather corner has a corner chip the rear spine fold has a two inch half oval chip revealing the board beneath the front hinge is split and the metal spine has some rust internally the ink stamp of the Union Hill Mining Company on the front endpaper. Gold was discovered at Union Hill in 1854 the first recorded claim was in 1866 as Union Hill Gold Quartz Mine and Mining Stock Certificates for Union Hill Mining Company exist from the 1860’s. Although very profitable it appears Union Hill Mine opened & closed changed ownership &/or operators several times from the 1870’s until purchased by Idaho-Maryland Mines Company around 1920. In 2016 this historic mine was purchased by a gold mining company with plans to restart operations in the unexplored areas below the Idaho-Maryland Mine Property. hardcover

James Pepper Rare Books, Inc. · Vereinigte Staaten950,00 $≈ 847,08 €

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