California as it is, and as it may be : $b or, A guide to the gold region

"California as it is, and as it may be: or, A guide to the gold region" by Felix Paul Wierzbicki is a handbook from the gold rush era offering readers a window into the landscape, abundant resources, and possible gold mining income of 19th-century California. The author, drawing from years of living in California and carefully studying the gold area, seeks to give a realistic image of the territory’s great potential and the needs that the territory experienced. The narrative emphasizes the importance of planned resource management, and increased population to promote agriculture. By giving practical advice to settlers in unexplored areas, the book guides newcomers with the knowledge and suggestions needed to make solid and well-informed decisions about their future in California’s promising environment.