After the tests showed that it was gold, Sutter expressed dismay: he wanted to keep the news quiet because he feared what would happen to his plans for an agricultural empire if there were a mass search for gold.
Efter at prøverne havde vist, at det var guld, udtrykte Sutter sin forfærdelse: han ønskede at holde fundet hemmeligt, da han frygtede hvad der vile ske med hans planer om et landbrugsimperium, hvis det kom til en massiv jagt på guld.