The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-02-08 00:00:00

;From the .Itel6urrut Argua. of the 17th of Deeewber

During mune weeks the mining population on portions
of tin gobl-fields suffered much loss of time from a
scarcity of water ; and from this cause, and the fact
that many millers were moving from place to place un-
certain where they could get to work again with ally
probability of success, the escort returns showed a
marked decline in the quantity of gold forwarded from
the several districts. Now, however, water is abundant,
and most of the puddler>. and parties lately stopped by
the scarcity of this element, are enabled to renew their
operations, and moist in swelling the escort. Still there
are far too many well idle on the gold-fields, nor is
there a chance of all being fully employed until the co-
mierative system of nliuiiuig is extensively carried out.
This is the general feelnip on the diggings, even among
men who a year or two back were loudest in their de•
mend* for a preservation of the rights of individual
miners, and in their opposition to the introduction of
capital and the granting of leases or extended daunt.
Facts, however, are not to be gainsayed. The success
of the few companies which have struggled through the
legal diffizulties and many hindrances arising from pre-
judices and want of foresight, has convinced these
sticklers for the independence of labour that it is far
better to receive • good weekly dividend in a co-opera-
tive company, or to make sure of fair and constant
wages as a servant. than to take the chance of casual
earning* with • pick and shovel. In times gone by the
independent digger could afford to act up to his creed,
but now he finds that the man with constant employ-
ment, even though obliged to obey the orders of a
master, is, in reality, far more independent than he who
goes aiel Mines as lie likes. but at the same time cannot
earn wherewithal to pay for the bread he eats. Thus it
happens that there is now as great desire for the intro-
auction of the leasing system. and anxiety to see the
investment of capital in mud Ty and other aids to
the individu .1 miner, as there was formerly a ROM of
hostility to the granting of any fixity of tenure, and
jealousy towanls the capitalist himself. For runic itx-
sufficiently-explained reason the Government hail hither-
to delayed taking the preliminary steps towards the
early granting of leases, all.' this delay is 11111 l t prejudicial
to the country, for certain it is that many miners.
mechanics, and tradesmen on the gold-field* t re-
main unprofitably employed, or wholly or partially
Mk, until the leasing system is in general open& .
It is every day beco g re es ident that the
larger the capital invested in inschinery and the other
adjuncts to systematic mining the greater will be the
returns. The more powerful the macl iry the more
'cally can the quartz he crushed, anti the greater
the power applied, mud the greater the facilities for re-
moving and washing out in large quantities the earth
from old abandoned ground, and alluvial soil too poor to
pay for working by hatiql labour alone, by so much will
the profitable field of labour be proportionally extended.
%t the Climes works every fresh shaft sunk, and every
ablition to the machinery, reptires the employment of
re lianda. and increases the dividends of the share-
holders. Nor is there ally feat of this particular 11l il le
being exhausted by these additions to the working
power, for the more the works are extended the 1111 l re
does there appear to be of the material to be operated
upon. Only a few days since • new vein of quartz of
considerable thickness. and most probably of great en-
tent, was accidentally struck in running a drive aeries
the l'ompatty's ground with quite another object in view,
and which promilaut to give a larger average yield of
gold than the quartz Ulan' the working of which the
stlCeess of the Company has hitherto been 1..
Systematic mining, at • sufficient depth f the sur-
face, has, in this one spot. prove.' the existence of an
enormions • 1111 l tont of wealth, which can be most pro-
fitably extracted by using the requisite means; and, if
gold in such abundance lies buried where the superficial
indications offer AO little encouragement for the search,
what may we not expect to find where the quartz near
the surface contains twice and three limo' the proportion
of gold to the toll It will, however, be medical for
some time to come to expend labour and iiiiuney him
searching after these hidden reefs, as plenty to employ
the mining population for many years have been already
(Tenet' up, and every day adds to their nimilmr. Nu
dismvery of especial importance iii alluvial ground has
been isale ahlee the filidling of the deep lead at Indigo,
but from all parts of time country we have accounts of
the discovery of new quartz veins, some of them giving
promise of great richness. In the I /rens district,
where. in Collsoillelire or the distance from town, but
little crushing machinery has been yet erect.-,1, several
reefs with most promising indications have heel' lately
bound, awl are now being worked in anticipation of
machinery being soon on the ground. On all the goibl
fields there is a growing tendency towards more settled
!sahib', anil all increasing disico.ition on the part of the
' •rt ill render this • inure steady mail regular pursuit,
so that when leases can be obtained we may expect to
see this class avail theinsidves largely of the advantages
to lie derived from • fixity of tenure, and the right to
take en Ain talent of ground that will afford WT111.41011
fur years to each 'Mil' or CO•operatiVe association.