Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-09
startlinu Discovery.

Our city was yesterday thrown into
an excitement by the report that mines
exceeding in their richness the widest
dreams of the visionary have been dis
covered considerable distance TO the
northeast Of Marysville, between the
Feather and Yuba rivers. We are in
clined 10 credit the fact, that new and
exceedingly rich mines have beeen dis
covered in that vicinity, but cannot but
believe that the reports which we hear
on all sides are very much exaggerated.
As early as last September we were
informed by gentleman who had been
in that section of the State, that there
were mines there to which he intended
to go this spring or summer, which far
exceeded in richness any mines that had
then been discovered. He held up the
dangers of the trip and the sufferings
which one would have to encounter while
there, in high colors, and stated that there
were not ten men in California that
knew anything about the mines or their
locality. A gentleman of the first re-
speciality passed through our city yes
terday and confirmed the reports of this
remarkable discovery. He states that
such is the excitement in the mines a
bove, that the richest placers have been
deserted.
1t is reported that sheet of water has
been found between the above mentioned
rivers having no connection with either
of them, to which the name Of Gold
Lake has been given. A party of ex-
ploration have just gone up. and we
shall expect TO receive intelligence as to
the truth Of the reports soon.
The following are the remarks Of the
Pacific News on the subject:
Rich Discovery Of pein Cold
There is no doubt on our minds that the
mineral wealth of California will be
found intellectually greater than even the
most sanguine have hitherto imagined.
Every days discovery goes to confirm
this opinion; aud facts within our knowl.
edge warrant US in saying that The pros
ent season will bring to light the most
startling Developments in vein or quartz
mining. If in the low, or secondary
hills, few hundred feet in height only,
in the San Jose Valley rich mines Of
gold ore are found of which we spoke
yesterday, what may not be looked for
in the explorations among the mountain
ranges on either side? And if such re-
suits are found in the coas, mountains,
where no one expected much gold to
exist, what will not the foot slopes of
the Sierra Nevada disclose to the search
ing enterprise that is now actively EN-.
p!oyed amidst their gorges, and on their
streams!
We are led to these remarks from Ger.
tain remarkable discoveries Of quartz
gold which have lately come 10 our
knowledge from an unquestionab!e
source. Several gentlemen, engaged in
mining upon one of the northern rivers
in their exploration in the adjacent
mountains during the past winter, came
upon vein Of quartz, where the pare
ore was observed in threads and span
giles, beautiful to look upon. An exam
nation too place, specimens taken
from various portions of the rock and
such rude tests as were at hand applied,
with the most satisfactory and even as
founding results. The vein is about
thirty feet wide, and in some portions so
rich, as 10 produce dollar to an ounce
of rock! A piece was knocked off
weighing fourteen lbs, and submitted TO
the action of heat in a blacksmith's
forge, when the amount of Mirfy-t,0o
dollars was smelted from the rock
Not half Of what it contained could be
got out in such way. Other specimens
have yielded from dollar to two dollars
to pound of the rock and quantity of
it is represented as literally inexhausii-
BILE. We shall have some specimens
from these mipes in week or two,
when we shall probably speak of it a
gain. The mother mines of California
are yet TO be discovered, of which the
gold in the rivers and ravens are but the
disinfRCratpa nm r.icieS