Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-01-10

dlning-room, and kitchen. Sleeping, fight
ing, and gambling are all going on in per-
tect order IN a tent not twenty by twenty
five feet square. Meals, such as one can
get, are : 80; liquor so cents glass
There were few persons digging here
last winter and spring. The number now
within fifteen miles, on both sides, is per-
haps $500; on this bar majority are from
the New England States. Below US are
three bars, though not so large as this
-Four miles below us is the Sonorian camp.
where there are crowds of Sonorian Indi-
ans or Mexicans at work. On the middle
bar many Chillans are at work On this
bar, the ground has been completely dug
over. When they first worked here it was
very rich, yielding from two to FIVE ounces
per day Men would not work tthey could
not get one ounce; but now do not believe
that they average one haitian ounce per day
1t is the hardest work man ever did work
ing on railroads and digging canals and Gel
lars come the nearest of any thing know of
! do not suppose that one half Of the men
who come here, do so with determination to
dig; they have no idea what they have rot
to do. When they come to the top of the
hill, they feel much ike looking back they
are satisfied with the look upon the holes
dug, the heaps of stone, and the decidedly
bad look which meets their eye, giving them
an intimation that they have got to work or
starve. Not one-half who come here stay
over week The truth Is, digging gold is
Ike lottery. Men come here and average
eght dollars day, with 4 proper machine,
though do notthnk they average that now
One man cannot do well 1t requires four
men te work L washer to advantage. The
simplest machine is the best. Most Of the
washers are dug-oui trees, in form like a
hog trough, with one end knocked ont, with
a hopper, the bottom of winch is sheet iron
or brass, with holes about half an zach in
diameter, aud one and half inches apart
This hopper is fitted to take oil. 10 empty
the stones, which do not silt through. The
dug-out or box is fitted on rockers, these
rockers upon pieces of timber or rock. A
good washer will keep one man >hoyeing dirt
into It, one to dip water upon it, one to
rock the cradle, and ono to dig the dit
One Of Them this last week has averaged
Twelve dollars per day, per man, while All
other has not averaged more than five.
= The CheshJe CO. have a nice tent
aud good lot of provisions here and more
10 san Francisco, which they Will bring up
If they conclude 10 STAY here during the
winter. Persons STAYING here through the
winter must have provisions for three months,
for IN The rainy season d person cannot 20
to Stockton on account of high water
what Is now dry parched land Is then SO
soft that Il man cannot walk over It, Some
persons stayed here last winter with safety
and made fortunes. We cannot do as well
tins winter, but If we can get from half an
ounce O., ~ ounce dog shall ~iay pui
IT IS all luck after all, though If man Will
work, lie cannot help getting some gold. |
don't believe there Is i shoyel-iull Of dirt
on this bar but what has some gold in it
Persons digging IN company Of three or
four fix upon a place (and any spot is free
which Is not already occupied, or where
there are no tools mark ont their ground,
throw oil The stones and the top dirt, aud as
much more as IS thought 10 be not worth
washing. have tie machine at the bank Of
the river and there carry the dirt; some
carry in pals, some ia dry hides, &c. they
wash Ill tie dirt 10 the rock, most of the
precious staff lying neatly on the rock
The old saying Of " Tie nearer the bone
the sweeter the meat" : here well illusira-
ted, for the ledge of roc@ Is carefully scra-
ped with knife, and any little holes are
spooned out. Small holes or pockets in the
rock are desirable The gold here is not
large: the largest piece our folks have found
weighed sd. very pretty sample. nearly
in the form of double tooth.
4 nan must work If he expects to sue
coed. Our folks usually commence about
,. oct their breakfast about =: then work
Til 10. and commence again at half past
We have for provisions sill pork. u,,cl,erel
dried beef Indian meal. hard bread rice
beans. peas. tea and coffee. su.rar. nolasses
SC II take, one person In cook For
breakfast we psu,lIv have fried nork with
hard bread the bread j. firSt soaked = lit.
lie and Then fried Sometimes we have
ham sometimes mackerel For Dime,
bread fr,ed w,tb b.,ked beans ar nnrL ar
nea sam sometimes = boiled Iud,an md
d,ncr For s,,nner , ho,lad rice nndd;nc
and molasses w,tb tea or coffee prov,s-
;o,,s ,ro i,,r,, rorb - soll,rr g., Tho ,n;,,ors
c,r x co,ts. noIaSses SI5n nor rsIlnn .