The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-12-24


oyessatistaetoryto all parties, o. especially
those contemplating visit to this ,far;J Jamed
I shall however, confne myself strictly to
facts, as know them from practical experience,
and not write hesssays as facts, as niue.teuths
oftbose who write most about the mines OF
California haSe never been in them at ALL; snd
all they know is4what has been told thenlin the
cities, which is the head quarters Of all the news
mopgers from all the mines and news. espe.
cjdly gold stories, magnify in proportion to the
distance it travels from the starting point to
head quarters-and is there handed over to
these said letter writers to be prepared for the
States and other markets as food to be. swal.
lowed by all the hungry hunters after gold. -.
California is a great country, or at least |
think so. / find it just about all that expect
ed, except in one particular, that is the success
of the miners is not SO general as had reasons
to believe it would be, nor half so much so as
it daily being represented in the public prints.
There is a great deal of lottery in mining, even
in California, where believe there are TONS and
tons OF gold. and will not be dug out for centu-
:ries and centuries to come-the mining done in
California up 70 this time, / look upon as moth.
ing more than scratching, compared to what
may reasonably, be expected in, a lew years.
though one. would think at the frstglance that
the gold is pretty well dug out for the coun-i
try is completely overrun with miners and eve.
ry hole and corner has been ransacked and
prospecteds and every place where gold is east
ly found is pretty well dug over, or would ap-
pear so to the casual observer; yet there must
be home where this millions OF gold THAT is
scattered all over the face of the whole c0un-
try) come from, and when things get settled
down to something like stability, mining will
be carried on regularly and systematically.
The leads or veins running through the noun
tains will be searched oat and followed through
by tunnels, as it is done in all countries where.
extensive mining operations are carried on, and
| presume the ,eorld cannot produce so wide
field in any other country as California. Mi
ming, think, in few years will be conducted
very different from what it is at present. Large
companies will be formed with heavy capital,
who will employ any quantity of hands, super
intended by regulars and practical miners, and
the business will be conducted as it should be,
and, as it must be, to make it generally profta.
be.
The present mode Of mining is subject to SO
many drawbacks. (and it could not be different
under the present state Of the country and en-
listing circunstances) makes it very uncertain
whether or not the miner after weeks and
months of inces ssant toll of the hardest kind
gets dollar for his labour, while others, appa-
rently with ease, and at first under more unfa-
vorable circumstances, take out their thousands
in very short time-the greatest BOBBY gump.
head is just as apt aud more so, some think, to
strike the big piles, as men of TIE best sense
and practical experience, q y. 2 ay
This season has been, by far, the most un-
favorable for mining since the discovery Of the
gold. Such an overwhelming quantity Of snow
fell in the mountains during last winter that 1t
did not melt of SO rs for the rivers and large
streams to fall sufficiently low for mining ope.
rations till the first of August. Hundreds and
thousands of men having waded through the
snow lin the months OF February and March)
up to their waist, and in many instances carry.
ing their provisions and tools on their backs. in
order to make claims on the most favorable
spots along the rivers, and then lie there in
camp on the bank of the river to watch the
claim until such time as the water would get
low enough for operations. Some, commenced
work in July, diggiue canals aud making dams
to turn the water off the present channel 10 or.
der to work in the head of the original stream,
this kind of operation, has been done at every
point that was practicable ON all the rivers
where gold is found, this you viii perceive is
the heaviest kind Of labor, aud a great portion
oft in the water, melted snow, almost as cold
as ice, with July or August sun bean'ng down
on your head, and in hundreds Of cases after
the labor is all done, the work completed, the
season nearly gone by, the company goes in,
make thorough search. dig as bow rs they can
60, in glowing spirits, expecting every minute
to light on a big pile, but 10 the yellow shining
metal that seems to have set the world crazyis
not there; crestfallen, broken in spirits and
purse too, in many instances largely in debt
having obtained credit OH the faith of their rich
claim, that has just proved a Total failure-they
are forced to leave, shoulder up theirtools, lash
them on their backs together with their prpvis-
ions and blankets, and now, the question is,
where shall we sol though in the first place
this hill, or mountain, it you please, that stares
US in the face, about tro miles high, and sorter
like the Indians tree, SO straight up, it leans q
little over, is to be mounted first after which
we will consult and come to some conclusion
what diggings we will 60 to. where at least we
can make enough to keep soul and body to-
oeth.r-.and now the season il gof&. the win.