The New York herald., 1851-11-18

gives token that gold digging is but in its infan,y
in California, and that, however great may be the
present yield, that which will be produced in years
to come will be astonishing to any, even the most
sapguine OF our present Spectators.
In our last steamer issue we gave an account OF
the method of coyote digging, which was, at least,
reliable, few words ia relation to sabjoct most
mately connected with it-hume washipg-my
not be deemed out of place and even at the RISK
OF appearing tedious to our readers in san Fran,
cisco, we will proceed thereto for the especlai
enlightenment of our friends on the Atlantic border
Throughout the whole Of the auriieroas region OF
California, are to be found gulches and ravines,
which are known to contain gold, but which cannot
be worked to advantage, on account OF their as
tance from water, and the expense attending tne
transportation of earth in the mines Those who
have lived in q mountainous region will recognise
our idea gulches occur, little valleys open, dats
spread out at every few hundred yards and it is for
the purpose Of working these that fuIning opera
tions are undertaken.
AS soon as it is determined by any person or
company to erect one of these gigantic washing
machines, point is picked out on the stream which
is selected the fountain head, of sufficient eleya
tion to furnish adeq.ate supply of swiftly running
water. Planks are then procured, manufactured
for the purpose. measuring generally eighteen feet
in length, and having a uniform width Of twoive
inches at the larger and eleven at the smaller end
Three Of these boards, it will thus be seen, when
put together, form trough, the one end of which
Is smaller than the other. AS soon as sufficient
number OF troughs have been constructed, they are
put together, tne snalier end OF each, IN cY5ry
case fitting into tho larger end of the one before it,
ny this means continuous line is made which
may be continued fer miles. Some, which are at
present in actual operation, have been maie to
cross streams which would not afford the re1uisite
amount Of water, and low swamps, which seemed
an etectua barrier to any coaiut Of water.
Z. At the end Of every length rifles piac j, (thst
Il, when the diggers sre sufficiently numerous 70
eccaay the whole line,) and hole is bored, which
IS secured by 9 plug The water 10 eneraily con-
v,ycd into the guIns at the head, through large
canvass hos aod, the miners being ready, tho d,r;
l. thrown Ia ard the VIC Ter turned on Throughout
The whole OF tie day this throwingiu of dirt is
continued, one man being employed at each rfi, in
sslrnrg II up with hoe, (as Ia a long-tou,) all
when the sinting san gives ths miner notice thar
hs laboTs must cease, toe plugs are removed the
gold 7hich stops ia the rifle Is washed into a box
sced beneath 1t, and he whole is carefully PANIED
out The process is extremely simple but tho
amount Of gold thus extracted is astonishing. rne
earth taken ffon many of the coyote iggisgs i3
washed IL this manner.
In mauy cases where fumes will not answer,
regular slUices have beea Constructed for the par
pose OF conveying water to some particular l0eai-
~, where the earth has been tested and found to
be rich, but incapable Of being worked for want
Of water In one case, in the neig dborhood OF
Rough and Ready, siuice Of fourteen miles in
length has been constructed, and in the same Vi
ciniGy another Of double the length is, at tne pre-
sent mo.1ens, being dug la Nevada, reser-
voir, fed by p slpice Of this kind, has been COM
pleted, capable of holding several thousand gal-
toms are worked, the owners of each paving 70
the proprietor six dollars per dly for the use Of
the water. 80 great is the demand, that parties
eesirous Of obtaining a supply have to wait fre-
quently n week, until some other claim is worked
out, before they can get chance to locate their
machine, while other parties pay from three TO
four dollars PER diem, for the mudaied water
which comes from the machines Of their more for
tulate neiskbors. la fact, were it not for the
cessation OF woIk, during the night, the ressr-
voir would be unable to supply the demands made
upon ii.
The amount Of gold which is now being taken
oct on the y 2s. and Feather rivers, is unusually
large. In tie neignb7r hood Of Downevilie, the
dggrgs are what would have been called good
eyea IN The best days Of gold discovery. la
Sweetlends diggirgs, q peculiar locality, in
which the miner has TO penetrate through several
he Of fauc, ard a deep bed Of rotten cobols
s'oHes) an extraordinary success has attended,
tho worker; and, in q word, throughout the whole
CT the Northern mines, most brilliant future is
ueaoing on The heels CT an extraordinary present.
The yield Of gold is at present extraordinary, and
the prospects are that Increase is 10 be expected
far more than decrease dreaded. Tao beds
of the streams have proved very rich, the banks
richer, the coyote shafts richest OF all while, n
every guch and every Tavine, great piles Of suri-
ferrous earth are standing, ony ~aitng the ad-
v,pt CT the Iaia to give forth taeir golden pro-
duce.
From the South, the news is not less enco 1raging
AT ain os. every locality from which ~r have heard,
the miners are doing exceedingly we'll, and hardly
Gay passes WITHOUT It's record OF nov rtch Gig.
ergs be miners in the vicinity of Sonora
ba'e been very successful, and on the Tuolumnc
lhe Losses Of last year are being rapidly repaid.
The total want Of water in many tf the Localities,
during the last wiiter rendered the labor of many,
Who spent months ia throwing up earth, valueless
fer the time being; add in many an oat Of the way
gu.eh al unirCg aented ravine, piles Of aurferous
dirt are yet lyipr, dug by persons yho,. dsgusted
with their want Of success, left the section Of the
country in which they had been employed. The
whole Of this viii be washed out this winter, and,
IN addition, the very large quantity which has
been thrown up this season. We may expect .
very large return from the South this winter The
latest Papers from stockton bring intelligence Of
the discovery Of very rich dggirgs In the vicinity
OF Jscksonville, similar 10 those in the neighbor
bood CT Mequelumre Hill As soon az coyote dig
grgs are fairly opened in the South, the yield will
tie, in ali probability, such ms will astonish those
who have left that section Of the country in gust
The health OF the miners is good almost without
exception Some little fever exists In some locsi-
ties, but nothing OF any consequence. The climate
in the mining districts cannot be surpassed for
and comforts attend the digger in every
section Of the country which could be obtained
in he large cities two years ago Very few acts OF
yioesce, too, we are happy to state, have occurred
within the las; tso weeks. and the morals of the
min ng districts are evidently in proving.
Wei approach a subject TO which the atten.
ton q the public has been especially difected for
some considerable time past, and from which re.
sul.s expected which would. # realized, create
a resuision in the n ,ney mprket throughout the
world, anG ergender revolution more Important
tran any which has occurre in modern times. We
allude to qaariz mining.
The attention Of the people ofthis State has been
drawn in peculiar manner to this subject from the
really ss,obshir number OF aufferous quartz veins
which have been discovered in oar gold districts.
Leads hsve been trac ced for mile after mile through
tx hills, in almost every part OF which he pre-
ce Of the precious metal cosd easily be detect
3D. Hardy pest resctes us from the upper
Try which does not bear ticings of discoveries
in this branch Of mining, while the roads to tie
RID q are crowded with lrtes bearing machinery
g. tie various locations, and hardly veg on pene-
iTstes ibe hills, that does not bear some material
destined 20 asst in crushing toe quar- q and ex-
tIactirg the gold from he rock.
In the Nothern mines, Gross Valley has been 1
The most iu poftant point IN quartz mnif for some
NE past. atd in the Southern mines, Sonora and /
ts immediate vicinity Other places. IL Is true, |
bave been able TO produce specimens whose richness
as ifcisIufs bic, bot the attsnto on or toe
tity hes been directed In an especial manner to i
fee he nj MI -