The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-06

GREAT Discovery OF GOLD!-Mr. L. W.
Taylor, from Shasta city, brings intelligence of
some very important discoveries that have re-
Gently been made in Shasta Valley, found along
the stream bearing that name. II appears that
some packers were camping in the Valley over
night, when one of them CHANGED to pick up
piece Of gold worth some $40 or $I2 This in
duced them to prospect the country, and the dis
coveries have been of highly gratifying cha
racter. One thousand acres Of the valley have
been prospected, all Of which yield handsomely.
The average is from 10 cents upword to the pan.
Five men who have been engaged there ever
since the discovery, have made an average of $50
to the man each day. The depth of the digginps
is from one to four feet.
Shasta Creek (or river, as it is generally
termed,) heads in the western slope of the Coast
Range, and 10 distant some eighty miles from
Keddings Springs The old route to the north
west mines was to cross from the Springs TO
Weaver Creek; but now the packer uscends
the Sacramento higher, before he crosses the
first spur of the Coast Range
Shasta river is one Of the tributaries of SCOTS
river, and the valley along the stream is said to
be beautiful, widening out for several miles at
different points. 1t is in one of these extended
undulating slopes that the late discovery has
been made slope in which several thousand
acres Of land are found. Already have one
thousand acres been prospected, and the result
has been such as will have the effect to draw
thitherward great population.
The digqings are some what peculiar, for all
the earth contains gold, and from the surface
down four feet to the lotion rock, extensive
yields have been gathered. The gold is remark
ably coarse, and it is in this that the popularity
consists; it, however, has been found that where
dggiugs were extensive the gold was remarkably
fine, and distributed with great deal of equality
In this valley the gold is coarse, yet it is dis
tributed with some sor. of equality throughout
the region that has been prospected.
We have been informed that the poorest
earth yields 10 cents to the PAM If this be
correct, fortunes may be realized even out of
this. The stream affords copious supply of
water, and it will be an easy matter to haul the
dirt in carts and wagons to the water, where
extensive machinery may be erected for separat-
ing the earth and gold. The jacks, or more
extended washers, will be able to wash 1000
bushels of earth in the same time that it former
Iy required to wash 100 bushels.
The Nevada Journal gives the following ac-
count OF discovery at that place
GREAT ExClTEMENT!-Rongh and Ready was
alive on Wednesday, from the discovery of n
rich prospect in Second street. The ground
was all located as lots or streets, which have
thus been occupied since the laying out of the
town last fall. But one of our miners under.
took to prospect the ground, and after few
hours work succeeded in obtaining four bits to
the pan. In an hour afterward he got down"
and in the first pan obtained about four dollars
in coarse gold Like widire the alarm spread.
and quick hurrying in all directions, the miners
within sight and hearing poured in, like bees
when the hive is attacked, with their tools and
stakes. Some were on their way with provi.
sions, and some of the most ludicrous scenes
occurred. One had his hands full of fresh beef.
and his anxiety to get claim" while he could
find no place to deposit his grub" was anus
ing. carpenter, at work near by, engaged in
getting out frame for building, immediately
jumped on to the very ground belonging to his
employer, upon which the house was to be
erected and staked off" his claim with an
augur, two chisels and handsnw, while he took
his stand in the middle of the lot, Ratchet in
hand, swearing that his claim was staked off and
had his tools on it!'