The Nevada journal., 1853-02-04
Mining.

we paid n visit to this noted locality, tC
obtain by minute examination, the par.
ticulars of the extraordinary operations
being performed there In no part ol
California has 50 much gold been taken
from one hill, and there are now no
where any mining operations that are
greater in magnitude, more scientifical-
y conducted, or paying a larger profit,
than those of this hill. Two hundred
men are constantly and proftably en-
ployed, under the direction of few
companies of practical working miners.
The old lead, as once understood. ran
through the hill, with considerable
ground, supposed worthless, intervening
between the lead and the basin towards
the city. Perpendicular shafts were
sunk, and much of the earth drawn up
in buckets By this process much of
the richer dirt was drifted out, and the
earth left in the state Of a honcy-como
Water gathered in the holes, and it be-
came dangerous to mine in that method
any longer. The gigantic plan was then
suggested of sluicing down the interven-
ing ground, that kept in the water, 50 as
to get at the lead. 1t was not supposed
the solid ground further down the hill
would pay for the operation, but if the
lead could be got at, it would pay for
the preliminary work. Miners acted on
this reasoning, and they found that the
whole hill; in the rapid process of sluic-
ing, would pay. Good result was OBJ
tained where nothing was expected -
Dirt that was suicei off only to get rid
of it, was found on cleaning up to pay
a profit; and the lead itself TO yield
richly.
The most remarkable object that
strikes the eye on reaching the hill, is
the excavation made by Miller, Vando-
rem & Co Whether it is yiewei from
the brow Of the steep piocipice, made by
cutting square down in the centre Of
great hill for acres, or standing IN the
cleared area te'ow, with a net work Of
sluicos around you, and giant boulders
that have been cleaned and exposed 30
feet below the surface, while pcrpcn-
dicular wall seems to impend over your
head the scene is equally striking.
This company commenced its opera
tions in August last, in working through
its ditch, blasting much OF the way
through solid granite. They have en-
ployed since hat time on an average,
twenty-five men. They are just about
to reap tho reward Of their labors, hay
ing an open passlg for their sIui2cs and
waste-water, considerable quantity Of
= stripped ground, and fair chance to
suica the rest Of their claims. In rum
ming of the top dirt, they caved it into
the sluce by tons, sending over il a
heavy stream of water. They calculate
to take out $1,000 per day when
working the lead
In the claims of Carpenter & Co. on
this hill, a remarkable feature Of tie old
system Of mining was pointed out to us
The top dirt in these claims had been
stripped of through bed Of yellow gray
cl containing little god, TO the top Of
a lead Of blue sand and gravel. This
blue lead was found to pay richly. TO
the top of this lead 0lI the old shafts
sunk in this vicinity reached, and here
terminated. The cd miners mistool, the
blue lead for the bed rock, md left of
when foot or two farther would hnve
given them the object Of their search !
The blue gravel commences in thin
edge at certain point in the hill. and
widens as it goes back. Shafts have
been sunk far back from whore the
sluces are at work to the depth of over
an hundred feet, and the blue lead is
found still rich.
In part of these Gains where the blue
gravel was slulced to the bed rock. II
massive boulder Of granite ovcrlaid the
bottom. On this was sprinkled quite
thickly a lot of gold, so firmly ingraincd
in the face of the granite that it could
only be removed by the pick. This
most unusual sight excited the curiosity
and remark of old miners.
Further up the hill and little one
side Of Miller, Vandoren & Co.'S claims
are those of Wood & Co where the
same blue lead has been discovered, al
so very rich From the position of these
various claims, the inference is irressti-
bic that they are on the verge of what
Nas once a great lake. This idea is
strength ned by the pitching of the
granite into the hill and by the nature
Of the lead which resembles the loose
sand, gradually deposited in lakes by
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