The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-23
A MINERS EXPERIENCE IN CALIFORNIA.
Correspondence OF the New York Herald.
MoNTEzUMA, Tuolumne Co.
Tai, ~

Trip through the Country--Go Digging and
Observation-Disclosures of Ore in erey direction
The Profits Of Watr Companies to
Young Miners, &c.
Among your many correspondents, have not
lately seen from the mining region Of California.
Having been engaged in mining some eight or nine
months, have taken up my pen to endeavor to
supply this deficiency. Leaving New York harbor
about the last Of March, 1862, arrived in San Fran
cisco in October following, via Cape Eorn, having
been about seven months on the passage-so that
you will Judge that our vessel was no clipper. was
much interested in the appearance Of San Francisco,
but lately obscure and remote and now 30 flourish
ing and world famed but l did not stop longer
than to make inquiries to the most suitable point
of the mines to aim for 1t being nearly winter,
was advised to go to the southern mines, as the
northern, in winter are buried in snow; and it was
very fortunate did SO, as the northern miners suf
ered great hardshps from the severity OF the weather.
Accordingly, after few days delay took the steam
boat for Stockton which is the depot of the southern
mines, Sacramento is Of the northern Arriving at
this place, early in the morning, took hasty
breakfast, and with wallet on back, took my way
on foot towards the mines, situated from fifty to
seventy.fve miles distant I found this to be the
pleasantest method Of getting along, on account of
the dust which is almost insupportabe to those on
the coaches, of which there are several well ap
pointed lines. For some twenty miles from Stock
ton, the road is almost dead level being part o.
the valley of the San Joaquin, and is we'll adapted for
agricultural purposes, of which the immense stacks
Of barley to be seen at some points are evidence
There are great number of ranches the route, at
all Of which accommodations for men and beast are
furnished so that you may travel here as comfortably
as anywhere. The price OF q single meal is one
dollar ard unless to the very fastdious, they are
sufficiently good in quality and quantity.
About 40 miles Gas should judge) from Stockton
you cross the Stanislaus river 1t Is here that you
observe the first indications of mining but the
S anislaus ia not equal believe to the Moquelumne,
Tuolumne, and several other streams OF this region,
and q much less number Of miners work upon it,
Leaving the Stanislaus, you pass over billy, but
rather pleasing country; and days walk brings
you to Woods Crossing on the creek Of that name,
where you find yourself at tnce in the heart OF the
mining regions, of which the manner in which the
"bowels Of the harmless earth" are tortured every
where around, is q sufficient indication. The dig
gings in the Southern mines are almost all what are
termed surface diggings, in distinction from deep
mines The earth Is impregnated with gold through
out all this region to such an extent that you can
hardly wash out single pan without getting what
miners call the color-that Is, some small speck
Some of these specks astonishingy minute, as
hardly to be discerned by the naked eye, and hun
dred ofthem might not exceed the value OF a few
cents. large proportion OF this very fine gold is
lost in washing. N0means Of employing qui ,ksilver
to pra tica advantage have yet been found although
many experiments have been tried. The best me-
thCd Of securing it s by the use off blanket spread
over the ripple COX, in which way am persuaded
by some experience, all Il saved thas can De by any
MOGe as Yet tried.
A little while after leaving Woods crossing, you
come to jamestown, which is the third place in size
in TuOlumne county, being next after Sonora, and,
believe, Columbia. Finding myself well up with
the Mines resolved to halt and look about little,
although had left Stockton with the intention Of
reaching Columbia, some miles further on, and of
which the dggings have proved to be very rich. The
main point however, with q green MINER" as the
neophytes termed is not to run about after the
richest diggmgs, but to set himself do WI speedily
as possible, and make beginning. He should wa ste
no time in prospecting, but pitch 10" at once to
some place, II it will pay his expenses and it Is but
rarely that he cannot do as well as this Having &C
quired the requisite experience, and become habi-
tuated TO the miners life, he can then, perhaps
spend q little time to advantage in looking about.
Having taken dinner, strolled up one of the
gulches leading past the restaurant, where stopped
and finding couple of miners at work, entered
| into conversation with them. Having been mode
ratey successful in mining they spoke encourasingy
OF mining matters and advised me to look up ca Din
and would easily find ground that would pay, at
least, toerably well. A little further on, found
another at work, who had a different song. He had
taken the coast fever in crossing the Isthmus from
which he had not fally recovered, and being dis
beartened by the debility he found clinging to him
his remarks upon California and the miners pros
poets we're not at all complimentary. 1t Is in this
way that originate the many contradictory accounts
which come from here every mans opinions are
tinged by his success or i'll success Nothing les
can be said however, by any enc who has had al
opportunity to observe the facts than that the rat
OF remuneration for labor is at least, treble what 1t
at home This Is what may be calculated upon, aud
besides, there is q chance for the prizes, or tn
"ples," and . toleraby fair chance too.
Being satisfied to try my hand at the new vocation
which had chosen, looked about for cabin
Tsese are very simple structures the body compose
of logs for the most part, aud the roof of cott,l
cloth: For the moderate price Of half an ounce,
soon became tie sole possessor OF an extensive hab
tation OF this class, being Of the dimensions of tel
feet square, with the bunk and table and variou
other 'Hxins" all complete. A few days experience
in cooking set me somewhat to right IN that depart
macy OF certain dirty shirts which took in hand
hut after several trials succeeded to such al
extent Is to be warranted in believing that
had removed the majority Of the dirt appertain
In a little time 1 became also the possessor Of {
"l0Dg tom " q long handled, round pointed shovel
hoe and pieksxe, and was therefore "duly
armed and equipped for service in the grea
mining army. Falling in, too, with q young man
who, like myself, wanted partner, and the rain
having commenced, there Was no lack Of water AND
nothing remained but to begin. Without picking
and choosing too much. we concluded tosset ton
in the Rulch which went close by our cabin an
which has been very rich, and has been "wofkei
CUT three four times but which will continue t
be worked over again, at intervals, for an indefinite
tine to come.
The system Of mining has undergone great modif
cation since the mines discovered, In order Il
adapt them to the change OF circumstances. A
first pan and iron bar with knifs to pick The
gold out Of the crevices, were the only implements
as they still are, of the Mexicans. Next was intro
duced the rocker" by which much larger quantity
| can he wsshed- generally estimated at about two
rdred snckets day, to the man. These are still
| the most available for some localities, inasnuch as
they do not demsnd the aid Of running water. As
1 the best parts Of the diggings were worked out
these gave way to the "loDg tom" In these, !
stream of ~ater is admitted Into the end OF long
three sided box, pierced with holes at the lower end
underneath which is the cripple box" SO called
from The bar across the middle and which
| causes the water to ripple in passing
over Behind this bar most OF the gold lodges the