The weekly Placer herald., 1853-08-13
Little York, Nevada Co., Correspondence.
RoBB's RANCH, Aug. 9th, '53.

ised description of Little York, but from
whence it received its name of Little am
unable to ascertain, as its size, the num-
ber of miners which people it and its
suburbs, and last but not least, the canal
which terminates here and serves to sup
ply the miners with water indicate any
thing but smallness.
| 1t is but little over a year since the
diggings were first struck at this place
and is usually the case there was rush
for them. The hills in the vicinity upon
prospecting promised to pay well; and
being situated as it is upon the old emf
grant road caused many families to stop
here as they arrived from across the
plains. But the great difficulty was want
of water, and to obviate this a company
was formed to bring the waters of the
North Fork of Bear River, by means of
canal to this place; who after contending
with many difficulties, running the canal
for twenty miles over the tops of the high
est ridges, and along the rocky mountain
sides, at last succeeded, and the place
soon assumed quite busy aspect. 1t is
true every claim has not proved rich
one, but so far as my own personal Obser
vation extends think that the miners of
Little York average better than those of
some of the little settlements with which
! it is surrounded. The village itself is
built in a little valley and contains at
present about one hundred dwellings,
stores, SC. In its center there is a place
containing about two acres of ground but
the miner in his search has discovered
that the gltterlng metal is mingled IN It's
earth, and what was designed for public
ground has already become private prop
city. The gold, however, is mostly found
in a blue cement of very hard nature,
and the action of water will not dissolve
| it. Upon being assayed, however, it has
been found that if crushed in mill
large per centage can be realized, and |
leSrn that a company is about being
formed to erect mill for that purpose.
Near the outskirts of the village steam
saw mill is in operation, converting the
huge mountain pine into boards and lum
ber for the miner; and to look at the en-
gine which propels it, and then down the
steep sides of the mountain upon which
it is situated one would think that it must
have been hoisted into its position with
ropes and pulleys; but Yankee enterprise
can accomplish almost anything, and here
upon the top of this mountain ridge the
steam giant is doing his work, where five
years since there was not the tootstep
of the white man. Passing the mill a
short time since observed some Indians
gazing with curious wonder now at the
saw, whose rapid strokes severed asunder
the huge log, and then at the engine
whose unseen power was moving it; but
of ho hirh
concealed there they never dared to APP
proach it. The drawer in the office of
this mill was robbed last week of five
hundred dollars and no discovery has as
yet been made of the thief.
About a mile to the east of the town
run the waters of Bear River which is
tfumed this season to a considerable eX-
tent; while across it and about two miles
above is Dutch Flat where are some hill
diggings. All these mines are being
worked quite extensively and many of the
claims are proving quite rich, although
not so much noise is made about them as
there is in some places of more notorlety.
The 4th of July was celebrated here
with considerable patriotism by the nhab-
itants, who extended their patriotic spirit
unto the 9Th, when they discovered new
mode of prospecting. A party with picks,
shovels and pans, visited each house and
upon entering lifted up the floor boards,
when after throwing out few shovels
full of earth, pair of new boots, shawl,
or some useful article was sure to be
found as ''prospect," which together
with the claim would be given up to the
owner of the building if he would remu-
nerate them for their labor "smale;" but
ere night arrived the many "smles" which
they had received had well nigh overcome
them and they were obliged to cease their
spirited labor.
Leaving Little York we will now con-
tinue our journey northward, following
the old emf grant trail over the mountain
tops, among the highest of which is Cam
el's Hump, from the summit of which you
can behold the valley of Sacramento
stretching far away to the south and losing
itself in a cloud of mist; how hot and
dry it looks; but turning our faces we see
close by us the ''snowy peaks of the Ne
vadas," and as the cool breeze blows past
us we pity from our hearts the sun
Drowned ffhabitants below. Onward we
go, occasionally crossing the Little York
canal, while here and there lie the ruins
of some old wagon, which having thus
far brought the emigrant upon his way
has given out and left him like ourselves
to "walk up hill and foot it down."
Another grave! But here are two in