The Sierra citizen., 1854-02-18
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1854
Mines and Mining in Sierra County

Mines and Mining in Sierra County.
Perhaps i'll no part Of the State have
such changes taken place as on the head
waters of the several branches of the Yuba.
Soon after the tide of emigration began
t. roll into this country some adventurous
individuals, not satisfied with the riches
of the bars below, followed the course
of the river farther and farther until at
length they arrived at the Forks, which
was then considered almost equal to the
achievements of Mungo Park. After the
approach of winter they returned to the
lower settlements, with such bewillering
stories of whole pans full of gold that
could be had for the digging, that in the
following spring every steamboat and on
wagon was freighted with all sorts of
people-with all sorts of indescribable
apparatus, with which they confidently
expected to exhaust the resources of the
Yuba in an incredibly short space of time
The fame Of the Yuba spread far ami
wide, and then commenced general rush
to its head waters. No matter how rich
the claim might be on the bars below, it
was abandoned under the impression, that
if the river was rich so low down there
must be mountains Of gold at its source
The general idea, then, was that the
thin scales found below had been washed
down from some monstrous gold hill
above, hence every one was desirous of
pushing as far as possible into the noun
tains, thinking that the farther he could
get the better would be the opportunity
of realizing the extravagant visions that
half demented him. Since then one can
not travel in any direction without meeting
prospecting parties--some looking for Gold
Lake, some burrowing in the hillside,
while under the nearest tree another party,
half discouraged, half hopeful, are smoking
their pipes around campfire, trying to
solve the perplexing question-whether it
IS better to continue wandering through
the mountains and take the chances, or to
return to the river and work for five
dollars day.
Within the last four years the restless,
untiring energy of the miners have been
gradually developing the resources of this
region. Instead of the mines being ex-
hausted in two or three years, as many
wise-acres predicted, they are now in
more prosperous condition than they ever
were. 1t is true, that the richest surface
deposits have been exhausted, and in the
most practicable places the bed of the
river has been worked But attention
bas been turned to the unexhaustable
treasures of the hills, which for several
years were neglected.
The day has gone by, for amateur
miners to lay down the law-book, the
scalpel, or the pen, make flying visit to
the mines and return with both pockets
full of gold. 1t now requires the strong
arm, and the iron will, to dig deep in the
bowels of the earth. For this the profess
sional gentleman and the man of leisure
are not prepared, hence the legacy has
fallen into the hands that have been
Injured to toll. The experimental miners
have gone to the lower cities, or the old
states, with doleful tales of the uncertainty
and hardships of the miners life, and now
astonish insophisticated young gentlemen
recently from the States with narrations
ofperils that environed them by night and
by day during six months residence in
some mountain village, bewildering their
auditors with scientific descriptions OF
trap rock and auriferous soil, though
they themselves, with all their scientific
attainments could not make it pay.
Business has now assumed a more regular
and healthy tone. The trader does not
credit out his goods in the expectation Of
receiving extravagant prices when it comes
out of the river, nor does the miner reck.
lessly squander his money in the expecta.
ton of the next day making a raise The
only drawback in the dry-diggings is the
scarcity of water during the latter part o
the summer; but that difficulty is yer,
much lessened by the manner of workin.
the claims, which is to drift anu wheel ou
the dirt, and wait for the rainy season.