Columbia gazette. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-18
PROSPECTING TOUR

Editor Of Columbia Gdzetfe, Sir
In my last, promised to say some
thing of Kern River and Spectators
At Capt. Haley's, at the crossing Of
the Fresno, | fell in company with Mr..
Joel Brooks, who informed me he was
writing for the Maripo.a Chronicle.-
He was on his way to Mariposa, having
just returned from the TETON Pass.
was making some inquiries with regard
to the lands at the Four Creeks; he
told me they where being settled by
American families that on Tulare Riv-
er there was as rich lands as could be
Wished much better, he thought, than
upon tue -Four Greeks; it was fine,
healthy country, well watercd and good
timber. He said there was gold all
through that country. He had been on
Kern River, and prospected the coun-
try through that there was good dry
diggings, but there was no water. A.
bout the last of September the river
commences falling, and does not rise
again, until late in the Spring, when
there will be good diggings. A gentle.
man, who has just returned from Kern
River, states, that they intend turning
the waters Of the river upon the dry
diggings when they will be as good as
Hangtown ever was. He is going back.
l saw gentlemen, few days ago, who
has just returned from tour two hun
dred miles south of the San JOAQUIN.
He has discovered rich diggings among
tribe of White Indians. lie intends
going back in the Spring, with some
twenty men. He says the gold is very
fine, and plenty of It. The Indians
arc hostile, and arc to be seen only at
night times.
The camp, at San Andreas, had a
struggle for the County seat, but was
beaten. They had secured eight thou
sand dollars for the building of court
house, Jail, &C., and had laid off a
square, and streets at the upper part of
town for the court house. All the va
cant ground was taken up for building
lots, for speculation, by persons who
never intended to build the stakes of
which are yet to be seen, aud 1 have
been informed it tended in great meas
ure to it's defeat. They arc building
a fine Hall, the lower part of which,
viii be occupied for courtroom and
Offices. The upper part of the Hall
will be occupied by the Sons of Tenn
perance.. The Order of Odd Fellows
are about establishing Lodge, to occupy
the same room. The Sons of Temper
ance are in fourishing condition,
numbering some thirty members. They
hold their meetings on Saturday nights.
The Union Company have been en-
larging their ditch, so that full supply
ofwater may be had. Col. Popc's ditch
will soon be ready, when San Andreas
will present lively appearance. Mr..
Beenras has been taking out dirt all
summer from his shaft, which l am in
formed will pay him over three thou
sand dollars. Mr.. Dunn and others,
are now waiting for water, which is cx-
pected the 10th of Nov, when their
purses will again be freighted with the
precious metal. The shafts upon Gold
Hill, (which will be supplied with water
from Pope's ditch will pay heavy, and
miners are anxiously looking for the COM
ing of the water.
There is good mining region of coun-
try on the line Of the Calaveretas ditch,
extending as far as Yankee Camp
This ditch is now ready for water. Yam
kee Camp is two and half miles from
San Andreas. There has been some
tunneling at Sar Andreas, and is yet +;
one Of which promises well.
Campo Seco, twelve miles distant,
has not yet full supply of water, 1.-THE
town is fast improving since the late 6re,)
and hence miners are leaving for want
of claims, while many are throwing up
dirt. believe, as general thing, no
large strikes will be made. Whiskey
Slide, two and half miles from Jesus
Maria, and ten miles from San Andreas,
promises well, as soon as they get wa
ter in their ditch. The ditch traverses
a good section o. mining country
Gold is coarse and heavy, and as this
is the first ditch at that place, they are
making great calculations. They in
tend cutting another ditch next summer,
which will come through good mining
region Of country.
To be continued