The Sierra citizen., 1854-10-14
Notes from Smiths Flat.

ASVtCo 1IOM O1uACU 5 e lGI.
Since my last, little or no change has
taken place in the usual pursuits at this
place. The various mining companies are
making rapid preparations for winter. At
Spring Hill large number of houses are
going up, and the place bids fair to assume
a lively appearance as soon as water comes
Mr.. A. Bull has opened a provision store
at the Hill, which will afford great conve-
niences to the miners at that place.
Another large piece of gold has been
found at Smith worth 1865, as your cor
respondent John McMillen informed you.
That John is up to "thing or two," al
ways happening along just in the "nick Of
time" The Cock e. Bull company have
struck gravel in their main tunnel, which
prospects from SlS to S25 to the pan,
mostly coarse gold.
All the Inconvenience experienced at
this place among the miners, and may
also say the merchants, is the want of wa
ter. We have two ditches-the Buckeye
and the Hydraulic water bitches. The
buckeye ditch conveys the water from
near the head of the north fork of Kanaka
Creek, supplying the diggings at Spring
Hill and vicinity, and all the surplus, if
any, is used at Smiths. The Hydraulic
ditch commences at place known as the
French Ravine," about a mile below
Smiths, and runs in direction opposite
to that of the Buckeye. These bitches
were mostly made during the winter and
spring of 1923, at a great expense, still
we are not supplied with water more than
five or six months, at the longest. This,
you will perceive, places us in a somewhat
precarious situation, being obliged to pile
the dirt aside, there to remain until the
clerk of the weather sends us shower.
Many of the companies have (as they be-
lieve, at a very reasonable estimate) no
less than from $4,000 to $4,000 worth
of dirt taken out and ready for washing.
Others have, by way of experiment, con-
structed close reservoir of plank, in or
der to save what little water drips from
the sides and tops of their tunnels; by
this means they are enabled to wash one
or two hours during the week. Last week
[ saw about $50 washed out by means of
this process and l should say it would
not exceed three bushels of dirt washed.
At Forest City, Chips and Minnesota,
many Of the miners have left for wet dig
gings; some for the Yuba, Kanaka Creek,
&C.. bat at this place those who have not
diggings elsewhere, are content to dig
away until the rain comes. Our village is
rapidly increasing in population We
have at this time no less than seven fami-
lies permanently located, and more daily
expected. We have also two boarding
houses, three stores, two saloons, two
blacksmith's shops. and one bakery. =
by the way, Mr. Editor, why is it our
village is never visited by any Of the
preachers? We can often hear of them
at Forest City and Minnesota, but they
have not, as yet, ventured into this part of
the moral (?) vineyard. During the sum-
mer they would do well to come and
:" shake the very dust from off their feet
and by so doing, peradventure, put little
in their pockets.
You may not.expect to hear of any big
strikes Except now and then Sc ouncer,
just to keep the spirits up) before fall. at
which time expect to report something
worth while, and the sign shall be-
"When the King rides upon the blast,
And rain in deluge falls" ~
Watch for the SIGN! 1ls
Yours, &C., j. A. B.
Smiths Flat, October 9, 1854.