The Empire County argus., 1854-11-11

some four years experience in mining, commencing
with the pan and rocker. We are persuaded from
experience and facts We have Witnessed that the
gold mines of this State are not yet prospected
indeed prospecting is yet hardly commenced, De-
yeopmcnts are yet to bo made of mineral wealth
that will astonish the world. Hitherto We have
been operating almost wholly upon the surface and
in streams. The fact is now demonstrated beyond
a doubt, that from bars fayorably located along the
forks of the American river an annual crop of gold
may be taken as rich and even richer than the first
Why is this Simply because the rivers are natu
raj sluices. Thousands Of miners aye at work con-
stantly along these rivers, and on the hill and
mountain sides and in guches leading to these
streams ; the earth is thus disturbed. and all con-
tains fine gold large quantities of this loosened
earth is washed into the rivers by the winter rains
and there sluiced the heavier portions and the gold
lodging on bars, the lighter portions passing and
discooring the water of the Sacramento for miles.
When it is remembered that there are millions
Of acres upon the mountain slopes, and from every
pan of earth the careful miner obtain the color
yet undsturbed and to be wrought in future when
water is obtained by artificial means, it will not be
surprising that our rivers continue productive. 1t
is beyond doubt true, that labor this year in the
rivers has been better rewarded than at any former
period less gold may have been obtained, but with
better and cheaper appliances and still larger sums
will hereafter be realized by the introduction of
efficient hydraulic power to effect complete drain
age. 1t has been impossible hitherto to work sue
cessfuy many of the richest portions Of the beds of
our streams--improved appliances being introduced
every year, and experience will suggest other. SO
that we may look with certainty for the continu-
ance of productive mining in rivers for many years.
Surface miningis by no means exhausted There
are hundreds of localities yet untouched, waiting
for the introduction of water, and those already
wrought will bear re-working and with improved
methods now introduced for saving find gold will
yield returns remuneratiye the first washing.
1t is fact we'll understood among miners that
hardly ono-half the gold in the soil originally could
be secured by the methods at first adopted This
department of gold mining then, will be produc-
tive for many years to come and furnish an amount
Of treasure vastly exceeding that already obtained,
hundred years will not perceptibly diminish the
yield of gold from surface mining; while localities
may be entirely worked out corresponding num-
turbing of the surface with the artificial applica-
tion of water upon the summit of our hills and
mountains, together with the winter rains will
cause an increased deposite in rivers which will be
there sluiced by the floods, affordng fresh golden
deposite for centuries
1t is to the bosom of the hills we look with con-
fdence for rich discoveries and richer returns than
any yet realized in California. This department Of
mining is in its infancy Enough however has
been done to demonstrate beyond all doubt the ex-
isence of vast deposits of anrferous earth deep in
the hills and mountains. Discoveries Of this char
acter are now being made frequently in various
portions of the mineral district of this State The
system, of tunneling nuy employed is beginning to
open to view some Of these deposits and reveal
their richness. These deposits will he iulnd in
regular ranges and easily traced, but a large
amount of capital and great labor will have to be
employed to work them We have visited tun-
rcl cut through solid rock to the distance OF thir-
teen hundred feet before reaching ''pay dirt" An
undertaking of this kind, where blasting is requir
cd the whole distance is not easily performed, and
NO inconsiderable amount Of capital and persever
snce il required 1t is to this class Of mining ope
sations we are to look, and look confidently, for
large returns of gold. Tunnels will yet be cut in
this county and elsewhere whose length will be
measured by miles, revealing ledes Of paying
gravel" that to work will require long period of
time. Will any man say 1t is impossible We
say it is possible and far as miners have the as
surancc necessary for the undertaking, it will be
done. Comparatively few miners understand the
nature of hill deposits, and fewer still have the
requisite capital to employ in such undertakings
Men possessing capital but unacquantcd with this
class of mining are of course reluctant about enga
ging in this description of operations. The work
Of prospecting the hills and mountains has been
commenced and rich rewards will encourage others
to engage in the enterprise. Fifty years hence
enough will be developed to insure the commence
.ncrt Of the work in earnest, and then an aston
ished world will look at the richness of our mines
with admiration. The gold is here but toll, diSap-
pciatlnont hope long deferred, and undyng perse-
variance commingled, is required to bring it forth
from ho hills and to disembowel the mountains in