Columbia gazette. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-25
For the Columbia Gazette,
PROSPECTING TOUR
(CONTIyUED.)

| Independence Flat, on the north fork
of Mok elumne River, is a large section
ofmiuing country. They have no ditch.
1t is in mountain region, twelve miles
from Jesus Maria a good winter camp.
Two and half miles beyond, is Sandy
Gulch, West Point, Soap Root Gulch
Penny Back Gulch, and great mum.
Der of other gulches. Here is a large
field for mining operations. New dig
gings are being discovered in every d.
rection. Spectators are busy in feeling
papers to puff, making it unsafe for
miners to launch out upon its turbulent
waters. Ihave spoken of such places
as have visited many of which, will
pay good wages. Sandy Gulch is very
rich claim sold for five thousand four
hundred dollars. They cut their own
ditch and have never failing supply of
water. Miners having no claims, and
not knowing where to 60, wishing to
visit any of the above places, would
pass through good mining region, far
more extended than I have described.
Diggings are not as easily obtained as in
forty-nine. Now, we have to dig deep,
and toll hard, and in many instances,
our labor has been unfruitful to say
nothing of money expended. How
many are reaping rich harvest, who,
hoping against hope, have eventually
succeeded. The great misfortune of
miners, may be found to originate from
an unwilingness to work for samll wages,
wasting time, and spending money,
hunting for big strikes, which are rarely
found. When miner is acquainted
with locality, and its resources are ex-
hausted, it is theu advisable to travel.
How many have made a good raise, by
stopping at what is called worn out dig
gings. could name number, and so
can the reader. I have heard a great
many regret leaving such and such a
place, saying Mr. had gone in a
claim he had left, made his pile and
gone home. New diggings have sprang
out of old ones, and the travelling miner
returns, worn out with fatigue; his
money gone. His friends rally around
to hear the news, and learning nothing,
leave him to his fate. Not far from
where l am writing, is a miner, some
what advanced in life, having but a
short time come in from prospecting
tour. His resources were none of the
best. With his pan, pick and shovel,
he might be seen, early each morning,
going out, at night, coming home. In
short time, this old mans purse was
heavy. He had gone to hunt for new
diggings, but come back as he went,
none the wiser. That there are pion-
GERS in mining operations, as well as
in other things, cannot be disputed.
These may be styled the rowing miners;
never long at one place. That they
are an advantage to the mining commu-
nifty is acceded, providing they are
practical miners.) It is very hard, in
looking over the various papers, reading
the column, headed mining mews, to
place any reliance upon its statements.
1t is SO worded, that the unskillful
would say, that's the place for me-
Little does the thoughtless, and no.
souled-scribbler care who suffers, so he
can make by his puffs. Why not state
all the facts: while some have good
claims and making money, the mass are
doing little better than keeping soul
body together. With your approba-
ton, Mr.. Editor, and time permitting,
my next will be to show how these things
work. W. B.