Butte record., 1854-04-01
The Mines of Butte County.


say regarding the mines of this county. AL
though unlike many of our mountain cotemp-
oraries, we have no 'big strikes to publish,
We are still disposed to believe that the placers
Of this county. in average yield are not e1-
ceeded by few if any in the state. Since the
commencement of the wet season, so that wa
ter could be had, we have heard of but few
claims that did not pay the miner good wages,
and in this immediate vicinity sluices have
been erected where water could be procured
without regard to the richness of the dirt to
be washed, and where the dirt was hardly ex
pected to yield a compensation. On the other
hand, the loose top dirt of our hills has been
found to yield wages, where the dirt was but
from one to two feet deep. and covered with
shrubs and vegetation. We have heard no
complaints of unsuccessful claims, and as
all keep busy late and early conclude that the
claims must be yielding them wages. Claims
requiring number of hands to work them.
complain of the scarcity of help-which we
think goes to show that our mines are gener-
ally yielding well, or miners would prefer the
certainty of day wages.
Operations upon the Plaza claim still con-
tinue, and gives employment to some fifteen
or twenty hands. This claim with the one
Immediately adjoining it and under the Ma
tional Hotel, presents a busy and interesting
scene-quite as much so as some of our river
claims last year, just previous to the setting
in of the wet season Of course they do not
yield like the bed of the river, but they have
given employment to large number of hands
and been a source of no inconsiderable profit
to their enterprising and practical proprie
tors. As the approach of the dry season,
warns them of the failure of the water, their
pumps are kept running night and day. By
thus keeping the water pumped out, aud run
ming four Toms they are enabled to wash a
large amount of irt We have been inform
ed that they have exp eriencod some difficulty
in procuring hands and have not extended
their operations as they would have done, had
there not been scarcity of hands in the mar
ket.
The operations on the Court House Hill, are
still carried on with vgor and continue to
yield we'll Their claim and ditch, which fur
nishes several sluice heads of water, will rem
der their winters operations decidedly prof
table
On the opposite side of the river mining op-
srations are progressing finely. The Express
Water Company, consisting of Elliott and
others. have completed their ditch, bringing
water on to the fiat. The Canon Creek water
company have also succeeded in bringing wa
ter Oh the fat, and are at work, giving the
opposite bank of the river busy and life-hke
appearance. These water companies will soon
be rendered permanent, as the water will be
brought from Berry Greek, as soon as the
dry season sets in. The route has been ex-
amined and will be easily accomplished, there
being but short distance to bring the water
before it strikes into Canon Creek, and by
means of the bitches already completed, will
be brought on to paying ground. This will
make permanent matter of mining opera
give employment to large number of hands.
The gold and water are there, and the boys
are performing the work of separation as fast
as practicable
By reference to our advertising columns,
it will be seen that the s'White Rock' Com
pany are again in the field, preparing for new
&extensive operations The is name changed,
and will henceforth be known as the Oregon
Claim. There yet remain few chances for
investment in this claim, and as it has been
worked heretofore, and its richness ascertain
ed, we doubt not they will soon be prepared
to commence active operations.
As will be seen by their advertisement in
another portion of our paper. the 'RocK
ISLAND COMPANY" are organized and in the
field prepared for business. We are informed
that large amount of stock has already
been subscribed, and the contract for putting
in the f1ume let to Mr.. Alonzo Gilman. This
claim is said to be exceedingly rich, embrac
ing within its limits the old ''Joe Davis Illi-
nois claim of 1870 Should this compa-
ny succeed in turning the river, they will un-
doubtedy be rewarded with rich harvest of
gold. They are fully aware of the great i'm
portance of completing their flume as early in
the season as practicable, and have taken
measures to effect an early completion of the
same. We hope to see this company succeed,
as those who are acquainted with the ground,
assure us that the completion of their f1ume