Columbia gazette., 1854-09-23
TIE MINES.


dried up their yield of gold, for nearly
every day'we hear of some good strike
being made in every direction. As an
evidence Of this fact, We would here
state, that one day this week, the agent
Of Messrs. Wells. Fargo & Co.'S Ex-
press, in Columbia, bought three thou-
sand dollars worth of gold dust before
breakfast. The gold was very fine, and
we have seldom seen prettier speci-
mems of the pure metal.
Many Of the miners have gone to the
rivers, there to remain until the rains
set in, which, if the signs of the times
are correct, will be some weeks earlier
than last year. Many miners who left
this vicinity for Campo Seco, Calaveras
County,-where the water is being in
troduced,- have returned, and report
that the place is crowded with miners,
and that there are already hundreds
more in the place, than there is ground
for them to work.
On Saturday last, Parsons & Co, took
out from their claim, at Matelot Gulch
lump ofgold, worth $3.50. The same
day they picked up several pound pieces
of gold and quartz. Not bad for these
unmoistened times.
At Saw Mill Flat every thing wears
lively aspect, considering the dry state
of the heavens and the earth. There
is about a two-tom-stream in the creek,
giving employment to about thirty COM
panies, who are washing out the spangled
soil, and making good wages. Some Of
the claims pay extremely rich. Deacon,
and Dow & Co., are throwing up dirt
for embarrassing, and as soon as the
rain-clouds come around and let down
their droppings, they will pan out rich;
for they have, almost without exception,
the richest claims to be found in that
section. The town is beautifully situa-
ted at the foot of the "Two Sisters"
and Woods Creek flowing through the
centre Of the village, affords, by its
unpatented gold-sxtracter, employment
to the Industrious miners on the Flat.
A large saw mill, in full operation, turns
out lumber for the million; and in addi-
ton to the good boards furnished by the
mill, good board can be found at the
public houses in the vicinity; and, if we
should judge from appearances, when
We visited the place week or two since,
good lodgings would not be difficult to
obtain by any sleepy disciple of Morphe-
US. During our visit, a horse-race was
gotten up, for our (of course.) special
qualification. It might be interesting
to sporting men in this vicinity to
learn, that the horse which came in
ahead, was declared the winner. A
passage at arms between two Mexican
Juveniles, also came of while we were
present; bat this, we believe, was for
the especial qualification of two seiiori-
tas who acted as umpires on the occasion.
As we left, the twigs bent over = mud
hole, and appeared inclined to stick
their ardor in the mud.
At Pine Log, on the Stanislaus, the
miners are busily at work, and doing
we'll. Crowds Of miners are there, and
the place is lively and interesting. Lit
tle6eld & Co. have just struck some
l;ch spots prospecting as high as 50 to
the pan. 1t is supposed that they have
the best claim on tie river. Below
Texas Bar, the miners are also doing
we'll. The wate- is very low at Pine
Log; and if early rains do not interrupt
them, they will make golden harvest.
On the main Stanislaus, the water is
lower than it has ever been, within the
memory Of that much abused parsonage,
"the oldest inhabitant." The miners
have now about completed their arrange
ments for washing the pay dit, having
been engaged for some time in building
their dams, clearing away, fixing their
pumps, wheels, removing the top soil,
&C., &c. We may soon expect to herr
of big strikes from this stream. A great
many Chinamen are working on the