Volcano weekly ledger., 1855-12-15
OSNiAIi.
Correspondence of the Ledger.

TiH 10 the lIc,elumae Rirey--MountalH
Scenery Quartz mining DC.
MrssRs. EDrroRs:--I made trip to the
Mokelumne river few days ago in company
with my particular friend Mr.. Thomas Fitz-
simmons, and as it proved interesting to me,
| will not repress the desire of giving you a
short sketch of it.
Well; as to my particular business in ma
king the trip, it don't much matter, as ii is a
well known fact that Doctors do not usually
make trips of that length without some def
mite object, though that object is OILY to in
duce people to believe that their practice is
very extensive. Bnt excuse preliminaries--
suffice to say we had an object in view. So
mounting our horses and setting spurs to
them, and blythe way, speaking of spurs re-
minds one that my horse is not over-sensitive
on that point, in fact cares as little about it
as an Italian does about "a stiletto, but par
don this DEPRESSION.
We passed through Stony Point (vulgarly
called Pike-town) and wended our way up
Hqmbug Gulch, which was evidently mis-
nomer as good pay has been taken oat Of its
narrow confines. As we started up the
guch my friend Tom met with a serious
calamity in the way of losing his heart by en-.
countering a pair of bcwitching eyes. His
brain was so completely turned that l had
serious fears for his life once or twice, as he
come near riding into deep prospect holes,
where both horse and rider would have been
as badly shattered as Toms susceptible heart
was.
About a mile from the top of the gulch
we encountered several Diggers, and passing
around the foot of the hill came in full view
of the Digger camp, composed of ten or
twelve huts rudely constructed, around which
were seated several mahala's, while farther on
were three or four machacho's playing on a
large rock. We frightened them out of
their wits by running our horses towards
them while the squaws thinking probably we
were trying to steal their children, set up the
most pteous howls.
We fed from the wild confusion we had
caused, and made our way to the very sum-
nit of Prospect hill, appropriately named
being one of the highest peaks in this vicinity.
The most beautiful Landscape ever witnessed
was here spread out to our enraptured view.
Who could look upon that scene and not be
reminded of natures God" Stretching
away to the south were the foot hills, clothed
with towering pines, spruces and the ever
green manzaneta. TO the west could be seen
the Sacramento valley spread out like map
before us, with its cities, towns, ranches,
heards of cattle &c, and to the southwest
the outlines of Mt Dablo could be
distinctly traced TO the north and east as
far as the eye could reach, were to be seen
the snow cap'd submits of the Sierras, while
down far below us, rolled the bright waters
of the Mokelumne river.
Leaving our horses we descended to the
river where we found quite company of
men, part of whom were engaged in build
ing bridge across the river, while the rest
known as the Texas Quartz Co. are construct
ing their mill which they intend to get in ope-
ration by early spring Upon enquiring as
to why they were erecting such an expensive
bridge, we were Informed that Messrs. Ham
q Goodwin were constructing wagon road
to West Point, Independence Flat, and other
places of importance. The work will cost
large amount of capital, but from the well