The Sierra citizen., 1855-01-27
Dovnieyle Sierra COUNTY (aoia Sarday anuary q 1855
Fountain Grove.

Having never seen anything in your
valuable paper Of the resources Of this part
of the mountains, it seems to me nothing
but just, that some one should give you
true note of the transactions in, and the
prospects of this neighborhood. | have
taken it upon myself to inform you ofthem
in plain, though, fear, very uncouth Ian
guage. There are SO many names to the
various districts, that as yet | have only
found out-two, viz Star Hill and Foun-
tain Grove Both Of these districts are
situated on the head waters Of Kanaka
Greek, above Smiths & Chips Diggins.
Star-hill precinct extends to the head of
the North Fork, where the new district of
Fountain Grove commences, and includes
all the northern and middle Forks of Ka-
naka. In Star hill District the miners
have not, as a general thing, reached the
channel. One Of the tunnels called the
Mammoth Tunnel is however now run
ming under the channel with the hope of
soon reaching back channel, supposed to
be lower than the front They have now
gone nearly four hundred feet through the
rock. There are several tunnels above
them, about starting. With these few re-
marks on Star hill district, / will cease for
the present, and give some few more on
the new discoveries of Fountain Grove.
For the last few weeks considerable excite
ment was created by the rumour Of the
discovery of large deposits of gold in that
district Every thing was forgotten, and
nothing spoken Of but the extraordinary
riches Of the "lead" in this place, and the
general anxiety to procure claims Doc
tors, judges and miners could be seen
vending their way, some on mules and
some on foot, to the devoted region for the
purpose Of stalking off, or dumping
claim"
The origin ofthe 'fuss' have attempt
ed to trace. Some time in September
1854, company of miners believing that
there was another, or continuation of the
Smiths & Forest City "lead" in these hills
commenced tunnel to prospect the fiat.
AS yet they are working through the hard
bed rock, having now run to the distance
Of nearly $50 feet. In the seams of the
rock they have lately found gold, in
sufficient quantities to demonstrate the fact
OF a rich channel above or very near them.
The tunnel is almost seven feet high, and
with the exception of where it caved, per-
fectly straight. 1t is called the Richfeld
Tunnel, and is worked by Messrs Joseph
Fenner, VIM. L. Pittman, VIM Peirson
and Jacob Fenner.
In November Of the same year some of
the Downievillians comprising the compa-
ny of James O'Neil, Jr. & Co., conceiving
the same idea of the hill as the Rich6eld
Co., sank three shafts. In their last they
sank to the depth Of sixty five feet, when,
as they reached the top of the channel, the
water increased SO as to stop all further
progress, by sinking Before leaving the
shaft, one Of the company, John w. Davis
prospected the sand and found gold in al
most every pan. H1haN
The news of this having spread among
the miners caused considerable excitement,
which the quarts gravel, found in the last
bucket of sand, by no means diminished.
Immediately they began a tunnel, so as to
be ninety feet below the Shaft, which they
have in the short space of six weeks, run
through the rock one hundred and sixty
feet. On last Saturday, about dusk, they
first struck the blue and white quartz gra-
vel, at the top of the tunnel. This will ac-
count for the excitement that has prevail
ed for so many days without abatement.
At the time that I write, the hills are
resounding with the sound of axes, whip
saws and trees falling. Every place suit
able for the erection of cabin is immedi-
ately seized upon. Several cabins will be
erected this week, and more next. There
are now FIVE or six tunnels running into
the hill, and others preparing to start. If
I have not already fatigued you with these
few and disconnected items, may try
again. RANGER.
| COMFORTABLE PRosPEcT-The S. F..
Chronicle has struck a balance on the
Homocide Calender for 1854. The
chances Of being murdered by ones neigh
hor. snmetime during the coming YEAR are