Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-04-26
An Important Enterprise.

community the importance of any beneficial
feasible shape. Private enterprise, unassis
ted, will sometimes do much; but it is sell
dom that any great undertaking is accom-
plished until the public mind is thoroughly
agitated and aroused to the Importance Of
the enterprise This is the work of the local
newspaper; and it may well be claimed that
it is a duty requiring the exercise of vigi-
lance.
There is an enterprise in which the people
of Volcano are deeply interested that has
been, perhaps, somewhat neglected in conse-
quence of the absorbing attention that has
been necessarily bestowed upon other matters.
The project of draining the basin is one which
should command the cooperation of every
citizen of the place. Upon even a casual in
vestigation, it will be observed that the ac-
complishment Of this enterprise would be of
more immediate use and advantage to Vol
cano, than any other that has been mooted
with reference to the prosperity Of the town.
The deep diggings in the basin are the
richest that have yet been discovered in this
region; and it is exceedingly doubtful
whether they have ever been excelled if
equaled within the limits of tie State. And
yet these diggings have not been, and cannot
still be worked with profit. The cost of
pumps and other machinery, together with
the fact that owing to the difficulties in the
way only comparatively small quantity Of
earth can be washed consume the entire pro-
ceeds. Hence, there being nothing left to
repay the Industry of the miner, only few
of these claims are opened. Indeed, the ac-
tual depth Of these diggings has never been
ascertained--it being practically impossible,
under existing circumstances, to work them
below a certain depth-yet it is well ascer-
tanned that the deeper the miner goes the
more productiveis the gravel.
Now the whole truth of the matter is that
our town is being built up on foundation Of
gold; the very bricks of which our fire-proof
buildings are constructed are more or less
studded with this most precious of metals;
hundreds Of feet, perhaps, in depth of the
richest aurierous earth in the State, and coy
er.ng q surface equal to the extent of the
basin. constitutes our possessions; yet scores Of
our hard-working, sun-burnt sons of toll,
who have delyed into these mines during a
period of three or four years without profit
are now giving up in despair and feeling
themselves compelled TO hunt for diggings
not title as rich, but at the same time teller
paying. Why is this? Thennswer is in few
words-all for the want Of tunnel a fer
hundred yards in length, at or near the point
at which Sutter creek cmpties out of the
basin
This is n matter, as we have already stated.
in which every citizen of Volcano is interested
the mechanic, the merchant, &C., equally
with the miner The surrounding mines
constitute the handspring of the existence
of California mountain town. If the mines
give out the miner either leaves the place or
"goes to pot" and in either event he is at
tended upon his journey by the entire com
munity engaged in other pursuits All of us
should put our wits to work to study plan
by which this enterprise may be carried out.
The project, as an abstract question, is un-
questionably feasible; that is, so long as wa
ter continues to flow down hill, and rock and
earth yield to the force OF pick, sledge and
powder, it is certainly within the bounds of
possibility to drain the basin by cutting the
aforesaid tunnel
Our own impression is that this tunnel en-
terprisc will be paying Observation-Disclosures,
thatits proceeds, when completed, will pay
large dividend upon the money actually paid
in for its construction The dirt that would
be re-washed by the aid of quicksilver, in
passing through the tunnel, would unques-
tionably yield large revenues besides, there
is no telling but that enough would be taken
out OF the tunnel itself to make it paying
investment Why may it not be as good
place to run tunnel as in higher ground
Should it happen to strike an old channel o
the creek, which would be by no means in
possible, it would clay over" all otner tuI
nels