The Nevada journal., 1856-12-19
For the nevada Journal.
BIRcHyILLE. Dec. Sth. 1856.

BIRCHvILLE, Dec. Sth, 1856.
EDITORS JOURNAL: A few lines from
this place may not be Inappropriate to
your numerous readers at this time, as
we all take a lively interest in the
mineral resources of this county, whose
yearly income from the mines, and
facilities for working to advantage, are
without a parallel, I believe, in the
State. Our location is between Sweet
lands and French Corral, on the range
of San Juan and Camptonville. Snow
has not covered the ground for more than
twenty-four hours at any one time for
the last three years; with the differ
ence of climate in our favor, washing
can be successfully carried on during
the year round, without the disadvan-
tage of some of our mountain neighbors
in having their sluices, &c., froze up,
during the winter months; our ground
is extensive and inferior to none in the
county. Through the hills we have a
rich lead, varying from thirty to eighty
feet in width, similar to the old "Coyote
lead" at Nevada: two to three feet
sluices have taken the place of the 12
by 14's of times past, and the amount
of gold taken out this winter will speak
for itself. Our only drawback has been
the want of sufficient water to work to
an advantage. This is abou. overcome
by the enterprising proprietors of the
Shady Creek Ditch, Messrs. Pollard &
Eddy, who have nearly ready for use
an artificial lake covering one hundred
acres of ground, to the depth of 80 or
40 feet. Some idea may be formed of
the magnitude of this great enterprise
from the construction of dam the past
summer $50 feet at the base and 60 feet
in height, and at cost, with the i'm
provements with it, of nearly $4,000.
The canal extending to the creek is
eight feet in width by three in depth.
With favorable winter, an enormous
quantity of water will be saved, which
heretofore ran to waste. With their
accustomed iberality and foresight, the
proprietors of this ditch have reduced
their rates of water to twenty-five cents
per inch, bringing it within the reach of
all, and paying handsome profit to the
owners.
The Middle Yuba Company have ex-
tended their ditch to this place, but as
yet they have not sold an inch, owing to
the high rate at which it is held, and
the consequence is a general strike
along the whole line of their work s.
The result is any quantity of water run
ming back unused into the Yuba. How
long this state of things will continue,
which is ruinous to both parties, l am at
present unable to say. We miners, who
work in all kinds of weather, early and
late, and for years, without any re-
muneration, in many instances,) feel
that when we have overcome difficulties
only known to those who have had
years of experience, to put our claims
upon paying basis, and at the first
smile of Fortunes favors, to place nesrly
the whole OF our proceeds to the disposal
of water company to enable its stock
holders to monthly divide 10 per cent,
is little too much of benefit to be
conferred on any one class ofindividuals.
Messrs. A. DeMoulin & Co., of the
Union Co.," took out of their claims
during the past week, in three days
washing with three hands, the sum of
81 600 in clean dust, which was sold to
L. B. Adsit, Esq, for SIS 25 per ounce.
Give us fair show, and Birchville, or
some other town or burg" will favora-
bly, compete with any othermining local.
ty on the ridge. II.