Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-03-22
SITTER CREEK. March l4th., 1856.

general And now having lew noineh'' VI
leasure, / embrace the opportunity to pen
few lines to you. If you think they viii be
of any use to you or any body else, you are
at liberty to use them as You choose
In politics there is not much doing here at
present, but hear it limited that the Great
American Party will commence active opera
tions so soon as they hear the result oil the
convention that assembled at Philadelphia on
the 22d of last month. i suppose they want
to wait until they can hoist the names OF
their standard bearers, aud also unfurl to the
political breeze their trne colors and likewise
publish their platform for the Presidential
campaign. / hear that they are to hold
weekly meetings throughout the State from
the time of receiving the news OF the nomi
nations until the election.
In the way of Christianity I am happy to
say our Great State is improving. Our pious
Legislators are about passing law to let the
people know that Sunday has finally arrived
in California $50 mote it be-"
How is it with you about water. We have
not got enough down here for placer miners
to pan out with, and judge from the guam
tity in the creek, that you have not got an
over supply up there. But thank fortune
there is enough in the creek to keep our
quartz mills running; most Of the time we
will have cash enough to pay board, and
some left for whiskey anu billiards. No
man who has not been here and seen for him
self, can have but faint idea Of the extent
that quartz mining is carried on in this vicin-
ity. There are eleven mills in successful
operation within two miles Of this town;
they employ on an average twenty men each,
besides wood choppers and wood haulers,
making in the aggregate not less than three
hundred men constantly employed about the
eleven mills There are also several new
companies now engaged in prospecting quartz
near here. and without doubt there will be
four or five new mills erected in this imme-
date vicinity during the summer.
Heretofore all Of the companies have been
burning or roasting the quartz rock before
crushing it, which has been atteGded with an
enormous expense, but now they are all
crushing the rock raw, as they call it, and
fnd that il yields nearly one third more be-
sides saving the expense of burning
They are also about to make further i'm
proyements in the way of saving the sui
phurits OF iron which is contained in the
quartz, and is known to be excessively rich
with very fine particles Of gold, which with
the present mode Of working, it is impossible
to save; but it is thought by our oldest quartz
miners that the sulphurits can be saved and
worked seperate and made to yield largely.
But more Of this anon.
By-the-by, what has become Of that Turn
pike road projectg Are the citizens Of Vol
cano going to let il fail at this stage of the
proceedings now that the route has been
chained, stakes struck, the distance ascertained
and an estimate made Of the cost? hope
not, surely. understand that about eight
thousand dollars of the stock has been sub
scribed by citizens of this place and vicinity,
which think extremely well done for this
little town. Now if the citizens of Volcano
will come forward and subscribe twelve thou
sand dollars more, land | hear that ma
jority of it is already subscribcd) to make up
the twenty thousand dollars, which is required
before ANYTHING more can be done in the mat
ter, then the thing is done and the quicker it
is done the better Let the stock be sub
scribed Immediately, and the contracts let be-
fore the first of May If possible, because tits
well known fact that the work can be done
twenty-five per cent. cheaper before the first
of August than it can after that time. | be
lieve the enterprise is bound to succeed, and
the sooner it is put under contract the better
for all concerned. Ii is now universally ad
mitted that the stock will be the best Of pay
ing stock, and if so why let the matter drag
along so slow, until the season gets so fai
advanced, that the work cannot be prosecu
ted with the same advantages that it car
earlier in the season. The enterprise is one
of vital Importance to this place, and hope
to see every man who has the good of this
place and Volcano at heart, step forward anc
assist the enterprise.
What is the reason we never get the Ledge
here before Tuesday or Wednesday and fire.
quently not until Thursday, when they get j
in jackson invariably on Saturday Thi
week we have not got it yet Two weeks i
missed us entirely and we never got it. w
should get it here as early as Sunda.
morning. Something must be done or tn
Ledger will fail to be of any service to u
here. Help us if you can.
With respect,
! Your most obedent,
FIFER.
We have tried every mode of conveyanc