San Andreas independent., 1857-08-15
The Ancient River Bed of Calaveras.

many features of interest to the amateur and
scientific Geologist, rs the State of California
and particularly that section which embraces
the gold helds After they have pored over
the different works and the various WRITINGS
winch treat upon the subject. and clambered
over hills and mountains, passed through low
lands and plains, examined the mountains b;ah
and the valleys deep, and pecred into the how
els OF the earth to analyzc its various forma-
tions and exemplify the truth of their science
yet, when they come to examine the eeolopical
features and various formations, and to accom-,
tor the present hills and mountains lyino be
tween the great Tnlare Valley and the Sierra
Nevadas, they frequently find themselves at
fault, and that their experience and observation
IN other countries will not always account for
the present peculiar formation in this. Here
nature, as if dissatisfied with her first work and
desiring to produce a change, in pure caprice
threw everything into mysterious confusion.-
Volcanoes, earthquakes, internal connections
and external action, each and all assisting TO
produce the wonderful change, yet each de-
stroying portion of the others work Here n
hill sinks down below the valley, and the valley
rises up to form hill; volcano pours forth
its liquid mass and backs up rivers the courses
OF mighty streams are changed and rush head
long through unknown channels, seeking an
outlet. To add to the confusion, q old ocean,
rolls up its mighty and irresistible waves.
breaking through and severng in twain ranges
Of 10
ing up old, pouring its masses of water through
mountain gorgcS whirling and eddying: in one
place it forms an elevation of cobbe stones. boul-
ders, gravel, sand and various loose matter in
another it fills depressions with the same mate
rialS and passing on ashes with fury the crock
ribbed" sides of the Sierra Nevada. and return
ing, angrily destroys and re-construets its for
mer work
To these many causes, which have assisted in
producing the present face of the country IN the
gold districts, is owing, the multituainous and
and conflicting opinions and ideas among prac-
teal miners in accounting for the present gold
deposits 1t is said, gold lieth where YOU find
it," and of its truth every practical miner is
well convinced; but how it came to lie in so
many strange and anomalous positions, there
is various conflict of opinion. 1t is now gem
orally conceded-cyen by the miners-that gold
originated IN quartz, and became separated by
decay, and the breaking up of the rock by the
action of water or some other powerful agent
thence carried into the ravines, gulcheS and
larger streams. This accounts for the deposits
found in present rivers running through the
gold regions, and also for the richness of the
ancient river-beds, the channels of which arc
found running through lava hills, and consti-
tute what are called hil-diggings.
The rivers of former era were perhaps less
in number but greater in size, than those which
course their way through the same sections of
country at the present day. The general course
of the ancient streams were the same as those
of the present, all tending west or southwest,
and emptying into the great Bay, (now San
Francisco which doubtless at that time covered
the valleys and plains and extended to the foot
hills The two main channels which have at
tracted attention is the one north, known as the
" Blue Lead the other known as the great
"Table Mountain Lead" in Tuolumne county
There is also third main channel passing
through CalaveraS, whose general course is a
little north of west, and which, in point of gold
deposits is perhaps inferior to neither of the
other two, but owing to the rough and broken
country through which it passes, the uneven
ness Of the channel itself, in altitude-in some
places sinking far below the level of the sur
rounding country in others raising several hun
dred feet above-renders it difficult to prospect
and in some places utterly impossible on 4ac-
count of the quantity of water, which prevents
the sinking of shafts, and the depth of the chan
mel which prevents the running of tunnels
The starting point of this channel, as at pres
ent discovered is at Murphy's Camp, where ii
runs in a southcrly direction, through Doug
lass Flat to Vallecito, where, most likely unit
ing with another stream, it takes a westerly
course, crossing Angels Creek near the Slab
Ranch and ON towards Cherokee Flat at which
point bending north of west passes under what
is known as Bald Hill, thence towards St Do
mingo, changing westerly crosses San Antonio
river, running down the dividing ridge between
said stream and Caavertas creek, crossing the
latter near the Adobe Ranch, and Willow Creek
at old Vague Camp, then under the range of
hills between that and San Andreas, crossing
San ARdreas Gqleh at Dog Point and running
ON the north side parallel with the gulch, which
" again crosses at the lower end of Willow Flat,
passing through said Flat, and the adjacent
Gold Hill, whence it jumps the South Gala
aVeras river, and again shows itself on Stew
aFfs NH and passes in the direction of Campo
Seco and On towards the Bay.
1here are many who believe that the channel
from MurphyS to 'allecito jumps tho stauislaus
river and continues on, forming the Tabla uoun-
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