Mariposa Democrat., 1857-08-20
srerced aud NTariposa Ditch.

Mr.. Peterson is now busily engaged in
Merced and Mariposa Canal, and we may
shortly expect very full and correct repre-
sentation of the face of the country through
which the line win pass The map will be
very complete, as Il will show the metes and
boundaries OF the three great mineral districts
through which il will pass, viz: the Quartz
burg, the Indian Gulch, and Ilornitos sections.
The Quar,zhurg District we described in last
weeks issue, and the Ilornitos District will be
described IN our next. Below will be found a
truthful statement of the Indian Gulch region
Indian Guch is next to Quartzburg in ex-
tent, and inferior to none of the sections which
we have described nor is it exceeded by any
from the Hornitos and Quartzburg district by
ridge Of hills on the north, and extends to
the plains This whole region is peculiarly
adapted to mining purposes, the soil not being
very compact, and heavily charged with gold.
The quartz veins are numerous, some twenty
five having been prospeeted and some fifty
others are known to exist. These lodes con-
tain the most excellent rock for the extraction
of gold, being of honey-comb formation, easily
broken and very accessible II is supposed,
after careful calculation, based on minute en-
quiry, that these odes will supply auriferous
quartz rock for thirty mills for an indefinite
period of time. Sunc-idea may be formed of
the vast extent Of these mineral lands when it
is made known, that il is some ten miles in
length and four in width, with lodes Of precious
ores running in every direction through this
precinct, and having an interminabe number
of gulches and flats generally ailording good
pay wherever and whenever it has been posi-
BILE to work them or obtain water for mining
purposes. The gold is of the purest quality,
having little quartz attached to the coarse
pieces found in the ravines Timber is very
scarce and water is not to be had for even era
ding purposes for ten months in the year.
As you go towards the plains, the hills gradu-
ally Aatten, but there is no difference in The
gulches as regards their richness, between
these and those in any other part of this sec
ton. This location takes its name from Indian
mounds, which are numerous in this vicinity.
The gulch known as Indian Gulch, and having
been rendered famous for its prodgous yield
of gold passes through the town of Indian
Gulch, and discharges its waters during the win
ter seasons into Burns creek. This gnieh was
first discovered by the Greasers in 1850 from
which enormous sums were-taken by them to
Mexico There s,Bot in winter even sufii-
cient supply of fwater- running, to work with
"Tom" and in summer the water fails entire
". The mills erected here could be placed
Immediately over thqveins as the grade from
the flats and ravines toNthe SUBMITS of the
hills is gradual, and the-sides of the hills are
smooth and not obstrncted by rock. The water
supplying dlierentms could be used over a
number of times, but there would be some diff
ficulty in obtaining an adequate supply of water
to furnish all the mills unless the water that
supplied the sluice-headse during the day was
caught in reservoirs at night and conducted in
fumes around the hill.sides. This deficiency
would result from the porous nature of the
ground and the level surface of the country.
Smooth, straight and wide roads could be
made in this nei lhborhood, with the greatest
facility and little cost, thereby aflording to
convey ances of every kind, the least obstruc-
tons of any road that could be made in fny
other part of the county All that is wanting
to make this one of de most populous, thri.
wing, and industrious locations is water, and
we know Of none where it ismore absolutely
and positively required throughout the year.