Mariposa Democrat., 1858-03-18
Mining Items-from Our Travelling Cores
pondcut

by you in the mining operations in our coun-
ty, transmit you few dotings made during
trip through some Of the diggngs. The first
\ Of importance, on my route, were in the Aqua
Frio District From the upper gulches of the
Aqua Frio, to Lower Aqua Frio miners are
principally idle for the want of water, though
some are making fair wages with toms and
rockers. This mining locality is very exten-
sive, and with continued supply of water,
would furnish good diggings for large mum
/ bers of miners.
Carsons creek has but small supply of
water, yet few miners who were at work
said they made reasonable wages-as much as
five dollars a day.
/ At Bridgeport, very few American miners
are at.work The John Cinnamon, however,
seem to think that the chances are fine, as is
evidenced by the large number at work in the
creek, and considerable addition, it is expect
ed, will be made to the number during the
summer.
The appearance of Marposa town was as
lively as could be expected in such general
dull times. The business houses were sending
out goods on pack animals to the mining 10.
calities convenient to Mariposa. Improve
ments continue to be made in buildings and in
beaulifying the grounds Of private residences
with fruit trees, shrubbcry, etc. Several fields
of grain adjacent to the town look much bet
ter than some in other portions Of the county
On NlripoS Creek, from its head to Nor
mon Bar, and below that pl-ce, quite a num-
Der of companies are at work, and in many
cases are making remuneratvc wages. The
supply of water in the creek is not very large
and there is but slim prospect for an in
crease this season.
Sherock's Creek presents the same appear
ance-as regards business-as other mining
localities, though once, and is probably yet,
one of the richest in the county. The miners
here have still that same opcn-handed way of
doing things that characterized them in more
prosperous times, and are as freehearted as
ever. All are at work, though some few only
lltNt ialNll liiuut rNllhtH. q w.
have diggngs that pay half an ounce day to
the hand. Fagan & Co. took out, on Thurs.
day last, over eleven ounces-one piece weigh
ing eight ounces. Their claim is considered
to pay an ounce a day
Whitlocks Creek will pay five dollars day
to the hand, but the scarcity of water at pres
ent prevents that locality fom being properly
worked. Goodman, Dliz & Co.'s quartz mill,
at the mouth of this Creek, has a small supply
Of water, by which they run their mi and
two arastras \ week ago, this firm fully test
ed the superiority Of arastras over the or
dinary mill process for saving gold on crush.
ing fourteen tons Of qdars<in the mill, its av-
erage yield was $50 per ton. Six tons of the
same quality of rock crushed in two arastras,
at the same time, yielded $40 per ton This
company will shortly erect a new mill, to be
run by either steam or water power. Fritz,
head of Whtlock's Greek, Is in successful OPP
Grafton, running eight stamps, and crushes
seven and eight tons per day, yielding--as
was informed by Mr. II. steigman, the agent
of the company-$30 per ton. They have two
arastras, nearly completed, which will be put
in operation shortly.
At Whisky Flat, the miners generally meet
with success in their endeavors. Mining at
this place is very heavy work. owing to the
many large bouders that have to be moved,
and in consequence, accidents not unfreqnent-
ly occur. Recently, Mr.. Geo. Bernhardt,
was severely injured by rock falling
on his foot and ankle. Hunt & Co., have a
rich tunnel claim at this place, running into
the bank upon which is the store of Mr.. j. II.
Davis, lately owned by the Williams Bros.
Mr. Davis will no doubt meet with the sue
cess of which he is deserving, as miners in
that locality viii always be able to make mo-
ney to pay provision bills, having supply of
water all the season.
From Whisky Flat, down Sherlock's Creek,
to the Mouth, at Brown & Eggenhof's store,
there are very few miners at work, as yet
as it is supposed the Spring rains will so raise
the Creek as to destroy whatever preparation
they may now make. They will commence
operations on the opening Of summer.
From the Mouth Of Sherlocks down the
Merced river, to Bonds store, mining is now
being carried on in various ways. John Chi
naman, With uncouth micn and silly grin, may
be seen "bobbin' round" in numbers along the
river, endeavoring to make their daily rice.
Several water-wheels have recently been put
in motion, raising the water a distance of
fourteen to twenty feet, giving sluce streams
to the companies working the low bars a
short distance above Bonds store.
In crossing the divide between Bonds store
and Bear Valley, distant view of the Yo-
semite Valley may be obtained, the snowy
and cheerless appearance Of which, on Sunday
morning last, was anything but inviting as "A
pleasant resort for sight seers-a great con
trast indeed, to its beautiful appearance in the
/ Summer,
Descending the divide towards Bear Valley,