San Andreas independent., 1858-07-31
FROM MURPHYS.
Correspondence of the Independent.


Nr. Editor Friend "Mazeppa formerly
kept you so well posted of the doings of this
camp, that it has been entirely unnecessary
for any one else to write; but as he has for
TIE present laid down the pen and taken up
the pick, hammer and drill, | will strive, in
my imperfect way, to give a few items, al
though convinced that you and your readers
VIII be losers by the change, as feel entirely
inadequate to give series of equally fluent
and interesting letters.
Business of all kinds is excessively dull at
present; but do not think we have any
more reason to complain in this respect than
other parts of the county. The causes OF this
present dullneSs are owing to the excitement
about the new diggings up North, and TO the
draft from among us of many OF our energetic
miners, and the taking with them a large
amount of the hard cash that was in circula-
ton; the decrease in the amount of water,
and the still incomplete condition of our
fiume. But for all this present dullness, there
is deep feeling of confidence in future pros
perlty and "good time coming"
The Frazer river fever has abated, and the
people are content to remain and work in
Murphy's, satisfied that they might do worse
by the change. Then, the fume is making
rapid and sure strides towards completion ;
the men working upon it are all interested in
the enterprise, and feel the vital Importance
OF its success. The well-known energy of
Mr. Shearer, the gentlemanly superintendent
has placed its completion beyond doubt
He is a man eminently suited for the position ;
he allows no sogering, but in his pleasant way,
commands the respect and confidence of his
workmen. Since they resumed this great
work they have already graded, ready for the
fume, over 100 feet of the deep cut and in a
few days more this great obstacle will be sur
mounted. Courage, men couragel for you
are not only benefiting yourselves, but the
camp, also, by your efforts and energy.
Our mining intelligence still holds its own.
The claims upon Missouri and Pennsylvania
Clutches continue to pay extremely well. The
old sgd Crew Claim, upon which a vast
amount of work has been done, continues to
pay finely. Average wages, $9 per day to the
hand Proper, Ashley & Co., are also doing
well Manuel Co., and many others are ma
king good wages
| Owlsborough is also turning out fair
amount of glittering orc. The Central Hill
Mining Company are doing as they richly de-
serve-extremely well-whle others upon the
Hill are making good wages among them,
E. Palache Il Co., took out, last Friday, $l9.-
% cents to the hand, after paying all expen-
ses-and this, too, from the tailngs of the
| G. II. NJ. Co.; also, on Friday, Silver Lap
ham struck the lead upon their claim upon
the fiat, and took out, after a few hours work,
Ia ounces, one chispa weighing 10 ounces
Talk of Friday being an unlucky day Had
these strikes been made upon Frazer river,
every paper in the country would have con-
tanned glaring accounts of it, setting hundreds
wild with excitement, while here, half the
| tOyv -na6pla ara ot of II This ap6
the Chick & Barry claim are the only shafts
now being worked upon the fat. They are
also making SIS per day to the hand. 1t is my
opinion that when the fume is completed, we
shall have mining intelligence to record that
will knock Frazer river into a cooked hat
Many other claims are doing well. and deserve
mention, but enough for this communica-
| ton.
! A party returned last evening, after fort
nights absence on trip up in the mountains
and to Carson Valley. 1t consisted of Messrs
DR.. William Jones, John Delait, William Grif-
fifth, 7. J. Mattison and David Brown, of Mur-
phys, and William Coddington and David
Demarest, of Angels. Their object in going
was to select sites for reservoirs for the Union
Water Company, and they had a good time
The weather was delightful cool and exhila-
rating; the roads in excellent condition; their
table was abundantly supplied with game and
speckled mountain trout, Finding trout in
great abundance at Hope Valley J the nights
while in the mountains, were quite cold, freez-
ing ice of considerable thickness in their
camp buckets, making large campfire very
comfortable and causing them to draw their
blankets close around their noses. Appear
ances indicated some experience in camp-life,
but they looked fat and robust, notwithstand-
ing They brought back, packed in snow,
over two hundred speckled trout. They had
only one drawback to their pleasure-an ac-
cident happened to Mr. Coddington; he fell
from his horse and got badly bruised, but no
bones broken The party were successful in
their object-fnding several suitable locations
for reservoirs and should their project be
carried out, it will add another source of
prosperity to our camp, by furnishing more
abundant supply of water.
Fruit and melons are beginning to be abun-
dant and our private citizens are reaping a
rich harvest for the care bestowed upon their
grounds Choice trees are laden with ripe
delicious fruit
must close this scroll and go over to Ste
vens and take drink. By the way, A. Henry
Stevens is doing a fine business at the Post
office Saloon, and no man in town more wor-
and can mix those cool drinks so nice.
LEON.