Amador weekly ledger., 1858-05-29

over from here via Gales ranch and Gamer
on's quartz mill to Campo Con.reras. Here
there is more life and activity than | have
seen anywhere in the county for the past
year where | have been. The five or six
quartz mills here are constantly employed in
grinding rock that pays from $25 to $500 a
ton. | would particularze, but want of space
forbids
There is q population Of some three hun
dred in and about this place, one fourth of
whom are foreigners, and | am informed that
a foreign tax collector has not been seen here
for the last four months. Our officers should
look to this Contreras is q flourishng little
camp. predict that in five years there will
be three hundred quartz stamps running
within two miles Of this place. A scope Of
country here some eight miles in extent COW
ering the southern slope Of the northern
MokelumDe ridge seems to be perfect net
work Of quartz leads, every one of which
pays well so far as prospected. All the mills
running here, except those Immediately on the
river, are propelled by water from the Jack
son Ditch which is now running full. Twen-
/ ty-five cents an inch is the ruling price for
water to run machinery
From here | wsnded my way down by
Camerou's and Fosters Ranch to Prospect
Hill Here the "Old Owl" sits gloomy and
silent watching with apparent interest the
operations of some half dozen Celestals who
are industriousy engaged in seeking the hid
den wealth of some deserted claims. Pros
pect Hill is not now what is was in the palmy
days of "a, when The Colonel" and others
of us would, during our DINNER hour, enjoy
the cool and refreshing shade of the Green
Old Oak" yet standing in front of the Owl
House. There is not q house left, save the
venerated Owl. There are several claims
here that are paying well, which are worked
by French and Chinese There are no Amer
leans here. l soon left, passed Acquduct
City and Pine Grove, and arrived home tired
ard footsore and glad that my journey was
at an end How keenly | now realize the
lines.
Mid miners and mines though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble there is no place like home
In all my rambles found but few miners
who are not making something more thar
expenses.
The Frazer river fever is very viruleni
throughout this part of the county In my
short trip / have been forcibly reminded o
the times of 40 and 80, when | was home il
the States A company Of five or six vii
leave Contreras about one month hence. A
company of seven or eight will leave Volcano
during the next three weeks and there ar,
many who will 90 as soon as they can raisI
the means In fact nearly every man who il
not doing well wants to go and, besides, many
who have got good claims, and now making
money are calculating to 60 All this, too
, has been brought about by the accounts o
the last ten days. Eight or ten days age
Frazer river was scarcely heard from, whil'
now scarcely anything else is heard. Ever
down here on the creek we are not entirel,
free from the fever.
From my experience of rambling life
which is not very little, | would say to al
go well prepared, with all the neccessarics
particularly money, or go not at all. A ma
: who is doing reasonably well here is certanl
| making bad move to leave for the Fraze
river mines.
Now lay me down to sleep, &c.
Good night,
Yours, &c.
TOKITT ITIrMS