Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-11


Now that the great political battle IL over
and the smoke and dust is beginning TO disap.
PEER, we have once more the pleasing OppOr-
tunity Of turning our attention TO other and
more profitable subjects. 1t ls gratifying to
note that, Notwithstanding the Fraser river
excitement, which at one time threatened to
depopuate our gold mines, our mining interests
were never in more healthy condition than
at the present. Every steamer which returns
from the north brings back some Of our delu-
ded pr"dgnls, who ell agree that Fl Dorado
is the surest place 10 which to obtain both
fortune and home. Our mines are being
more carefully worked than ever before, and
many localities which have hitherto been
deemed entirety, useless are now paying hand
somcly. There seems to be a recuperative
principle In the California gold mines for, in
numhtrlCss instances, where the ground has
been washed over q dozen times, the gold is
still almost as abundant as at the first wash
ing. This IL probably attributable to the fact
that in MANY places, our richest gold dcpoS
its arc in species Of tough clay, or hard &C.
rnent which water in the first instance fails to
dissolve. Immense quantities Of fine gold
stick FAST In the cIUls or tafTings and Oi'courSe
are lost to the original digger. In the course
Of time the atmosphere causes these Jumps To
slack and yield up the imprisoned treasure.
so that not unfrcqucntly the second washing
pays better wages than the first.
In the winter Of 1919 rich placer digsng>
were discovered on Cedar Ravine near this
city, and so thoroughly have they been work
r'l since then that perhaps stone in the val
ley has not been left unturnc,l, and old Cedar
yields good wages. At present company oi
cnt,rpri>ing miners are actively engaged in
putting in large bedrock tlumc which is To
extend half mile up the ravinc. They are
determined to explore the hidden rcccsScS of
its wealth, and il possible, wipe old Cedar ont
At the famous ilumi"g claim If Watson,
Leonard L Co, at Chi Bar. 5000 hav.
been taken out duri the last six werk>-
The Company are working seventeen, hands
with three strings Of SIuirt>, a1l the pros
pect is better than ever before.
At Little Spanish Hill, Butler & Co. hav,
just completed an extensive hydraulic appara
tu>, and the first weeks washing itld Il $3.50.
The gold is very fine aud the prospect of II
rich yield increases daily. The miners at
Coon Hollow, Smiths Flat, Reservoir Hill
Johnson'S, and at almost every Camp in tli>
vicinity, assure us they are making good wa.
grs. This. together with an abundant liar
vest Of luscious fruits and vegetables which
burthen our orchards and gardens, bctokcn>
degree Of comfort and prosperity whirh is
truly gratifying. In addition to all this, dai Y
acccSSionS are being made to our population
Others from afar off have seen the advantages,
natural and artificial, which surround Us, and
have determined to make Placervic their fu.
turc home. There is no city in California 50
we'll and so abundantly supplied with water
as this. Gu" placer diSsings and quartz
lodcS arc as rich and extensive as any in the
State. Our travelling facilities are convenient
and excellent. Our valleys and hills are fer.
tile and prolific; our climate is unsurpassed
by any on the globe; we arc at the terminus
of the Carson Valley Wagon Road and the
great Overland Mail, and when the Salt Lake
Telegraph is completed our triumph will be
complete.