San Andreas independent., 1858-08-21
FROM MURPHYs.
MuRPHY's, Aug. 18th, 1858.

MuRPHY's, Aug. 18th, 1858.
Correspondence of the Independent.
mr.. Editor The general complaint is
"hard times" the supply of water having al
most entirely dried hp. 1t is great pity this
should be the case at this time of year. The
weather is delightful, and all other facilities
for mining in excellent condition Our claims
are mostly deep, and require long time to
get them fairly opened, and they are now in
6ne order for working to advantage, but the
one indispensable article, water, is wanting
there being but one stream now running
Consequently have no mining intelligence of
importance to communicate. That business
is, for the present, confined chiefly to panning
for grub.
Messrs. Griffin i Carlin made another trip
to the mountains, to select more eligible loca-
tions for reservoirs, Immediately upon the
river. The spots selected upon their last trip,
are not considered feasible-the dependence
OF filling them, being upon the melting snow.
The risk of their not being sufficient supply,
or accident occurring, requires it to be drawn
off too late in the season to refill them again
also, the fear that evaporation and leakage
will be such that there will not be sufficient
returned up to the first of August, (the time
it is needed) to warrant the expenditure Of SO
large an amount, ($25, 900 to $4o,oOo) requi-
red to build them. The party returned yes
terday, having had severe trip, but sue
cessful one, finding locations suitable for their
object. The work is to be commenced imme-
diately, and it is to be hoped that this will be
the last year that we shall have to complain of
lack of water.
CALICO PARTY AT DOUGLAS FLAT.
1t would be difficult to convene pleasanter
party than the one that met at the above
place on the 18th inst. The hall prepared for
the OCCASION was of good size and tastefully
decorated excellent music was provided, and
the dancing commenced at 9 o'clock and was
kept up till II, when large freezer of excel
lent ice cream was brought in, which was ex-
ceedingly refreshing to the dancers upon SO
warm an evening; and the way it vanished
must have satisfied the maker Mrs. Proper,)
that its goodness was appreciated. The dan
cling was again resumed, and kept up till a
little after twelve o'clock, when we repaired
to- the supper table, set at the house of Mr.
Stevenson. The supper was donated by the
Ladies, and was an excellent and sumptuous
affair. The tables were tastefully decorated
with flowers, showing conclusive evidence of
two things: the exceeding lberality and ex-
| celent cooking of the Ladies of Douglass
Then, again, nothing was spared upon the
part of the Ladies and Gentlemen to make
| their guests comfortable and happy, while the
lively joke, quick repartee and merry laugh
that resounded along the table, attested their
pleasure. The dancing again commenced,
and was kept up till broad day light"
only fault found was, that the night was not
long enough. Too much praise cannot be
awarded the Ladies of the committee of ar
ngements-Mesdames Proper, Gintcr, Gum,
Henly and Johns. Nothing was spared to
make it what it really was-the pleasantest
party of the season. Calico was generally
| adhered to, and the very absence of display
added zest to the pleasure of the OCCASION
No gentleman, however fastidious, could but
acknowledge that the Ladies looked extreme
ly fair in their simplicity of Dress The OBJ
ject of the party was for school purposes, and
was eminently successful. Nearly fifty tickets
were sold, and about S25 realized by the sale
of ice cream, making in all the snug sum of
about $275, and as almost everything was do
mated, the expenses were very light, leaving a
balance of over 5000, after all expenses were
paid. Pretty good, that, for these hard times
The delegation from Murphys was quite large,
and as they drew up in front of Sperry's,
three cheers were called and given for the
Calico Party, in such hearty manner, that it
might have been heard at Douglass, demon
strating the fact that we, at least, were well
pleased with our nights enjoyment.
Yours, LEON.
rp0N prururv Dan