Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-08
The New Gold Fields.

"A the recent discovery Of extensive gold |
hGAas on the East sile Of the IN IuntainS is at |
tracing unusual attention at this time, not |
only In our immediate nCighborhood but |
throughout the State. it l.. desirable for those
who contemplate visit to the new digsings |
70 know the nearest and best route 10 reach |
them.
Walkers River, as laid down in the Gov
eminent survey, complied from the Report oil
the Typographical Engineers which Snhse-
qucnt explorations have proved to be IN the
man corrcct-lieS South Of Genoa, Iii tani
thiEty.fve miles. Its main sourees.-North
and South FOrks-riSC high up amid .PcrPEt'
uAl SHOWS, in tho Eastern slope Of the Sicr,HS.
The main River cmrtcS into Walkers Lake,
body OCwAter apparently without an outlet,
which has given rise 10 the opinion that the
river sinks, which it may do at an unusually
dry season. Two years ago Carson Valley
Indians reported they had found gold upon
tue banks Of the main stream in small 4Han'
titles. But little attention was paid TO their
report at first, but as they frequently brought
some into the Settlements a small company
orxanixcd and started OH an exploring CXpr.
dition. Owing to some misunderstanding the
company returned without accomplishing its
object.
LaNO in the season Of last year, at an I'm.
favorable time, another party left Carson
Valley for the purpose Of prospecting and OK
ploring the sources Nf the River. They iM.
lowed up the main stream to its rkS, finding
gold mOrc plentiful as they progressed lax
ing the South Fork, they rro>rcctcd some
miles into the mountains. averaging from
thrce to five cents TO the pan, and, As we are
informed by one Of the party, gentleman
perfectly reliable, owing to the high water in
no instance did they succeed in reaching tie
bed rock. Their provisions getting short and
indications Of the rainy season setting in. in
duccd them TO return before they had thor
ouEhly prospccjcd the river; but they arc
satisfied that both forks Of the river and the
numerous small streams flowing down from
the mountains, contain an abundance Of gold
Recent discoveries confirm their report.
That good diSsinSS have been found. we
don't entertain doubt; and that they extend
over large tract of country We arc rontil n'
We are not assured that they are Gbu'ouSly
rich, but those who have examined and
worked in them, positively assert that an
Industrious and experienced miner can make
from four to eight dollars day easily. We
arc not aware Of any interested parties spread
ing reports with regard to them. No owners
Of worthless steamships, or traders with an
unusual ard unSalcablc quantity Of goods Oh
hand, which they arc eager to dispose Of. are
Interested in or live near thu LigsinSS. We
derive our information from miners, from en-
tircly di>intcrcSted parties, fr"m men who
are incapable Of giving currency To false state
montS. They have given the most conclusive
evidsnee Of their firm belief in the richness
and extent Of the new dSsins>, by purchasing
large supplies for their own USE and returning
70 them for tho sole purpose ofworki'g them
They are not SpccuINto S--thcy are not traders
they arc Industrious men, who love tho free,
independent liz. Of inin,r, who work when
they please, acknowledge no superior, and
receive their pay in the best "f currency
The distance from this city To tic diSsings
is about ono hundred and inrty niles and
from this place to GENOA sixty, with good
stations to sop each night. Parties should
engage teams hero To take them the whole
trip, in order to take their camp Cqniragc,
mining tools, &c, with thcm. Upon arrivin.
at Genoa, sufficient Sluicc lumber couid bc
taken for all present purposes. Provisions
are plenty and chCapin Carson Valley, except
bacon, pork and ham. Beef, - cts. per H.,
Aour, nine dollars per hundred, potatoes cts.
mining tools scarce; lumber, $50 per NJ.
The distance from Genoa TO the South Fork
Of Walkers River is so miles, over bcauti-
full country, through delightful valleys, plrn-
tiCullN stockCd with game. Antelope and deer
arc found in large numbers ranging through
the numerous valleys The streams are filed
with Spccklcd trout There is gool natural
wagon road tho entire distance. II is con-
sidared mere pleasure excursion from Genoa
On Walkers River by those who have made
the trip
Observation-Disclosures large ciStcrn 10 be-
ing built, under the immediate supervision Of
Chief Engineer Jones, near the terminus Of