Mariposa Democrat., 1858-04-01
THE HoRNITOs DIGGINGs.

THE HORNITOs DIGGINGs.
1t is matter of the greatest regret and NOR
tfcaton to us, as it must be to every person
here who has the welfare of this county and
this mining district at heart, and would wish
to see it prosper that little water, even q
little water cannot be obtained from some
source, for the use of the miners 1t is true
the late rains have given scanty supply, but
twill soon be exhausted. We mean constant
supply, even if it is no more than is supplied
at present by the Bear Creek Ditch Company,
it would do some good, and the quantity might
be increased after short time, as the revenue
would warrant it, which it would do very
soon.
A faint idea of the richness Of the dig.
gings here may be formed by persons at a
distance-thoso near by need no reminder
when we relate a few Of the many instances
daily occurring around us of rich results from
little labor, wherever and whenever water can
be obtained to wash the ground. A reference
to the file of this paper since its location here,
will show how fortunes have been found al
most daily, by miners working in the most
primitive manner, and with the simplest TOOLS
in ground of all kinds hillside, hilltop, creek,
and gulch. How single pieces of the precious
metal, enough for fortune for any reasonable
man, have been found in numbers, and smaller
pieces picked up on the surface, until such
Lo,, Lao n or
sing remark. But Of these it is scarcely ne
cessary to make mention, except to say that
this has all transpired during whole year of
weather so dry that with the exception of
few weeks there has been no more water OBJ
tanable than was necessary for washing with
a rocker.
Immediately after the rain, last week, a Mr.
Bird, while walking up ravine short dis
tance east of town, picked up piece of quartz
rock containing gold, for which he was offered
$50, but declined accepting it.
Messrs. Hutchinson, True & Wilson, took
out of their claim, about half mile east from
town, in three days, $460
Mr.. Wilson, of the above firm, took out, in
one day, without assistance, u ounces
Two gentlemen of our acquaintance washed
out, in less than five hours, from old dirt, first
days work, So, and they are confident of re-
ceving the same proportion daily, while the
water lasts.
One man, near the last mentioned claim,
panned out 50 in about half an hour, and says
he can pan out SO day, with ease.
The following is statement of the success
of eight companies, working with one sluice-
stream, Tuesday last, on Green Horn Gulch,
about half mile north of this place
Messrs. Stun & Co., two men, took out $40.
Grant & Co., two men, half days work. S..
Pain, Kitchens & Co., three men, half days
work, $l2.
Maine & Co., three men, $22.
Heaton & Co., three men, took out $40 and
chispa, worth $72.
Sturgis & Co., three men, $l3.
Chinese Co., two men, 81 so.
On the same day, Myers & Co., three men,
washed out $40, from their claim on Arm
.strong's Gulch, one mile from town.
Two miners in Red Guch took out $25, as
the result of their days work
These are but a few of the many accounts
given us of the richness of the diggings. How
much is found that no one knows of but the
finder, those alone can surnise who know the
miners practice of keeping his own secrets.
One n ay well wonder, with all these facts be-
fore him, why some practical heads do not
get together and devise means for procuring
water, even if it is but small supply. We
are Informed that single sluce-head is used
by ten companies working in the same locality
with those mentioned above, and none are
making less than 81 day, and some of them
as much as $40. All the water now used in
this vicinity is but very little more than that
discharged by the artesan we'll in Stockton,
and yet what change it has effected among
our citizens, and in the business Of the neigh
borhood. Why cannot the artesian well project
be tested, during the coming summer, and en-
deavor to obtain constant supply of water in
that way?