Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-18
Our CITY.

Annually, since the first building Of town in this
valley certain class Of outside croakers and timid
advisers who are detriment 70 any community
and throw obstacles in the way Of all Improvements,
have persstentIy uttered the prediction that PIa-
cerVille had its best days." and that the city
would ultimately be deserted or be peoped wholly by
the Indians. The Fraser fever took Of number Of
these grumblers and our city, instead IF retrcgra.
ding. Is now revealing in the strength Of prosperity
and, without the slightest presumption or cxtHva.
RAuce, claims the title Of the Mountain giant"
Never, since the FIRST golden days Of California,
have our citizens manifested such spirit If enter
prise In every department Of business at present.
There Is genuine earnestneSs pervadinR the entire
community, which is daily manfesting itself in the
workshop the store house. on the Streets and in the
rapid construction Of elegant and substantial build
ings In every part Of the city that is really cheer
ing The nrincipAl thoroughfarc. Main street. pre-
sents bustling business aspect that compares ia
vOrAbly with the stirring avenues Of older, larger
and more important towns. Property has increas-
cd in value, and every available spot, both in and
around the city, is occupied by either business
house or neat residence The chatter of the miner
pick and shovel; the steady thunder of quartz
mills; the dcafcning hum Of the foundry; the rat
thing Of vehicles and Tire piercing shrek ef the
steam whistle. all indicate the life, industry aud
prosperity of Placervile.
The great achievement Of our citizens is the intro
ductiOn Of gas. Notwithstanding the discOuraging
predictions Of inveterate grumbers, and many 9TH
or obstacles that interviewed, the enterprisng Gus
Company kept on in the even tenor of its way, UNI
ill its ccascless laborS has been crowned with coin
plete success. and Placcrville in now in permanent
possession of new source Of comfort and luxury.
Those who have not visited the gus works on Colo
ma street, have but faint conception Of the in-
mense labor which has been expended in their cree
zion, Of the completeness and excellence Of their
various appointments. The gas is generated BY
burning pitch pine wood in vast furnace made for
that purpose, aud some idea may be formed Of the
amount Of wood consumed, when It is known that
what are called the gas waShngs daily yield more
than barrel Of tar. The gas metre is capable Of
containing 5000 cubic feet Of gas and is made Of
sheet iron. From the gas works on COlOMa street
large cast-ir0n pipe has been laid to every point in
the city. In cOnneciuu with the whole machinery,
there are many curious kinds If cOntrvances which
required much ingenuity and labor to construct and
il is gratifying to state that the entire work has
been done in Placervillc. Every piece Of casting
about it, even to the iron lamp posts, was made al
the foundry of Mr. Melvin. and the proprictors as
sure US that the work is unexccptona in every par
ticular. A gas filters room has been opened Or
Main street, near the Cary House. and is AMP.
stocked with tasteful and substantial gus ixtures.
Most Of our business houses, salOOns aud hote
are already supplied with this new light. 1t burn!
with steady, brilliant light, before which the ole
familiar lamps pale into insigni6cance. Those wh'
have used it prefer il 10 any other light, and VI
hope to soon see it introduced into every house il
town. We have excellent authority for stating that
the score Of economy, II is vastly ahead If an!
other, besides being safer and less troublesome
We have heard gentlemen from San Francisco and
Sacramento say that it is far superior tothe gas
those cities. It is an improvement Of which ou
citizens justly feel proud, and Of which they all de-
rive the benefit, us streets are Brilliant,
lighted, and thanks to the lberality and cntcrpris
Of the gus company, We can thread them withOu
difficulty in the darkest nights.
C0rRr OF SESSIoNS.-Thc Court If Sessions me
On Monday lust, when the following Grand Jur!
mas empanneled:
l.. =. Welsch, T. J. Henegar, u. E. Norton. !.
COnklin, ii. G. Maynard. L. =. Smms, 7. J. Gun
ningham, d. ". Boyd, J. =. Canton, C. q. Hess, Il
II. Redd. Eli Henderson. J. Z. Walters, Y. Price
\ a