San Andreas independent., 1858-06-19
The Mines.

vlclnltles, we made some observations
worthy of note. The entire mines is in
a feverlsh state of excitement in refer
ence to the new gold diggings up North
Frazer river, Thompson river, and bags
OF gold are uppermost, and the theme of
conversation among all classes, The panic
extends alike to miners, mechanics, mer-
chants, traders, and gentlemen of "ele.
giant leisure" Camanche Camp is nearly
depopulated seventeen miners left the
night before our arrival. At Poverty Ban
bakers dozen left next morning, and at
Lancha Plana round number has al
ready gone to Frazer This is but fair
mixing of the excitement, up and down
the river. At Clay's Bar, Puts Bar,
and other points, the grand crusade is
equally great. This panic is unaccount-
able, and only proves the truth that man
IS the most helpless animal in the world
when his reasoning faculties are taken
away. This hegira, northward, is incom-
parable; having racked our brain for an
illustration, we have thought of ants, OF
4ocusts, of wild geese, &C., but the COM
parlson fails. We have noticed in " frog
gy countries, that the semi-aquatic, cold
blooded demi bipeds, when a pond in
which they have resided assimilates dry
ang up, will leave in panic for wetter
dlggings; their migration is generally at
tended with great privation, as they start
on keen jump, without any of the neces-
saries of life, invariably taking the longest
road to the nearest pond, jumping and
ieaping over each other for dear life, Just
as if the last in would fail to get enough
water to quench his thirst The Frazer
river crapeaus remind us very much of
such a scene, and the Americans who are
now sacrificing home comforts and good
mining claims, for myth, in the northern
Frog Pond, will yet regret their incon-
siderate haste. But to mining news
At Poverty Bar are about twenty first
class claims, paying $50 per day to the
man. The richest because it is the most
economically worked) is that of Messrs.
Van Gordon & Co.; next, that of Waise-
man & Co. Independent claim, which
averages 800 per week, clear, to the
man. Several French companies have
carting claims on the Poverty Bar Flat,
which pay better than the reputed yield
of the Frazer river mines; the " Sand
HIP claim, of Owen Il Co., is averaging
about Sc per day to the hand; the "Tred-
way river claim is far advanced in open
ing, for summer operations; this claim is
one of the richest on the Bar, and last
year yielded on an average over three
ounces per day to the man.
Although the "bar" and " bank" dig
gings are paying better than at any prevl-
Gus time, in this vicinity, the Camp is
very dull, considering its briskness the past
three months Those who have claims
on the Bar, do not feel Crazy riverlsh,
and only one man has left for Frazer, of
the number. The hydraulic claims are
generally paying well, and being in condi-
ton to work uninterruptedIy, there is not
a claim but has sent its delegation to Fra
zer river, leaving principal In charge,
with hired substitutes, to work the claim.
Some miners making SO to Sl2 per day,
from such claims, have gone off with the
yellow fever-botanically prospecting for
the root of all evil. These hydraulic
claims are very rich and extensive. Hav-
ing examined one of them, that OF Messrs.
Van Gorden & Co., we noted one pecu-
liarity that has been subject of much
speculation among miners to remedy
They use inch hydraulic pipe, of gal
vanized iron, 400 feet in length; this pipe
contracts and expands with the heat,
causing much Inconvenience, and at times,
in the cool of the morning, from 10 to
100 feet of the pipe will rise an inch from
the ground by the contraction, which soon
damages the pipe by breaking open the
seams.
Messrs. Cooper & Naftzger keep the
Ferry, and are doing more than an aver
age business; being accommodating end
obliging, and keeping the landings and
boat in good repair, they get almost the
entire travel of the river. Crossing by
this Ferry, we proceeded to Pompey's
Hill, Lancha Plana and Chaparel Hill
These places being in Amador county, we
thought of Mr.. "Johnson"-at the bar
and struck stare higher in the anthem
which Springer delighteth to honor, by
calling "lager for three" We then took
an instentorian farewell, believing that a