New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-19

that We derive from such adventures.
The quantities Of water fowl that frequent the
water courses and plains of California at this sea-
son are almost incredible. OF wild geese that We saw
grazing upon the young grass on our way il would
be impossible 20 form any estmate-they arc
commonly estimated by millions While turkeys
command five dollars each, geese may be- obtained
sometimes in the markets at Msrysve at the rate
of four for dollar.
A few days since / returned from visit 10 the
mines in the vicinity Of OrOyille. would be
glad TO convey an idea of the extensive operations
in gold-washng in that vicinity if could DO il in
few words, but il is impossible. The hills are
everywhere riddled with tunnels, and the rivers
made to traverse the ridges of the mountains. and
with the powerful head Of water thus obtained the
mountains themselves are being washed away TO
the solid rock. The vast amount of labor that has
been performed serves TO realize TO Us the mex
haustibe nature of the mines. At the quartz claim
of Smith & Sparks, l followed the miners 600 feet
into the side of the mountains through solid rock.
IA this quartz mining is attracting much attention,
and is destined 10 prove never.failing source Of
supply Of the precious metal, and when well con-
Quoted a more safe Investment of capital than any
other, will give some facts Messrs. Smith q
Sparks opened the vein that they are now working
upward of year since; they began from above,
and worked until, from the falling Of the sides of
the cut and the expense of raising the ore and
water they commenced to tunnel from below
This was done in the direction of the old mine, but
with no other guide to begin the work than spring
of water and the dip of the vein. The excavation
continued three hundred and fifty feet before reach
ing the vein of auriferous quartz, and was attended
by an expense Of $4,000. They are now not
troubled with water, and the vein is worked up
ward from their tunnel, dropped down and wheeled
out in car. The vein is not thick varying from
six inches to a foot and the gold in the rock is al
most invisible to the unassisted eye. Near the
mill was pile of about four hundred tons ready
for crushing. They estimate the cost of mining it
at So and the cost of crushing with the water-mlll
at 81 % the tun. The poorest yield they have yet
had has been $40 to the tun, and the water.mlll
with twelve stamps, will crush four hundred tuns
q month; but during seven months they are unable
TO run the mill for want Of water. With these dis
advantages, Mr.. Smith thinks that quartz yielding
$40 to the tun would pay well.
Another vein in the vicinity is also worked by the
same company by means Of shaft. The ore IL
raised by steam power, and pumps are necessary.
The ore is first pounded into small fragments by
Chinese labOrers, who are obtained for 81 or So a
day, and it is then pulverized in arastras. These
are granite rocks with one flat surface and they are
made TO revolye around perpendicular shaft IN
large tub. with grOOved stone bottom The cost OF
crushing by this process s about nine dollars to the
fun. A glance at these rude methods and imperfect
machinery will convince one that the art is yet lnis
infancy.
ASSAYS have proved that one-haf of the gold
is not obtained from the quartz after 1t is pllver-
lied and the miners their aings, as the quartz
dust is called after it has been submitted to the
action of mercury, in anticipation of some improve
ments in the process of extracting 1t.
Mr.. Smith led me to the top of a mountain, above
a thousand feet high, which commanded an extern
sive view of the great Valley of the Sacramento,
and to convince me that the gold washings were not
likely to be exhausted in my time, he conducted me
a short distance down the opposite side OF the
mountain the side furthest from the Feather River,
where of all places, one would least expect to find
gold washings. A party of SIX lrishmen were at
work here running finely arched tunnel INTO the
mountain. The earth was of hard yellow clay with
traces of iron in veins. This they carried in wheel
barrow to well Of water, where it was beaten
fine with the back of shovel, and washed in a
common rocker. These men told us they averaged
six dollars day to the man, aud they obtained
only the coarse gold.
It was my intention to have visited Col. Free
monts celebrated quartzm mines in Marposa County,
but the rains precluded so long journey by land,
when had but limited time to spend; but ex-
pect to see them in the Spring. Specimens from
these veins were exhibited in Sacramento, in 1850,
and much of the goldbearng quartz used in jewelry
is obtained from there. The want OF water has
caused all gold mining in that section to lie neg
lected, though generally known to be the richest
in the State Fremont has Q small mill of eight
stamps, and, in small way is working VEN OF
forty feet in thickness, and which has, in some
cases, Welded az high as $3.50 to the tun. He has
from the first known of the great value OF these
mines and formed plans to make them available, by
bringing water from the MERGED River by canal,
but every difficulty that envy and political ammo
sty could devise has been thrown in his way.
During his recent visit to this State every obstacle
has been removed, and he ID about to negotiate
a loan to carry his plans into execution and
speak advisedy when say that they are com
mensurate with his immense estate and worthy Of
the man.
Mr.. Smith is Of the opinion, from bis expert
ments, that the mountain sides are more
desirable for The cultivation Of fruit more es-
pecialy the vine than the plains below. \ grape
cutting planted by him last Winter was entirely
neglected during the dry season, yet it grew finely
and its leaves were green when | was there on Inc
10Th inst. A want more painfully felt than any
other in California is the refining and eleyating IN
fuence of woman. Though the want is being sup
Piled in degree, still the proportion Of males IN
the emigration is large, and the want OF home lies
leads to great deal of dissipation IN every rahH'
Many men Of families come to California to secure
the means to bring out their families IN greater SOM
fort; but it is question whether the disadvantages
do not outweigh the advantages of such q course.
If it 10 possible to reach here with wives and chl.
dren, it is better to bring them. A undetermined
woman would rather share the early struggles win
her husband than suffer him to bear them alone,
with all the disadvantages ofhome-sickness, painful
apprehensiOns and alienation that too often ensue.
Women are so generally regarded as the greatest
boon that can be conferred upon California that
the man who has his family with him ia much more
likely to find employment, and everywhere 10
treated with more consideration than though ne
were alone and actual suffering from want -, l
believe, unknown, and from cold impossible. Inc
domestic ties are the only antidOte to that restless-