San Andreas independent., 1858-03-06
LETTER FROM MURPHYs.


! The regular correspondent of the San
Francisco Pacific, furnishes the follow
ing items of mining news from Murphy's ::
MURPHY's, Feb. Is, 1858.
Ms'. Editor: At the present time
there is but tithe of the gold of former
seasons taken OUT in this vicinity The
reason is obvious. Not one of the claims
on the Flat is in operation-the miners
being industriously and zealously engaged
in laying the 'great fume" or drain
The energy with which all engage in this
great and useful work, and devote their
time and money in its interests, is proof
conclusive of their confidence in its .ulti-
mate successful results. Legitimate mi
ming is now confined to the hills and
gulches surrounding the town. Many
claims are paying good wages, even in
washing over old tailings and taking up
the bedrock in deserted gulches; as high
as ten dollars to the hand has been made
this season. But our hope and depen-
dence is in the deep diggings on the fat
[ have conversed with members of many
of the mining companies and old forty
miners, and they are all united in the con-
hdent belief, that Murphy's has yet to see
its palmiest days Great as has been our
yield of the shining dust, it has been prog
nosticated by the "wise men Of Muir
phys" that it is but pebble in compar-
ison with the mountain of gold we shall
bring to light on the completion of the
drain.
This fat seems to be basin filled with
lava, sand, clay and boulders, with no
outlet sufficient to drain it more than
little below the present surface. BY dint
of pumping day and night, at cost of
81 800 per year for claim, some have
been prospectcd forty or fifty feet in depth,
paying we'll the entire distance. Claims
that have paid as high as sixteen ounces
to the hand, per day, have been aban-
doned on account of finability to keep them
free from water, and to prevent them
from caving. Before the commencement
of the drain, shares in good claims could
have been purchased at discount which
now cannot be purchased at any price
We are full of confident hope. Every
blast in the ditch that wakes the echoes
in the valley and sends them chasing af-
ter their miniature reflections up the
canons, the ravines and the mountain
sides, startling the deer with sudden
bound to his feet, or causing the timid
squirrel among the branches, to drop his
acorn supper from his tiny paws, gives
evidence of our progress in the great en-
terprise and sends thrill of pleasure
through the heart of the miner, the mer-
chant and every one.
The fume is already laid to within
short distance Of the mining ground
Here the company have met with their
greatest difficulty, the rim-rock of this
basin, through which they are passing at
the depth of thirty-fve feet. The rock
is blasted and raised to the bank by means
of derricks and horse power. The masts,
with their rigging of stay-ropes, pulleys,
haul-chains, ETC., gives one the impress
sion of shipping being moored below the
town. In four or six weeks it is expected
that the first claims will be reached, when
the mining Will be commenced. AS the
drain progresses, the entire ground to the
depth Of twenty-five or thirty feet, Will be
sluiced into it. The top dirt and tailings
from former washings, are known to con-
tain much gold, which, together with the
seven feet in width owned by the COM
pany, will make handsome yield. The
waste from the claims, falling into the
fume, is expected to amount to 81 900
per month. AS they reach the rich dig
aings I will cndcavor to give you sketch
of each claim in succession, together with
brief history of Murphy's from the first
discovery of gold on the fat.
During the month of January, this year,
the thermometer has stood at noon, IN the
shade, only nine days below fifty degrees
Fahrenheit. Highest temperature, sixty
four degrees, lowest temperature, thirty
eight degrees at noon There have been
seven cloudy days, eight hazy, one rain,
one hail and rain with thunder, two snowy,
and the remaining twelve clear and pleas
ant. Considering our great altitude on
the borders of the snowy region, L do not
think that this is severe weather. thus
far in the present month, we have had
delightful weather, the thermometer rang
ing at about sixty degrees in the shade.
It is expected that we shall be crowded
with visitors the coming season. Adven-
turers, travellers, and those in search of
health, will find it to their advantage to
stop here for a week or two, where they
will find ample and comfortable accom-
modations provided. The ride from here
to the big trees is romantic, the view
there grand and instructive, and the air
among the hills is clear and invigorating.
This summer We will shall be able to show
to the stranger and the curious, mining
IN all Its most successful operations and
!; on the grandest scale.
Y F>r1rc I'll. -, -