The Placer herald., 1859-01-29
Corresnondeuce from Ophir.
OpHIR, Placer Co. Jan. Goth 18


Editor Herald: Dear SIR: Believing
that the readers of your valuable journal, are
at all times desirous to learn of the most
important incidents occurring in the county
and particularly what may be transpiring at
one of the oldest and formerly, one of the
most thriving localities in the State, induces
me to send you few jottings.
There are about two hundred Cinnamon
in this vicinity who are doing most of the
surface mining so far as raising or shoveling
the dirt is concerned American miners are
generally working "bed rock suices," as the
ground has been so often worked, that no
other process, could possibly be made to pay
Some eight or ten companies are working
in this district by the method last mentioned
and are doing much better than by the old
process of raising the dirt.
Brown Il Co., on the Auburn Ravine, just
below Civil Usage, have been to the expense
of over thousand dollars, blasting "bed
rock" preparatory to putting in long sluce
expecting to have good paying work for
several years. Burr, Curtis Il Co., on
North Ravine, are laying down, in the cen
ter of the ravine one of the best bed rock
sluices in the Township. They will proba-
bly, have paying ground for five years.
If the Bear River Co., would, instead of
pinching the miners down to the small pit
ance of ten inches, for sluice head, give
them enough to work to advantage, it would
in the end in my opinion, be better for both
parties. In that case there would be more
men at work, who would be much better
able to pay for water than now.
In quartz mining, | am not so we'll posted.
However, last Sunday saw good exhibit
of the richness of the quartz, taking out Of
the Doig lode-consisting Of fifty ounces Of
clear gold, virgin gold out of fifteen lbs.
of rock. Doig & Co., estimate that they
have out in sacks, uncrushed, upwards Of
five thousand dollars. Their specimen quartz
is from a thin spur or lode not over two
inches thick, which, on the gold bearing
strata, is about one fourth gold. Snebly "
Co.'S Quartz Mill, on Bald Hill is running
steadily and is supposed to be accruing pay
ing profits to the owners. Although this
Village in '52 was looked upon as one of
the widest in the State, yet for the last five
years the permanent citizens have by sobrie-
ty and industry, won character in all that
tends to elevate society second to none,
STILL for all this, we have to deal with row.
dies occasionally. For instance on Sunday
evening last one Bailey, while appearing to
be drunk set the whole town at defiance
demolished a counter in John Lehes Saloon,
kicked over the stove, etc, and dared any
one to interfere. On being gently remon
strated with, by man by the name Of Smith,
took offence, and bruised Smiths face so
that it looks more like frosted pumpkin
than human phiz Being complained Of
before Justice Paten, Bailey got off by the
gentle reprimand of $50. No one being
willing to pay the fine for him he was left
with the Constable, who gave him too much
margin and he escaped. Now he has got
away if he will only stay it will be as good
as transportation. Such fellow ought to be
banished to the Feee Islands. WASUC.