Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-05-27
Plymouth Gold Diggings.

FROM our Correspondent
PLYMOUTH, May 81, 1859.
Mr. EDITOR :--Agreeably to promise, !
will give you the result of my observations
since / started for the FL Dorado Of Yer
mont. On my arrival at Proctorsville on
the Mail Train, ! found the "Daily Accom-
mediation Stage" from the Five Corners,
(Plymouth) in readiness to take me and
others 10 the rich placerS of Gold Creek in
Plymouth.
The day was rainy, but the comfortable
covered coach kept us in good humor, and
the fine farming country along the Twenty
Mile Stream" the wild and beautiful scene
ry as we neared the place of our desiina-
iion, together with the "long yarns" Of two
fellow passengers, 'returned Californans,"
who had purchased claims, and were on
their way to work them, all served to while
away the time, and before we suspected our
proximity to the "diggings," the large and
commodious Hotel kept by Messrs. Slack
& Dodge broke in upon our view, and soon
we were comfortably ensconced within its
walls. The rain continued and no washing
was being done.
As might be expected, many of the
miners had congregated at the Hotel and
store adjoining. We we're agreeably sur
prised to find the crowd destitute of loafers
or gamblers, and composed mainly of the
honest yeomanry from the neighboring towns
who had been lured thither by the bewitch-
ing influence produced by seeing the spark
ling Jumps and spangles, that ever and anon
are found in the pans and sluices where the
miners are at work.
About forty men are already engaged in
washing, but in consequence of so much
rainy weather, they have not yet made suf.
ficient progress to reach the bed rock at any
of the disginss, hence the big days work
cannot yet be reported.
Sluices are being erected along the
streams, at intervals, for the distance of about
four miles, the most northern being neal
the north line of the town on "Gold creek,
tributary of the Otagueecha, and The
most southern being "Earls Branch" about
one mile south of the Five corners. Ii
passing along these streams, one is forcibly
reminded of some new western "cities,'
whose locations are determined only by the
stakes driven into the ground. The claims
are all stsked out, and the numerous piles
of boards strewed along TIE stream fol
miles, shows that the claims are in til,
hands of those who are intending TO worl
them.
There are many more engaged in turn
ing the stream, opening raceways, building
dams, making sluices, rockers, &c. and j
will oe several weeks before the excitemen
will abate If the auticipations of tn
sanguine "Californians,' who are at worl
here, are realized upon reaching the ''be
rock there will be gold enough to set hal
of Windsor county crazy, and the indus
trious farmers will forsake the Legitimate
business OF the farm and go to ''pro .pectin,
for god.'
We hope such may not be the case, bu
ne could not help thinking to-day, as W
stood by the sluice of Messrs. vincillette {
King, that there was some danger of it, 70
they, upon the surface diggings, have aver
aged five dollars each, per day, since the,
commenced work.
| do assure you that the sight of til
Jumps as they linger in the sluiee, and r,
beet their luster through the water, is plea.
sDg &c the eye, but a. men generally hav