The Placer herald., 1859-05-28
Dutch Flat Correspondence.
DUTCH FLAT, May 23d, 1876

Editor Heraid:-Atter long silence
again offer you few lines for publication.
am still in the land Of the living, and
enough transpiring around me, were l good
correspondent, to fill page weekly in your
Herald. But I am an isolated miner-sel-
dom mixing whit he gay and fashionable
circles Of these mountain districts, therefore
unqualified to claim place in your valube
sheet. Circumstances also, induce me to la
Dor steadily and faithfully for those who are
near and dear to me join to this-my pri-
vate correspondence, culinary duties &c.
and my spare time is someike angels visits
in these degenerate days, very limited.
Nearly one year has passed, since my Sec
ond advent into this my adopted State, and
most Of that time have toiled badger like
underneath the surface, some eight or nine
hundred feet beyond where the bright rays
of the sun penetrate, searching in tie dark
passages of this earth for what. Why
GOLD! The summon Donna of Mans earthly
desires and ambition. The magnetic needle
of our natures-to whose magical influence
all other objects are secondary and bow in
humble alteration. Political preferment,
honors, honesty, and even lovely woman
stoop to its biddng-still this Unsuitable
thirst for the shining metal is what is so
rapidly revolutionizing the great Pacific
shore and eevating California to high rank
among her sister republics Then why g
more an honorable desire for riches Mans
nature requires some powerful stimulus to
prevent his relaxing into state Of lethargy
and drone like dragging ou: in miserable
existence without one single ray from the
bright beaming star of hope to guide him
on his weary pilgrimage.
Some condemn excitement but what
would be the condition of this worlds inhab-
iants without it-a set of heathens and bal
barans-and California still peaceful home
for the Iudian and Grizzly all nature is full
of excitement Then why may not man
have his share! The Mariner on the Ocean
breads nothing more than a calm-and if
miners were to lose all excitement, what
would become Of our Editorsl Like Bruin
they could not borough up. Therefore
probably die of enui. But enough Of this
soliloquisng at present, give lis wise and
prudent legislation for ten years to come
and California will make her mark in the
future history of this evcnttul period.
Two weeks since indsposilon induced
me to throw down for awhile tho pick and
shovel and take mountain stroll passed
through your city but on account Of friend.
had rot time to call at your sanctum. Four
miles below at New Castle | had the pleas
ure Of shaking hands with some oil! and es
teemed acquaintances. After a shor. but
very agreeable visi, passed on to Nevada
where met more friends and Mr.. Elitor
such meetings, together with the variegated
scenery Of these hills and dales, are worth
more to renew health and review dropping
spirits than II whole catalogue Of medcaes.
On my return l passed by Hunts lIill, Red
Dog, Little York. and arrived just in time
and fully refreshed to engage in one Of my ia
vorite excicments, so forthwith took siam
pee!e ten miles eastward into the mountains
again, our destination being Lost Camp
but when we got there it had bee named
Found Camp, ms some sixty claims had
been taken which from the prospects are
counted first rate Hydraulic grounds. They
cannot be fully tested at present for want of
water, but by the lst Of August next Brad
lev & Co.'S Mamouth ditch will be compIet-
ed to our Flat, (hey have about two hnn
dred men at work on the sane) carrying its
FL Dorado Then this late agitation will
increase in magnitude or hurst and choose
other fields of action. But the prospects
are so fair have taken An interest and will
let YOU know anon with what success.
Nothing new or very exciting has trans
pired at onr Flat within the past week, our
mining claims Tor a majority of them) as
usual are paying first rate wages.
Drearv winter has passed, and business
with nature is assuming a lively and
pleasing appearance. Strangers are coming
in, Exhibitions Of all kinds are multiplying,
a social dance comes off now and then, a new
school has Just opened, and believe on the
5th Of next month = calico party is expected,
the proceeds to be applied to the completion
of our school house and town hall.-so you
see we are not devoid Of excitement here,
and the result, we are increasing in numbers
and improvements as rapidly as any other
mountain locality.
Some thought it wrong that young gen.
tleman from Lowell Hill should come here
some two weeks since and at dance steal
a young bell from our midst-but the bride
with all duo respect asked Parental leave
but met with refusal on account of her age,
beirg only Is years. Still it seems the bride
groom viewed the matter in different light
and resolved that no obstacle should seper-
oto tv0 loVnc. kaavtc tboratoro uhcapf faI
themselves long enough to marry and visit
their futnre home then returned and made
all joy and peace with their parents, SO