Weekly Trinity journal., 1859-02-19
Gbe gournal.
Descriptive of Mining.

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Observation-Disclosures men need not be told
what prospecting" means there may be others
however, who do not fully comprehend the term.
Prospecting for new diggings" implies an ex-
ploration of several days into unexplored re-
gions, to look for gold. 1t is generally made on
foot, to avoid the trouble of looking after ami
mails, for which there is scant pasturage. The
prospector carries his blankets strapped on his
back, with mining tools, frying pan, coffee pot,
tin cup and provisions enough to last week
For defence against the bears and other "var-
mints," he takes big revolver and butcher
knife, which he is very careful not to use, unless
Bruin insists on very close acquaintance, not
allowing time to climb a tree. Arriving at q
place which looks as though "gold ought to be
there" be descends to ravine, lays off his pack,
digs pan full of dirt which be carries to the
nearest water and washes carefully, narrowly
scrutinizing the sediments for "color," or gold.
If after trying three or four times, and finding
"nary speck" he rinses out his pan petulently,
lights his pipe, resumes bis pack, and trudges on,
trying various places till night overtakes the par
ty, when they camp under tree, cook their fru-
gal meal, spread their blankets on the ground
and lie down to dream of gold and home. If ga
prospect is struck" that is if they find gold any
where in quantities which they think will justify
working one of the party is started to the near
est settlement for provisions and more mining i'm
plements while the rest build " brush shanty"
and otherwise improve the camp. In this man.
ner began the settlement of most of the noun
tain towns which now popuous with life and
enterprise. The brush shanty was the nucleus
round which wealth and industry gathered. until
after awhile the lonesome forest, whose stiffness
was first broken by the little company Of pros
pectors, echoes with the grating of shovels and
whip-saws and the crash Of falling trees.
"SINKING A SHAFT"-A shaft" is round
hole like common water well, five or six feet in
diameter, and continued to the "bed rock" or
foundation stone, beyond which no earth is sup
posed to exist. Shafts vary in depth from ten or
fifteen TO several hundred feet-according to
depth of the bedrock. There is one in this neigh
borhood nearly seven hundred feet in depth-the
deepest we know of in the State. Two men are
required to sink a shaft--one to dig, the other to
haul up and throw away the dirt. After sinking
until the dirt cannot be thrown out with Shovel
a windlass is constructed upright posts with
round cross beam and handle; sometimes raw
hide rope is used, to which half pork-barrel is
attached; the digger fills the tub and the wind
laser draws up, empties and sends back. The
process is exactly like digging well, which
every intelligent person comprehends. AS the
digger progresses, the man above keeps trying
the dirt with wash pan; discovering gold, he
insructs the miner below, washing apparatus is
arranged, and the digger begins to dig UNDER
pursuing the gold vein; this is called drifting"
or kiotaing"-a term originating from obserya-
tion of durrowng habits of the coyote, or prairie
wolf the name of which is corrupted to "kiota.'
By" sinking shaft" new territory is explored;
the quick eye of the practical miner discovers
indications of gold on the surface--perhaps an
abundance of quartz pebbles or brick colored
earth. The search is based on mining experience.
English miners of Cornwall, prospecting for tin,
are attracted by abundance of shOad- stone on the
surface-these stones are rounded and apparent
ly, waterwOrn finding these they begin to dig.
SO in gold mining; round pebbles or " "river-rock"
considered probable indicators of the presence
of gold-they indicate what is popularity desert
bed as an "old channel" and are the /" shoad
stones" of the gold mine.
"a Blow OUT."-We think the term origina-
ted with workers. In that pursuit the smel |
in furn is lyonf In he |