The hydraulic press., 1859-11-05
S w T. E It Lam d.

and after going through the alterations of
prosperity and decay which have attended all
the interior towns of our State, exhibits now
unmistakable signs ofpermanence. Instead
of being mere camp of gold hunters, as
formerly, it is the abode of numerous. fami-
lies whose interests and affections are fixed
in the place. The reduction in the price of
water will open great number of mining
claims to profitable labor, and increase the
working population largely. But Sweetland
has diggings which would be productive
under any circumstances. The old sandy
slopes of the creek banks wiil pay we'll for
surface sluicing, and are taken up for that
purpose. Maamanita Hill, lying on the right
bank Of Sweetland Creek, has frequently
been mentioned for the large yields of some
of the claims opened years since in Its front.
One set of these, belonging to the Kentucky
Co., is now being washed with favorable
indications of ultimate reward. The bank
is upwards of a hundred feet deep, and will
probably soon become deeper. The Buck &
Breck claims will be worked again in week
or two. The last washing in them was very
profitable, and led to the finding of several
small nuggets, one of which weighed $55.-
The yields of Moore & Co.'S. claims we have
before given at from 81 900 to i 1900 a run.
There are other claims of good repute ad-
joining them now being prepared fer wash
ing.
The fat back of the above diggings ex-
tends to Junction Bluff, distance of mile,
at least it is all aurferous, and all claimed.
Mr.. S. 7. Curtis, Assemblyman elect from
this district, ownsa large body of ground
lying through the supposed deepest part Of
this fat and is now running a tunnel into it
for the purpose of thoroughly testing its
value by next spring. Other claimants will
doubtless follow his example. Nearly oppo-
site this fiat, on the left bank of the creek,
is Buckeye Hill, another extensive bed of au-
riferous gravel, first worked in 1858. Here
are situated the well known claims of Lewis
l. Hiscox and Orlando Evans & Co. The
base of the hill is micaeeous slate veined
with quartz and containing indications of
copper, the sulphate of that metal appearing
in blee crystals at one spot. The gravel for
from ten to twenty-five feet above the rock
has paid handsomely for drifting, yielding
larger net profits than have been obtained
| from almost any other claims. Into Lewis
& Hiscox' claims several drifts, all of which
have to be heavily timbered and planked, are
being run in different directions with uniform
success. We saw three prospects obtained
from them at places one hundred feet apart,
and above the bedrock, each of which was
worth from fifteen to twenty five cents
Much larger prospects can be obtained, If
sought for. The dirt is at present wheeled
out in barrows, two men taking offwhat Two
others can pick; but large main drift is be-
ing run, through which the earth can be
hauled out, great car loads at a time, by
mule over wooden railway. The company
are also pushing in bedrock tunnel, al
ready some five hundred feet long, through
which they can hereafter wash the whole
bank by the hydraulic process. This tunnel
when completed will be about one hundred
feet below the surface of the rock, and two
hundred below that of the gravel. 1t costs
at present $35 foot. Fresh air is forced
into it from the mouth by very simple con-
trivance on the hydraulic pressure principle
"a column of water falls through perpen-
dicular pipe into barrel, the upper half of
which serves as an air chamber whence the
air is conducted by pipes into the tunnel.
Evans & Co, are drifting and hydraulicing
both, and running tunne: besides. Their
claims adjoin those above described, and
present the same characteristics. We lately
ehronicled four dollar prospect obtained
from them, fifteen feet above the rock, and
have frequently reported weekly yields from
them of So, 900. When the earth on Buckeye
Hill is washed entirely by the hydraulic pro-
cess, the regular yields will astonish the
whole State. There are no placer diggings
in California superior othoSe around Sweet
land Along the bed of the creek are half
a dozen tail sluices, which are important
features in the resources of the place. They
have been described before. Near town a
fine granite quarry is being worked by Briggs
& Co. The rock is easily got out in slabs of
almost any size, and must some day be in
great demand. We are informed that some
of IT has been used in Marysyille. Sluice
and building lumber is furnished from the
| saw-mill of the ShaWmut Company which
has been many years in operation.
The buildings now going up in and around
town are substantial and tasteful There
are several pretty cottages on the hill-sides,
| whose owners manifest disposition to
beautify their homes and add to the wealth
of the community by cultivation of the soil.
The low, warm hills that surround the town
are admirably adapted to horticultural pur-
] noses Mr. o Evans (whnse eIenant non,