The hydraulic press. (North San Juan, Nev. Co., Cal.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-22
A GLANCE AT THE FUTURE.

that rolls around. It's increase, to be
sure, is not rapid, nor should it be-
but keeps even pace with the gradual
development of its resources.
The place is no more than busy mi
ming village of respectable size and
hopeful prospects, but it is our home J;
and as the success and happiness of SO
many depend upon its steady growth
and permanence, the question as to the
probability of the latter is one of great
interest.
There is a point in the history of mi
ming towns beyond which few ever go.
The exhaustion of the surface or alluvi-
al deposits in their vicinity generally
stops their growth and induces their de-
cay, unless some more substantial re-
sources, mineral or agricultural, are
found to protect their existence if they
cannot insure their permanence.
But we believe that North San Juan,
in spite of itsugly name, is destined to an
unusually long lease Of vigorous vitality,
and that several years will elapse ere it
reaches the maximum Of its prosperity.
The reasons for this opinion shall be
given as briefly as possible.
In the first place, the diggings upon
which our town has heretofore depended
are hardly more than prospected, yet
they have amply supported it, and will
endure much beyond the period COM
monly anticipated.
In June 1856, when the water of the
Middle Yuba Ditch was first introduced,
many persons predicted that five years
thence q the hill" would be about ex-
hausted. Nearly three years of that
time have elapsed, and now the deple-
ton Of the diggings is postponed for
another five.
San Juan Hill, proper, has face on
the Middle Yuba of nearly a mile in
length, though it is not near so wide.
This body of ground, varying in depth,
where it has been worked, from thirty to
one hundred and sixty feet, embraces
about thirty-six different sets of claims,
which are held by companies consisting
of five or six men on an average. A
single claim is only eighty by one hun
dred and eighty feet in dimensions but
a dozen or more are often in the possess
ion of one small company, as ground can
be held by right of purchase.
These few facts will afford some idea
Of the extent of mining ground imme-
diately adjoining town; and when it is
considered that only small number of
the companies have their claims well
opened, and that the average number
regularly and proftably washing each
week is not more than six, some notion
can be formed of the length of time
necessary to exhaust all the claims on the
hill. Of course, as larger number
getto washing the more rapidly will the
diggings be exhausted. But their final
exhaustion will not occur for many years,
and when that period does arrive, other
gravel hills contiguous to the village will
be supplied with water and occupied by
a numerous population. Within ra-
dius of five miles there is an immense
amount of auriferous ground, many
6 points of which are already proftably
worked, or known to be worth working
and hereafter this will employ a much
larger number Of men than can now be
found in the same limits. The rich
diggings Of junction Bluff, Sweetland,
Birchville, Buckeye Hill, Columbia
and Grizzly Hills, Lone Ridge and in
termediate points without names, will
last for very many years; and although
some of these localities have villages in
their midst, neither one separately will
; be likely to support large town, but
all must, in the nature of things con.
tribute largely to the prosperity of San
Juan. Even places further off than
! these, such as French Corral, Cherokee
and Humbug, with their extensive min.
ing districts, will contribute more OF
t less, as they do already, to increase the
ruro,rtl 81 ; IL