The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1860-08-08

FRENCH GULcH, Siskiyou Co.
July 10th 1860.
Editor Democrat The several weeks that
have gone by since the date Of my last eommu-
nicaliOO, have been unusually dull in the way
Of news, scarcely enough having transpired in
that line with us to make the news columns OF
our local papers interesting to readers ct home
or abroad. or 10 furnish matter for letter Of or
dinafy length. Under this state Of things.
have delayed writing longer than usual. look
ing aud hoping all the time for something to
occur really worth mentioning and although
may now succeed 10 culling from our passing
history material sufAcient to ill out q commu-
nicatiou, fear that 10 point Of interest Il will
he found wanting.
During the past two months we have expert
enced most Extraordinary weather for the sea-
con. Showers have been Of almost daily occur
renee. aud to near the middle OF June, frosts
nightly spread their chilling mantle over sarth'e
surface, retarding the growth Of, and In some
instances destroying vegetation. The young
aud tender trees Of nearly every orchard in this
county, too susceptible to the warm breathings
Of early spring, gave on their branches bright
promises Of an abundant yield Of fruit, but bud
and blossom fell short Of maturity, and the eye
of the husbandman now seeks in vain amid the
green foliage. evidence of bis tolls reward for
this season at least. The vegetable and grain
crops are very backward, but what they have
lost in time will be more than balanced by the
gain in quantity. The same unreasonable D-
Huences that have wrought the results mention
ed, appear also to have affected the health Of
our people. In nearly every section Of the
county there is at the present time much sick
ness prevailing, deaths too, are frequent, and
nearly every day some enc is added to the 81
lent population of the rude graveyard OF the
mining camp, or the marble marked cemetery
Of our county seat. The cause OF the unusual
weather, to q parallel of which no memory 10
our midst runneth back, not even that OF that
antique institution, "the Oldest inhabitant," has
been a theme Of much speculation among both
whites aud Indians. The latter are much dis
gusted with NATURES extraordinary proceedings
aud are particularly down on the "big noise and
fire 10 the sky" They attribute II all to the
presence Of the whites in the country, while
they 10 turn 6nd a solution of the question in
the approach OF those heavenly visitors, the
comet aud the eclipse Nearly every shower
that We have had was accompanied with thnn-
der and lightning, aud more than one noble
pine in our vicinity stands u shattered monu'
ment of the latter's power.
The recent rains have had a tendency to pro
long the mining season. aud facilitate work 10
the dry diggiugs, aud yet have retarded but lit
tie il any river operations From the several
districts 10 the county we receive weekly &C
counts OF the most cheering character. indi-
eating degree Of prosperity in mining circles.
uncommon at this season Of the year. On Scott
aud klamath rivers much life aud activity pre-
walls among miners Some are preparing for
work while others have already got into the bed
of the stream aud are receiving fine return
for their labor. One claim on the first men
toned stream, turned out 10 its owners last
week, hice little pile of sleyen pounds Of pure
gold. Among the lot was one fine breast pin
specimen Of seven pounds weight. The work
on these streams will be more thorough aud ex-
tensive. and il 10 thought more remunerative,
this than at any former season. On some OF
the tributaries OF the Klamath new discoveries
have been lately made, which are attracting
much attention. and miners are fOcking 10 them
from all parts of the county. So far, the pros
poets obtained do not promise anything extra
ordinarily rich, but indicate extent and perma-
T. IL doing n
present. the excitement baviug very nearly sub
sided again. but IS usual presume, to break
out again upon the fret announcement OF any
new discovery Of gold bearing rock. A few
lodes continue to pay and pay well, but the
most of those prospeeted during the past year
10 this vicinity, have been abanoned, or are be-
ing held in idleness for speculation. Those
paying are the Golden Eagle. at Hooperville.
Coe and Knouf's. at Oro Fino, and the French
lode on Cherry creek.
Our agricultural, mineral and mechanical as
sociation, have been quite busy Of late. They
have held number Of meetings, and adopted
active measures for eEec;ing the purposes OF
their organization. An appeal has been made
to the citizens Of the county to come forward
ana ioin them In the work Of promoting and
protesting the interests which they represent,
and the prospects are thai ii will meet with
hearty aud practical response from those to
whom IL is directed. There is no county 10 the
State of California where those three great In
terests are more intimately connected with, or
more dependent upon each other. than in siski'
you. Its territory is literally network OF ag-
ricultural and mineral lands, the population Of
which are mutually dependent upon each ether
The third interest is necessity springing from
the two 6rst, but whose encouragement and
protection is demanded By our comparatively
isolated situation. The society have determin-
ed upon the experiment Of county fair, ss one
means toward accomplishing their purpose and
are actively engaged in preliminary arrange
ments for the same. 1t is TO come on In 0cto-
kautNN ma hn