The Placer herald., 1860-08-25
Last Chance Correspondence.
LAST CHANCE, AUG. 2.

Messrs Editors:-I beg pardon for my
long delay, and if forgiven, Ipropose to give
you and the many residents Of the lower end
Of the county, who perhaps hear nothing Of
this section, continued account of our
mines. Commencing where | closed my
last, come in regular order to the claims
owned by Gamma & Co., who are drifting in
the front of their ground. understand
they are making from five to eight dollars
per day to the hand. They intend soon
to commence their bed rock tunnel
mel, and when they shall have penetrated to
gravel, no doubt they will get equally as
good pay as Anderson & Co., adjoining
twelve dollars to the car load.
The next three companies are Van Dusen
& Co., Penman g. Co., and Snyder & Co.,
whose claims are nearly the same as the one
last described. These claims are on what is
known as Key Stone Flat, and are compose
Of deep body Of very hard gravel in front,
but further back in the hill it is les cement
ed and compact, and as it prospects we'll to
the very top, we think, when drifted out in
front they will be unsurpassed AS hydraulic
claims. The next two or three companies
are not working now, so we pass them by,
coming next to Whit Sherd & Co.. who have
ust commenced drifting, we understand
their prospects are very tlatering. Next,
Jack lIyland d. Co., who, if we are correct
ly informed, are getting from six to ten dol
lars per day to the hand drifting. Adjoin
ing is ground owned Ivy 7. g. Hyand, who
has been to considerable expense in fitting
up, and has just commenced drifting; the
gravel is no doubt good, for it lies between
two good claims. The one above is thought
to be one of the best claims in the place, but
Mr.. Reome, the owner, appear to be contented
to make sufficient for food, raiment, and
spiritual wants, which he does with little la
Dor.
Now comes two or three claims which
have gore" shape, but am not posted in
them sufficient to comment. Adjoining
them are several claims owned by p g. Nv
land, who has spent several thousand dollars
in An unsuccessful attempt to work with \
hydraulic, but found the gravel so nsrd that
fall Of nearly two hundred feet was no.,
equal to the task, therefore has abandoned
operations for the present. We believe that
eventually it will prove to be a valuable
claim. Next comes Parkinson, Ayres & Co.,
who are attempting to hydraulic, but it is
feared will meet with the came Indifferent
success. In speaking Of the Edorado claim.
which comes next, we need only refer to the
plethoric purses of the owners which argues
the claim to be good From thence we
come to an unprodur,ive region, travelling
up the divide nearly a mile, before we find
any one engaged in prospecting or mining
In doing so we travel upon the banks Of Par
kinson q McKoy's ditch, which supplies our
place with water. This ditch is unsurpassed
In beauty and in the substantial manner OF
its construction, of which however | will
speak hereafter.
The claims owned by Ludwig, Manhaldt
d Co., who are engaged in running bed
rock tunnel which they commenced this
epring, rock hard. The next, Morning Star,
Densmore & Co., who are drifting and get
ting excellent pay, not less than ely yht ounces
per week to the hand. Adjoining is the
North Star, not at work. About mile
further up we find one more claim, solitary
and alone, owned by Leggett & Co., who are
running bed rock tunnel. Should this
claim prove rs successful as other claims
which have reached the back channel, it will
add largely to the number of tunnels in this
district, which you will perceive by this, and
my foImer communications, are not few
now. This closes the list on this side o the
ridge.
Notwithstanding have made this com.
munca'ion quite long already l will take
the liberty to add few words in regard tc
the political aspect here. The "un,errifed'
are about equally divided between Dougla,
and Breckenridge, but | can assure you
that here, whether united or divided, the Re
publca will whip them both.
Our Temperance Hall is nearly completed
and will be dedicated on Friday the 7tl
September. In the evening there will be q
Ball, and we have no doubt it will b. craced
by the presence of many ladies.