Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-11-20
G Correspondence.
A Letter From California.

Wolf CREEK. Pluma. Co. Cal. Sept. Is 500.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:
In concluding my last, promised you
a fair morning for the introduction of
the greatest of American days-the
Fourth of July, l will keep my word.
How the morning broke | canno; tell. but
when | broke into the morning about SIX
o'clock, the air was clear and cool; The
sun was just u deg. above the eastern
horizon, { want 10 use precision on this
occasIon) shining brightly up the valley,
full upon the tree clad bench whereon
myself and cabin stood, casting rhe long
pines longer shadows in profusion along
the ground; whilst the robin chanted forth
hlS CHEEKY notes, as if to praise and wei
come 50 fine morning. Over across
Spanish Creek, At short distance from
where | was standing, stood China Town,
brought apparently nearer than il actual
ly vas, by The effect of clear atmos-
phere and a bright sun.
store and l think three other shantees.-
At this village lhe"J Cinnamon" do
their trading and gambling; they gamble
for money, but generally Of their own
eountry's coin, and lay up stakes which
are less IN value than one mill, and over
which they appear sometimes greatly ex-
cited: and are very yoclferous indeed
Behind China Town which Is westward,
rises a gentle hill, which runs sou;hward
and terminates IN point opposite The
bench aud lule above where | stood,
forming a somewhat narrow pass, from
whence the Greek flows down The open
valley. Farther up the stream in a
westerly direction, this hill again recedes
from the creek, leaving broad fiat ra-
Ylne, which, from the fact OF lis being on
Spanish Creek, derives It's name Span
ISL Fial;" bur more generally known
among miners al present by the cogno-
men,of Grub Fiat" because those who
operated there for any length of time
we're never known to leave II richer than
they were when they found il. ! make
tins ailusion 10, and give this descrlp-
uon of sand Flat, because, II is fair sam
pie OF many other ravines and flats,
winch might from their auriferoUs quai-
uy Justly claim similar epithet, and per-
haps are ntver destined 10 be thorough
( ~ worked out" unless perchance by
Cinnamon, who have the mack and econ
omy ot living on an income. which would
be only sufficient TO deal ouI a lingering
death 10 the white man. California pos
sesses a great advantage or disadvantage
whichever II may be termed-over al
most any other mining country, IN afford
ing in number!ess places a suiiciency OF
gold 10 supply the common necessariea
of life 10 all who iudustriouSly dig for It.
50 there Is Little danger CT starving for
hose who have their health, and are will
ling 10 work: in this respect 1t may De
considered an advantage. But to the
man who comes here with the expecta-
ton of making 4 raise IN year or two,
and then return again to his wife and
children, or the girl be left behind him,
10 hun it is a disadvantage; because,
such diggings only en;ice him to try, Try
OF. one week paying 4 little better, and
another week 4 I.tiIe worse, alternately
exciting hope aud doubt, and makes
permanent settler of him, IN spite Of his
inclination to be only a temporary one
But II is break:asI-time. We sat down
10 reakfast-not all al one time because
the table was not large enough. nor were
ihere sufficient table utensils, SO of course
We made 4 first and second table arrange
ment of It. Our bill of fare was nothln
changed from that of the previous eve
ming, simply, bread, butter. beef. AMI
tea, and unfortunately after seven of Us
had breakfas,ed, there WAS not enough
eft for another meal. So il was propos-
ed that we should all repair to The village
OF Meadow Valley to spend the day and
get our dinners al the tavern.
L. must be understood that all | have
described in This letter is comprised with
in the limits OF Meadow Valley, and that