Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-11
1ailp 0atlonaln Democrat.
The Nez Perces Mines Denounced as a
IIumbug

The Yreka Union publishes, by permission
the following private letter written by a gen.
tlenan of undoubted veracity, well kt,1wr
in Siskiyou county. If its writer has not
formed his impressions too hastily, the Nea
Perces mines may he set down in the long
list of mining humbugs which have within
the past eleven years deuled so many thou
sands of Caifornians into leaving paying
claims at home, in search Of richer ones,
which existed only in the lying letters of in
terested spectators
ELK CRY. Sept ist 1851
RESPECTED FRrEND:-After so long time
! will try to write you few lines. | would
have written before, but have been on the
move ever since left Yreka not knowing
where | would locate until know. | am on
the South Fork of Clearwater one hundred
miles distant from Orc Fino. | went to Orc
Fino and stopped there week, but could find
nothing that suited me, and there being a
great rush for the South Fork, fell into the
ranks and moved myself to this place, where
/ expect to winter, if do not freeze out for
think from the appearance of things, this is
very cold country in the winter. | have
seen ice since came here, an inch thick and
that in August. What the weather will be
in December and January God only knows.
No white man has every wintered in this
part of the country. 1t is new, wild and
desoate looking country at present. although
there is &c onsiderable improvement going on
in this little city. When | came here, two
weeks ago, there was not house finished in
the place, now there are between twenty
and thirty finished. They mostly whisky
mills to grind II few dollars out of the miners
AS TO the gold mines in this northern
country, will give you my own experience
and observation with regard to them. There
are diggings here that will pay small wages
without doubt, but as to there being any
"big strikes" ever made here by miners, it is
all mistake There have been some I'M
mense lies told about these Nez Perce mines
Co which am willing to swear. A man who
bad been here, reported in Siskiyou county
that his claim was paying from two TO six
ounces per day to the hand, when the truth
is his claims pay about ten dollars per day
TO the hand Many such stories have gone
sbroad, originated by designing PERSONS
Some have said that tis is as good mining
country as Californ;& ever vast is not
true. In the first place the gold is very fine,
and is very scattering; and in the second
they never can he worked to any advantage
II the mines could be worked as they are in
California. believe there ARE some places
that would pay well; but there can he no
ground sluicing done. consequently it will
never pay to work such diggngs.
Men are out all through the mountains here
prospecting. On Salmon river, reports say
men are getting good prospects, but as for
myself, shall not follow the excitement any
further. }rowu aud myself have taken up
a claim on Clearwater and have a dam near
ly finished. Our elaiw prospects from five
TO eighteen cents to the pan Tell John s.
would not advise him to COME to this c0un-
try at all, but if I,e does come, wait until
neXt spriug, as 1t will be to late bS the time
he arrives here to open clgim There are
great many SiskiyOu men here hope the
diggings here may prove mach better than
anticipate, but see nothing to warrant
man in leaving three or four dollar diggings
in California, to come here, even though he
may find eight dollar diggings
Flour is worth $50 per hundred, potatoes
thirty cents per pound, bacon forty cents,
sugar fifty cents, coffee fifty cents, and every
thing else in proportion so shall consider
myselfin extreme good luck if | make enough
to grub myself through the wiuter. Say to
my friends, to stay in old Siskiyou.
Yours truly,