, 1861-05-03


City, in honor Of the discoyerer of the
mines.
The creek here is not more than 25 feet
wide, and very tortuous, but not very rapid.
The bed is composed of decomposed gray
granite, wherein there is an immense qnan.
tity Of mica and small quartz pebbles
There are very few rocks to be seen larger
than a mans head.
Thesoil in the Flat is a rich black loan,
Of from one to two feet in depth. 1t over
lies the pay dirt, which averages in depth,
everywhere so far as has been prospected,
from three to five feet, and pays on an av-
erage from top TO bottom, about three cents
to the pan, SO l have been informed by
Messrs. More and Bassett, two old miners,
who both wintered there last season. All
the miners, however, insist that the average
pays more. The bed rock is composed Of
decomposed gray granite, mixed with mica,
and pays TO the depth Of from to feet
Oro Fino creek forks about miles above
Pierce city. The left fork is called Rhodes
creek, after its discoverer, and the other is
known by the name Of South fork The
pay on Rhodes creek is better than on any
Of the others. l saw the product Of five
pans from the bed rock of q claim which
averaged 40 cts to the pan, and several of
20 cts.
After removing the strippings from
prospect hole near the forks Of the creek,
we found an average of 2 cts to the pau for
three pans 10 the top dirt. We were com
PEELED to stop on account Of the water wash
ing in, and not being provided with gum
boots, without which no one should 60 up
there.
The snow averages in the fats about
feet, and in the woods from to 5 feet. /
was informed that on the South fork it was
from 8 to 10 feet. The gold seems to be
deposited equally everywhere, in fact now
the miners look forward for good water
privileges, more than for gold, satisfied that
it is there.
The country is so level that the want Of
water will be greatly felt. It is the most
strange looking mining country l ever saw;
Il resembles more rich. farming land
The dry eulches aud hills pay equally as
well as the Oats. There are q great nun
Der Of gulches with sluIce heads Of water
In them, emptying into the different creeks.
There have been about 1900 claims pros
pected and in that number there are not
more THAI $50 which will not pay, not that
the gold Is not there, but that the facilities
for working them, cannot at present be had.
Quartz creek, good sized creek, which
we crossed 10 going into the mines, has not
as yet, been prospected. Its Indications
are As good as any about the fat.
l saw several pans washed in the Canal
guleh claim Of Mr.. Moore, these averaged
about 3 cts to the pan.
The gold is coarse, | saw one peice with
in a few cts Of 50. Mr.. Moore showed me
likewise number Of quartz specimens very
rich IN gold.
The gold has evidently not been washed
far, from its appearance.
The whole country, after crossing at the
forks Of Clearwater is covered with broken
quartz Of all colors The miners all feel
satisfied that rich quartz leads will be dis
covered In the neighborhood Of the mines.
Mr. Bassett informed me that last summer
be found good paying prospects Of coarse
gold on a stream empiyiug into the North
fork Of Clearwater, about so miles North
Of Pierce city, and Mr.. s. Martin like
wise discovered coarse gold lying on a slate
bed rock in bar on the North fork Of the
South fork Of Clearwater about 40 miles
South Of i. The miners say that they be-
lieve themselves to be on tue outer edge Of
very rich gold deposites, which it will re-
quire at least year to thoroughly test.
Any person upon going into the mines
feels perfectly satisfied as to their richness,
by seeing the hardy miners wet from head
TO foot day and night, prospecting and dig
ging through from three TO ten feet Of snow
and living upon bread straight, without
grumbling. For the last two months every
thing had to be carried 10 by the men
themselves, on their backs. One miner i'm
mortalized himself In the aunals Of packers,
BY carrying in on bis back an eight gallon
keg Of molasses, twenty pounds hailS, Eve
pounds Of tobacco and two pair Of blank
cts. What will not gold dol
The miners are very sanguine that far
better mines will be discovered the ensuing
sumner. Little work has as yet been done.
Those who wintered there did not arrive
until the third day Of December at the
mines, and before they bad their cabins
bailt the SHOWS began. The heaviest fall
Of snow was in February.
There are not more than Eve or six
claims in operation at present, and they av-
erage from $40 to SIS per day to the man.
They cannot work more than seven or eight
hours per day, and they labor under every
disadvantage.
Accompanying this letter you will receive
small sketch Of the country. by W. W.
johnson. 1t is very correct indeed.
Much more might be said with regard to
these mines, but as my time is very much
occupied, you will please excuse the short
ness Of the description, and believe me to
be, Yours respectfully,
A. j. TAIBoDo,
Resident Physician a. Nes Perces Rssy'n