The Placer herald., 1864-01-02
Letter from William K. Parkinson.

|
letters from friends in the county of Placer
making enquiries relative to our mines. |
will avail myself of the privilege of replying,
with your permission, through the columns
OF your valuable paper. will simply state
facts, that have come Immediately under my
own observation, and leave the imaginary
portion of letter writing to those who are
more skilled in the art.
We have at this time, in this county,
| (fiunboldt,) three mills: one at Dun Glen,
town of some importance in Sierra District.
which belongs to Aud Lang Syne Company
and is intended to crush their rock onv. 1t
was first erected at Star City, where they
never run it successfully from what cause |
Know not. From thence it was removed to
Dun Glen; 1t being purchased by the Lang
Syne' Company. 1t is an old style Caifor-
MIA quartz mill, and as yet has done nothing
for the country.
We have also, what is called the Sheba
MIL, at Star City, which is said to be good
mill, but owing to the coarseness of the
screens, and having no experienced mill men
and amalgamaors. they have failed to come
up to the expectations of the people; but
have no doubt but what this mill in the
spring, when the weather is favorable, and
the owners can afford to employ practical
mill men to run it, will begin TO shi bu Iion
regularly as it might now be doing under
proper management.
We have in Unionvile the mill erected bv
John G. Fall, formerly of Marysville, man
OF most unillng energy and perseverance,.
or the workings of this mill | will speak
more particularly, as have seen every lot of
rock crashed and worked that will men
ton: and l will also stale, that have seen
the crude bullion melted and run into
bricks in the Assay Office of F. w. Blake.
OF this place. The results of the different
runs or crushlngs are as follows: OF the
Manitowoc quartz lode rock selected Welded
per ton, 1920 co. second lot, rock partially
selected, $3.50 90 per ton; third lot, worked
from lode generally, $l6o 90 per ton. OF
the Gem Of the Serras quartz lode, owned
by John II. Watson, formerly OF Santa Cruz.
Cal, first lot worked just as it was taken out.
yielded SlS5 90 per ton; second lot, worked
as the first, S30G 90 per ton. And they are
now unloading at the mill the first five tons
of the third lot, which is richer than any ore
have yet seen from the mine. Judge Wat
son claims for this lot s4oo 90 per ton.
The Ophir quartz lode, one Of the lodes
held by the Empire Tunneing Company, has
yielded, first lot, SlS5 per ton; second lot
rock partially selected, s205 per ton.
OF the Minnesota quartz, rock no. select>
ed, yielded Sl5G SO per ton.
There has been many other lots of rock
worked, and many other lodges fully tested,
but as | have not seen the results will not
give them. In all the mining districts in
this county, mines are being developed tha.
TO all appearances are as rich as those mem
toned, but the compaaies are not vet ready
to commence milling their ores. A good
mill, with all the modern improvements,
erected in this county, would prove to be a
very profitable investment indeed Water
privileges are excellent, and wood can be de
!ivered in many portions ef the mines at
from sc to IS per cord, and in no case will
wood be higher than at Virginia City, at
least for the next five years, if ever The
ores here are richer than at Virginia. and
out side of the Sheba mine easily reduced,
and the miners are perfectly satisfied TO pay
$50 per ton for crushing. AS to the nun
of mills we need here, can form no idea,
as any one lode will supply mill; but one
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| be overdone.
The climate so far as | have been able to
Judge, is not so pleasant as that of Califor-
MIA, but is much better than at Virginia City.
The water is excellent, pure and healthy
with the exception Of Star City, and be
lieve the sickness at that place, last summer,
can be traced to other causes than the water
and even there good water can be found by
digging wells. The valley of the IIumboldt
river furnishes grass lands in abundance, and
also a large amount of vegetables and other
productions are raised In all the mountain
canons, and valleys, there is an ample supply
of water for irrigation, and the soil is equal
ly iich with any portion of California; -
Agriculture is now, and will be in the future
one Of the most profitable branches of indus
try in the county.
All the Placer Countyites that have mel
here have been successful, but they are very
few in number Mr. James N. Mccormick
once Deputy Sheriff under Charley King, re
sides at humboldt, and has done very well
He was delegate to the County Conven-
ton held in this place on the 23d inst, anc
goes to Carson to attend the State Conven
ton next week. Mr.. A. p. X. Stafford, wei
known in old Placer, also starts in on the
same business. He is the County Recorder
elect of Humboldt county, and it is the mos
profitable office in the county. He is prom
nent in many of the leading enterprises
here, and has become wealthy.
For fear Of becoming tedious close.
Yours Respectfully,
WM X PARKINSON.