The Shasta courier., 1864-07-16
The Trinity Centre Copper Mines.
Wbiskytown. Cal. july 5. 1856


not prove uninieresting to a portion of your
readers at least. proceed to lay before them
IA brief account of a recent visit made by
myself and others to the copper odes belong
per Mining Company. These lodss are To-
catsd about ten miles north east OF Trinity
Centre, and five miles north east of Mr.
Myres' ranch, Trinity county. California, in
!, mountain between East and West Forks Of
Trinity river.
We arrived by stage at the ahove named
ranch on Monday eve., June 26ih. where we
were agreeably entertained over night by the
gentemanly prnprietors. After an early and
good breakfast, we set out On foot to make
the ascent of the mountain by the nearest
but most practicable route fpr footmen. Two
miles Brought us to the base. Half II mile
up the ascent, upon bench Of the III untain,
we came to the tunnel of the Copper Creek
Mining Company. Here Mr. Fox, the Su
perntendent, kindly showed US all the most
interesting features Connected with this local
ity. We certainly saw some very good cop
per ore. such. for inst6nce, as red oxyde nud
green nalichite, which seemed t. be proiuse
~ sea terei through the whole bench. Tie
Company have considerable nre selected, and
will soon make. we were informed. a ship
menr. Near this is another Company of
which Mr.. Crocker is Superintendent. -.e
is driving Il tunnel with good prospects, be
thinks, Of success. But lea,i ing these, son
tire miles ~, up brought US to the cabin of
our own Company, me 5000 feet more or
less, above the level of the ocean, where we
L L
ring which process our ravenous appetltes
subsided. Resting little, we were conduct
ed by our present fireman, M. Arlington,
to the lodges, five in number. First, to the
Rnttlesnake. a well defined one, cropping out
for many hundred yards, which croppingS
assay we |. Second. to the Mountain King,
about one half mile from the first, is u broad
and well defined lie lge, cropping out for !,
great distance. Ga this one our tunnel is
d-iven-cut and tunnel. ninety feet-and is |
done in splendid and durable stylc ut a di
dect cnsf o. SIGe per foot. the lode is tap
led and penetrated eight feet iengthwise aud
five feet tcrisswisa.--the outw ard !isnit on one
side not yet reached. at depth of forty feet
The prospects obtained are verv faitering
indeed. The quartz is beautifully interspers-
ed with greer mal'chite. yellow and brown
copper ore, with Indications of gold and sill !
,er specimens of winch we brou ht away
Though the lode is penetrated bat eight feet |
it appears to be rapidly improving. BY driv-
ing the tunnel 200 feet further it wil reach |
the centre of the m,untain at dnpth of $50 /
feet. We expect to prosecute the labor VITA /
vigor. On this same lode, Mr. Acres and I
others. under the il corDoratea Iame OF The I
Iowa Gold aud Silver Mining Company, are I
running tnnnei, aud will soon strike the I
le lgr. Three iourths of ii nile still further I
nprIh from the last mentioned ledge is the |
Mountain Ranger. splendid lode. and is
undoubtedly equal in richness to anything in
Norrhern California. A tunnel can he driv
en- into it for less than $500. that would ar
tain depth under the summit, of 400 feet.
A little ways north from this is the Noun
tain Queen, a well defined ledge with good
crop ings. The Mountain View. we did not
visit. rnts. series of lodges incorpor,,-
ted and knnwn AS the fatlesnake series.
and can be tapped at depth of l0Ou feet
A wagon road with Il good grade can he
IN de, ns We have EN- told bv those who
have given attention to the subject f So
600, the cost If which could be divided he.
tween several companies.
Having viewed the mountains till our ey es
were wearied and our bodies almost exhaust
ed by climbing over them, AMI the lurninary
OF day baving sunk behind the Salmon
r,nge, we returned by the shortest route, to
the cabin, fully prepared to make ANOTHER
vigorous >laugllt upon the bacon and beans,
after which we laid down, heads and feet two
deep. for there were fur of Us in !, bed f,r
two. to sleep. But | must confess that so
far at least as one of the company was con
serned sleep was out of the question, as we
laid with visions of wealth i0oming up in
our minds. We laid down with the reflec-
ton that any man holding one hundred feet
in these ledges, holds. when Developed. ior
tune; and as well wishrrs to every member in
the Cumpany. we. who have seen them. have
united in saying don't foul your feet away.
don't part with them for Il song: remember.
though one has feet, he must first creep. then
walk, afterwards run We have made the
first transition. Paying one. as we fully be-
lieve aud will soon have tested, has been
struck The facilities for developing these
mines so far as they pertain to w"od and
water. in near proximity. ire ahundent.-
The valleys near hy are rich and we'll adapt
ed to the purposes for which they are already
that is agriculture and stock rails
ing. IL. =. u.