Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-03-17

NJ. 70.
but the general nature of'the country
is sobroken, consisting Of isolated noun
tain peaks, and broien ranges, without
continuity or system, tfat it seems
doubtful for ahytb5 ..nng more than limited
mines to be found in. this ESQ called)
s'upper country i37e4aT 81 4aibae1s
The population of this1basin, has been
estimated during the past summer at
| 15,O0). At present, however, the num-
ber is much reduced, probably not to
exceed 5000, many having gone away
disheartened, some having gone below,
. to winter, &c.,la few having left with
their piles. There are four villages i'll
this basin, Bannock, oPlacerville, Gen.
terville, Hogem, Cor Pioneer City, J with
a population ranging from 1000 to'2.-
F5u0. There are FIVE creeks in this basin,
that are being worked. to wit: Granite.
/ Wolf, Grimes, Elk and Moore's, but
owing 10 a light wash, or a very heavy
{ one, there is a difference Of opinion in
the matter,) the creeks pay but for
Short distance, the whole not making
more than twelve miles of good mining
! ground There are also FIVE or six wet
gulches, which pay very we'll for mile
each. The best paying ground has
however thus far proved to be on the bars,
dry ravines, and hills, they are generally
asily washed and some of them have
paid very richly, they are much moro
extensive than the creeks and gulches,
and really form the wealth of the basin.
Numerous quartz ledges have been
discovered which prospect in the out
groupings very richly, the gold being
plainly visable to the naked eye. 4 The
coming year several steam quartz mills
will be erected, and the lodges will be
tested, whether, Gas many think, } these
lodges will be the lasting mines of tho
basin, or whether they will prove to be
worthless. It is said to be general
rule that when the groupings are rich
and grow poorer as you descend, tho
lodges are Of little account. This, so far
as I can learn, has been the case with
all the lodges that have been prospect
ed. Still we hope for the best. limo
alone will show. With regard to the
richness Of these mines, they are un.
questionably good. Claims yielding an
ounce to $50 per day are nothing
unusual, wages have been from S. os6
per day the past summer, and will
doubtless be equally as high the coming
year. 1t is impossible to say how long
the mines may last, the scarcity of
water on the hills is great obstacle to
their reduction, but to all appearances
there area great many claims that will
paylfor two years to come, but when |
say the mines are good, | trust it will
not deceive you, it is doubtful if any
gold mines have ever paid for working
have benefited as many as they have
4 injured | know it is common to SEQ
pointed out, this one, and that Que, who
have made their fortunes in the mines,
but you here Of nothing of those who
do not make their fortunes. There is
an old story Of a philosopher who not
believing in the weather-gods, was re-
ferred to a long list of mariners, who
| having made VOWS to Neptune, were
thereby saved from watery grave.
f"Very good replied the old philoso-
! pher, "but where can / find recorded
/ the names Of those who have not been
saved after making their vows? Where
shall ] look for them?' So when you
hear Of feT persons who have made
their fortunes in the mines, let you en-
quire where shall I find record of the
thousands of men who have followed tho
mines for years and have not made their
fortunes Who can tell me Of them ?
i We have one newspaper published in
this basin, the Boise News, and have
express communication with Walla
Walla, and the lower country, through
Wells Fargo & Co, also with Salt Lake
City through D. C. Patterson.
Yours, very respectfully,
RICHARD DUSsTAN.