The mountain Democrat., 1865-06-03
THE MOUNTAIN DEMOCRAT.
Letter fron m Dorado.
e. DORApO, June la., 1855.

81 DORADO, June lssp 1855
EDIroRs DRnOCRAT Having had frequent op-
uortunities, by reason Of travelling through this
couuty, Of observing what is going on In the
Way Of mining, the cOnclusion Is forced upon
the observers mind that untold wealth vet lies
hidden beneath our feet, and that those who are
leaving for Idaho and other remote places, are
leaving certainty for an uncertainty.
True It is that placer miniug In many locali.
ties 10 unremunerative, though there are yet
many places that continue TO pay.
10 that portion Of this county that lies South
Of the Pleasant VaiIey aud Sacramento road,
West Of Ranks Exchange aud East Of Shingle
S--ccSSrSS. rSS SAe Costumes river on the South,
Is district Of country containing several dis.
tinct lodes, Of what is known to 81 rTch aurifer-
GUS quartz.
The only reason why they are not worked
more fully is the want OF means. These leads
have been discovered and prOspected not BY
the light OF science or aid Of capital, but By
the persevering abOrs of the miners.
will call attention to one lode of gold bear.
ing quarts within 211 miles Of Ell Dorado, and
will name the companies 10 the order in which
they occur on the ledge, commencing at the
North.
The irst one We come to is the Tellus claim.
It 10 now being worked by Mexicans in the
most primitive manner. they carrying the rock
10 small parcels by hand from the ledge to their
arHstas, distance Of two or three hundred
yards, where il is delivered to a Mexican. seat
ed on Q bare rock, who breaks it into pieces OF
. suitable size for the arasta, by pounding il
with another rock held in both bands and by
this slow and tedious pr0cess quite little com.
munlty OF Mexicans, with their families, sus-
tain themselves.
The next one is the Eureka Co.'S claim con.
sisting of $3.50 feet. On this claim II consider.
able amount Of work has been done in sinking
shafts and in tracing the lode. The rock taken
out has raid as high as 500 per ton; huwever,
il would be very low estimate To place it ali
at $50 per ton. The writer 0f this has picked
up pieces from among the debris and rubbish
thrown out of The shafts in which the gold was
visible to the naked eve. This claim is un.
dOubtedly valuable, and at some not distant
day will prove mine Of wealth to its fortunate
owners.
One of the owners. Mr.. J. Simmons, has been
pashing ahead work on the claim, and were he
the sole owner, would snOn have the work go
ing on With energy, reaping the reward of his
perseverance and business tact, thereby beue-
hting the community bv bringing iniO exist
ance large amoun'S ut money, which in It's
present state. is Of no use whatever 1t j. to
be hoped this company will prosecute their
work vigorously, MS they have the assurance
of rich lode. tavoraby situated for working
il to advantage.
The next is the Union claim, which has been
worked since 1852 at intervals. Professor Sill.
man examined this claim under the auspices
nf New York capitalists; and upon his repo; /
Of the productiveDess Of the lode lEev pur-
chased the claim trr $4,000.
Adjoining the Union is the Central, owned bv
Mr.. e. p. Jackson Il Co. II has had con- >ider-
able work d"ue on II. but not ST. much as the
Union. Judging from the appearance Of the
rock and asshrs obtained from ii 6y its enter.
prising owners. they should have no fears Of an
ample fortune awaiting them in the future.
am Ihiornei II Is their Intention Ia resume
work upon II soon.
The next one South is the McNutv. Cpon
it ~ MGlh-vS" being done at The prcscn, tine
Shortly after tue breaking out If the " lshue
excitement the mill AdS moved Ia Wa~hne, and
Is known there as the Empire. However rev
mil is about t" be erected ia the vicinity.
Ii mSu at capital resulting In the city Of EeW
York. many 1T whom hat Z never been III Cali.
tnrnia, aud know u"Ihing ot mining, have con.
tidence enough in FL Dorado Cnunw anarlz
lodges To bay aud work them, why should Cal
itornia capitalists hesitate: II certainly would
be better f'r US, both as indit iduals aud as
community, Tor Callinrueus tn work their own
mines and keep the money here than q have
them worked out by foreigners aud tie money
taken away never to return.
The lode upon which the above men, T. ned
claims are located. lies very nearly North and
south, with Il dip downwards toward the Eas'.
From the L Mon claim North II is encaScd in
Trap rock. from thence South il is Slate rock
Standing vertical, in many places cropping oul
as high as two feet. This lode is we'll DE- tined
and easily HHcrd, and it will average five teet
40 width its entire length, N some places It is
ten feet wide, Us is shown at the workings on
the Central
The town Of El Dotahp is having new LIFE in
fused into it. and Is putting on the appearance
"i live town, caused bv the near apt r"ach of
the Railroad. II contains three excellent ho.
AelS which would be a credit to any town.
The Oriental Offers retreat t. the weary
traveller which is really luxurious The table
Is spread With sll that can cheer and comfort
the inner man. the cuisine beiuY presided over
Lv the landlords esliu4abie lady.
The proprietor Of the Nevada House has had
to enlarge his boundaries TO keep pace with the
increase Of his rapidly growing busines. lie
has recently renovated his Hotel throughout.
The NAtiODal is tine large building. with
good stables and yard. is a good place for team
Sters. and is literally patrouiSed by them.
ShinGle Springs is dung quite business in
the lot line, and town " Ill soon spring up
there, but AS Ia its rermanency, that is in the
future. Probably ii will be another Latr0be
The Railroad is being pushed ahead with the
Cig0r characteristic Of lis managers and soon
the Iron Horse III be heard at Shingle Springs.
This believe Is a fact conceded by the Sacra-
mentO Union, who kindly informs us at this
late date how the work progresses and that it
is being prosecuted with ENERGY.