Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-12-02
Lower Trinity.

We left off at Cox's Bar last week. That is
one of the now rich districts of the county in
regard to which as little was known three years
ago as now is of what deposits may be hidden in
the West Weaver mountain, after three months
tunnelng. 4 great deal of money and labor was
expended in sinking and drifting some thought
rich diggings would be found in the hills if thev
hill, in sight below, had paid fabulously, and saw
no reason why there should not be pay in the
hills about Smiths Flat. The satisfed-in-their-
own-minds ones left while few more hopeful
tarried and labored on. We believe we are do
ing the proper parties Justice when we say that
4. S. Currie and VIM. Roberts were the most
persistent in their researches the result of which
is best known to themselves, the traders and gold
dust buyers. At all events we are not far from
the correct figures when we state that during the
last two seasons Mr.. Curries claim alone has
Welded ten thousand dollars
This claim is worth seeing \ perpendicular
bank of solid gravel formation, eighty feet deep,
and so tenacious that the action of the water
loosens it almost as evenly as if it had been
hewed down from top to bottom, is not often met
with IN this portion of the State. This bank,
Mr. Curric informed us, yields gold from top to
bottom, although the richest pay was on or near
the bedrock 1t is a splendid claim, and shows
that the work done under the supervision of
an experienced miner. The claim is divided by
small, shallow gulch. Just west of this, and
running ut right angles with the main ditch, is
the vein of stone coal of which readers have
heard mention MADE before. 1t is from five to
six feet wide, soidly encased in slate, which in
turn is as firmly encased in bed rock. The course
Of the vein is north east and Southwest, and
few feet from where the ditch crosses it's hidden
from view under the towering bank, gradually
increasing in width.
A fine 26-inch flume leads the tailings from the
claim to the river, where there is further
trouble with them. No extension of the aume is
required to find dumping place from year to year
as required in this basin each annual freshet
clears away what has accumulated the previous
season. 1t is claim worth haying-will last
longer than Mr. Currie wants to mine, for the
ground prospects we'll for several hundred yards
back. If the coal vein alone was within easy
cess of this basin it would yield handsome rev.
enue. Another most convincing argument i'll IA
vor of that wagon road.
Roberts Hedges and others have claims in the
hill near by. Roberts, particularly. has a good
thing. Last summer he struck a living stream
Of water in his drift, built small reservoir at
the mouth, so that each night he could wash the
dirt taken out in the daytime, and know exact
ly how much he had made. lie away when
we called, or we should have been able to tell
our readers more about his diggings. great
many drifts have been and shafts sunk in
the high bench above the fiat, without finding
the pay streak. The Supposition is that the pros
pcctors either did not 20 far enough back, else
not deep enough. The country has every APP
pcarance of being gold-bearing one, and the
pay makes its appearance again the hill beyond
Smith S house, i'll what is known as the kirkham
claim, now owned by our late townsman, Levi
W. Dodge. 1t is believed that this claim will
prove rich what labor has already been done in
opening it was well remuncrated. 1t is certain
ly nicely located to work. Levi pointed out the
end of the flume far above us says lie always
tells the boulders good bye when they start,
knowing he shall never see them again. We
hope he will make money, for then he will sell
ice cheaper next summer.
Some one Will bring the waters of Saw MIL
creek, opposite Big Flat, one of these days, and
it viii prove a paying Investment. We nearly
forgot to say that Amos Smith still occupies his
same old bachelor quarters, and that he raised
splendid crop Of winter apples this year More
of the lower river in our next.