The Shasta courier., 1865-03-18
NUMBER 3.
Letter from Old Diggings.
OLD DIGGINcs March LII

D DIpOlNUS, 1ftD, 1900,
MR. EDITOR You invite communications
on mining subjects, and | comply with it to
the extent of my feeble and inexperienced
capacity, and will try and give you sketch
of the region known as cold Diggings."
The locality known as above is situated
about six miles east Of your town, and bor-
ders on the Sacramento river. The locality
is what the Indians call "coloma," mean.
ing small valley or fat. It was mined as
long ago as 1919. Its gulches and ravines
leading from the divide east were found to
pay more or less, and generally we'll, for the
working. Wha. most struck the miner upon
entering the valley was the vast amount of
float quartz covering the whole face of the
country, with large boulders here and there
visible.
The gulches have been worked out as a
general thing, and now the miners are cut.
ting into the hills for something more per-
manent-in short, for the lodges which for
long ages had fed and made rich tho gtlches
and ravines; or, failing in that, they seek
placer or tree gold in the deep gravel hills
adjacent.
The prospect for hill diggings, so far es G
miners Judgment can determine without the
actual test of working them, is most fatter-
ing.
The Mammoth Company have made
heavy beginning in quartz mining Their
mill and fixtures are of the most permanent
character and there is every indication that
the company at least are in earnest and
mean to stay. At present they are working
on the surface-or near it--of well defined
ledge. Their vast operations move on like
clock work, and when they have attained to
depth on their lode which other and older
works have arrived at, there can be no doubt
but their returns will be all that could be
desired. The ledge is large and will furnish
rock sufficient to wear out dozen mills, and
then the work will scarcely be begun. Nor
is the Mammoth the only ledge convenient to
the mill. Many others crop out in the vicin-
ity, from which good prospects are obtained
from.surface rock, thus giving assurance that
the investments in the mill must prove good.
and creating certainty that half dozen
more of the same capacity as the Mammoth
mill could find profitable work
There are but few permanent inhabitants
in the valley, yet there are many bright
eyed juveniles with smoky complexions play
ing about among the chapparel. seemingly as
wild and untamable as the quail and hare,
their cotenants. This does not bespeak for
citizens the highest possible grade of morality
and taste, perhaps; but then the present
inhabitants cannot be considered as fixtures,
but rather liable to wander off in the root
and cricket or salmon season, and their
places may be readily filled by those of diff
ferent tastes and habits.
As one walks from the valley up the splen.
did Mammoth road, he passes their incline
railroad and other works, and attains the
summit, when the ancient city of Churntown
presents itself to view on the east; across the
river and in plain view is old Bally." d
little to the south of which is beautiful
Shasta, nestled among its own hills further
south the Butte mountains rear their snow
capped peaks, and to the southeast Lassen's
Peaks present themselves to the eye, making
in all a scene which for grandeur and beauty
is nowhere excelled. S. S..