The Placer herald., 1866-04-07
Mining in Placer County.

county, under date of March soth, in speak,
ing OF the mines Of that district, says:-
Amidst the many mining exci,etnents 8
which keep the members of the fourth es.
tate" ever on the qui vive to supply the public
with the most comprehensive and reliable
accounts, it would seem that this portion
Placer county is somewhat overlooked.
is true that occasional paragraphs appear, in
various papers, which may be deemed as in
dicat'ons Of prosperity, but the energy and
enterprise at present displayed in this local
'ty 10 developing its golden resources are
worthy OF more attention than they have
hitherto received, and with your permiss ion
will give you hasty sketch Of our mining
operations.
EXTENT OF THE WORK.
The fact that a profitable channel of ce-
mented gravel runs more or less tn rough the
divide, has long been established, aud nu.
merous claims have been for many years
steadily worked with varying success The
amount invested by our sturdy miners in
prospecting it, if footed up, would produce
sum total that might at the first glance ap-
pear fabulous; but were the statistics at hand
large as the amount would appear, it would
be shown that the upper portion of Placer
county has been quietly and steadily adding
to the wealth and prosperity Of California
far more than has generally been supposed.
ERECTING. STAMP MILLs-RIcH RETURNS.
The auriferous cement obtained from this
main channel is of very hard nature, and
the gold has hitherto been obtained by pro.
cess OF repeated washngs, allowing the dirt
to slack by exposure 10 the atmosphere be-
tween each washing-a system at once ex'
pensive and incomplete, as the whole of the
gold obtained in it was never obtained. 1t
became, then, matter of inquiry 10 devise
some method Of beating the cement SO as
to obtain the gold by more expeditions
and less expensive method. The idea of
crushing the dirt in stamp mills was suggest.
ed, and in 1868 Messrs. G. Ii. Dewey & Co.
erected substantial and we'll arranged mill
on their claim, at an outlay of about SO 900.
This has proved a most excellent invest ment,
as the firm have since realized large dividends
and recently sold out at prices varying from
$4,000 to $l2, 900 per share. Their success
induced the Rough Gold Company to EN-
bark in similar speculation last fall, and
the results of their enterprise have exceeded
their most sanguins expectations. Other
claims in Bath, are, understand, preparing
to adopt the same course, while at Forest
Hill several claims have. changed hands at
large prices, for the purpose Of applying
steam power to properly work them. The
Baltimore Company have erected a small
mill to prospect their ground, which has
been in operation few weeks with satisfac-
tory results. The Big Spring Company last
Monday started up their large and complete
mill with every prospect OF good Success
The Hope Company are erecting 3o.stamp
mill, and will be ready to commence work
with 20 stamps 10 a short time.
Among the larger sIuicine claims which
continue TO yield handsome returns may be
mentioned the DardaneIles and the New Jer-
sey, while the Oro. situated between these
two, in the early part Of the winter struck
some very rich pay; but finding it impossible
to obtain the gold by washing, they decided
to procure a mil. which has already been
commenced. c. Bowers & Co., (San Fran
cisco TunueD near ToJd's Valley, have been
prospecting their ground with sufficient sue
cess to justify them at once going into the
milling business. AT Todd's Valley Messrs.
A. Pond &y Co. have made some excellent
returns this winter, as also q. II. Garland.
AT Michigan Bluffs working miners are ad-
vertised for at So SO per diem wages, fair
indication Of prosperity, while Yankee Jim's
adds its fair proportion to the general pros
perity, and the Brushy Canon and other env.
rons are attracting attention.. My limits
will not permit full account of the activity
that prevade our mining community, nor a
detailed account of the many claims deserv.
ing full description. In a subsequent Iet>
ter l may endeavor to point out the vast
mineral resources of this locality, and fur.
nish reliable information Of the progress of
our mines and mining machinery, as we'll as
other items Of general interest.
PERTINENT QuEsr1oNs-Tbe people, with
out distinction Of party, are becoming sick
and disguised with the proceedings OF Con
gress, and they will hold the Radical major
ity responsible for legisIating exclusively for
the negroes and against the Southern States
All true Union men desire the speedy res,or.
alton of the Union. and that much desired
Object the Radicals are determined TO pre-.
vent. Their whole legislation is shaped to
this end. The New York Evening Post,
thoroughly loyal organ, as if beginning 10
be weary Of the almost interminable debate
in Congress in regard TO the admission Of
the Southern delegates, asks:
"Wbat harm could ensue to the nation,
or what DANCE TO it's government. if Con
gress should on Monday morning declare
that, The rebellion being put down. armed
resistance to the authority of the Union bav
ing ceased, every Congressional district is
entitled to send it's representatives to Con-
gress, and ought 10 do so at once9 What
would such a declaration amount to7 A
considerable number Of persons would pre-
sent themselves to the House of Representa-
tives and Senate, with certificates from the
Governors Of their States. Thereupon they
III AL IL - 4