Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-08-25
CALAVERAS CHRONICLE.
MoKELUMNE HILL:
SATURDAY, ::: >; AUGUST %. 1866.

OK Monday afternoon last, business not.
being very pressing, and wishing to escape
for few hours from the heat, buzz, and
turmoil of the city, we procured spanking
pair of bsys and a fine buggy from the estab-
lishment of Messrs. Peek & Co., on Main
street, and, accompanied by friend, started
off for a short drive in the country. Leaving
town in westerly direction, we were soon
travelling at good 2:4o gait over the smooth
surface of the Mokelumne Hill and Campo
Seco turnpike, one of the best roads in the
State. The day was auspicicus. The wealth
er. which for several days previous had been
excessively hot. had moderated to very
respectable temperature, and delightfully."-
cool, invigorating breeze, laden with the de-
licious perfume of wild flowers, famed our
temples, and seemed to endow us with new
life. The turnpike, for distance of nearly
two miles, winds along the side of Stockton
Hill, gradually ascending until it reaches the
top of the ridge. From this elevated point
one of the most magnificent panoramas of
mountain scenery which can be imagined, is
presented to the enraptured gaze of the be-
holder. As far as the eye can discern, and
forming the Western border of the picture, an
indistinct blue line, blending with the hori-
zon, marks the course of the. Coast Range
gigantic barriers. erected by tie Creator to
resist the encroachments of the ever-restless
waves of the Pacific. The intermediate space
is filled with the many-formed. picturesque
elevations comprising the foothills. and the
broad, level, fertile valleys of the Sacramento
and San Joaquin. To the East, the snow
capped submits of the Sierra Nevadas raise
their hoary heads to the clouds, like grim
sentinels, watching with sleepless vigilance
their charge-the fairest star in the American
galaxy. Almost at our feet, the clear VIA
tiers of the beautiful Mokelumne, sparkling
and flashing in the sunlight like thread of
molten silver, were winding their sinuous
way through the deep mountain passes and
inaccessible gorges which mark its passage
until it loses its identity in the turbid waters
of the San Joaquin. A river is typical of
human life. Its fountain represents birth.
For time the merry little brook glides joy
ously on; one moment its crystal waters are
dancing gleefully, sparkling like diamonds
as they reflect the rays of the sun, the next
they are gliding noiselessly through some
shady dell whose leafy bowers are enlivened
by the musical notes of feathered songsters.
1t passes on in its devious course, among
verdure-clad hills. through grassy fields and
shady hooks, like child at play. keeping
step to its own babbling music. That is
childhood. As it flows ceaselessly on, like
the fight of time to eternity, it is constantly
receiving accessions to its volume, and the
little brooklet becomes river. With resist
less force its angry waters are hurried on,
plunging over fearful cataracts. kissing and
seething over rocky rapids, and rolling sui
lenly through dark and gloomy dcfiles.-
These are the trials, temptations and pas
sions cf manhood. 1t again energies into
the light of day. Its course becomes as tran
quill as it was the day it left its source, and
the calm, peaceful waters, smooth as pol
ished mirror, flow majsstically on to be
swallowed up in the ocean, whose never
ceasing thunder sings melancholy dirges over
its grave. But what has this to do with our
rider After a short ride we seached the Col
den Gate. Its hospitable proprietor L. M.
Schrack, ESQ.,, with that urbanity and po-
liteness for which he is SO distinguished, cor
daily invited us to alight and partake Of
some cool spring water, which we did. We
noticed, however, that he held a suspicious
looking bottle in an inverted position over
the glasses before we drank. The fluid tasted
very much like excellent old Bourbon. By
invitation of Mr.. Schrack we visited the
claim of Messrs. Gleason, Schrack. Sawyer
& Co., which is located in the immediate
neighborhood. Although but short time
has elapsed since labor was commenced,
work has been pushed forward with such
rapidity that they have already reached a
distance of nearly two hundred feet. The
tunnel is eight feet wide, six feet high, and
run on an incline of four feet in twelve. 1t is
massively timbered throughout. and is the
handsomest piece of work of the kind we
ever saw. The claim is worked night and
day, three sets of hands being employed. II
is estimated that they will have to run SIX
hundred feet before striking the lead. The
dirt and water are drawn up the incline in a
car by steam engine which the company
has recently erected on the grounds. All the
machinery connected with the claim appears
to work admirably, and we have no doub,
but that when the lead is reached it will
prove largely remunerative. While ON our
way back to the house. happening to cast our
eyes to the eastward, We saw a small collec-
ton of houses lying close up to the tase OF
Bear Mountain. Upon inquiring of Mr..
Schrack who is well acquainted with the
locality of all the small hamlets in the coun-
ty. we were informed that it was San An
dreas. After partaking of more refresh
ments we parted with our hospitable host,
and drove on, taking what is termed the
Chilli Gulch road on our return. A ride OF
a few miles-during which we passed the
fine farms and neat residences of Messrs. Por-
ter. Beals, Morse, and many others-brought
us to the claim of R. II. Paul & Co. This
company is also running tunnel into Stock
ton ridge, through bedrock hard as ada
mant. The entire distance to be run before
reaching pay-dirt, is one thousand feet. I,
was certainly q herculean undertaking.
Three years of continuous labor has already
been done. and still but half the distance has
been accomplished. Every inch. so far, has
been gained by blasting. We were inform
ed, however. that the rock is getting softer