Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-12-01

MINING ITEMs.-Work is being pushed
forward on the different claims in this dis.
trict with rapidity and persistency which
Indicates that our people have an abiding
faith in the richness and permanency OF our
quartz lodges, and that they are determined
to develop their hidden wealth. Having be-
come satisfied with their experience in Reese
River, Humboldt, and Silver Mountain. and
convinced that mines nearer home offer su-
perior inducements for investment, our citi-
zens have set earnestly about the task of
prospecting the veins of gold bearing rock in
their immediate vicinity. Herchner, Myers,
Wesson Co.. are making rapid progress in
the development of their lead near Middle
Bar. A tunnel seventy-fve feet in length
has been run directly on the lead, disclosing
vein five feet in width, every pound of
which contains gold. From assays which
have been made, it is demonstrated to GER
tainty that the rock, as it is taken from the
lead. unassorted. will average twenty five
dollars per ton. This is certainly as good a
prospect as reasonable man could desire. 1t
is the intention of the company to erect
mill as soon as they complete their tunnel
the distance of hundred feet. With the
facilities which they have for taking the ore
from the claim, and the uniform character
of the rock, there is not possibility of a
doubt but what this will be one of the best
paying claims in the mountains when the
necessary machinery is erected. The great
est activity prevails throughout the entire
district, and not in single instance have we
heard Of labor being discontinued on any of
the claims. Intelligence from the Whisky
Slide district continues fattering. New dis
coveries are constantly being made in that
locality. Wallace, Cockley & Co., owners
of the famous "Whiskey Slide lead" since
striking the large body of enormously rich
quartz at depth of one hundred feet, have
contracted for the erection of a large mill,
and commenced sinking a new shaft, their
old one not being suitable for working pur-
poses. Matthews. Foster & Co., whose claim
is in the same district, have sunk a shaft 112
feet, opening one of the best defined, solid
veins of gold bearing quartz, six feet in width,
we have ever seen. Two tons of rock taken
from this lead. and crushed at Harris mill,
in Sandy Gulch. yielded forty-four dollars.
We are informed that the ledge increases in
width and richness as the work progresses.
These gentlemen have developed lead which,
if the requisite machinery for crushing the
ore could be obtained, would prove largely
remunerative to the owners. Williams & Co.,
in the same district, have recently discovered
and commenced work on a lode which prom
ises to equal the others in richness. AL
though their shaft has been sunk but twenty
feet, they are taking out some remarkably
fine rock. They are busily engaged in pros
pecting. and bid fair to develop valuable
mine. We continue to hear the most cheer
ing news from Railroad Flat Hepburn &
Co.'s mill will soon be completed, and we
understand that rock sufficient to keep it
crushing for six months has already been
hauled. The completion of the mill will af-
ford the miners of that locality ample facili-
ties for testing and working their claims, and
in our opinion, demonstrate the fact that
Railroad Flat is one of abe richest mining
districts in the county. From West Point,
Sandy Gulch, Mosquito and Rich Gulch
the reports are most favorable, and the gilt
terri g dust is being taken out in great guam
titles. Machinery is being erected, aban-
doned claims re-opened. and new leads dis.
covered. We are glad to see a revival of in
terest in mining operations, and thankful
that our citizens are at last fully awakened
to the Importance of developing our quartz
leads. Calaveras will yet come out all right
A SPICY letter from our Nevada correspon-
dent, "Calaveras," arrived too late for this
issue. Wait till next week.