Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-03-23
-ALAVERAS CHRONICLE,
49,: MARCH %, 1867

MINING IrEMs.-On Wednesday last, arm
ed with a substantial rawhide, and mounted
on one of Deacon Peek's " fiery, untamed
steeds," we visited some of the mining claims
in Chill Gulch. The long, heavy rains
which we have experienced the past Winter
have furnished an abundant supply of free
number of miners at work, in placer diggings,
throughout the entire length of the gulch.
An hours gallop brought us to the claim OF
Paul & Co., located a short distance below
the junction. We have frequently mentioned
this claim before, but as the owners have
recently struck through into pay dirt of
great richness, and the claim is one of the
most extensive in the county, perhaps re-
statement of some of the facts connected
with it will not be out of place. The tunnel
through which the claim is to be worked Is
eight hundred and fifty feet in length, and
runs the entire distance through solid granite.
1t has cost three years constant labor and
$4,000 to complete it. The proprietors
have exhibited untiring energy and persever-
ance in prospecting the claim, and richly
deserve the eminent success, with which
their labors have been crowned. The gravel
at the point where the tunnel breaks through
the bed rock, pays an average of fourteen
dollars to the car load, and still the main
lead has not been reached. 1t will not only
prove fortune to its lucky owners, but also
add greatly to the wealth and prosperity of
this section of the county. The tunnel is
in the back end and looking out, the dis
tance is so great, that its mouth looks like a
pin-hole through piece of brown paper.
The Company are busily engaged in getting
their dump boxes, sluices, etc, in readiness
for washing, and when their arrangements
are completed, the amount of gold extracted
will be fabulous.
Martin & Co. have an extensive hydraulic
claim in the same vicinity, which pays re-
markably well. Water is conveyed to the
claim through iron pipes, a distance of one
LnOuSdnu I6eL, Will d ldLl VI UtLHGcA lAlCS
or four hundred. The claim is very deep
and as the force of the water " coyotes " out
under the bank. it caves down in immense
quantities Mr. Martin informs US that not
withstanding the rapidity with which his
claim can be worked, that he has ground
enough to last him for years, which he knows
will pay.
Returning we visited the claim of Mr..
Shaw, known as the " Henry Guy" claim.
Mr.. Shaw is engaged in running bed rock
tunnel through which to lay his sluices, as
he intends to work his claim by hydraulicing.
The tunnel has already been driven to a
point beneath the gravel, and as soon as a
streak of extremely hard ledge is gone
through, shaft will be sunk to intersect
the tunnel, and operat ions commenced. An
iron pipe eight hundred feet in length and
seven inches in diameter has been laid in
which the water is to be conducted to the
claim. and as it will have the force which a
fall of two hundred feet will give it, it will
undoubtedly make the "gravel fy.'
Diaere & Co., who purchased the old
Bob Paul claim" are doing exceedingly
we'll. Last week they cleaned up s4OO. the
result of five days work. There are several
other claims in that vicinity which our Inn
tied time would not permit us to visit.
Chilli Gulch has livelier appearance at
present than for some time past, and the
prospects for its future prosperity are en-
couraging.