The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-07-25
GOLD DISCOVERY m OHIO,

al I'm Paying Quantities.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercially
CINCINNATI, July 16, 1867.
Having seen specimens of gold said
10 have been found near Belleville, In
Rlchland county Ohio, curiosity IN
duced me to mako n visit to the locah-
", and satisfy myselfa as to the fact
Accordingly ] left Cincinnati ON last
Saturday, by the Z o'clock morning
train on the Little Mama railroad, for
Newark and there getting upon the
Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark rail
road, arrived Mt B~elleville about Z Pm.
Belleville 1 found to be n pleasant vii
lape. we'll built, and beautifully located
in valley, and surrounded by bills
in all directions. Through the valley
and at tho edge OF the town winds
Clear creek, q stream of some magni-
tude, which is dotted here and there
with mills, forming altogether n very
picturesque place. The own Is said
20 have o population of nearly one
thousand, which, from appearances, l
thlnk is rather an over than under
estimate.
The appearance of the country after
leaving Mount Vernon, some twelve
miles south of here, as you approach
Belleville, gradually changes in its
outline, from u beautiful rolling sur
face TO that of q more abrupt and billy
character, the hills havlngconslderable
elevation, the soil, at the same time,
both on the hlll.sides and valleys, be-
coming poorer IN quality. There is
occasionally 10 be seen out-cropping
of sandstone rock along the railroad
banks and in the beds Of the streams,
and at Frederick, six miles above
Mount Vernon, a very bold mass OF
rock presents, Of the same character.
The qualification along she whole dis.
lance to Belleville presents a very uni
form character and dip, and there is no
evidence Of disruption Of the same, by
volcanic or other force.
Gold was first discovered in this To-
callty by DR.. j.. J. Austin, Of Bellcville,
Ga returned Californian who from
his experience in the gold fields there.
upon his return home was struck with
the similarity they presented to the
srRulch mines of California; and acting
upon his impressions simply, he pros
pected the locality and verified his
opinions. Since then gold has been
found everywhere in the immediate
vincinity both in the ravinesQr gulchcs
OF the hills, and on the top of them,
and in tho level plain of the valley
1t was happy conjecture for the doc
tor, as he had nothing else to base his
opinions upon, and a singular vertical
ton, as upon examination there is moth.
ing in the geological development o
the locality that, to q practical geolo-
gist, would warrant such a supposition
The only rock visible is the sand
stone rock mentioned. containing q few
fossils, and occasionally showing q
course conglomcratc, and no evidence
ofany iutting through this formation
ofmetoliierOus-rock by volcanic act
ion appears. The qualification IS per.
fact and dips two or three degrees L
the south. Consequently there is Nc
rock here of n goldbearing character
to deposit its metal by gradual disin-
tegration. The query, whence cam
il z must DO answered, then by other
causes. Upon going over the locality
tho question is solved. DRIFT" is ev.
cry where present. B%owlders orgran
lite, quartz, &c, Of all sizes, some ton.
in weight, are scattered on the hill
sides, and IN the valleys, and the bull
OF the loose soil is q mass of drift,
mixture of bowldcrs, gravel and sand
covered with n thin, light soil, and no
very productive agriculturally. Thi
drift extends from n northwest 10
southeast direction, along and acros
the hills, and in this drift, and with il
was the gold here found deposited.
Having made tho necessary prepa
ratlons for prospecting, such as pan
spade and pick, II party of us took II
early start in the morning after my al
rival, and made our way up q sma
branch emptying into Clear Creek.
Our first essay was near its moutl
4 few shovelsful of DIRT were take
from the bed of the creek and pannc
out in the stream. Tho result wa
satisfactory, and ten or fifteen piece
of fine gold We're found. This opcr
aJlUn was repeated two or three tim,
near the same place. In overy II
stance, to use the miners phrase, g
showed color
We proceeded on aboutone hundr,
wards on the road along the creek.
spade full of dirt from the surfac
(wheel track was taken and pam,
out; the color here. too, was found.
We next proceeded abouta milefu
Their up the creek to a locality know
as the Moody farm. ThispOint Is su
to be one OF the best yet prcspe9tC
The creek run along the base Of I
hill o fsome magnitude. 1t Is built l
it seems, of a mass of drift. BowldC
of all siz IS and descriptions are visil
along the banks Of tho small stree
and h~ill-sides. The creek, at prese