Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-04-06
West Point Correspondence.
WEST PoINT, March 27th, lst


EDITOR CHRONICLE The Winter just past
has been the severest ever experienced by
that venerable individual, "the oldest inhab-
itant." Since about the fifth of December
We have had succession of storms follow
ing each other so rapidly, as to almost amount
to one continuous storm of rain and snow.
True we have had at different periods, in
tervals of a few pleasant days,-that is, days
of sunshine, pleasant overhead, but such
days only served to soften the snow and
render it into a most delightful slush, thus
making it extremely agreeable and pleasant
to travel about in, until another snowfall,
and we had 1.-The old thing renewed" AS
consequence, such weather has greatly re-
tarded our mining operations and materially
have been unable to have their ores hauled
to the mills and comparatively but small
amount of gold has been extracted, during
the past four months. However, we have
the ores mined out IN large quantities and
as soon as the weather and roads settle,
(Which judging from present appearances
will be about next Fourth of july it will
be hauled to the mills and crushed, and then
we will again experience "Hush times"
Notwithstanding the severity of the weather
work has been vigorously prosecuted on
quite number of the principal mines in the
district, and the most encouraging success
has been the result.
At Enterprise Flat, about one mile from
town, some splendid veins of rich ore have
been developed. On this Flat is located the
celebrated Gouldsen mine, which yielded
large sum of money last Summer, and which
was pronounced by some to be "worked out"
But Mr.. Gouldsen, having recently become
the sole proprietor. has, by drifting, discov-
cred large bodies of rich ore on each end
of the old works, and has out now at the
mine ore that will yield twice as much as was
taken from it last season. A few rods north
of the Gouldsen mine is located the Willis
and Johnson mine, and from it they are now
mining large quantities of splendid ore. A
few tons crushed in Harris's mill few weeks
since yielded near one hundred dollars per
ton and the ore now being taken from it is
much richer. The "Torch Light" owned
by Briggs, Everheardt, & Co., located short
distance east of the Willis and Johnson mine,
is yielding good ore. This is new mine
and as yet no ore from it has been crushed !;
but it prospects equal to the best, and the
owners are sanguine they have a "good
thing" A quarter of mile to the north,
on the same range. is good mine owned by
Jeff Wilson s. Co.-the same Jeff, whom,
your correspondent "Patrice" few weeks
since properly designated as constitutional
Jef,"-ore recently crushed from this mine
yielded over one hundred dollars per ton.
Messrs. Briggs & Hope have recently be-
come the purchasers of one half of
it, and the company now design running
drain tunnel to free it of water, which has
heretofore been expensive to keep out.
Mess-s. Harvey & Hawk, formerly of Vol
cano, are working the Zacetera mine, on
contract, and have out large quantity of
splendid ore. At Catora, three miles east of
town, Congdon s Mocher have good lead
and have out large amount of rich ore so
also have Keys & Posteans, in the same
vicinity. Mr.. Bouglinval, owner of the Orc
Plata mine, is prosecuting work vigorously
and has in his mill large quantity of splen-
did ore, but owing to the cold weather he
does not attempt to run his mill. I am in
formed that he has just let contract to some
gentlemen from Sandy Gulch, to mine out
large amount OF ore by the ton. Morris &
Co. are proposing to wash the tailings from
the Nina Rica mill by new burning process,
recently invented by Mr.. Morris. The Nina
Rica Co., owing to vexatious litigation, have
for the time suspended work. I was shown
few days ago some exceedingly rich speci-
mems taken from new lead discovered a short
time since, near the South Fork, on the
Mokelumne Hill road. If half the reports
1 hear from it are true the owners have a sure
thing for "big fortune Yours
"R."