Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-03-14
LOWER RICH GULCH.

LOWER RICH GULCH.
Having an opportunity to ride. and being
desirous of obta ming information in regard
to the progress being made in quartz opera
tions in that locality, on Saturday last we
visited Rich Gulch. The lead, which is the
subject of so much boring inquisitiveness, is
located on the south side of the gulch. and
is now claimed from the top of the Kill to
the river. Some ten or twelve years since
mill was erected in the gulch and quite a
quantity of rock taken from the lead and
crushed. Although the quartz prospected
finely. owing to the inperfectness OF the ma
cb;nery then in general use it was found
;mnossible to save the gold and the project
Was abandoned. Last Spring, however. g
company of practical miners-Alexander
Seavers & Co,-purchased the claim, run q
tunnel to the lead, erected a ten stamp mill
and have been successfully engaged in crush
ing ever since. Other parties have become
interested during the past year, and labor is
row being vigorously prosecuted at anumber
of places on the lead. The first claim on the
vein, at the upper end Of the gulch, is that
Of the
PALoMo MILL AND MINING COMPANY.
When the rains commenced last Fall not
pick had been struck in the lead at this
point and not move made towards the
erection Of machinery. AT the present time
quartz is being taken from the vein from two
shafts and tunnel, an eight-stemp mill is
pounding out the precious metal night and
day, quite village has sprung up and the
pulch presents lively ard business like ap-
uearance. These gratifying results, obtained
during the most severe Winter since 1862,
are entirely owing to the unfagging energy
and perseverance OF the Company's Superin-
tendcnt 4. Staples, Esq. Although the
season has been an extremely wet one, his
ardor has never been eTen "dampened."
The machinery was conveyed from Stockton
to the top of the hill above the, gulch, at q
time when people generally considered the
roads impossible; from thence, down the
steep, rugged declivity to the mine, rude
sleds were used in its transportation. Scarce
~ less difficulty was experienced in getting
timbers for the mine and material for the
mill to the spot. Everything being now in
readiness, operations have commenced in
good earnest. The battery consists of eight
stamps with a combined weight of 4,S00
pounds. and taken together is the most sub
stantially erected machinery of like character,
We ever saw. The stamps are run at the
rate of so strokes per minute. its crushing
capacity is from so to 100 tons per week.
The tunnel, situated directly above the mill.
has been driven 60 feet on the lead, which is
fully six feet in width. The rock looks and
prospects extremely we'll. Gold is plainly
visible in the rock in the end of the drift.
Competent judges are of the opinion that it
will pay from ten 10 twelve dollars. We
picked up some specimens which assayed at
the rate of 5000 per ton.
Two shafts ere being sunk one of which has
reached the depth OF 60 feet and the other
25 feet. The rock taken from the deepest,
the hosting from which is performed by
horse power, will pay handsomely. The
upper shaft is about so yards from the mill,
but both are so situated that an easy grade
is obtainable for railway to convey the
quartz. The shaft and tunnel are nessively
timbered throughout. Quite number Of
buildings have been erected for the conyen-
ience of the men employed, and the entire
operations are conducted in the most sci
entifc and workmanlike manner. Mr.. Sta
pies has leased the mine and mill of the
company, for one year, and the business will
hereafter be continued in his name. He
pays $4,000 for the first three months, at the
expiration OF which period an additional
battery of eight stamps is to be erected by
the company. For the residue of the year
the amount stipulated in the lease is $1,000.
Mr. Staples deserves success if energy and
untiring endeavors merit reward. His views
in regard to mining are comprehensive and
LIBERAL and our citizens should assist him, by
all the means in their power, in his efforts to
develop our mineral resources.
Alexander & Co. are running their mill
constantly and meeting large returns. Their
claim is so well known to our readers, and
We have mentioned it so frequently that We
omit any extended remarks this week.
Norton & Co., below them on the same lead,
are already in 14O feet with their tunnel and
pushing it ahead night and day. They ex-
pect to reach the vein in a month, whe1. they
will be 2e0 feet beneath the surface. Rich
Gulch is the best quartz mining region in
this section of the country.