Weekly Calaveras chronicle. (Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, Cal.) 18??-1874, 1868-02-01
Avisit to the Rich culch Mines.

the f6lOmO hill Recently eieCeeu - $1,000
Gulch, ON Wednesday last, in company with
several gentlemen, we visited the mines In
that locality. The day was an exceedingly
pleasant one, the sun shining brightly "hiie
the air was as balmy as day in June.
Riding along the Stockton road nearly to
the Golden Gate, we turned abruptly to the
right. and after descending deciivity SO
steep that we were forced to "baiiast our
horses to keep them from turning summer
sets, we at last arrived safely upon 'ne
ground. A large number of our citizens
who are alive to the importance Oh oe'eiop
mo onr mineral resources, were already
assembled, eagerly awaiting the starting u
Tho mill and anxious that its initial move
ment should be success. Everything De-
ing in readiness, the water was turned lnlo
the pipe, and the hill-sides of Rich uuich
echoed the laundering clatter of the battery
and the cheers of the gratifed spectators.
Although entirely new the machinery worked
to perfection, running as smoothly and nice
ly as though it had been in operation for
months. After receiving the congratulations
of his friends upon the successful perform
ance of the machinery, Mr.. Staples invited
them to the dining hall where a table had
been spread, bountifully supplied with the
substantials of life, fanked on either side
with bottles of champagne and other wines.
Ample justice was done to the viands.
Toasts were drank to the success of the
.Palomo," the health of its hospitable
proprietor, and the prosperity of our mining
interests generally. The
PALoMo MILL
is model of substantial neatness and solid
ity, and was pronounced by all who visited
it, among whom were some capable of judg-
ing. to be most perfect in every particular,
rejecting credit upon the gentleman who
erected it, Mr.. Milo J. Aver, one of the
first machinists in the State. The battery is
composed of eight stamps weighing six
hundred pounds each, having a 'drop" of
six and fourth inches. The motive power
is furnished by hurdy- gurdy wheel. eight
feet in diameter. The water is conveyed
from the ditch to the mill in IL and IL inch
iron pipe, seven hundred feet in length. hav-
ing a perpendicular fall of three hundred
feet. The water is applied to the. wheel
through a three fourths inch nozzle. Its
such tremendous pressure, is incalculable.
It seems absolutely incredible that so small
a stream Of water is sufficiently powerful to
run heavy machinery ; but no assistance is
required, even in starting it. The power is
applied to the stamps by means of huge
gutta percha belt, running from the pully
on the water wheel shaft to the one on the
cam shaft. The mortar-block is twelve feet
in length. and set twelve feet in depth IN
bedrock. Some idea of its solidity can be
obtained when we state that the blows of the
stamps. when striking at the rate of eighty
times minute, did not jar it in the least.
The cams and boxes used are the patents of
Mr.. Aver. AS soon as the roads are passa-
ble, another battery of eight stamps will be
added to the one already in operation. The
quartz to supply the mill is furnished from
two shafts and tunnel. The shafts are
about twenty five feet in depth, developing
lead seven feet in width, increasing in size
and richness as the work progresses. The
tunnel is being run directly ON the lead, but
is so near the surface that 1t is not so clearly
defined. We are informed that the mine
and mill are to be placed under the super
vision of w. II. Gwin, Jr Too much praise
cannot be bestowed upon Mr.. Staples for
the indomitable energy and perseverance he
has exhibited in the construction of the mill.
Any one conrersant with the difficulties at
tending the transportation of heavy material
during the Winter months in the mountains,
will readily understand the obstacles he has
had to overcome. In addition to this, the
mill is situated in gulch almost inaccessible
under the most favorable circumstances.
We sincerely hope he may meet with the
success he richly merits.
A short distance below the "Palomo," on
the same lode, are the mine and mill of
ALEXANDER, sEAvERs & co.
These gentlemen erected their mill in May,
last, doing the most of the work themselves,
and it has been in successful operation ever
since. 1t is built upon the same principle as
the 'Palomo,' but the battery has ten stamps.
The mine is worked through q tunnel $50
feet in length. Striking the lead at that
distance, level has been run upon it $50
feet In length. A considerable portion of
the distance the rock has been "stoped" out
to the hight of 80 feet. The lead is solid,
seven to ten feet in width. 1t is the best ap-
pearing ledge we ever saw, and what is bet
ter, pays handsomely. The mine is massively
timbered throughout and is being worked in
a workmanlike manner. The company is
composed entirely of practical miners. AL
exander, Seavers & Co. have one of the best
paying and most valuable mines in the
county and they deserve it.
NORTON 8 CO..
have located claim on the same lead, be-
low Alexander & Co. They are engaged in
sinking shaft, and will undoubtedly erect
mill in the Spring. Rich Gulch is bound to
become the "Grass Valley" of Calaveras.
Hon. ISAAC AVER has introduced Bill to
bond the floating Indebtedness Of this county.
The bonds bearing per cent. interest, and
payable in 1880. We have no space to COM