The union Democrat., 1869-10-02
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
SMELLING, September Goth.

! EDITOR DEMOCRAT IL wish q lew OF thcSe
/ loud-mouthed Democrats who defeated our
/ legislative ticket in old Tuolnmne, the "Gi-
braltar of Democracy" would take tIip
down in this section Of the eeounsry among the
noble Democracy of MERGED, who have ever
proven true to their principles, and hear
what they have to say concerning their shame
full condact at the last election. Had they
remained true TO the party the Democracy
would have carried the eounty by zoo majors
II. Democrats all over the State were fight
ing hard 20 save California from the disgrace
of casting her vote in favor Of that infamous
Fifteenth Amendment" There is no ex-
cuse that Wing and York pledged themselves
not to vote in favor Of it. If they remain
faithful to their party they are bound to sup
port that measure; and before the vote Of the
State was counted no one could tell how it
would result. 1t might have turned ou,
that cid Tuoluma, would have the casting
vote. l hope that none of the "loaves and
fishes of Office will be given to single Dem
ocrat who ir any way contributed or lent his
aid in defeating the legislative portion of our
ticket. We have been routed "horse, foot
and dragoon" and the Radica. flag waves
triumphantly, or should. DER the ''battle-
ments' of democratic Tuolumne. We rode
ninety miles to cast our vote and work for
the legislative portion of our ticket and
though it is defeated we have the satisfaction
of knowing that we have done our duty. But
enough of this.
We left Columbia or the morning of the
~ 4 nLol , . !,
night at Wm Flotu's Hotel. La Grange is
located on the south bank of the Tuolumne
and has the appearance of having been once
fourshing town. There are several stores
here; also two hotels-one hoarder each,-a
fine billiard saloon. kept by Mr.. Samuel Ru
doipb, blacksmith shop and the richest and
most extensive placer mines now in Califor-
MIA. The people down here are anxiously
awaiting the action Of the trustees Of the CO.
lumbia Water Co. about extending their
ditch to their town. 1t was the only inquiry
made "Wll tie Water Company extend
their ditch here % All the news we could
give them was that said august body had
held an election Of officers on the Saturday
previous and that Gen. a. M. Dobbie, the
Superintendent, had been "steam boated"
out of reelection. lie had 26l votes sent
him from San Francisco, but strange as it
may appear they did not reach him till the
election was over though the letter contain
ing the votes should have reached him the
night Of the 9tt. The election took place on
the llth, Dobbie was beaten bv only Is votes
We paid visit to Cannon & Kellv's claim.
These gentlemen were formerly of Tuolumne.
Their claim is reputed to be the richest pla-
Ger claim in the State. They have done con-
siderable work upon it during the past eleven
t. ,o lNv, Il
az they have worked and 10 bottom yet.
1t is worked off in layers of ten or twelve feet.
the top of which had been hydrauliced off
during the winter. Parties who know, est
mate the value of TIE pay dirt that Cannon
& Kelly have piled up washing at$I2, 600.
only three men are employed. We also Wis
tied Mr. W. E. Shurly's claim which adjoins
Cannon and kelly's and which will prove
equally as rich. Mr.. S. is q practical miner
and is working his extensive claim systemati-
caliy. lie has four pipes attached to his hv-
draulic apparatus and when the water can
he obtained washes off through his two foot
fume, laid in the bed rock. seventy-ivc feet
of top dirt. He only washes up once year
and says that his claim paws so regularly that
he can calculate within 500 of what he will
get. He employs when he has water in his
ditch fifteen or twenty hands. He is depend
ent upon the rains for supply and some sea-
sons can't work half the time. The Coium-
ba Water Company would make fortune
if they would extend their ditch and bring
water down to this camp. The diggins ex-
tend for ten miles south cf La Grange and
are rich. Mr.. Thursby first introduced hy
draulics in this section. lie owns two extern
sive claims that will take twenty years to
work out. This would be fourishing camp
.f tEo hoJ tn tht,i, ~
We left La Grange Tuesday afternoon and
reached Smelling at sunset. This is the pref
tiest and liveiest town We have come across
vet, everybody seems busy. There are two
fine notes.-the Gait house and Coulter's lIO-
tel. where we put up. Coulter keeps Tip
top" house. He formerly kept the Coulter
Hotel. at Coultervii!e, which place was nam
ed after him. He has just sent one of his
sons off below to school. lie has two sons
and an interesting young daughter, who
keeps the hotel vocal with music, still with
him. Both hotels are doing n brisk business.
The Odd Fellows are building fine two sto-
ry brick Two blacksmith and two wheel |
wright shops. foar saloons, five stores, two sad
dler shops, two express Offices, two livery
stables, two bootmakers. one doctor, host
of LAWYERS and the usual force of county Off |
GERS flourish at Smelling. 1t is gay place.
The county court house is located in large
square, surrounded by beautiful shade trees
in the centre of the town. We called in at
the clerks Office and found our young friend
Charlie Blair. formerly of Richmond Va,
busy at his desk. Ho has resided at Smelling
since 80. Has been reelected several times
county clerk and has beautiful residence
and fine farm within few hundred feet of
the Court-IIouse. Although the most popu-
lar man in the county he was defeated before
the last Democratic contention. The people
say Charlie has had the Office long enough
that he must give others a show. How would
Bob Gardiner like that? r. J. Steele ESQ,
editor of tie San joaquin Valley Argus,
has recently treated himself 10 a new press,
type &c. lie has his two sons, George and
Henry with him. They do all the type set
ting and strike off the paper. Both are in
telligent youths. We called in at the 44ryus
Office hut the editor was absent. His sons
gave us couple copies of the last issue which
they were then striking eff. Steele is max
l.