The union Democrat., 1869-03-27
French Far.

EDITOR Though the Banks
from whose deposits has been drawn the
great wealth which has enriched California,
have ceased 10 answer the drafts made upon
them, yet their remain some containing rich
cs Of great value. ready 10 honor checks on
their deposits when presented in q proper
form.
The placer mines Of California, which were
easily worked, or to which water could be
carried at small expense, has long since
been exhausted, and are now worked in gem
eral, either by Celestials, or by others, who
cannot obtain money enough to take them to
some more favorable locality. But there yet
remain plaeers, gravel deposits, gulches,
flats, &C., which have hitherto been neglect
ed, either from their great distance from es-
tablished bitches. or the great expense at
tending the introduction of water.
Such is the region TO which this article re-
fers. La Grange, better known as French
Bar, situated among the foot hills of the Tu-
olumne, about twenty eight miles from Sono-
ra, has long been known 10 possess auriferous
deposits of great value, proved by occasional
workings with the scanty, precarious supply
of water afforded by winter rains, and cartng
to the river. On the east side of the Tuolum-
ne, on the benches back of In Grange known
as French hill, are deposits of gravel and
cement extending back for miles. Patricks-
vile ard the country around Antelope
Springs three miles from La Grange also con-
tain valuable deposits that single basin
could consume 10 advantage all the water
which could bo carried by the Tuolumne
County Water Company farther on, over
the ridge, lie New Years Diggings, including
Ccx's, Ragtown, Gold Hill, and Snelling's
Ranch, all Of which country has never been
worked except by rockers or water from rains;
an that section of width of two or three
miles, and extending to within three miles oc
Nerced Falls, there are many claims which
would be of great value, if worked with
steady water, and the whole of the ground
will pay two or three dollars day.
The writer Of this article speaks from per-
sonal knowledge Of the subject, having owned
claims in that region in 1857, and was COM
PEELED to give them up as no water could be
obtained. Daring that year he knew of ma
ny gravel claims which paid ten and twelve
dollars to the hand, carting half mile to the
river. Visiting that region again "A few weeks
since, it seemed as though little had been
done from 1857, though many arc doing well
with rain water for instance, Kelly & Co.
are taking out loo ounces per week: Thurshy
4 Co. are doing as well. while the claims of
Messrs Keogh. Rudolph, and Thomas are
patiently awaiting water. The writer here
tenders his thanks to Mcssrs Drsco'l, Ru-
dolph and others Cor information relating to
The "diggns."
On the east side Of the river the gravel hills
do not seem to have been so we'll proSpec;ed,
it is known however that they contain gold
from the surface To the bed rock. and with
sufficient fall for Hydraulic and DISCHARGE.
Up and down the river for long distance.
and rs far back as Randal's ranch the gray
el crops cut. and should ditch he brought
there, there probably would be but little
spare water to carry to the rich diggings of
French Hill or New Years
Between La Grange and the Crimea House.
about fourteen miles, is n wild broken country
whose gulches would furnish employment for
hundreds of miners if they had steady water:
to the Eastward, toward Don Pedros Bar,
there is also n large extent Of mining ground
yet unworSed, as mining can only be carried
on while the rain is falling. One company
there, MeSSrS. French and Brown. having had
fcrethousht to build reservoirs, are now max
ing from ten to fifteen dollars per day to the
hand in 40 Caleb. A ditch run from
Montexuma ~ the Crimca House, and from
thence 10 In Grange. down the divide be
tween Gallups and Big Creek would COM
mand all the diggingS mentioned, and render
profitable many large flats Of rich land which
would soon be turned into vineyards and
mulberry patches.
The attention of the Tuolumue County Wa
ter Company has been turned to the section
described. and they are about iusttuting a
survey to estimate the expense of ditch :
they sell hut little water in the worn out plac-
ers of Tuolumae. and they must needs find
new localities. Water mast be carried to
La Grange country and if one company don
do il another will. Ii ever the mines sfould
he worked out, the water will be available
for ranching purposes aud the sooner the
work is done the better for the County, the
mines, and the water company. c.