Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-12-21
Mr.. StcarnS on California.

California, have often been asked what are
It's advantages or Inconvenience as home ?
To these inquiries now propose to reply.
To young men Of energy, in good health,
few Of our new States afford better promise
Of success The Placer treasures, that were
formerly supposed to be had for the taking,
are, however no longer there. Mining is
settled down to o systematic business, operated
by capital aud having fixed locations and
vested titles Gold and silver are produced
from quartz. to be lifted through shafts and
tunnels FROM many hundred feet below the
surface of the earth, and, when reduced in
stamping mills 20 powder, to be separated by
means Of the chemical uihnities Of quicksilver
with the metals, and their subsequent separa-
ton therefrom by means Of mechanical pro-
ccsses and the application Of heat. In some
mines, as near White Pine in Nevada, gold
silver, and lead subsst together as in a nat
ural amalgam, which requires only the pro-
cess Of smelling, and the drawing of Of a
natural aux produced by fusble stone ele-
ment in composition with the ore. The
product Of the furnace, bearing the appearance
of pigs of lead, is usually freghtel to New
York or Europe, or San Francisco, to be sub
ectod to such refining processes as will save
each of the metals embraced 10 the amalgam
in its separate state. The lead is worth 500
ton in San Francisco and more in New
York, while several hundred dollars in silver
aud gold are separated from each ton Of the
combined metal.
Gold is still gathered from washing out
the entire earth hills, under which the for
mer miners dug tunnels following what they
esteemed the richer leads Of the gold paying
dirt BY means of large stream of water
concentrated 10 a suice, the entire earth oil
these hills is washed into a sluce some forty
to fifty rods in length, thirty inches wide
with a descending current Of water foo
deep the gold sinking to the bottom and be.
ing gathered in succession Of mercuria
baths in the bottom of the sluice over which
ripples are placed to arrest the gold in tn,
water current Three or four times a year
the sluice is cleaned up of the gold and thu
mercury and the miner ascertains the sue
cess or failure of his business This pro
cess, called hydraulic mining, is not likely t.
be pursued very many years before its favor
ed placers will be exhausted, and the rea
California mining will be reduced to thu
quartz rock and its processes Of reduction
The mining interest of California, il the ag
gregate, has not diminished, but successful
mining is confined to fewer hands, while tn
population has largely increased, there beinl
about six hundred thousand in the State
and agricultural and other industries hay
come to take the lead of mining in the ma
terial prosperity Of the State. But the Stat
is yet to find prosperity and be relieved iron
extraordinary chances and risks, to which j
is now subjected by the pursuits of the pee
pie being limited to so few departments
The miner now scarcely runs greater ris
in his luck of finding paying ore, than 9TH
ranch mem farmers who confine their who'll
attention and occupy all their lands wit
wheat or barley BY the failure of rains i
the winter their crops are cut of or great
din he'd while a fruit farm, especial
wit Higation, will perhaps mature a Gro
better 80 dry season than in wet one.
Variety Of crops and products are essentia
to the independent success of the farmer j
California as elsewhere. There are som
millions Of acres of land along the border
Of the rivers, subject to be oyerhowed by ii
tides from the ocean or foods in the stream
the State by act of Congress, and the Stat
has surveyed and sold them to different pei
sons, subject to assessments for the constru,
ton of levees along the streams, sufficient
protect their crops against floods. Some
these lands are already leyeed and reduce
to cultivation, and present a vegetation
deep dark green, in marked contrast with Ii
stubble and straw-colored desolation GOVERN
all the upland prairies during the SUNNI
aud autumn On these bottom lands, so pr,
tected and cultivated, all kinds of vegotabl,
can be abundantly produced as well as grail
and fruits. 1t is in the development of the,
bottoms-caled Tule lands-that Californi
is to fud its protection against the uncertain
ty Of upland crops, as affected by the season
California, except on the coast mountain
range, and the Sierra Nevadas and their 70,
hills, is usually without rain from May
November Sowing of wheat commences
December and continues till February, an
barley is sown as late as March. The crop
being matured are gathered in June or Jul
In case no rain falls in the winter, the whei
crop is usually failure, as it does not Deepen
on irrigation, or is sown on lands where i
rgation would be mpracticable. But wht
crop is made, it is usually good in quait,
and large in quantity. The average of thi
ty bushels of wheat to the acre is usual
made and some claim to have raised seyent
bushels Of wheat TO the acre on choice lands
In respect to manufacturing and mechan
cal products-these are in about the cond
ton of those in our States west of the Nj
souri, River, yet to be developed and put {
the basis of regular industries.
Mercantile and Commercial Interests al
settled to better system Of fixed and reg
lar profits. The golden days Of 40 arc gon
and $50 is paid for fare from Stockton
San Francisco instead of s32, as was charge
in 40 and so, the distance being one hui
bred and seven miles So !e articles al
higher in San Francisco market than in Ne
York, while others are lower. Probabl
twenty per cent. additional to the expense
living in New York would cover like sty