Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-19
Notes OH California.
THE GOLD MINES OF SUFFER- AND
AMADoR.

Editor Rutland Herald The conclu-
sion of my article written in December
last left me at the Big Trees, (Sequ0lf IT.
gdntica), of Calaveras. After taking full
survey of that mighty exhibition of the
forest. our company took leave of the far
famed locality and during the afternoon
of September 23d, set out on our return
trip, and at the suggestion of mine host"
of the "Big Tree House." took a new
route homeward covering a distance OF
ninety miles, over much better road
than the one travelled on our way out.
Passing down the valley we soon strike
Antonis Creek, small tributary of the
Calaveras River, the scenery along the
way being varied and highly picturesque.
The waters of this stream soon m1ugle
with the waters of canal or ditch taken
from streams in the mountains far above,
for mills and mining purposes, are car
ried along hill sides in bitches. across
deep rayines in fumes supported by lofty
trestle.work to the bills beyond then
the stream is received into large iron tubes,
descending into and crossing narrow val
lies to hills still farther in the distance
being used along the course as the needs
of bu siness requires. Twelve miles OF
this route gearing southwest lies through
heavy growth of pine timber with now
and then a saw mill operated by the
waters of the canal. Along here We pass
group of Indians preparing their food in
stone pots set in the ground over a FIRE.
Pa ssipg out of the woods we End our
selves again in the mining region, AND
three miles further ON is a village called
Murphy's, where resides Messrs. SperrJ
and Perry, the ostensible proprietors o
the "Big Tree Grove This village o
: some 500 Inhabitants, is $500 feet lowe
than the "Grove," fifteen miles above, ant
was in past years noted for its e1tensiv
mining operations, and which after tenn
porary suspension, resumption OF tb
l bus mess is again anticipated, AT TIL
: point the road leading to the celebrated
j Valley and Falls of Yosemite" in Mari
posa County, defects to the ooutheas
: from the Stockton route. Seven mile
j further on we stop at the small village
L Altaville for the night,-apd one mil
j. south is Angels, another mining towl
Is where there are two quarts mills IN SUI
cessful operation, and reported to be d.
ing good business.
Two miles from this place huma
l. skull was found in Pliocene formation
& shaft of $50 feet deep. few years sine
y by q man named James Matson and whic
q is now in the custody of tbs estate Ge
s. logical Survey"
The country along this valley Is mo
erately uneven and is said to be produ
he tive of good fruit; portion of the Sc
he also is we'll adapted to the purposes of CT
at tivation.
Sept. "a: Left Altaville, taking N ort
ee westerly direction and soon enter a rou;
~ mining district with poor roads, thu hi
us on all sides torn by past operations
i. miners, but now nearly deserted, on
Irt now and then a small group at work
de the plain-diggings.
nd A few miles out we pass throngi, a 60
ID munity of farmers, and along here We 1
he ticed large numbers of goats grazing up
nd the hills. Twelve miles out we p
m. through San Andreas, the shire-town
q Calaveras county, which has qua
'io mill. and exhibits considerable busin
activity. The amount of labor expend
ted formerly in places running between t
Id town and Makelenmore Hill, ten mi
ION northwest, is almost incredible. Throu
'e;n :. nearly the entire distance the bills app
ma. to have been subjected to the hydrar
process hills of considerable magnify
in some instances being nearly sw
ogs away and filling up rasines, overspre
M ing hills and presenting scene OF apr
<Va-apm.i.ta.