Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-02-14

the entire population, aided only by the
crude methods and appliances of the ear
lier day, have been able to earn much
higher wages than the average through
out the other mining districts Of the
State. For the same reason the construc-
ton of more and larger bitches, rs well
as other works designed to hcili-
tate mining operations, have been ne
elected.
But all this is about to be changed :;
with the advent Of more experienced and
energetic miners, new implements and
apparatus have been brought into use,
and new enterprises set on foot The ne
elected water franchises, lakes and run
ming streams, have been taken up and Sc
cured. Thousands of acres of auriterous
gravel have been located, and much of it
patented. bitches Of extra large capaci-
ty have been projected, surveyed, and in
some cases graded and partially cXcava-
ted. Prospecting shafts have been sunk,
roads have been built, and within Il sim
gle year more than 10000 feet of heavy
iron pipe have been laid down, the whole
of this advance having been accomplish
cd within year and half. And yet the
era of progression has but just commenc-
ed. For many years to come prclimna-
rV work must hp aptivn hpro
Trinity as n Mining County.
Her beds Of auriferous gravel are deep,
rich and extensive, and free alike from
everything masses of volcanic matter and
strata of barren sand and clay. SO far
as explored, there is here an absence of
that cemented material requiring gum
powder to break it up nor have any of
those high side rims, nccessitatng the
construction Of long bedrock tunnels,
been encountered. These gravel ranges
are everywhere cut at short intervals by
deep ravines, through which flow large
and rapid streams, fed by the perpetual
SHOWS which cover the mountains in
which they have their sources. These ra-
vines supply to almost every claim good
working face and at the same time ample
fall and outlet for the escape of tailIngs.
The water supplying mountains stand so
Immediately over the gravel belts that
short and inexpensive bitches suffice to
bring it upon the ground to be washed,
delivering it generally under n greater
head than can with safety or advantage
be fully avaled of. These hydro,tatic
conditions will be better understood with
word in explanation of
Topographic Features.
With its peculiar system Of mountains,
gulches, lakes and streams. A glance at
the map Of this region shows us the main
Trinity River entering at its north east
corner, whence it flows south, bearing II
little to the west, till it has nearly reach
cd the further edge Of the gold bearing
lands, when it curves around and running
toward the north west, passes out Of the
county at its extreme angle in that direc-
ton. This river, besides Il great number
of other tributaries, some OF them large
streams, has main north and south
Fork, also fed by many continents. The
aggregate volume Of water flowing thro'
these streams is variable, being very
great when swollen by the rains and the
melting Of the snow, and shrinking to
comparatively small Dimensions during
the Fall and early Winter. The Trinity,
below its principle Forks, carries about
as much water as the Stauislaus or Tuol-
umne. Having but little fall the main
stream flows with moderate current
Its tributaries, however, are all very rap
id, some Of them having an average de-
scent Of more than 200 feet to tho mile
All the forks and larger branches are
ridges, their lower slopes composed OF
states covered with aurifcrous gravel,
their upper portions consist wholly OF
granite. These ridges are lofty, some OF
them reaching an altitude of more than
5000 feet. Their upper parts are precip-
itous-often mere cliffs Of blcached and
naked granite. As general thing how
ever, they are timbered almost to the
top. Their sides are deeply croded with
canyons, which, becoming the recepta-
Gle Of the driftcd snow, hold the water in
reserve until late in the Summer. AT O
number Of points these mountains spread
out into plateaus or basins near the sum
mits. In these depressions occur littl(
little lakes, all very deep and some o
| them covering several hundred acres. II
these lakes many Of the larger streams
take their rise, and such Of them as are
| suited to the purpose have been secured
for reservoirs. BY daming up their out
| lets, which car be done ut small expense
/ their capacities can be increased many
fold, insuring steady water to the ditche
fed by them nearly the year round
With these bountiful sources of wate
supply, and with the gold bearing mater
ial so prolific, plentiful and fayorably sit
uated, we have here the conditions for
large and general success in this brancl
Of mining. Even the most oxtende'
bitches will not require to be more thai
thirty-fve or forty miles in length, Will
in most cases they need to be not NOR
than half that long. OF the bitches con
structed there is scarcely one having
linear extent of twenty-five miles, tn
majority Of them ranging from three
ten miles in length, with water-carryin
capacities proportionately restricted.
Character of the GOid-Bearing D'
pOsits.