The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-07-22
Letter from Cdtiforntd.

CHALLENGE MILL, BUTTE Co, Cal.
EDITOR REPORTER Having just return
ed from a trip through Siena Co, and
tbinking that perhaps some oil readers
might IKE To know how time has dealt
with those old mining camps, where many
OF them toiied Tor years, with varying sue
cess. / hey doubtless think Of those places
as they were, 'In the days Of old, 10 the
days Of gold" Say from 40 TO 60. But,
alas, time changes all things
ana no more striking illustration OF this,
can be found, than the present condition OF
those once prosperous miulng towns. We
will begin with Lsporte, "oDce one OF the
richest mining camps on the Pacific coast
10 Sc IL had q white population OF over
1900, aud several hundred thousand dollars
were annually aiken from the mines 10 the
vicinity.
Now the population doas not exceed 200
whites, aud abont $50 Chinese, which lat
ter are ver'able blight on any civilized
community.
The rich beds Of gravel which formerly
lay along the east side OF the town, are
gone. The modern Improvements in by
draulic mining, have been brought there,
and "where they appear, mountains dis
appear" Is literally true. In 1852 there
was gravel ridge about ! Of mile in
Width, aud 100 to 80 feet deep. extended
along the side Of the town to Bald Noun
tain on the northwest and 10 Rabbit Creek,
on the southwest, q distance OF over two
miles.
This ridge has entirely disappeared, ex
cept portion at the foot OF Bald Noun
tain, where the irop giants are still at work
though the great height of the bank renders
their progress more slow. The town is in
h. Il
auarter) than could be expected. Last
summer u Are (for the second time in its
history laid large portion OF tue town in
ashes. But nothing dauDted the people
went brayely to WORK, and 10 few months
larger and finer buildings, were standing
on the sites OF those destroyed
At present, the town presents quite
thriving appearance. There are TWO hotels,
two stor, S, bank and Chat characteristic
OF most California towps,) several saloons
Thong the population Is small, Laforte is
the business centre of several little camps
which are scattered along the creeks, with
in fe " miles, which accounts for its being
able to support the number OF places OF
business, il contains.
Across Slate Greek, a distance of three
miles, is all that Is left of the once flourish
ing town OF Port Wine. It's population
does not at present, exceed 100, and they
are moving away as fast as they are able.
The mines are worked out and there Is
nothina left to induce any one TO remain.
Cayas Hotel is still here, but there Is not
enough travel on the road to make the bus
mess very profitable. There are doubtless
rich beds of gravel under the noun taius In
the vicity, but to reach them, 1t is necessa-
nv to run tunnels of grealh length, inyolv-
ing an enormous expense, which no one
seems willing to incur.
The next place is Gardiness Point, which
is at present abandoned. Grass Flat close
BY, is one of the richie i hydraulic mines in
the county. But the place is not IL -four
ishiue c1nd,ioi, owing to the fact that it
is owned by II company, who employ
large humber ot Chinese These people
"having ia families TO support, and living
on the cheapest food, are ensbled to work
for starvation wages Many of them are
working for 75c to 81. per diy, and beard
ing themselves. The cost or board for
white mtu, at the hotels, is s. per week.
In IA cabin where he does his own cooking,
So so to "a 90. y Chinaman will live on
garbage th 1t costs him about 81 per week.
About three miles aDove here. is ST. DDuIs,
formerly even more prosperous than La
porte. Now it is SC rcely better than
Port Wine. A store and hotel, and half
former population of 2000 to 300. The
firm of Don ihue Il Morgan still carry on
mine which is about worked out. The
town stands on bank that looks as though
it was ready to cave ut any time. Inc
hills of gravel around have disappeared.
Celar Grove about mile from here, is
worked out and abandoned.
The nexl place is Pine Grove, Ditto"
About / miles from Pine Grove is How
land Fat. This place has (until within
few years. been the most prosperous min
ing town IN North Siena Co, but now it is
going the way OF all the rest. The Big
B9nanza mine is not running ut formerly
gave employment to 100 meul. The Cox
Wililms hydraulic mine is running with
force OF 10 to 100 Chinese and six white
men. But though the place is dull at pres
.nt there re rich mines III the vicinity
which are in progress of development and
when once opened, will make times better.
Four miles from here is Poker Flat. Last
summer this place was reduced TO one hotel
and about three families, but In the fall,
there was quartz mine discovered IN the
vicinity, and now there is new mill al
ready at work, aud another building. Fur
Their deve lopments are expected, as pros
pectors are assiduously searching the NIL
sides, ard ravineS for the precious metal.
May success attend them, tor II there Is
place on the face of The tar'h, that needs
a boom it is Poke Flat. Some of your
readers may think that | have oyerdrawn
the picture a little, but il | have erred 1t
has beeu 10 favor of the place which have
described. There are o hers, too numer-
Gus to mention, all in the same way. And
to all who in circumference OF 1.-THE OLD
day. p" sometimes think of returning To
California to mend their fortunes, would