Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-06-17

eral hundred feet. His theory is con-
with which the slate and green granite
Gro pings-the inyariable castings of the
veins-appear opposite each break. In
order TO prove this theory, his son has
erected hosting works and has sunk q
shaft at a point opposite to where the
paying ledge will terminate in the South
Spring Hill Mine. The shaft is down
two hundred feet, going through slate
and gauge such as are considered to be
sure forerunners Of mineral. Should Mr..
Mclntire's theory be proven correct it
will revolutionize mining not ouly in the
vicinity Of Suffer Creek, but for hun
drcds of miles along this producing
belt; for the same eccentricitles that
have characterized the lodges here have
been met with 10 all other sections. The
value of tue discovery of principle or
Ia Y Of this character will be at once APP
precnted, when IL IL known that so far,
on account Of these perplexing breaks In
the chimneys, an immensely OF money
has been spent in trying TO recover the
ledge in barren lapse, when by seeking
the vein at point opposite to the break,
1t would readily be recovered, and the
pay ledge be thus cheaply aud expedi.
tlously duplicated. Although the theory
is not yet proven, many OF the most In
telligent miners Of the vicinity are thor
oughly impressed with it's soundness.
Mr.. MoIniire is O tyoe OF the old Az
miners who have stuck to the camps they
first struck in the golden days OF the
pioneers. From Sutter Creek went to
MoKELUMNE HILL.
Which was at one time the richest and
most populous camp in California. had
not visited the place for over thirty
yeats, and the contrast between its pres
ent repose and dearth Of people and its
vld.time energy and crowded streets,
brought up feeling of sadness. The
first time ! visited the Hill was in May,
1850. Great discoveries were being
made there then, and miners were flock
ing to it from all parts OF the State. 1t
grew very rapidly and had population
OF at least 10000 in less than year
from that time. In 1852, when at the
zenith of its glory, there could not be
less than thirty thousand people in and
around the camp. Now you could fire
grape shot through its streets at any
Time of the day with very little chance
of hurting anybody. And this seems to
be the history OF mining camps and cit
les everywhere. Those that arose on
placer wealth go first; those built up
from deep mining last longer; but it is
only a question Of time with either, as
the fate of Virginia City and many
other once fourlshing tosus shows.
But the failing fortunes of Mokelumne
Hill still find many Of the old-timers
clinging around the sceoes of their past
glory. They have doubtless given up
their old dreams of wealth, and long
since settled down to the stern reality of
an existence without hope, without am
bition. In the struggle with fortune
they have given up the fight and re-
signed themselves to an almless ex-
istence. Their only ambition is
to live on from day 10 day
without plan for the future, perhaps
without desire beyond their mere daily
necessaries. Yet here and there are to
be found pioneers of far different fibre.
| met Sc, eral at the Hill who we're as
buoyant and hopeful as ever. They had
bright prospects; they ouly required a
little capital to open mines that were
fabulously rich. These men are never
without certificates OF assay showing
hundreds of dollars to the ton. They
are always waiting for the capitalist to
come along; but somehow he never
comes. Yet they do not despair. He
will come some day; or in the meantime
it may happen that accident will open to
them one OF those great but rare mines
that pay richly from the top and which
will develop themselves without the aid
of capital. The fate of this kind of
old.tlmer is much less to be deplored
than that of the other; yet one who has
known them both; who knew them
when young, ardent, ambitious and full
of energy; and who sees them now,
either blunted and stunned by ADVERSE
ty, or buoyed up by pleasing hallucin-
alton, cannot but feel sad in the realiza-
ton that both are wasted lives.
MAS LUEoo.