Year: 1860

HooPRRyILLE, Siskiyou CO., Cal.


December 5th, 1860.


EDITOR DBMocRAT;-Nature certainly made
a grand mistake in the programme Of this year.
Before the last scene OF autumn had been
played out, the first in the act Of winter was
hurried upon the stage, and ere the sere and
yellow leaf had fallen, the mountains around US
wore the white livery of winter, and the miners
heart was gladdened by an early and unexpec-
ted supply of the element so essential to his
prosperity. 1t was but temporary, however,
and the "old dame," as if noticing mistake
and desiring to rectify the same, has taken a
backward step, and over, but without obscuring
the wintry scenery, has spread the charms OF
that ever beautiful and welcome twilight season
of the year-Indian summer.


For the greater part Of the month Of Octoberit
was stormy throughout this section OF country,
and enough water fell to interrupt river oper-
ations and start things in the dry diggngs, but
the warm days and cold nights of November
have nearly exhausted the supply, and unless
the clouds soon return, the little life and activ-
ity called forth in business circles, must "wea-
ken" and things return to their old state again.
During the past summer, mining in the stream
beds has been attended with the usual varied
results, some have made big strikes and done
exceedingly well, while others have made little
strikes and done worse than nothing. Pros
pecting in quartz has been carried on quite ex'
tensively and some really valuable discoveries
have been made in that branch, among the
most noted OF which, is one made recently in a
bank claim on Scott river, known as the Tre-
valli claim. From one pan of decomposed rock
over one thousand dollars was obtained. The
extent of the ledge has not been determined
yet-the bank having slid in and covered it up
soon after it was found. It is thought to be
but detached portion Of a lode, as the COM
pany have frequently found such in washing
Their claims are evidently in the vicinity of a
very rich quartz ledge, and farther trial may
prove that they have at last found it; il so you
will hear OF leads that win equal, il they do not
surpass, the famed Jacksonville lead, for every
spot that they have found heretofore was
equally as good as this last. A silver bearing
lode is reported to have been discovered few
miles from this place within the last few days.
A good many credit the report, but l am in
clined to think it hoax.


| For Californians, our people behaved them
selves quite well on Thanksgiving day. A good
ly number Of them abstained from labor, and
wherever religious services were held they we're
well patronised Such as could afford to do so
INDUCED in the luxuries Of the table; many an
old fashioned dinner was spread, around which
united friends and revived happy memories of
the past. Altogether the day was well observed,
pleasantly and doubtless proftably passed.


Although month has gone by since the elec-
ton was held, the interest in politics has not
vet fairly abated in this community. The re-
suit in this county surprised and rather puzzled
some of our oldest politicians, who have ever
since been speculating upon the causes which
led to effects so vastly different from what they
had wished and expected. Some have arrived
at the very likely and proper conclusion that
solution Of the whole matter is found in the
fact that for once the people exercised the priv
ilege of choosing and voting for whom they
pleased. Siskiyou gave Douglas handsome
plurality, sends Breckenridge Democrat to the
Assembly, and elected an independent Sheriff,
while the township officers chosen represent
every shade and cast Of political faith. Sorrel,
the successful candidate for the Assembly was
personally more popular in the county than
either of his opponents, and was supported by
a large portion of the Union party who had no
candidate of their own in the field. He is un-
derstood to be opposed to the election Of Gwin
to the Senate. Had the Douglas party select
ed either of the other candidates that were be-
fore their convention for the nomination Of As
semblyman, there il no doubt but he would
have run up with the electoral ticket in the
county.


We have got an immense Board of Superyi-
sors in Siskiyou county; they are regular re-
sponsibility men, and what they will, that they
do, whether it be law or not. At op63time we
find them appointing commissioners to run and
determine the boundary line between Califor-
was tie vote between two candidates for JUS
tice Of the Peace in this township, instead Of
ordering new election as was their duty, they
assume the authority of appointing. Should the
anticipated vacancy on the bench Of the Su-
preme Court occur, you need not be surprised
to hear that our Board of Supervisors have ta-
ken it upon themselves to fill it by an appoint
ment They seem to believe that they possess
the power to do whatever they please, and
doubtless, should the State Of California ever
refuse to concede to them that power, they will
have Siskiiyou county play South Carolina on
small scale.


Mexican named Garcia, committed to Jail
on charge of grand larceny, endeayored to
make his escape from that institution one day
last week, and in the attempt came in contact
with the officer in CHARGE over whom, ha s,,.