Year: 1859




Observation-Disclosures TrekG Papers-DsscoT-
eries-Mining Accident.


FRENCH GULcH, Dec. lst 1859.


Editor Democrat After three weeks speh Oh
stormy weather, we are again enjoying clear at
mosphere; not warm enough however, to release
smother earth" from the icy embargo laid upon her
by the hand of winter, but pleasant In contrast Win
that just passed. Nearly everything is frozen up
and likely to remain so for some time, as conse-
onence of which business Of all kinds is pretty well
paralyzed.


Thanksgiving day passed with us, without any
demonstration whatever to distinguish 1t from any
other Were we alone in this derection Of duty, we
might experience some hesitancy in exposing our
shortcomings; but with single exception, be-
lieve there was no community in this county which
awarded to the day the character designated for 1t
by our Governor. A number Of the citizens OF
Yreka more loyal to the old custom than we, cele-
brated the day by abstaining from secular pursuits,
engaging in religious services, indulging in the good
things of life, etc. 1t is, should be matter OF
regret that day set apart for so worthy purpose,
is not more generally observed. for one, should
like to see it marked among the three hundred and
sxty-five, a National Sabbath, made such by law,
and its observance throughout the Union as univer
sal as the disregard with which it is now treated.


The Yreka Union closed its career about two
weeks since, and is now numbered among the news
papers that we're. To any one who has paid atten-
ton to the course of that paper for the past few
months, this sudden dropping off is matter OF nj
surprise. We hear Of an attempt to establish an
other Administration organ in its place, to be called
the democratic Union," whether the enterprise b.
visionary or real l cannot say Here is fine op
portunity for the friends of Denver to open out in
Siskiyou.


The "Northern Journal" recently started in the
place of the Chronicle, is fast winning its way to
popularity, among the people of this section, anc
continuing in the line of policy it has adopted, il
cannot fail to secuac a respectable position among
the newspapers Of this State.


In former communication, mentioned that q
party while prospecting for quartz near this place
discovered what they supposed to be bed OF coal
on being tested for that article it did not come up
to their antcipations, but small piece of the rock
subjected to assay has yielded fair proportion
of silver. larger quantity has been sent to Yreka
to be tested by the assayer as tried the other
and the result is looked for with little interest
Should it prove to contain paying amount of sill
yer, we will probably witness an excitement fal
greater than that over quartz during the past sum
mer. The lode is apparently quite extensive, being
some twenty feet or over in width. The dip and
course have not yet been Defined but the latter will
not vary much if any from that ofthe Washoe lodes


On Humbug creek, some eight miles from here, a
ledge of quartz has been found the rock from which
is heavily charged with lead ore. A specimen of il
was exhibited here, which competent judges pro-
nounced to contain about eighty per cent ofmineral
This, with one or two gold bearing quartz veins,
believe complete the list of late discoveries in our
vicinity.


A german named John Stallinbach, who crossed
the plains this year from Davenport, Iowa, was
killed on Saturday last, by log falling upon him.
while at work in mining claim on this creek. He
was native of Holstein Germany, where he has
left mother and two sisters