Year: 1866

FRA>KLIs Hit, Dec. 10th. 1866.


EprroR Butte REcoKp:-Without intending TO
inrude on the jurisdiction Of any OF your regui ar
correspondents from this ridge, nevertheless
present for your consideration few general re-
marks about this region hoping that You will
kindly overlook the intrusion. Franklin Hill. (the
land Of honey) is not located In the vicinity OF
Nooretown. but 10, ever 50 far up in the county Of
Plumas out of "humanty's reach" on the borders
of civilization where the genial foods of social
sympathy have not as yet penetrated, as we live IN
blissful ignorance of Filters and Waterfalls


The diggings in this vicinity lie for the present,
neglected for the want of water, and every morn
ing we look wistfuly at the passing clouds, hoping
that the foodgaies Of Heaven may open in real
earnest and set us all to work How Is IT now!1
Three miles in a southerly direction from Franklin
Hill seemingly on the same range, but on lower
level-Mr. Bartholomy has struck some very good
hill diggings and the whole mountain is staked on
into claims and one tunnel is already started thro
the bed rock for the purpose of tapping the basin
inside Three miles up the ridge is the Franklin
Hill Quartz Ledge, which promises to become
having institution The mill erected on this ledge
a wear or so ago, burned down lately, and We M
defstanU Iit oNutfs. nicSsts- AiSoihp u A""'",
will erect new mill next spring. Six miles the
ridge are the cowler Dggings. As we pass
along the brow cf the Hill next to Doswood Creek,
we come To the Kuka Mining Company's Tunnel,
which is run through the hard flinty bed rock. for
the purpose of tapping the basin of the abrupt
stern and rugged mountain before us. Inside of
this tunnel we found men, (true types OF the Cali
forna miner,) with arms drawn back for action,
and their sturdy blows will eventually open to the
gaze of adming public, the rich chsnnel of some
ancient river that flowed over these rocks at the
very dawn of the Siurian era.


Standing thousand feet inside of this tunnel,
looking back at the small ray of daylight peeping
in the mouth and listening to the sharp strokes on
the drills in the distance ahead we were struck
with the living fact. that energy, perseverance,
faith and hope can accomplish wonders. This tun-
mel is driven in something over twelve hundred feet
at an aggregate cost of twenty thousand dollars.
As we bid the gentemanly superintendent good
bye we could not help but notice time had male
some additional fu:rows on his brow since we had
the honor OF roaming over the Washoe Sage Brush
together Taking a birds eye view over the vast
extent of country which now lies covered with hun
treds and thousands of feet OF lava, wewere struck
with the idea that mining in Southern Plumas is as
vet in its infancy. We see in a vision through the
dim vista of the future-at time perhaps when
most of the present actors on the worlds stage
have passed away-hourishing mining towns scat
tered all along the bleak hills, and in due course of
time the peneiraia of these mountains will be laid
bare by the exploring genius of the miner


Before closing, we may be allowed the privilege
to offer our grateful thanks to the brilliant Swob
OF Mooretown for his kind notice of the monster
Bee Tree, recently found at Franklin Hill. We
have an inherent pride in the place call
our home and our eyes sparkle with life and ami
nation when we remember that this region, and
Franklin Hill especially. can excel in something.
We believe that Mr. Patterson seriously thinks of
making Bee hunting his speciality. By the way, we
sincerely hope that the able Swob' may turn his
expansive mind to other subjects, Something not
quite so sweet) and confidently look for an es-
say on the Fat and beauteous mountain quail. or
a dissertation on the geneaogy of the original Billy
Patterson from his eloquent pen.


Hoping that you, Mr.. Editor, will kindly over
look this intrusion your valuable space, we
remain yours truly FRANKLIN HILL, JR.