Year: 1878

OOh OOLO L hOOOO4'


In the Mining and Scientific Press of
Feb. 23d is an article on the Product /
of Leading Mines in 1877" and among
other statistical data of importance, the
yield of California hydraulic or gravel
mines is given. The figures, so far as the
individual Companies named therein, are
are doubtless correct, they be-
ing obtained from the Companies officers
in San Francisco. In addition to these
the products of other gravel mines is es-
timated, those of Trinity, Shasta and
Siskiyou counties being combined and
placed at $4,000 This we were well
satisfied was too low, and have since en-
deayored TO ascertain, as nearly as can be,
the actual amount of gold dust taken
from the mines of this county annually.
The result shows TO q certainty that the
figures above quoted are much below the
mark, even we're they used in connection
with this county alone.


Mr.. K. Clifford, sgent for Wells, Fargo
& Co. at this place has kindly furnished
us with the following statement OF the
value of Gold Bars and Bullion shipped
by express from Wesvervile dur
ing the past two years. The statement
doe. not include coin or other shipments,
but simply gold dust in bulk and bars
,o-c enoz rot ro
'''Sooo'oot "
5l4,4'5 w
With these figures as basis, a tolerab!y
accurate estimate of the total yield of the
county can be made. From the best in
formation obtainable and the opinions OF
leading business men and others whose
judgment in the matter is based on many
years knowledge and experience, we are
con WINGED that not more than so per cent.
Of the actual product of our mines is ship
ped by express from this point. 1t would
then appear that the gross product of the
gravel mines Of Trinity County last year
was not less than one million dollars,
and for 1876 from one and n quarter to one
and a-nalf millions.


To those unacquanted with the GUS
toms Of miners in this county, it perhaps
seems strange that larger proportion Of
tho gold dust produced is not shipped by
express. But with many of them the
saving OF the express charges (S6 so per
81 900 each way) and difference in the
price paid here aud that obtainable at the
u. S. Mint in San Francisco, is sufficient
to defray the expenses of trip to the
city and general good time for few
weeks. Many OF the companies working
our best mines cleanup but once year
at the end Of the season-say from May
| to August inclusive, according as the
! Winter has been dry or wet. After the
| cleanup. comes period Of rest in which
nothing is done in the mines, lasting from
a few weeks 20 few months. 1t there
fore happens that one Of the partners
takes n trip to San Francisco, and with
him goes the sum total of the years work
in the claim in which he is interested. In
each of such cases the amounts vary
from So, 600 to s25 900 or more. OF gold
dust leaving the county in this manner
there is of course no record, but the fact
is we'll known and the amount going that


way is very large. Lewiston, Trinity


Center and the northern portion of the
county ships no dust from or through
this place, and much of that taken out on


New River and Lower Trinity finds An
exit through Humboldt county. 1t is al
so probable that less than so per cent. of
the gold mined by Chinese ever finds its


way into the hanGs of the whites or is
shipped through the express. From all
these facts it seems plain that the esti-


mate of 80 per cent. sent by express ia


large enough, and we are well satisfied


that double the amount SO shipped is moi


an exaggeration of the actual product ol


our gravel mines.


: The difference in the shipments fol
1876 and 1877 needs no explanation when


it is known that the former was very


favor able mining season and the lGtte


exactly the reverse. 1t might also be ad
ded that in good season larger PEE
centage of dust is transported by private


hand than in a poor season, for the obvi
GUS reason that a man can afford to TAKE


Sl00 900 to the Mint, when the saving OF
$1,000 would not justify the trip.


The mining outlook for Trinity county
was never better than at the present writ
;, ing, and every one conversant with min
ing affairs agrees that the season vii


prove most prosperous one. in whicl


event we predict yield of not less thar


81 SOC, 900 and possibly 100000 from
our gravel mines.


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