Calaveras chronicle. [volume], October 25, 1851, Image 2

About Calaveras chronicle. [volume] (Mokelumne Hill [Calif.]) 1851-18??

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Cftlaoetas <£l)ronuic.
VI. i, tit COCRSV IDITO3.
Saturday, October 25. 1151.
Quartz lu O.lavcras.
I'p to this time, bi« little Ua< been
said of tht 1 quartz veins of Calaveras
County, altli .ugh in richness or extent
they urc unparalleled. Tlie principal
reason of this is the apparent inexhaus
tibility of our placer and coyote dig
gings, in which no outlay of capital
was required but the purchase of such
implements i>f bilwir us were absolute
ly necessary to the immediate prose u
lion of work that needed no machinery
to carry it on, greater than the strong
arms of our hardy miners, backed by
their indomitable perseverance, and
the occasional aid of a windlass to
hoist gold-bearing earth from the bot
toms of those dark holes, sunk deep
into the mountains, and which, as a
general thing amply repaid them for
their labors.
Whilst working thus, however, veins
of quartz were frequently found, all of
which gave evidences of containing
more or less gold, and went fur to
prov£ that the mineral wealth of our
county was scarcely known as regard
ed its real permanency. Few of these
leads were worked to any extent, un
less they showed signs of extraordinary
richness, and up to this time, number
less veins can be found /k putcropping at
intervals along their icourse, unnamed
and unlocated. There are now in this
county only about six or eight crush
ing mills in progress of erection—own
ed by capitalists who, with far-sighted
judgment, hare taken advantage of the
present’position of affairs, find located
their claims before the furore com
mences. One mill, we learn, is now in
active operation at or near Suttersville,
and is yielding handsomely to its own
ers. Other companies, |we have beard
of as owning rich claims, upon which
they are placing machinery, are the
•» 1-4. U Artmrvinu nml thf*
Oneida company.
The Amadore company is-also mak
ing extensive preparations to put up
heavy machinery, and expect to be in
operation in a short time. In the
southern portion of the county we hear
of a great many rtch veins having been
discovered and-located, but as yet have
received no definite information of their
whereabouts, or the names of the com
panies who own them. Some speci
mens, however that we have seen, from
different quarters, give unequivocal
signs of the richness of the veins from
which they are taken, and leave us no
cause to doubt the immense wealth still
locked up in our mountains, and the
large fortunes that will hereafter be
yielded their holders.
Ourselves. —Oti Monday, the 6th
day of October, at four o’clock p. m.,
our printing materials, packed in boxes,
were shipped from Long Wharf, in San
Francisco. Notwithstanding bad roads,
broken down wagons, and other ills too
numerous to mention, our establishment
was delivered to us here on the follow
ing Thursday. Unable torent a build
ing, we secured a piece of ground, and
on Saturday laid the foundations of our
house. On Wednesday, the 15th, the
office was so far completed that we
were enabled to move in and commence
getting things to rights, besides putting
up the press. The type boxes were
knocked open on the next day, Thurs
day, and on Sunday morning, three
days afterwards, issued the first num
ber of the Chronicle, not having had
any other aid than that of those interes
ted in the office. Our first edition was
worked off just twelve days from the
time our materials left the Bay.
Salmon Fishing. —The season for
salmon fishing has again come round,
and great numbers are daily caught in
the Mokelurnne river, some fourteen
miles below the Middle Bar. Several
companies of gentlemen are making a
regular business of catching and suiting
down the fish, and have many hands,
both whites and indians, employed in
the operation. At one place, about ten
miles below the Bar, a dam has been
uilt across the river, the more effectu
!Jr to ensnare if* finny inhabitants.
Division. —There is a movement oi
foot, north or the Mukelumne river, in
petition the next Legislature for a di
vision of Calaveras County, We are
informed tiiat many petitions are alrea
dy numerously signed, not only by citi
zens of the northern part of Calaveras,
but also by large numbers of residents
of the south-west portion of El Dorado
ivnd south-east corner of Sacramento
counties. Although this movement is
said to be generally popular in the
north, we do not even hear it mention
ed south of the river. What views
will be taken bv the residents of the
*
southern portion of the county, when
the proposition becomes fully known,
we are really at a loss to say. Com
munications upon this subject are in
vited, and will receive a place in our
celumus.
Cave. —There is said to lie an extra
ordinary cave in our county, about six
miles from San Antonio, which has
been entered and partially explored to
a distance of over fourteen hundred
feet. It is described by those who iiave
seen it ns being divided into countless
chambers and apartments, all of easy
access, and adorned with curiously
shaped figures of stones, making them
resemble well furnished rooms ; and
from the ceilings, hanging pendant in
huge masses, bright crystals flashing in
the light of torches, give the appear
ance of gorgeous chandeliers suspend
ed from some richly finished dome to
shed their lustre upon the magnificence
that lies scattered around, while in
some of the apartments door, walls,
and ceilings reflect back such a flood
of light from innumerable stalactites
as to be almost blinding. There is a
gentle and regular descent to the cave
of about thirty-five degrees.
Rancherie.—This is the name of a
very pretty valley, in which is located
an extremely rich placer, situated some
twelve or fifteen miles from this place.
Several new buildings are in process of
erection in the village, for the accom
modation of travelers and residents of
the valley, while mining promises well
■*• * i «
ing winter. As in most other placers,
water is extremely scarce, and the min
ers are driven tothe necessity of throw
ing up their earth preparatory to the
setting in of the rains, when a rich har
vest of yellow gold will repay them for
all their patient toil. Thousands of tuns
of earth are now lying upon the banks
of the various ravines in the neighbor
hood, awaiting a supply of water.
Another Bridge.—A party of gen
tlemen. Messrs Palmer, Messer &, Co,,
are building with great rapidity a strong
and substantial bridge across the Mo
kelumne river at Oregon Bar, with the
ultimate intention of opening a road
from the Hill to that point, by which a
line of stages will be run tg Sacramen
to. It is said the new route will short
en the distance considerably between
the Levee City and Mokelurnne. Jack
son, Dry Town and other places on the
old road will be left to the northward,
the new route passing through the beau
tiful lon Valle}', of which spot we shall
probably have something to say in our
next.
Amador, —lt seems that the residents
of the county are determined not to be
“caught napping” in case we should
have a wet winter. Among the many
means now being arranged for the pas
sage of swollen streams, we notice a
new bridge now being thrown across
Amador Creek at the point where the
stage road crosses it. This will be a
free bridge, and is built by Messrs Kel
la St Hill.
Dry Town. —We learn that a great
many new buildings are going up in
this thriving settlement, which already
has, within the limits of the village, a
population of from six to eight hundred
souls. Dry Town has, heretofore,
proved very rich in in its diggings, and
the prospects are that they will contin
ue lucrative for a long time to come.
Quartz Mills. —We learn that Col.
Platt is at present building, at Sutters
ville, two large quartz crushing mills.
One of them is to be driven by steam,
and the other by water power. The
quartz veins in the immediate neigbor
hnod are represented at being of extra
ordinary ricbn» CQ .
Placer Copper. Wo have b< en
shown .some very beautiful specimens'
of native copper in its pure state,
which in shape and size, much resem
bles the fine gold which is dug out of
the plaoers. The specimen* now be
fore us were taken out of the earth at
Campo Seco, wliere it is said, that
while washing for gold one frequently
finds in bis pan from an ounce to a
pound or so of copper, sometimes,
though seldom, mixed with gold. It
iias not, however, been loiuml in suffi
cient abundance to justify a regular
system of mining to obtain it.
Oxe or t hr Piles. —Near the cor
ner of Calaveras and Lafayette streets
there is a pile of earth that was hauled
down from some of the cayote holes for
washing when the rains set in, for
which the owners have been offered ten
thousand dollars ifti cash. The bid,
E
however, wits"fyrtnnptly refused. One
sack of earth from the pile, washed for
prospect,” yielded seventeen dollars
and fifty cents. There are about eight
thousand sacks of earth in the pile.
Rich. —lt is said that the Mexicans
in a small gulch between Campo Seco
and Winters’ Bar are packing dirt to
the river, a distance of three miles, to
wash, and are averaging half an ounce
a dav to the man ; sometimes taking
out even as high as two or three ounces
if they strike a remarkably rich spot. —
We are not advised of the name of the
gulch.
Water Company. — A Water Com
pany has been formed at New \ ork
Flat in order to of bring a supply
of water from Dry Creek, to wash the
cold-bearing earth of the Flat and its
adjacent placers. The work has alrea
dy been commenced, and will be pushed
forward with the utmost vigor to its
completion.
Rich Gulch.— We are informed that
several large lumps of gold, (one of
which weighed two hundred and sixty
dollars,) were taken out ot this gulcil
on TnesdK* 1 Ye were unable to
learn the
X -
Chinese. —ln the immediate vicinity
of Jackson there are several Chinese
camps, with a population of Celestials
estimated at two thousand souls. What
an “orfultime” there mnst bo when
they all get talking at once!
Going Home.— The annual “ migra
tion” of the Sonorians has already
commmenced, some four or five hun
dred having “ pulled up stakes” on the
Calaveras last week, and moved to
ward the more sunny clime of their
nativity, again to return when spring
once more comes round.
Acknowledgments. The enter
prising firm of Reynolds, Todd & Co.
have laid us under deep obligations for
the favors which they have conferred
upon us, since we commenced the pub
lication of the Calaveras Chronicle,
in first furnishing us with the Stockton
and Bay papers. We are also much
indebted to the gentlemanly agent of
this firm, G. D. Brush, Esq., who has
shown us many little kindnesses which
we will gratefully remember. Enpat
tern 1 , we will remind our readers that
Mr. Todd, weM known ns the pioneer
of expressmen in the southern mines,
will take his post —which he has recent
ly filled to snch good advantage when
connected with another express —at
San Francisco. We would refer our
readers to their advertisements in an
other column.
[communicated.]*
Mr. Editor: — We noticed in your
paper a few days since an article refer
ring to a robbery of a watch and 9187,
said to have been committed in the
“ Our House,’ 1 kept by Manuel, of this
place, and believing you to have been
wrongly informed by some malicious
person, whose statement is calculated
to injure Manuel’s house, we feel it a
duty to contradict the same, and say
that we believe there is not a better
house or a more correct and good man
than the said Landlord in this part ot
the country. By inserting the above in
your paper, you will confer a favor on
the undersigned.
G. W. WILSON, and many others.
Campo Seco, Oct. 23. 1850.
We refer our readers to the legal ad
vertisements on the third page. The
information contained in these is of
great importance to someTsf our citi
zens. (
New Work. — We have just recei
ved a valuable work upon the “ Resour
ces and Policy of California,” from its
talented author, Mr. John J. Werth.—
Mining of every description is discuss
ed at length by Mr. Werth, whose rea
soning upon the subjects he has taken
in hand L so plain as to conic home to
every reader with full and convincing
force. The agricultural and commer
cial advantages of California are also
treated of with great ability by the au
thor, who seems to have a perfect and
just conception of the vast superiority
of our State over almost every other
portion of the globe. As a work of re
ference it is invaluable, and we shall
have frequent occasion to refer to it
hereafter.
Newell &, Co.—Attention is called
to the advertisements in another colum
of Messrs Newell &, Co. Their express
lines to this place, and other points
at which they have established agencies,
stand high in the public estimation, and
enjoy an enviable reputation for prompt
ness and dispatch ; while, as the agents
of Adams Co., one of the oldest and
most responsible houses ever establish
ed in America, they cannot fail to com
mand a liberal share of that patronage
which the junction of two such power
ful houses must attract. Messrs N. &.
Co have also established in connection
with their express a general banking
and exchange office. The many years
experience these gentlemen have had
in this branch of commerce renders
them peculiarly fitted for the busiucs
Returned.—Mr. Hinckley, a young
gentleman of considerable talent, went
to Monterey to establish a newspaper;
but finding that the population was not
large enough to justify him in persist
ing in the enterprise, he returned last
week to his old post, reporter of the
Alta California.
Gone Home.—We omitted to men
tion last week that J. E. Dnrivage, Esq.
had published his valedictory in the
Alta California. Mr. Dnrivage has
been connected with the Alta since its
first apnearauce as a tri-weekly; and
as a vigorous, imaginative, and inter
esting writer has placed the Alta at the
head of California papers. His de
parture will be regretted by a large cir
cle of friends, while his arrival at
home will be joyously greeted by his
anxious relatives.
The Star. —Several attempts have
been made to revive the Pacific Star,
the organ of the Democratic party in
San Francisco, but the idea is at last
given up finally. Cel. Rust, one of the
editors, left that city last week and has
gone to Marysville, where he intends
to publish a tri-weekly sheet, to be in
dependent in politics.
New Assaying Office. —The want
of a proper assaying office has long
been felt in this community, but we arc
glad to learn this want will be hence
forth fully supplied. Count Wass, a
Hungarian gentleman, well known in
the United States for bis chivalric pa
triotism no less than for his practical
attainments in the science of mining,
chemistry, and mineralogy, has opened
an office in this city in connection with
Mr. Molitor, a gentleman who is tho
roughly versed in assaying, smelling,
j and refining. These gentlemen, who
go into business under the name of
|W ass, Molitor &. Co., have procured
| from London and the United States
: machinar}' and instruments of the finest
description, for the purbose of carrying
on the business of assaying and smelt
ing on a more extensive scale than it
has yet been conducted in this country.
Being practical and experienced miners,
they are prepared to furnish directions
and plans for working qnartz mines,
and for mining generally. It may be
well to say that Messrs. Wasss and
Molitor, in addition to their other at
tainments are skilful engineers. Their
office is on Montgomery street, below
Bush. Hitherto it has been extreme
ly difficult for those engaged in quartz
mining to obtain proper information as
to the quality of their ore, and further,
as to the best means of extracting and
amalgamating the gold. They were
obliged to depend wholly on the state
ments of Mexicans, often incorrect.
Count V\ ass, from practical experience
in this country and his own, is fully
versed in gold mining, and can impart
much valuable information on the sub
ject to such as need his advice.— S. F.
Herald.
Upper Ferry, Big Bar.— We call
attention to the ad vertisement of Messrs
Burns & Pope, in another column.—
This well known ferry is much travel
ed, and the proprietors have safe and
commodious boats.
Mr.‘Charles A. Seaman, writing to
the Alta California upon the £> Mining
Prospects of Pori Orfonl,” has the fol
lowing, for the truth of which he i
vouches;
“ 1 have seen a publication in this
city, stating the mining prospects in
a place called Port Orfonl, wherein
the correspondent states that 810 anil
81- per day are/ the ordinary wages.
Now, { have just returned from Port
Orfonl, and am ready to assert posi
tively that it is impossible to make 83
per day in the placers there. There
is a little gold deposited on the heach
of a very fine quality, hut it will not
f««y for washing. I am a strong advo
cate of Port Orfonl so far as it goes,
hut my opinion is that no place can
prosper unless it does so clearly on its
own merits. The climate is indeed
fine. The harbor is good, only in the
case of a northwest wind. The lim
ber about the place is the same as the
rest which lines the whole coast.
As a point of embarkation from the
Shasta Mines, it hns the prelercnco
over all others, so soon us a trail is
opened. It will he a long time before
trips can he made successful to the in
terior, and I am certain, making that
allowance, that the old pincers in Cali
fornia w ill yield much more abundant
than will Shasta, i do not write from
hearsay, hut from actual experience,
the I lest of all teachers.
The fanning land is very limited in
the neighborhood of Port Orfonl, and
is ot an inferior quality, compared with
land in the western portion of the
United States.
Ot course the place is in its infancy,
and there is \et time for discoveries to
he made, hut as far as my observation l
and three years experience in Califor
nia goes, f think the chances lire, to
speak the truth , very slim and doubt
ful for making money in Port Orfonl.
“ Should you Messrs. Editors, feel
inclined to publish this, which comes
purely from disinterested motives, you
will confer a furor on one who holds
the interest of the working class in
view.
Horriblk.—The Courier is talking
about the business prospects of the vil
lage of Stockton? We hope the Stock
ton ians will send a deputation down
here, and take the editor of the Courier
up to their “ village.” h would be an
well, while they are about it, to es
cort him to the cities of Vallejo, New
I Vork, the Port ot Entry, and other
embryo burghs ot note. Stockton u
1 l lc first village we ever heard of in
, California —S'. J' f J ip.
lao.s House Race.—The Lowell
Courier announces that, during the ap
proaching great fair in that city, them
is to la* a trial ot speed between such
locomotives as may choose to compete
—f he race cou-sc to ho a section of the
Huston and Lowell road, and entries
ot machines to be made from any por
tion of the State or beyond. A rnco
between iron horses with *• the steam
up,” we admit would certainly he •
novel and attractive spectacle—though
we can hardly feel that it would lie ml
together a safe amusement.
* ♦
We find the following in lt v W. i
Herald of Sept. 13.
There is an important rumor from
.vlcxico, to the effect that President
Arista applied to the British Minister
to know what couhie England would
pursue in case tin* country should Me
dare war against Mexico for annulling
-the I ehnantepec treaty. The reply in
said to have been, that jim«rland would
have nothing to do w in, the ~u a n*l.
Prices Current.
Mokelumne Hill, Oct. 24,1851
Flour, sl2; pork, 18a20; hard bread, lb,
per lb; white sugar, 20c; brown do, 14*
Ac; coffee, green, 25c; do, ground, 50o;
beana, lOali: i-2c; lard, ÜBorhawn, 28aS0a;
bacon, 25; potatoes I0al2c; butter, 70a760;
barley, 10ai2 l-2c; rice, 12 l-2a!B 3-4 c; tea,
Tocaftl; salt, 15c; lead, 37 1-2; powder,
shot, 50c; aried apples, 26c: peaches, 30<j;
rope, 30c; oil, ;;3,50 per gull; raisins, 25e
soap, 25c; mackerel, 25c per lb; tobacco,
75ca.$l; cast steel, 75c; sheet ironj 18a20o;
nails, 20a25c; canvass No.'l and 2,62a75t,
per yd; [drilling 18a20c; light muslin un
bleached, 12c; do, bleached, 14c per yd r
brandy, $3 per gal; whisky, $3 50, do;
gin, $3 50, do; port wine, $4 do; claret, $7
per doz; cherry brandy, $4 per gal; lemou
syrup, $7 per doz; gal pickles, sl2 per
doz; quart pick.es, £5; lumber, $12a25 per
100 ft, very scarce and unsuited for th*
market.
Prices are firm at these rates, and owing
to the advance of freights, we may shortly
look for a cousideraqle change in the mar
kets. w.
Hoisting New Colors. —The San
Jose Visiter of Saturda}’ last, notifies
all creation that from that time hence
forth it will sail under Democratic co
lor?.