Volume 12 (1866) (428 pages)

150 , The Blining and Scientific Press. Riining Summary. CALIFORNIA. Snasra County.—The Courter says that a lode of copper bearing rock, which, for richness surpasses anything heretofore seen in that county, was recently disenvered by Mr. Pierson, in the southeastern part of the couuty, abouttwenty milesfrom Shasta. The discoyery was kept a secret for some time ; but the locality is now known. A nngget worth $272 was taken from the Dog Creek mines a short time since. Burre.—A correspondent of the Marysville Appeal speaks very enconragingly of mining Operations in the hydreulic claims iu the vicinity of Timbuctoo. Considerable difficulty has recently been experienced on account of a misunderstanding between the Excelsior Canal Company and the Shamrock Mining Company. This qnarre] compelled the suspension of operations on the part of several other cotnpnnies, until Mr. James O'Brien, of the Perry & Evans claim, terminated the difficulty by purchasing the Shamrock ground for $8,000. In so doing, he has done a greet favor for the general mining interests of the neighborhood. ‘Ihe Huston compeny, which recently made an extensive purchase on Squaw creek, is making rapid strides towards opening their claims, under the management of HE. F. Williams of Smartsville. The company employs about thirty men, and it is expected that the claim will soon be yielding sage returns. ‘lhe Blue gravel claim on Sucker Flat atill continues to ay 2s wellas ever. Mr, Chamberlain, Superintendent of the Squaw Creek mining compeny, has sunk a shaft sixty feet deep, and strack the blue gravel. He proposes to erect machinery for pnpmping and hoisting in order to thoroughly test the mine. ! The Andrew Jackson quartz mining company are abont to resume active operations under the supervision of L. B. Clark. They have had a Jot of rock hauled to Grass Valley for ernshing which gave satisfactory returns. The company are about to erect. machinery, and test the mine thoroughly. The Mare Antony quartz mining company had to suspend operations on account of too much water coming in from the late rains. ‘hey have out a huge pile of quartz, but have no machinery as yet to test it. They intend starting again soon. Nevapa.—The Transcript learns that Still’s mill is kept 1m constaut operation crushing quartz froin the celebrated Wilmington lead on Gold Flat. At the last crushing, some two years siace, from which time it has been unworked until lately, 1t yielded $35 to the ton. No retnrns have yet been made public as to its preseat yield. ‘Work has recently been resnmed on the Mattingly ledge. Some years ago several crushings were takea out of this ledge, and worked at Graes Valley and Nevada, but did not pay. ‘The owners are atill confident of the richness of their claims, and are determined to prospect it to a greater depth. ‘Ihis ledge is upon the same range ae the Star Spangled Banner. There is no reason why it should not be rich. The Kistil company on the Prosper ledge, on Canada Gill, is constantly at work, with most gratifying success. Last fall stuck in this company suld for $30 per share; a few days since a share was sold for $150, which was bonght in by the company fer $500. A lot of eighty tons of rock is now beiug crushed at the French mill, and itis expected the returns coming to the above share tor thisf lot alone, will refund the amount paid for it. So says the Transeript. The Gazelle says the Pennaylvania mill was Btarted up on Monday last, for the first time siace it came to 2 sudden stop last fall by the bursting of the boiler. They have out about fifty tons of ore, which it is thought will pay $76 to the ton. The indications are favorable for this becoming one of the best mines in the vicinity. , Some very rich rock is beiag taken out of the Deadwood ledge, near the Oriental mill. This claim paid remarkably well some years ago, and the original discovererseach made a small fortune by working the ledge and selling out, It hasbeen worked but very little for several years past, never haviag been opened to any depth. The Excelsior Mines—We hear that the Excelsior mills have been stopped for want of ore. A correspondent of the Virginia Enterprise says that Winton’s mill has beep crushing rock from the Pacific ledge and made good results. The Califoraia will will start again in a few weeks and will make the next crushing from the famous California ledge. The Enterprise mill isnot yet fiaished, but may be completed by the first of April. ‘I'he months of Febrnary and March will eventually be the hauling season. During these two months the snow is compact so that a road may be broken anywhere with but little trouble, aud with no danger of its being filled up with snow. The advantage of hnuling witb sleds and oxen, compared with mules and wagons, are obvlous, and our millmen and others will be prepared for this another season. CaLaveras.—— The Copperopolis Courier seys thet a number of companies which temporarily suspended operations last fall, in this and adjoining districts, are now meking arrengements to resume work. Besides theze are numerous other companies which intend to commence work on their claims next sunimer. The permanency of the Union and Keystone is giving capitalists confidence in onr imines. AmaDor.—The Amador Cinnabar mining company have commenced work in earnest upon their gronnd, and it will not be loug before they will be able to ascertain the true value of their claim. Persons who are ‘amniliar with this kind of mining speak well of the “ prospect.” The Ledger learns that another quortz mill will soon be commenced near this place; it will be erected for the purpose of crushing the tock taken from the Kennedy, one of the richest lodes in this region, which hns been worked fora nombrof years very successfully—the rock teken ontbeing crushed at the Onvida mill. Marirosa.—The Mariposa Gazette of February 24th says last week a very rich strike was made in the Cerro Rico quartz vein, owned by Jose del Cermen Rodriques, and some five or six thousond dollars taken out. The gold was very coarse, some pieces weighing trom two to three ounces. The vein is situated on Bear creek, a short distance from the town of Colorado. Fresno.— Highly enconraging acconnts, says the Tulare Times, are received of the developnient and discovery of copper mines in Fresno county. In the Ne Plus Ultra mine, which has recently opened rich, a sale was made a few days since at a high fienre ; the purchaser being satisfied that the leed 1s a rich and perManent one, A new vein was recently strack abuut eight miles from Millerton that promises to prove valuable. Public interest is strongly enlisted ia the subject, and important discoveries may be aaticipated. Theie is no doubt but the region around Millerton is rich in copper ores. The Thorn quartz mine, on Little Dry creek, which has been worked imperfectly with nrastras for a year or two, is proving extreniely rich, and negotiations are now pending fo: the srle of the whole or a portion of it to a San Francisco company. TuLarE.—We learn from the Examiner, that the Wolfskill mill is now ranning steadily. It works most magnificently. A better lot of machinery has never left Saa Hrancisco. They have made one rua of thirty-five tons of ore from the Baptist lode, from which they clenued two thousand five hundred dollars. ‘Chey design putting up ten more stamps immediately. HUMBOLDT. The Register says that the Monroe Series, a gold quartz claito in Dun Glen, has been showing up adinirably of late. A lot of five tons of rock, recently worked at Holt’s mill, yielded $2,500. Ata depth of about 72 feet, the men came upon richerrock than ever before. Oae of the men thinks the rock taken oat will yield $2,000 ; but probably, being an owner, he was a little too extravagaat in his estimate. The Daniel Webster company has let a contract for the exteasion of the tunnel 100 feet further into the mountain. The workmen expect to'tap the ledge near the end of tbis run. ESMERALDA. Messrs. Enrrors: Since my last, very little of interest has transpired in this camp ; stormy weather has kept mining operations back. But one mine, that I know of, has steadily kept working. The “Crockett” on Last Chance Hill, under the management of Mr. Gallagher, has been kept to work throngh all kinds of weather, and from the appearance of the rock that 1 have seen it will richly reward him for his perseverance. I understand that he purposes putting ona larger force when the days get longer and the mine will justify him in doing so. OTHER MINES Will soon resume work, rnd the clank of the hammer and drill will resound 11 over (and under) the hills adjacent to Aurora. ‘here are many wines here worthy of being worked, that would pay well if the owners would only look after them, themselves; instead of letting coatracts to parties to take out. the rock (for anominal price per ton, which they seldom or never get), said parties not caring in what shape they leave the mine, so long as they can gouge them out and make them pay themselves; leaving their waste tock in the mine, requiring as much, if not more labor, to clear the ming of waste or bad rock, as it would to work the mine originally. I know of many snch instances, and to those abroad who have the letting of such mines, I would say, rather let them lay idle than give out such contracts, as they are most injurious to the mining interests of any mining camp, and this one in particular. THE PAUL THOMPSON. This mine, once npon a time, was considered of great value. It lays adjacent to, and about three hundred feet due south of the original Del Monte claim on Last Chance Hill. It is now owned by private individuals, having been sold by the sheriff on the 5tb June last. under 8n execution for debt, and the company not having redeemed, the sale has becoine absolnte ; the six months for redemption heving long since expired, Mr. C. Novacovich, N. Trivanovich und some others being the fortunate owners ; alt ough their mine has been allowed to lay idle, it is not the less valuable, having a well defined ledge of good paying quartz. Toa few men with capitel this mine would prove arich harvest. It might not pay under a company adminstration, but would pey indi vidual industry well. THE DEL MONTE. The sale of this mine for taxes, together with the Del Monte mill and all its appurtenances, has been a serious drawback to this cemp, and will prove so until the resumption of operations by the party purchasing. 1 examined the Del Monte mill a short time since, and can unhesitatingly say that it is one of the best, if not the best quartz mill that I have ever seen, and I have seen many in California and Virginia; everything is in the most systematic order,but it has been so often described, by abler judges than myself, thet I will not go into further details, but simply leave it, regretting that so fine a piece of mechanism should be allowed to lay idle. THE DAILY MAIL has proved qnite a blessing to us outside barbatians, and the citizens of Aurora and ont-ide camps are under (or ought to be) many obligations to Mr, Willington for obtaining it for them. and to his gentlemanly son, George, who superintends its affairs. It is quite a comfort to be able to sit dowa to your breakfast and take up the puper every morning froin San Francisco, Sucramento, Virginia, or wherever your. fancy may lead you, und see and read what is going on in the outside world. Our enterprising news dealer, Mr. Michner, caters well for the public palate in the way of newspapers, periodicals and reading metter of all kinds, and, as a reward for his industry in this branch, is well patronized by the citizens, as they are all of a reading and thinking turn. AURORA, or rather its citizens, are making herculean strides in the literary direction. Alrendy it boasts of its Lyceum and Library Association, which does greut credit to the Zterati of the place ; and with tie talented Gough as librarian, it is sure to be a success. A course of lectures is now being delivered for the benefit of the Association, the first of which came off a few nights ago, by W. T. Gough, Esq. Subject ; “ Geology, aud its relation to the Bible.” He handled his subject in the most masterly Mantier. and so enchained his audieace that a pin could be heard drop on the floor, until at the conclusion, ove spontaneous acclamation went forth in honor of the orator. After the lecture came a trippiag of the * light fantastic toe,” to relieve the mind, by exercising the body, of the grand but eloqueut subject they had listeued to. CAPITAL. There is magic in that one word. Upon it is poised the destinies of men and mines, and when J view the amount of capital that is being invested and carried into districts hundreds ot miles beyond us, uagpened ond unknown, 1 wonder of what ideas men can be possessed, or what influence brought to bear npon them. to induce them in buying large quantities of machinery, and shipping it. at enormous expense, to miaes that have not had a pick stuck into them, or the least preparation made for extracting ore to supply a mill, when by the simple act of investigation they could fiad mines much nearer and easier of access, well opened, and ready to supply ore that would pay from the word “go.” 'fo my mind this is the most serious injury to our miuing interest on the Pacific Slope—the loose manaer ia which great outlays of money is made. Were the parties commanding such capital to come here, examine our mines for themselves, or even send competent persons to do so, my life for it, their wmachinery would stop here, and they would soon be rewarded, in the shape of returns, instead of the heavy ontlays that I know for a certainty they have to bear; and in the end what is their reward? a failure, and the total, loss of the money invested! ‘Thissort of thing has been the curse and ruin of many of our best mining districts; confidence is lost. and, to use a common simile, “ the burned child so dreads the fire” that he will not seek further, but let capital (what is left of it) seek investment in some other channel. I am credibly informed that arrangements have been made with au Eastern company for working capital, and that the machinery is now on the way to develop some of our mines to a greater depth than has yet been done. I em very glad to hear of this, as I have strong faith in the ines here, and capital is nll that is needed to make then valuable rnd paying institutions, and this company I predict will be the predecessor of Many more to follow when the resnlt of «their labor is known. wee OWritten for the sining and Sclentltic Press,] From Brown's Valley. Mr. Eprror:—If we had not already the world’s more recent history of newspaper ce febrities before us,two papers in our own State, whosennmes are in everybody’s mind and mouth, would fnlly illustrate the fact that whilst political or purely party papers cen seldom be made paying institutions, nor even afford any kind of satisfaction to those engaged in them, other papers, entirely identifying themselves with all the vitai questidns o. the State, or those more particularly pertsining to their special spheres of activity, soon attain a most enviable, high and influential position, which increases their usefulness, nod finally makes them powerlul and most beueficial institutions. Suck a position I prediet for your own paper, if you continue your present efforts. We are to-doy only commencing the devel opment of oor mineral resources; snd the mining interest is and ever will be paramount: to all other vital interests of our State. The more I read your paper, the more I feel convinced, that for the more intelligent and economics! working aud development of our mines, a well-conducted medium for the dis semination of useful information is absolutely necessary. Not only every miner, but all persons interested in mining, will read it with iuterest and profit to themselves ; and will also sooa feel inclined and ready to aid not only ia the collection of valuable information, but also in extending the circulation of the paper. 2 In most cases, success in mining is only obtained after iany years of greut expertse, of toil aad patient perseverence ; and some of the plore itnuiediate causes why claims have been so often abandoned for want of satisfuctory results, may be found, first, in the luct that we havein Culifornia as yet but very, very few mea really oble to superintend and con duct the work: of such enterprise ; and also perhaps, with too suaguine,and often ridic lous expectations of those niost heavify engaged in them. it cannot be denied, however, that the managemeat of such eoterprises, this side of the niountains, hos so far been more judicious, ecoaomical aud honest, than in yonder silver faud ; and as long as our claims will not worked under the influence and according te the more immediate aud pressing requirements of a San Francisco Stock Board, there moy be hope that we will get along without an crash or crisis. Having given inuch time, attention and thought, during the Inst few years, to quartz luining, I could not fail to come to the coas clusion that, for lack of laith, knowledge aod perseverance, & great many good cluims ha veen abandoved, and that the large sums mouey thus spent, without any profit or advan= 9 tage, could certainly not fuil to iucrease the already existing discouragement, aud th completely disgust niuuy of those engaged quartz wining. J Heuce, I cannot help beginning my remarks); with a denial of the theory so generatly admi ted amongst miners, that quartz veins may p: well on the surface, and perhaps to a certaia depth, and then at oace fail or give out entirely. I mean to say that such claims should not be abandoned so readily. Ledges or pay streaks may disappear in the shatts, and we may, lor sometime, lose sight of them entirely, as olten the case when we find a so-called “ horse” in our way; but with a reasonable care, aod © knowledge or experience in mining, we shall always lind them aguin. ‘There can be no doubt of this, as a general thing, as long as we have the same casing, cap-rock, etc.,as before, to guide us in our prospects. Ledges are soinewhat like rivers—they pursue their cours’ sometines straight and sometimes crooked ; sometimes smull and sometimes large. Itis for the miner to study his ground, aad then to jf act accordingly. In this connection, it may not be amiss to speak of a fact uow positively established in sone of our quartz claims in Brown's Valley— a fact of which I have never seen any mention made in your paper nor in any other one. In several of these claims the pay streaks are crossing their incline shafts, at an obliqne *,

150 , The Blining and Scientific Press. Riining Summary. CALIFORNIA. Snasra County.—The Courter says that a lode of copper bearing rock, which, for richness surpasses anything heretofore seen in that county, was recently disenvered by Mr. Pierson, in the southeastern part of the couuty, abouttwenty milesfrom Shasta. The discoyery was kept a secret for some time ; but the locality is now known. A nngget worth $272 was taken from the Dog Creek mines a short time since. Burre.—A correspondent of the Marysville Appeal speaks very enconragingly of mining Operations in the hydreulic claims iu the vicinity of Timbuctoo. Considerable difficulty has recently been experienced on account of a misunderstanding between the Excelsior Canal Company and the Shamrock Mining Company. This qnarre] compelled the suspension of operations on the part of several other cotnpnnies, until Mr. James O'Brien, of the Perry & Evans claim, terminated the difficulty by purchasing the Shamrock ground for $8,000. In so doing, he has done a greet favor for the general mining interests of the neighborhood. ‘Ihe Huston compeny, which recently made an extensive purchase on Squaw creek, is making rapid strides towards opening their claims, under the management of HE. F. Williams of Smartsville. The company employs about thirty men, and it is expected that the claim will soon be yielding sage returns. ‘lhe Blue gravel claim on Sucker Flat atill continues to ay 2s wellas ever. Mr, Chamberlain, Superintendent of the Squaw Creek mining compeny, has sunk a shaft sixty feet deep, and strack the blue gravel. He proposes to erect machinery for pnpmping and hoisting in order to thoroughly test the mine. ! The Andrew Jackson quartz mining company are abont to resume active operations under the supervision of L. B. Clark. They have had a Jot of rock hauled to Grass Valley for ernshing which gave satisfactory returns. The company are about to erect. machinery, and test the mine thoroughly. The Mare Antony quartz mining company had to suspend operations on account of too much water coming in from the late rains. ‘hey have out a huge pile of quartz, but have no machinery as yet to test it. They intend starting again soon. Nevapa.—The Transcript learns that Still’s mill is kept 1m constaut operation crushing quartz froin the celebrated Wilmington lead on Gold Flat. At the last crushing, some two years siace, from which time it has been unworked until lately, 1t yielded $35 to the ton. No retnrns have yet been made public as to its preseat yield. ‘Work has recently been resnmed on the Mattingly ledge. Some years ago several crushings were takea out of this ledge, and worked at Graes Valley and Nevada, but did not pay. ‘The owners are atill confident of the richness of their claims, and are determined to prospect it to a greater depth. ‘Ihis ledge is upon the same range ae the Star Spangled Banner. There is no reason why it should not be rich. The Kistil company on the Prosper ledge, on Canada Gill, is constantly at work, with most gratifying success. Last fall stuck in this company suld for $30 per share; a few days since a share was sold for $150, which was bonght in by the company fer $500. A lot of eighty tons of rock is now beiug crushed at the French mill, and itis expected the returns coming to the above share tor thisf lot alone, will refund the amount paid for it. So says the Transeript. The Gazelle says the Pennaylvania mill was Btarted up on Monday last, for the first time siace it came to 2 sudden stop last fall by the bursting of the boiler. They have out about fifty tons of ore, which it is thought will pay $76 to the ton. The indications are favorable for this becoming one of the best mines in the vicinity. , Some very rich rock is beiag taken out of the Deadwood ledge, near the Oriental mill. This claim paid remarkably well some years ago, and the original discovererseach made a small fortune by working the ledge and selling out, It hasbeen worked but very little for several years past, never haviag been opened to any depth. The Excelsior Mines—We hear that the Excelsior mills have been stopped for want of ore. A correspondent of the Virginia Enterprise says that Winton’s mill has beep crushing rock from the Pacific ledge and made good results. The Califoraia will will start again in a few weeks and will make the next crushing from the famous California ledge. The Enterprise mill isnot yet fiaished, but may be completed by the first of April. ‘I'he months of Febrnary and March will eventually be the hauling season. During these two months the snow is compact so that a road may be broken anywhere with but little trouble, aud with no danger of its being filled up with snow. The advantage of hnuling witb sleds and oxen, compared with mules and wagons, are obvlous, and our millmen and others will be prepared for this another season. CaLaveras.—— The Copperopolis Courier seys thet a number of companies which temporarily suspended operations last fall, in this and adjoining districts, are now meking arrengements to resume work. Besides theze are numerous other companies which intend to commence work on their claims next sunimer. The permanency of the Union and Keystone is giving capitalists confidence in onr imines. AmaDor.—The Amador Cinnabar mining company have commenced work in earnest upon their gronnd, and it will not be loug before they will be able to ascertain the true value of their claim. Persons who are ‘amniliar with this kind of mining speak well of the “ prospect.” The Ledger learns that another quortz mill will soon be commenced near this place; it will be erected for the purpose of crushing the tock taken from the Kennedy, one of the richest lodes in this region, which hns been worked fora nombrof years very successfully—the rock teken ontbeing crushed at the Onvida mill. Marirosa.—The Mariposa Gazette of February 24th says last week a very rich strike was made in the Cerro Rico quartz vein, owned by Jose del Cermen Rodriques, and some five or six thousond dollars taken out. The gold was very coarse, some pieces weighing trom two to three ounces. The vein is situated on Bear creek, a short distance from the town of Colorado. Fresno.— Highly enconraging acconnts, says the Tulare Times, are received of the developnient and discovery of copper mines in Fresno county. In the Ne Plus Ultra mine, which has recently opened rich, a sale was made a few days since at a high fienre ; the purchaser being satisfied that the leed 1s a rich and perManent one, A new vein was recently strack abuut eight miles from Millerton that promises to prove valuable. Public interest is strongly enlisted ia the subject, and important discoveries may be aaticipated. Theie is no doubt but the region around Millerton is rich in copper ores. The Thorn quartz mine, on Little Dry creek, which has been worked imperfectly with nrastras for a year or two, is proving extreniely rich, and negotiations are now pending fo: the srle of the whole or a portion of it to a San Francisco company. TuLarE.—We learn from the Examiner, that the Wolfskill mill is now ranning steadily. It works most magnificently. A better lot of machinery has never left Saa Hrancisco. They have made one rua of thirty-five tons of ore from the Baptist lode, from which they clenued two thousand five hundred dollars. ‘Chey design putting up ten more stamps immediately. HUMBOLDT. The Register says that the Monroe Series, a gold quartz claito in Dun Glen, has been showing up adinirably of late. A lot of five tons of rock, recently worked at Holt’s mill, yielded $2,500. Ata depth of about 72 feet, the men came upon richerrock than ever before. Oae of the men thinks the rock taken oat will yield $2,000 ; but probably, being an owner, he was a little too extravagaat in his estimate. The Daniel Webster company has let a contract for the exteasion of the tunnel 100 feet further into the mountain. The workmen expect to'tap the ledge near the end of tbis run. ESMERALDA. Messrs. Enrrors: Since my last, very little of interest has transpired in this camp ; stormy weather has kept mining operations back. But one mine, that I know of, has steadily kept working. The “Crockett” on Last Chance Hill, under the management of Mr. Gallagher, has been kept to work throngh all kinds of weather, and from the appearance of the rock that 1 have seen it will richly reward him for his perseverance. I understand that he purposes putting ona larger force when the days get longer and the mine will justify him in doing so. OTHER MINES Will soon resume work, rnd the clank of the hammer and drill will resound 11 over (and under) the hills adjacent to Aurora. ‘here are many wines here worthy of being worked, that would pay well if the owners would only look after them, themselves; instead of letting coatracts to parties to take out. the rock (for anominal price per ton, which they seldom or never get), said parties not caring in what shape they leave the mine, so long as they can gouge them out and make them pay themselves; leaving their waste tock in the mine, requiring as much, if not more

labor, to clear the ming of waste or bad rock, as it would to work the mine originally. I know of many snch instances, and to those abroad who have the letting of such mines, I would say, rather let them lay idle than give out such contracts, as they are most injurious to the mining interests of any mining camp, and this one in particular. THE PAUL THOMPSON. This mine, once npon a time, was considered of great value. It lays adjacent to, and about three hundred feet due south of the original Del Monte claim on Last Chance Hill. It is now owned by private individuals, having been sold by the sheriff on the 5tb June last. under 8n execution for debt, and the company not having redeemed, the sale has becoine absolnte ; the six months for redemption heving long since expired, Mr. C. Novacovich, N. Trivanovich und some others being the fortunate owners ; alt ough their mine has been allowed to lay idle, it is not the less valuable, having a well defined ledge of good paying quartz. Toa few men with capitel this mine would prove arich harvest. It might not pay under a company adminstration, but would pey indi vidual industry well. THE DEL MONTE. The sale of this mine for taxes, together with the Del Monte mill and all its appurtenances, has been a serious drawback to this cemp, and will prove so until the resumption of operations by the party purchasing. 1 examined the Del Monte mill a short time since, and can unhesitatingly say that it is one of the best, if not the best quartz mill that I have ever seen, and I have seen many in California and Virginia; everything is in the most systematic order,but it has been so often described, by abler judges than myself, thet I will not go into further details, but simply leave it, regretting that so fine a piece of mechanism should be allowed to lay idle. THE DAILY MAIL has proved qnite a blessing to us outside barbatians, and the citizens of Aurora and ont-ide camps are under (or ought to be) many obligations to Mr, Willington for obtaining it for them. and to his gentlemanly son, George, who superintends its affairs. It is quite a comfort to be able to sit dowa to your breakfast and take up the puper every morning froin San Francisco, Sucramento, Virginia, or wherever your. fancy may lead you, und see and read what is going on in the outside world. Our enterprising news dealer, Mr. Michner, caters well for the public palate in the way of newspapers, periodicals and reading metter of all kinds, and, as a reward for his industry in this branch, is well patronized by the citizens, as they are all of a reading and thinking turn. AURORA, or rather its citizens, are making herculean strides in the literary direction. Alrendy it boasts of its Lyceum and Library Association, which does greut credit to the Zterati of the place ; and with tie talented Gough as librarian, it is sure to be a success. A course of lectures is now being delivered for the benefit of the Association, the first of which came off a few nights ago, by W. T. Gough, Esq. Subject ; “ Geology, aud its relation to the Bible.” He handled his subject in the most masterly Mantier. and so enchained his audieace that a pin could be heard drop on the floor, until at the conclusion, ove spontaneous acclamation went forth in honor of the orator. After the lecture came a trippiag of the * light fantastic toe,” to relieve the mind, by exercising the body, of the grand but eloqueut subject they had listeued to. CAPITAL. There is magic in that one word. Upon it is poised the destinies of men and mines, and when J view the amount of capital that is being invested and carried into districts hundreds ot miles beyond us, uagpened ond unknown, 1 wonder of what ideas men can be possessed, or what influence brought to bear npon them. to induce them in buying large quantities of machinery, and shipping it. at enormous expense, to miaes that have not had a pick stuck into them, or the least preparation made for extracting ore to supply a mill, when by the simple act of investigation they could fiad mines much nearer and easier of access, well opened, and ready to supply ore that would pay from the word “go.” 'fo my mind this is the most serious injury to our miuing interest on the Pacific Slope—the loose manaer ia which great outlays of money is made. Were the parties commanding such capital to come here, examine our mines for themselves, or even send competent persons to do so, my life for it, their wmachinery would stop here, and they would soon be rewarded, in the shape of returns, instead of the heavy ontlays that I know for a certainty they have to bear; and in the end what is their reward? a failure, and the total, loss of the money invested! ‘Thissort of thing has been the curse and ruin of many of our best mining districts; confidence is lost. and, to use a common simile, “ the burned child so dreads the fire” that he will not seek further, but let capital (what is left of it) seek investment in some other channel. I am credibly informed that arrangements have been made with au Eastern company for working capital, and that the machinery is now on the way to develop some of our mines to a greater depth than has yet been done. I em very glad to hear of this, as I have strong faith in the ines here, and capital is nll that is needed to make then valuable rnd paying institutions, and this company I predict will be the predecessor of Many more to follow when the resnlt of «their labor is known. wee OWritten for the sining and Sclentltic Press,] From Brown's Valley. Mr. Eprror:—If we had not already the world’s more recent history of newspaper ce febrities before us,two papers in our own State, whosennmes are in everybody’s mind and mouth, would fnlly illustrate the fact that whilst political or purely party papers cen seldom be made paying institutions, nor even afford any kind of satisfaction to those engaged in them, other papers, entirely identifying themselves with all the vitai questidns o. the State, or those more particularly pertsining to their special spheres of activity, soon attain a most enviable, high and influential position, which increases their usefulness, nod finally makes them powerlul and most beueficial institutions. Suck a position I prediet for your own paper, if you continue your present efforts. We are to-doy only commencing the devel opment of oor mineral resources; snd the mining interest is and ever will be paramount: to all other vital interests of our State. The more I read your paper, the more I feel convinced, that for the more intelligent and economics! working aud development of our mines, a well-conducted medium for the dis semination of useful information is absolutely necessary. Not only every miner, but all persons interested in mining, will read it with iuterest and profit to themselves ; and will also sooa feel inclined and ready to aid not only ia the collection of valuable information, but also in extending the circulation of the paper. 2 In most cases, success in mining is only obtained after iany years of greut expertse, of toil aad patient perseverence ; and some of the plore itnuiediate causes why claims have been so often abandoned for want of satisfuctory results, may be found, first, in the luct that we havein Culifornia as yet but very, very few mea really oble to superintend and con duct the work: of such enterprise ; and also perhaps, with too suaguine,and often ridic lous expectations of those niost heavify engaged in them. it cannot be denied, however, that the managemeat of such eoterprises, this side of the niountains, hos so far been more judicious, ecoaomical aud honest, than in yonder silver faud ; and as long as our claims will not worked under the influence and according te the more immediate aud pressing requirements of a San Francisco Stock Board, there moy be hope that we will get along without an crash or crisis. Having given inuch time, attention and thought, during the Inst few years, to quartz luining, I could not fail to come to the coas clusion that, for lack of laith, knowledge aod perseverance, & great many good cluims ha veen abandoved, and that the large sums mouey thus spent, without any profit or advan= 9 tage, could certainly not fuil to iucrease the already existing discouragement, aud th completely disgust niuuy of those engaged quartz wining. J Heuce, I cannot help beginning my remarks); with a denial of the theory so generatly admi ted amongst miners, that quartz veins may p: well on the surface, and perhaps to a certaia depth, and then at oace fail or give out entirely. I mean to say that such claims should not be abandoned so readily. Ledges or pay streaks may disappear in the shatts, and we may, lor sometime, lose sight of them entirely, as olten the case when we find a so-called “ horse” in our way; but with a reasonable care, aod © knowledge or experience in mining, we shall always lind them aguin. ‘There can be no doubt of this, as a general thing, as long as we have the same casing, cap-rock, etc.,as before, to guide us in our prospects. Ledges are soinewhat like rivers—they pursue their cours’ sometines straight and sometimes crooked ; sometimes smull and sometimes large. Itis for the miner to study his ground, aad then to jf act accordingly. In this connection, it may not be amiss to speak of a fact uow positively established in sone of our quartz claims in Brown's Valley— a fact of which I have never seen any mention made in your paper nor in any other one. In several of these claims the pay streaks are crossing their incline shafts, at an obliqne *,