Volume 26 (1873) (431 pages)

I mad, ir Sie a < reel lips thi 2 aS Yeo *e*eoe Feo Fete ¥ Aa illustrated Journal uf Mining, Popular Science and Progressive Industry. RY DEWEY & Co., Patent Solicitors. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1878. VOLUME XXXVI. Number 13. California Miners. Califoraia miners are with regard to morals a mnch abnsed class of men. The impression prevails awuy from this coast, and to some extent here, that their nights are mostly spent in the gambling saloon, hrothel and in riotous dissipation. This is far from beiog the case, generally speaking, although wild and adventnrons spitits do exist among them prohably to a greater extent than among those who follow other pnrsuita. For this reason many snppose them all a demoralized set of men. It mnst he rememhcred that they are by force of circumstances comparatively isolated from the influence of female society, and men will natnrally degenerate in such cases in some degree as far as social relations are concerned, hut that they become entirely demoralized is a mistaken idea. The early pioneers who made the paths for future civilization and progress on this coast, were comparatively wild and lawless. Comparatively, we say, hecanse there were no laws in the conntry and no one authorized to enforce them if thers had been, and the evil spirits among them compelled the steadier portions to take the law into their own hands for self-protection—the natural law recognized evenhy the courts, The cases where snch action is necessary in later days are few and farhetween, Stillwe who now reap the benefits which the hardihood and perseverance of these early-comers, aided in a great measure to confer upon us, should take into consideration the circumstances under which they lived, hefore pouring out wholesale condemnation on their courses of life, looking only on the dark side. The miners employed at large mines, near the more prominent mining towns on the coast are naturally more subject to temptation than those whose claims are in isolated cations among the mountains and who work their own claims. Althongh many of the men in the former instance ‘‘hach it’’ in their own cahins, the majority of them findit more convenient to hoard at some hoarding honse or hotel. As & consequence they often spend their evenings in the common sitting rooms of such places, or in saloons, nnless they keep their own rooms. The round of amusements is exceedingly limited, and they fall hack on hean poker, seven up or crihhage, to while away the time. Whether money is put np on the games rnotis a matter of individnal opinion; but when it is, the amount is generally small, except among regular gamhlers who exist in every community and with whom we have nothing to do. But let ns take these men who live in their own cahins on the ontskirts of small mioing camps, or in ieolated localities heside their Olaims. In California a great majority of the miners are among thieclass, who if they do not haye claims of their own, work on minee which may or may not he incorporated, hut whose . stock is not called at our Stock Board. There aro thouands of such mines scattered all over the mioiag counties of the State from the most northern pointto San Diego. The mea join together in parties of four or five and some of them work for wages while the others work in the claim. When a little hard np, perhaps, the whole party will go to work in some mine for wages until able to work on their own claims again, Sometimes two men’s wages will keep fonr othersin ‘‘gruh.”’ nerships are conducted as honestly as if the partuers were hound hy all the legal docnments possiblo, signed, sealed and recorded, whereas itis seldom that a scrap of paper is held hy any of them. They divide the work and diMINERS AROUN vide the profits or the loss as the case may be. These menare the representative miners of California. Ifthe traveler goes among them he will find them courtecus, hospitahle, generous to a fault, soher, steady, hardworking men, and thoogh rongh in exterior hahit, overflowing with the ‘‘milk of human kindness.” Among them are many well edncated men who are trying to make ‘‘their piles’ in the mines hut they cannot be distinguished from the rest of the crowd unless by their conversation. These miners are more regular iu their hahits than the generality of people in large cities. Esrly hours at night are the rnle and they rise early hy force of circumstances. Let us make a little sketch for the unioitiated, not fancifnl hut well remembered hy the writer, of the domestic arrangements of this class of men. One cabin is the type of the majority, for though they may differ in detail as to appearance and arrangements, the same general characteristics are common to all. The engraving shown on this page will serve to give an idea to the uninitiated reader of the exterior appearance of an isolated cabin, and a group of miners encircling the fire, while its truthfulnese will be recognized by those of our friends who are now among such scenes. The little Theso part-/ piok or shovel invariahly drives away dyspepsia. a D THE CAMP FIRE. group have evidently just returned from their claim hard hy, and have made a long day of it, . [for the moon ie rising over tbe tree tops in the] hackground. The ’‘ doctor”’ is preparing eupper, the other boye are reading, taking it eaey, warming themselves or gathering od for the camp fire. Black coffee, boiled beans, fried bacon, bread baked in a Dutch oven, or pancakes, form their frngal meal. Bot it is eaten with a relish that an epicnre wonld envy, for indostry, early rising, and regular habits are great promoters of appetite and digestion. Beside the cahin are the ntensils with which they pnrsue their daily toil, and handling a Now let ns take a peep inside the cahin and going repairs. Tho heds consist of a couple of pair of hlankets without sheeta or coverlet, made upon @ straw mattress, with a coat or two for a pillow. In a cabin snch as we have attempted to deascribe does many an honest miner pass his time when not working in his claim. The evenings are passed in reading, smoking, talking and playing cards as each may desire. Those who wish to, may take a drink from the demijohn see what the domestic arrangements are. Somewhat neater than one would snppose from. the appearance of the ontside. No paper or) cloth on the walls to he snre, hnt the nails, Four hunks on each slde of the cahin, heside the door, with their heads toward it in a douhle driven iuto the logs would spoil that. tier. A small, rough table iu the center, with several hoxes and powder kegs for chairs, a small looking-glass near tlie little window with a comb suspended from astring hesideit. These catch the eye of the visitor at the first glance. Then be hecomes cognizant of some sacks of flour, one of potatoes, in the corner, a few sides of hacon snspended from a beam, a miner’s pan or two, an old pick handle, some store clothes hanging from the nails, and a couple of common trunks, and several oracker hoxes and carpet sacks, in company with gam hoots protrude from under the lower bnnks. The walls are ornamented with cuts taken from illustrated newspapers and a few photographs are tacked under two ortbree of the bunks. On a couple of ehelves over the fire-place are a few wellworn hooks, which show signs of hard service. An old newspaper sticks out of the foot of one of the bunks. At the back of the cabiu is tbe open fire-place in front of which the hoys sit on winter evenings. In the summer they prefer to sit outside aronnd the camp fire and smoke their pipes, spin yarns and dream of the time when they will have made their pile. On anotber shelf above the window is a hag of salt,/ eeveral yeast powder cans, a paper of coffee, al conple of hottles of quicksilver, some plugs of tobacco, a worn pack of cards and a crib-board. In the corner iea hread pan, eome molasees bottles, a demijohn and a pair of boots, nnderwhen they please, hat drnnkenness in ench places is seldom seen. Those whose tsstes lie that way nsnally pander to them when in town and eemi-oceasionally, hnt not when in their enhins. In places like this the moat illiterate will take an interest in a hook once in a while, and those who love to read pore over any stray volume which comes in their way with real enjoyment. The conversation of these men, like that of sailors, smacks of their calling. When “ cabining’ together they will stick up for their ‘‘ pards ” through ‘thick and thin, cheerfnlly take their share of the sllotted honsehold work, and should one of their unmber be sick he has the best possihle care and attention. They take pride in their skill at cooking and in everything they have, except perhaps, their perscnal appearance, which they think, like Mr. Toots, ‘‘is of no consequence.”” These men do not csre a cent what the outside world thinks of them. They dotheir work and mind their own business and do not want any one to meddle with it. But as far as beiug all, or most all, gamblers, desperadoes, drunkards, etc., as many people suppose, any one who told them so personally would find a fight on his hands as qnick as if he killed a rat down in one of the levels of a mine on the Comstook lode. Piscicutture.—The Sacramento Record says that Livingston Storie, Deputy United States Fish Commissioner, left for the Easton Tuesday, and by the reqnest of the Fish Commissioners of California, will send to this coast large quantities of eggs of various kindsof fish, among them black bass, silver eels, Schuylkill oatfish, yellow perch, glass-eyed perch, lohsters, and 100,000 shad. In distriboting these fish careful attention has heen given to the existence of conditions best suited to their culture. The hlack hass will he first placed in the artificial ponds owned hy A. T. Dewey, of Oakland, from whence they will he distributed throughout the State, and especially iu the chsin of lakes along the Sacramento river, commencing the first below Sacramento. The eels will be placed in the Sacramento helow the R street levee. The catfish will beplaced in Clear Lake. The shsd are assigned to the San Joaqnin; a portion, however, will be placed in the Sacramento above Tehama. The lohsters will be placed in Raccoon Straits. Tae Lazoz Srrixe.—Itseems that theetrikee of the International Aseociation will prohahly come, after all, judging from telegraphic reports from the East. Membhere of that body think that all the eections and tradee should strike this year to enforce the eight honr law.

I mad, ir Sie a < reel lips thi 2 aS Yeo *e*eoe Feo Fete ¥ Aa illustrated Journal uf Mining, Popular Science and Progressive Industry. RY DEWEY & Co., Patent Solicitors. SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1878. VOLUME XXXVI. Number 13. California Miners. Califoraia miners are with regard to morals a mnch abnsed class of men. The impression prevails awuy from this coast, and to some extent here, that their nights are mostly spent in the gambling saloon, hrothel and in riotous dissipation. This is far from beiog the case, generally speaking, although wild and adventnrons spitits do exist among them prohably to a greater extent than among those who follow other pnrsuita. For this reason many snppose them all a demoralized set of men. It mnst he rememhcred that they are by force of circumstances comparatively isolated from the influence of female society, and men will natnrally degenerate in such cases in some degree as far as social relations are concerned, hut that they become entirely demoralized is a mistaken idea. The early pioneers who made the paths for future civilization and progress on this coast, were comparatively wild and lawless. Comparatively, we say, hecanse there were no laws in the conntry and no one authorized to enforce them if thers had been, and the evil spirits among them compelled the steadier portions to take the law into their own hands for self-protection—the natural law recognized evenhy the courts, The cases where snch action is necessary in later days are few and farhetween, Stillwe who now reap the benefits which the hardihood and perseverance of these early-comers, aided in a great measure to confer upon us, should take into consideration the circumstances under which they lived, hefore pouring out wholesale condemnation on their courses of life, looking only on the dark side. The miners employed at large mines, near the more prominent mining towns on the coast are naturally more subject to temptation than those whose claims are in isolated cations among the mountains and who work their own claims. Althongh many of the men in the former instance ‘‘hach it’’ in their own cahins, the majority of them findit more convenient to hoard at some hoarding honse or hotel. As & consequence they often spend their evenings in the common sitting rooms of such places, or in saloons, nnless they keep their own rooms. The round of amusements is exceedingly limited, and they fall hack on hean poker, seven up or crihhage, to while away the time. Whether money is put np on the games rnotis a matter of individnal opinion; but when it is, the amount is generally small, except among regular gamhlers who exist in every community and with whom we have nothing to do. But let ns take these men who live in their own cahins on the ontskirts of small mioing camps, or in ieolated localities heside their Olaims. In California a great majority of the miners are among thieclass, who if they do not haye claims of their own, work on minee which may or may not he incorporated, hut whose . stock is not called at our Stock Board. There aro thouands of such mines scattered all over the mioiag counties of the State from the most northern pointto San Diego. The mea join together in parties of four or five and some of them work for wages while the others work in the claim. When a little hard np, perhaps, the whole party will go to work in some mine for wages until able to work on their own claims again, Sometimes two men’s wages will keep fonr othersin ‘‘gruh.”’ nerships are conducted as honestly as if the partuers were hound hy all the legal docnments possiblo, signed, sealed and recorded, whereas itis seldom that a scrap of paper is held hy any of them. They divide the work and diMINERS AROUN vide the profits or the loss as the case may be. These menare the representative miners of California. Ifthe traveler goes among them he will find them courtecus, hospitahle, generous to a fault, soher, steady, hardworking men, and thoogh rongh in exterior hahit, overflowing with the ‘‘milk of human kindness.” Among them are many well edncated men who are trying to make ‘‘their piles’ in the mines hut they cannot be distinguished from the rest of the crowd unless by their conversation. These miners are more regular iu their hahits than the generality of people in large cities. Esrly hours at night are the rnle and they rise early hy force of circumstances. Let us make a little sketch for the unioitiated, not fancifnl hut well remembered hy the writer, of the domestic arrangements of this class of men. One cabin is the type of the majority, for though they may differ in detail as to appearance and arrangements, the same general characteristics are common to all. The engraving shown on this page will serve to give an idea to the uninitiated reader of the exterior appearance of an isolated cabin, and a group of miners encircling the fire, while its truthfulnese will be recognized by those of our friends who are now among such scenes. The little Theso part-/ piok or shovel invariahly drives away dyspepsia. a D THE CAMP FIRE.

group have evidently just returned from their claim hard hy, and have made a long day of it, . [for the moon ie rising over tbe tree tops in the] hackground. The ’‘ doctor”’ is preparing eupper, the other boye are reading, taking it eaey, warming themselves or gathering od for the camp fire. Black coffee, boiled beans, fried bacon, bread baked in a Dutch oven, or pancakes, form their frngal meal. Bot it is eaten with a relish that an epicnre wonld envy, for indostry, early rising, and regular habits are great promoters of appetite and digestion. Beside the cahin are the ntensils with which they pnrsue their daily toil, and handling a Now let ns take a peep inside the cahin and going repairs. Tho heds consist of a couple of pair of hlankets without sheeta or coverlet, made upon @ straw mattress, with a coat or two for a pillow. In a cabin snch as we have attempted to deascribe does many an honest miner pass his time when not working in his claim. The evenings are passed in reading, smoking, talking and playing cards as each may desire. Those who wish to, may take a drink from the demijohn see what the domestic arrangements are. Somewhat neater than one would snppose from. the appearance of the ontside. No paper or) cloth on the walls to he snre, hnt the nails, Four hunks on each slde of the cahin, heside the door, with their heads toward it in a douhle driven iuto the logs would spoil that. tier. A small, rough table iu the center, with several hoxes and powder kegs for chairs, a small looking-glass near tlie little window with a comb suspended from astring hesideit. These catch the eye of the visitor at the first glance. Then be hecomes cognizant of some sacks of flour, one of potatoes, in the corner, a few sides of hacon snspended from a beam, a miner’s pan or two, an old pick handle, some store clothes hanging from the nails, and a couple of common trunks, and several oracker hoxes and carpet sacks, in company with gam hoots protrude from under the lower bnnks. The walls are ornamented with cuts taken from illustrated newspapers and a few photographs are tacked under two ortbree of the bunks. On a couple of ehelves over the fire-place are a few wellworn hooks, which show signs of hard service. An old newspaper sticks out of the foot of one of the bunks. At the back of the cabiu is tbe open fire-place in front of which the hoys sit on winter evenings. In the summer they prefer to sit outside aronnd the camp fire and smoke their pipes, spin yarns and dream of the time when they will have made their pile. On anotber shelf above the window is a hag of salt,/ eeveral yeast powder cans, a paper of coffee, al conple of hottles of quicksilver, some plugs of tobacco, a worn pack of cards and a crib-board. In the corner iea hread pan, eome molasees bottles, a demijohn and a pair of boots, nnderwhen they please, hat drnnkenness in ench places is seldom seen. Those whose tsstes lie that way nsnally pander to them when in town and eemi-oceasionally, hnt not when in their enhins. In places like this the moat illiterate will take an interest in a hook once in a while, and those who love to read pore over any stray volume which comes in their way with real enjoyment. The conversation of these men, like that of sailors, smacks of their calling. When “ cabining’ together they will stick up for their ‘‘ pards ” through ‘thick and thin, cheerfnlly take their share of the sllotted honsehold work, and should one of their unmber be sick he has the best possihle care and attention. They take pride in their skill at cooking and in everything they have, except perhaps, their perscnal appearance, which they think, like Mr. Toots, ‘‘is of no consequence.”” These men do not csre a cent what the outside world thinks of them. They dotheir work and mind their own business and do not want any one to meddle with it. But as far as beiug all, or most all, gamblers, desperadoes, drunkards, etc., as many people suppose, any one who told them so personally would find a fight on his hands as qnick as if he killed a rat down in one of the levels of a mine on the Comstook lode. Piscicutture.—The Sacramento Record says that Livingston Storie, Deputy United States Fish Commissioner, left for the Easton Tuesday, and by the reqnest of the Fish Commissioners of California, will send to this coast large quantities of eggs of various kindsof fish, among them black bass, silver eels, Schuylkill oatfish, yellow perch, glass-eyed perch, lohsters, and 100,000 shad. In distriboting these fish careful attention has heen given to the existence of conditions best suited to their culture. The hlack hass will he first placed in the artificial ponds owned hy A. T. Dewey, of Oakland, from whence they will he distributed throughout the State, and especially iu the chsin of lakes along the Sacramento river, commencing the first below Sacramento. The eels will be placed in the Sacramento helow the R street levee. The catfish will beplaced in Clear Lake. The shsd are assigned to the San Joaqnin; a portion, however, will be placed in the Sacramento above Tehama. The lohsters will be placed in Raccoon Straits. Tae Lazoz Srrixe.—Itseems that theetrikee of the International Aseociation will prohahly come, after all, judging from telegraphic reports from the East. Membhere of that body think that all the eections and tradee should strike this year to enforce the eight honr law.