RAPID EXPLORATION OF THE PLACERS-OVER ESTIMATE OF THE

EARNINGS.

The exploration of the placer mines, which, during the year of their discovery had been extended to all the more central portions of the great metalliferous range, was pushed so vigorously on the arrival of the heavy immigration in 1849-50, that by the end of the latter year nearly every auriferous gulch and stream of importance in the State, except a few in its more northerly parts, had been discovered and partially worked. The adventurous miner, during this short interval, had, despite the want of trails, the hostility of Indians, and the many difficulties to be encountered, pushed up all the principal rivers and their branches; and there, constructing his rude camp, had worked over in a superficial and hasty manner, the bars of the streams and the beds of the gulches; some of their number taking out large, and a few, immense quantities of gold dust in a very short time. Still, the success of these pioneers was very unequal. If the miner happened to strike a rich deposit, he made large wages-sometimes, quite a fortune, in the course of a few weeks or months at the furthest. Failing in this, it was often as much as the most industrious and frugal could do to earn a livelihood, owing to the enormous cost of subsistence.

Still, these will ever be looked back to as the halcyon days of placer mining, during the earlier portion of which the traditionary ounce, being about a fair average of the miner's daily earnings, continued to be the standard of a day's wages. The current rate of wages was not, to be sure, the exact measure of what could be earned in the diggings, inasmuch as the self-employed miners were, as a class, more robust and energetic than those who hired out their labor; yet they indicate with sufficient accuracy the average earnings of the miner at different periods, showing their rapid decline at first and more gradual depreciation thereafter until they finally reached present rates. From twenty dollars per day in '48, and sixteen in '49, daily wages had fallen to eight dollars two years thereafter, and to less than four dollars by the end of 1858, since which time they have undergone a further decline of about thirty per cent.

From the above it will be seen that the average reward of the miner was comparatively moderate, even while the placers were virgin and uncrowded; it being doubtful if their individual earnings ranged at any time above twenty or twenty-five dollars per day at the utmost. As usually happens, however, in every pursuit where a few meet with marked success, these exceptional cases, often exaggerated far beyond

reality, were blazoned through the press and widely published by the busy tongue of rumor, whereby they attained to an immense notoriety; while the hundredfold more numerous examples of failure, being wholly overlooked, often sedulously concealed, were rarely heard of; or, if made known, were disregarded, as being prompted by sinister motives, or were derided as the apologetic devices of the idle and irresolute. And thus it has happened, that a very erroneous impression as to the general productiveness of the California placers at the outset, having, through these means first obtained, is still widely prevalent; many, ignorant of the real facts, deploring their ill luck in not having been among the first to arrive in the mines.

CHANCES STILL GOOD-IMPROVED CONDITIONS.

If, however, we compare the past with the present, and carefully canvass the advantages and disadvantages incident to both, it will be found that the chances for success do not preponderate so greatly in favor of the former as this class of persons are apt to suppose. In the first place, the cost of living, as above stated, was then enormous; the price of every article, whether of luxury or necessity, being out of all proportion to those now prevailing. Owing to a lack of wholesome food, medical attendance, comfortable dwellings, and other causes incident to the times, the miner was exposed to a variety of diseases-such as scurvy, chronic diarrhoea, rheumatism, etc.-none of which are now prevalent, some of them being almost wholly unknown. Formerly much time was lost to this class in consequence of sickness-deaths, also, being proportionately more numerous than at present. Then, also, the lives of citizens were exposed to constant danger from acts of violence, the whole country being filled with vicious and reckless men, against whose attacks none were secure in either their persons or property. The most audacious murders were perpetrated daily, and often with impunity; while thefts, robberies and similar outrages were things of too frequent occurrence to elicit attention, unless the public, in an ebullition of passion, seizing the culprits, inflicted upon them summary punishment. Then, too, the prospector in pushing out into new regions, had to encounter numerous hardships and dangers arising from the want of roads and trails, from scanty fare, exposure to Indian attacks, and many other evils, from which the explorer is at this day happily exempt.

Much time was also uselessly wasted in searching after gold in localities where with present experience none would think of looking

for it; while, as we have seen, a great deal of both time and money was spent in vain endeavors to wash the auriferous earth by means and methods wholly impracticable. With incredible toil the early miner pushed his researches high up into the Sierra, far beyond what is now known to be the furthest limit of the gold-bearing belt, seeking after the illusory sources whence had issued the deposits strewn along the rivers below. Long and wearisome journeys were made away into the depths of the gloomy wilderness over the crests of the snowy mountains, and sometimes out on the hot and arid deserts beyond, in search of mythical mountains composed mainly of the precious metals, or lakes, along the shores of which the sands glittered with virgin gold.

Taught by the mistakes of his predecessors, the modern prospector, avoiding these errors, is enabled to insure for his expenditure of labor and means, if not always more remunerative, at least more certain returns; while, as regards comfort and health, the mining community of California enjoy these blessings in as full measure as almost any other, whether we seek for them in this country or elsewhere.

It cannot, indeed, be said that the opportunities for making "big strikes," as they are termed, or even large wages, are as good now in the placers of this State as they were at first. This is especially true in the case of the man of small means, more particularly if he propose to spend but a short time, as, for example, a year or two only, in the country. But where the new-comer is content to remain a series of years, if necessary, and, proceeding to purchase or otherwise procure an interest in a productive claim, labors diligently, observing sobriety and economy, the chances for his amassing a moderate fortune, in the course of a few years, are fully as good now as ever before. To persons animated with these purposes, the placers of California are scarcely less inviting now than they were fifteen or twenty years ago; while, it may safely be affirmed, that to this class they offer inducements unequalled by any other country or field of labor in the world. Whoever can feel that, in the present altered conditions, he is amply compensated for the somewhat diminished chances for the speedy accumulation of riches, and the excitements incident to an early sojourn in California, may repair to this country with the full assurance that things, considered as a whole, have scarcely changed for the worse; there being still vast tracts of almost virgin mines, in certain parts of the State, open to occupation, while in the earlier settled and more populous mineral districts it is still an easy matter for good workers, or men with small means, to acquire ownership of valuable claims either by location or purchase.

NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES

CHARACTER OF THE MINES - GOLD BEACHES.

For such miners as are fitted to endure the hardships of a rough and laborious life, the northwestern portion of the State, comprising the counties of Shasta, Trinity, Siskiyou, Klamath and Del Norte, presents a favorable opening. But there are obstacles in the way of emigration to this region; since, besides being far distant from the great centers of population and difficult of access, it is exceedingly rugged; almost the entire surface of the country being covered with broken hills and lofty chains of mountains, separated by deep and precipitous cañons. The climate is rigorous, the winter rains being long continued and heavy in the valleys, and the snow lying to a great depth for several months on the mountains. Until within the past few years many parts of it were infested by hostile Indians, whose depredations and attacks operated to prevent its settlement and retard the development of the mines. These savages having, however, been subdued, some tribes being exterminated and others gathered upon reservations, no further trouble need be apprehended on their account.

The facilities for reaching this section have also been somewhat improved of late, in the construction of additional wagon roads leading into it from the head of Sacramento Valley, and by the establishment of more regular steamship communication between San Francisco and points along the northern coast, whereby one of the most serious objections to emigration thither has been partially removed; and, it seems probable, in view of the growing importance of this region, that these facilities will hereafter be still further extended, there being a prospect even that they will culminate in the construction of a railroad extending from the bay of San Francisco northward into Humboldt, and ultimately into Klamath and Del Norte counties-such an enterprise having recently been projected, with flattering prospects of being pushed to an early completion.

This northern country is exceedingly well timbered and watered, conditions highly essential in placer mining. There are here also many small valleys well fitted for agricultural purposes, while fruits of all kinds, grow with luxuriance, and the abundance of the native grasses, renders this a very tolerable grazing district. The weather, though stormy in the winter, is not extremely cold except on the mountains, the snow rarely ever falling to any great depth in the valleys, while at all other seasons of the year the climate is genial and exceedingly healthful.

But it is in its mineral resources that this region commends itself to our special attention, the inducements it holds forth being equally strong to the laboring miner, the mill-man and the capitalist. There is here a vast area of auriferous ground, which, with proper management, could easily be made to pay fair wages; even the localities most extensively worked, not generally being so much depleted as to prevent the new comer securing remunerative claims. Much of the country has not yet been thoroughly prospected, leaving a chance for further discoveries operations having heretofore been chiefly confined to the larger rivers and their principal branches. And even along some of these, it is now believed very extensive and valuable deposits of gold exist, parties lately prospecting certain bars on the Lower Klamath having obtained such results as warrant the conclusion that important diggings will yet be developed at these localities.

It has also been demonstrated by numerous working tests that this section abounds with quartz veins of great richness, the average yield obtained by very imperfect milling processes frequently surpassing that of the most productive mines at Grass Valley. These lodes can, as a general thing, be easily procured, very many of them being in fact still open to location. With the abundance of fine timber growing everywhere throughout the mines, and the ample supply of water, it is obvious that the work of reduction, with machinery once on the ground, could be performed very cheaply.

Klamath and Del Norte counties also contain the most prolific of the several gold beaches, elsewhere in this volume fully described, and which are constantly growing in importance and value. In the vicinity of these deposits others further inland have lately been found, being the remains of ancient sea beaches, formed at a time when the ocean stood at a higher level, or the land was less elevated than at present. Some of these buried beaches are covered only by a few feet of black sand and vegetable mold, and are otherwise favorably situated for cheap and extended working; and it is now the opinion of competent judges, who have carefully examined them, that they will soon become the theatres of profitable mining.

Before dismissing the subject of these northern counties, it may be stated, that beds of auriferous cement and gravel have been found at various points within their limits, being, as is supposed, identical in character and mode of formation with the deep-lying strata of Nevada, Butte, and Sierra counties. Should such prove to be the fact, they will, without doubt, be found extensive, opening a wide and lucrative field for mining enterprise.