It is not, as a general thing, known by our citizens that Oregon has beyond question rich gold mines, and that there is a perfect gold fever pervading the whole community there, particularly that of the Willamette Valley. We are informed by Gen. McCarver, who has just arrived from Oregon, that at least one half of the people of the Territory have left the farms and towns and have gone or are going to the mines. These mines are but a continuation of the Californian mines. But little is known, it is true, with regard to the northern boundary line of the state, but wherever it lies, there can be no doubt that the mines of the South Fork of the Umpqua and those of Rogue River are in Oregon.
    The streets of Oregon City and Portland are at the present time filled with pack animals and wagons which are continually loading up and pushing off for the mines. These towns present in their bustle and their general aspect at the present time very much the appearance of our Californian supply towns.
    The miners on their way pass up the Willamette Valley to the dividing ridge between that and the Umpqua, over the ridge and down upon the South Fork of the Umpqua, or, keeping on, they cross the dividing ridge between the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys and so down on to Rogue River.
    At the last advices there were at least a hundred wagons and several hundred miners waiting at the canyon between the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys, on account of the high water. So soon as the stream falls they will pass through.
    Such is the feeling in relation to the Oregon mines that the Oregonian comes out in a leading article praying all Californians who have the interests of the Territory at heart to remain upon their farms. The argument it uses is after the style of the proverb "Money is the root of all evil." We imagine, however, if money is the root of all evil, the want of it is a pretty important branch thereof.
Sacramento Transcript, May 8, 1851, page 2


    MINES OF OREGON.--The mines of the Umpqua Valley, Rogue River and the other gold mines of Oregon will doubtless have a prompt effect of throwing a heavy population into our neighboring Territory. The benefits that will result from this are great and obvious, for the various agricultural, manufacturing and mineral resources must inevitably be opened up as a result of the increased population. We notice that the Oregon weeklies are beginning to give mining intelligence. The Oregonian of May 3rd says:
    "We have at length received late and reliable information from the mines, from which it is certain that those who are engaged in this important business are doing well--making from $8 to $12 per day--while some few are doing much better. Instances have occurred in which men have made $100--these, however, are like 'angel's visits, few and far between.'"
Sacramento Transcript, May 16, 1851, page 2


    We arrived here after twenty days' travel from Trinidad, each of us four with a mule loaded with provisions, tools, &c. Two of the party have gone to Rogue River, five days' farther travel. We have a comfortable tent and enjoy good health. We work hard. Our mode of operation is this: We dig holes about six by ten feet, and six or seven feet deep, the last three feet is in water; it takes one to bail out while the others dig and throw out. The dirt, till you come to the rock, is valueless; there is often a little clay on the rock, and if the rock is soft, an inch or two of the rock will contain gold. This is pecked up with a pickax, shoveled out, and washed in a machine. The dust is collected and washed in a pan, and separated from the sand. In other diggings about here the top of the earth is dug up from one to two feet deep, and carted to the water--some of it a mile. This sand pays from five to six cents a bucket. It is hard digging, being clay and stone. Occasionally one meets with something better. Some of the first comers found something handsome.
    There are about one thousand people in this neighborhood. Many hundreds left for Rogue River a few days since, and some have returned. We pay for pork here 75¢ per lb.; bacon and butter the same; flour 40¢; sugar 50¢ per lb.; milk 50¢ per quart, nails $1.50 per lb.; ink $1; shoes $4; boots $10 to $16 per pair; fresh beef only 25¢ per lb. The trouble with the Indians has ceased. It was caused by the whites shooting some of them, many think unjustly. I am now alone, with a good tent, and as comfortable as I can be here. I have never seen worse traveling, nor a rougher part of the world than we came over; but it appears healthy. I attempted to make some minutes of the journey, but owing to circumstances, and the kind of people I was with, I had to give it up. Since they left I do much better.
    The position of this country is such that I can only judge that the latitude is about 43 degrees, and about 300 miles distant from Portland, Oregon Territory, and from Trinidad and Sacramento about 325 miles, and not far from the longitude of 120 degrees west. In our route from Trinidad we passed the Salmon River at the Forks, and passed up its middle fork, over what is called the Divi Divi [Divide?], into Scott's Valley, then into Shasta Valley. There is quite a settlement of tents and log huts, and is called Shasta Plains. The scenery is pleasant, surrounded by high and lofty mountains. The high mountain of Shasta Butte is plainly in sight, bearing S.E. about 25 miles distant. The snow is lying about on the mountains, but the weather is getting warm. Now I am here, I shall try if plowing gold is better than plowing the sea.--Boston Journal.
The Public Ledger, Philadelphia, October 2, 1851, page 1



    New gold discoveries have recently been made near Table Rock. There are now a large number of miners engaged in working there, who are making from ten to sixteen dollars per day.


    THE MINES.--The news from the mines is of a cheering character--miners were now generally doing well. New diggings had been discovered 18 miles east of Table Rock on Rogue River, which are reported to pay $16 per day to the man. The Shasta mines are reported as paying well. The Shasta River Company is organized to turn Shasta River through the mines. It is estimated that it will cost $75,000, and about two thirds of the stock is already taken; the other third will be taken no doubt soon. They take the water some 18 miles.
    Miners on South Umpqua are making 5 to 6 dollars per day, 6 miles above the Kenyon.
Oregon Weekly Times, Portland, December 18, 1852, page 2


    New gold discoveries have recently been made near Table Rock.
    GOLD.--The gold mines of Rogue River Valley, and other localities, near the southern boundary of Oregon, are being wrought to considerable profit. Gold, in small quantities, has been discovered on several small tributaries east of the Cascades. There is considerable analogy between the gold-bearing rock of California and the talcose and other allied rocks of the Umpqua Valley. And gold has been found on most of the small streams entering the Umpqua as well as the main stream. Also on the south fork of Santiam and on Calapooia Creek.
"Later from Oregon," Sacramento Daily Union, December 29, 1852, page 2


    Very rich diggings were lately discovered upon Althouse Creek, a tributary of Rogue River, distant about 60 miles to the northward of Yreka. The miners are rushing thither in great numbers. The diggings about Jacksonville are also very good, and have been so all winter.
'From Yreka," Shasta Courier, Shasta, California, March 12, 1853, page 3


    A correspondent of the Shasta Courier, writing from Jacksonville says: "I have heard of extensive placer and bank diggings some two days mule travel north of this on Grave Creek, yielding from $50 to $200 per day to the tom."
    When will this gold region end? Pit River is yet unknown. The whole counties of Shasta, Klamath, Trinity, and Siskiyou are but one unknown gold-bearing region, larger than several of the Atlantic states taken singly; and to those is to be added a large part of South Oregon yet untraced, but from which on the rivers from their mouths to their sources evidences of gold have been obtained.
Placer Herald, Auburn, California, May 21, 1853, page 3


    Miners in Southern Oregon were doing moderately well. Chauncey Nye & Co. had a streak of luck in the shape of an $860 lump. Provisions are reported plenty and low. Flour was 20 cents per lb.; sugar, 35 cents; coffee, 40 cents; beef, 25 to 30 cents per pound at Jacksonville. At Althouse, flour was 18 cents per pound.
"From Oregon," Sacramento Daily Union, May 23, 1853, page 2


    An Althouse Creek correspondent writes as follows:
    Messrs. More & Co. took out, on the 5th ult., one piece of gold weighing five pounds avoirdupois. Mr. Carman took our thirty-two ounces to the one-fourth share, making a total to four persons of one hundred and twenty-eight ounces in one day. New excitement has broke out about new diggings being discovered on Sucker Creek. Sailor Diggings remain deserted on account of the scarcity of water, but the general impression is that those diggings will pay well when water is obtained sufficient to wash. A few companies on Smith River are doing well. Mr. Rice took out $1,300 clear of expenses last week, and continues to do well. This stream and locality will be thickly populated with miners another season. A few persons that have worked on Josephine Creek this season have done well.
"From the Interior: Siskiyou," Sacramento Daily Union, June 13, 1853, page 3


    THE OREGON MINES.--A correspondent of the Shasta Courier, writing under date of May 22nd, from Jacksonville, in Oregon Territory, about 190 miles from Shasta, says several large lumps, worth from $100 to $300, have lately been taken out in the vicinity. Miners are about getting into the bed of the stream. The banks, where freed from water, are paying remarkably well. A copious rain during the previous week, says the same writer, has kept the miners at work in the gulches near town, and night and day behold the golden treasures bountifully spread forth in reward of labor. Both forks of the stream have now bared their beds to the gold seekers, and they are reaping a golden harvest. On the left-hand fork "Old Man Rogers," as he is commonly called, took out, with four hands, a week since, $800, and his claim continues to pay. Others near him are also profiting by steady work, and will be well rewarded for their patience and perseverance through winter and spring. It would be perhaps unpleasant to themselves to give names. On the whole, all are doing well, and making better than the ordinary average of miners' wages.
Nevada Journal, Nevada City, California, June 17, 1853, page 2


    JACKSON CREEK.--A friend from this place, who arrived a few days since, informs us that new Coyote Diggings have been discovered in the hill near the forks of Jackson Creek. It is said that they prospect rich. Up to the time our informant left, they had not been sufficiently worked to form a decisive opinion--but were believed to be quite extensive. This is within about 1½ miles of Jacksonville.
    ALTHOUSE, APPLEGATE and other creeks in that vicinity were yet too high to work the beds of the streams when last we heard from there.
"Mining Intelligence," The Mountain Herald, Yreka, June 18, 1853, page 2


    MINING IN THE NORTH.--We learn from the Yuba Herald that on Althouse Creek, one company had worked one afternoon in the bed of the creek, and found dirt that paid $50 per pan. Other persons are taking out from $3 to $5 per day. At Smith's River the miners were generally doing well. At Democratic Gulch they had struck a new lead, and were making money fast. At Salmon Creek they were doing but moderately well. Quite an immigration had taken place there.
    The Shasta Courier learns that new and rich diggings have been discovered on the Umpqua River, about 20 miles north of the town of the same name. They were yielding, according to report, about $1 to the panful of dirt.
"Later from California," Albany Evening Journal, Albany, New York, August 24, 1853, page 2


    MINING NEWS.--A correspondent of the Herald writes from Althouse Creek as follows, on the subject of mining:
    "Althouse at present is thinly populated with miners. I do not think there is over one hundred persons on the creek. During the last two weeks the population has flown to the Port Orford excitement, Sucker Creek, Illinois River, Jacksonville &c. We hear of persons taking out $100 per day in the vicinity of Port Orford. These operations, with others of a similar character, are generally believed here. It is expected that there will be a great many miners winter at Sailor Diggings."
Sacramento Daily Union, November 26, 1853, page 2

    This is the caption of a letter from Port Orford to the San Francisco Sun, dated June 1st, and if one-half of it was true, there would be no other town between San Francisco and the mouth of the Columbia River. We extract the following paragraph to show how things may be exaggerated:
    "Rich and extensive mines have been found on 'Galice Creek,' directly upon the trail which leads from this place to Jacksonville. There are now about six hundred men there, averaging from eight to ten dollars per day to the man, while some are making 'big strikes.' The distance from Port Orford to Galice Creek is about 75 miles, over a most excellent road. . . . The trail from Port Orford to Jacksonville is now completed--entire distance ninety-five miles. It is said to be the best trail on the coast leading to the interior."

    Messrs. Editors:--Having gathered of late a few items that may interest your readers relative to our mining prospects and the "4th's doings," I hazard the attempt of placing them together as material for publicity through your columns.
    Mining operations for a few days past have been somewhat suspended in consequence of sports common upon the birthday of our independence, previous to which miners were generally doing a lucrative business, and had been for two months past. It is generally believed by old residents here that mining was never carried on with more tact and ability, nor with more success than at the present time. The water being low enables them to work the most difficult places in the bed of the stream, which usually pay the best and the most "human slugs" [sic].
    The high banks, together with high points and several gulches which heretofore have been rejected, are now successfully worked, while almost every week we hear of other similar discoveries within our limits.
    We have here a population of about 350 or 500 inhabitants, which were formerly from all parts of both the southern and northern mines, and all seem contented, and many are firmly resolved to take the "desperate chances"--while pursuing the miner's life--in this section of country.
    "Deadwood Bar" at present seems to be paying the most regular and contains the most claims of any other bar upon the creek. I believe there are six companies upon this bar, and upon an average I may safely say they are making $10 per day to the hand. Many other places are paying much better, but as a general thing not so regular.
    For next winter diggings the prospect is much more encouraging than it has been at any previous time and wages quite as high.
    Yours,                                                                                        GUS.
Crescent City Herald, July 25, 1855, page 1




    MINING.--One day this week we visited the rich claims on the flat, on the left-hand fork of Jackson Creek. Clark, Overbeck & Co.--five men--took out over 10 ounces in the forenoon, and confidently expected to take out a pound in the afternoon. The claims of Miller, Pinkham & Co., B. Overbeck & Co., and Alcorn & Co. are all paying about as well as the first named. Three of the above companies have each taken out three pounds of gold dust in one day. Many other claims in that vicinity are paying well--from five dollars to an ounce to the hand.
"Later from Oregon," Sacramento Daily Union, August 1, 1856, page 2


    THE CHINESE IN THE MINES.--We are informed that from one to two thousand Chinamen are mining on a small creek on the Table Rock Reservation, some two or three miles from the Big Bar on Rogue River. Our informant says they are doing well, washing with the cradle in many places from eight to ten dollars a day to the hand.
    There is good diggings on the creek or in the neighborhood. Several miners done well there as early as 1852, since which time little or nothing has been done at mining on the reserve.
    JACKSON CREEK.--The miners on Jackson Creek and vicinity are doing well, many of them taking out from two to three ounces a day to the hand. Those who have sunk shafts and drifted on the bedrock, as a general thing, find gold in considerable quantities.
    STERLING.--Where water can be had to wash with, at Sterling, the miners are doing very well. Many are drifting and stacking up the dirt until the water comes. As soon as it rains gold will be washed out in great abundance at Sterling. We have seen and conversed with some of the returned party who have been down Rogue River and in the vicinity of the coast. They report that on Galice Creek the miners are doing well, perhaps better than at any former period since the mines have been worked on that creek.
    WHISKEY CREEK.--We understand this creek is all claimed, as also the gulches making into it, but our informant could not say how well they were doing. From the extent of the claims the natural inference would be that it paid well.
    JOHN MULE CREEK.--The gold is coarse, and those having experience say that the prospects are good, yet the prospecting jury only prospected near the surface, and but temporarily.
    MEADOWS.--Gold was found and justifies the party in saying that in some places it will pay ten dollars a day to the hand--generally found on the bars in the rivers--the gold heavy and of the best quality.
    BIG BEND OF ROGUE RIVER.--The prospects good and coarse gold. The impression of those prospecting is that good diggings will be found in the vicinity of the Big Bend.
    ILLINOIS.--At the mouth of Illinois River but slightly prospected. A few miles up the river the miners are doing well when they can work. Many good claims are laying without being worked on account of the Indians, as there are quite a number of hostile Indians in that neighborhood of Old John's band, who have not made peace.
"Later from Oregon," Sacramento Daily Union, August 23, 1856, page 2  The Daily Democratic State Journal of Sacramento printed the same information on the same day, crediting the Table Rock Sentinel of August 16.






    SOUTHERN OREGON.--In the Table Rock Sentinel, of a recent date, we find the following, in regard to the mineral and other resources of Jackson County:
    "We have taken some trouble to ascertain the number of persons mining on Jackson Creek and its branches, and from the best information we can obtain, there are about three hundred men. It is estimated that they will make, at least, an average of $3.33 per day to the hand, which will amount in the aggregate to $1,000 per day, $26,000 per month, and an annual yield of $312,000.
    "The Sterling diggings will yield as much if not a greater amount of gold. Applegate, Rogue River and Evans Creek will yield as much as Sterling or Jackson Creek. Therefore we may safely calculate that, within the limits of Jackson County, there is annually produced from the mines alone about $1,000,000.
    "Besides this, our agricultural population produce all the breadstuff and vegetables necessary for the support of the mining population of Jackson County, supply Josephine, and furnish a large amount to Siskiyou County, Cal. Beef and pork are now cheap and being extensively raised. Flour is retailing at three, potatoes at four, and beef at twelve and fifteen cents per pound. Industry is rewarded as abundantly as in any part of the world. All the great variety of merchandise necessary for a farming and mining community can be obtained at the stores of Maury & Davis, J. A. Brunner & Bro., John Anderson, Pat Ryan, J. P. Stearns, Fisher & Bro., Baker and others, Jacksonville, at prices in proportion to the transportation, as low as in any of the towns in the Territory.
Sacramento Daily Union, January 27, 1857, page 3





    SOUTHERN OREGON MINES.--A correspondent of the Trinity Journal, writing from Jacksonville, O.T., February 20th, says:
    "Hydraulics are now brought into requisition here for the first time. A few miners from your section of country, who came in here last fall, have done more to develop the richness of the mines in this vicinity than our miners have for the last two years. The mines on Jackson Creek are in great part worked by miners from Shasta and Weaverville, while Sterling, Applegate, Evans', Palmer and Galice creeks and their tributaries are well represented by men from those two noted mining localities.
    "A few days since a party of miners from California arrived here for the purpose of prospecting the Jacksonville flat. They immediately went to work and sank a shaft in the street on the north side of the Robinson House, and found seven feet of paying dirt. On the bedrock it prospected from two to six bits to the pan. The party are now digging a tailrace to drain the entire flat. The town from Oregon Street to near Clugage's mound is staked off into mining claims."
Sacramento Daily Union, March 11, 1857, page 2

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, September 23, 1893, page 1




    The mines in the Rogue River country, O.T., are paying the miners a better average this season than at any previous period. At Jacksonville, some rich and extensive mines are being worked with good success. There are at present a great number of Chinese at work in the immediate vicinity of Applegate Creek, the waters of which a joint stock company is being organized to bring into the mines at and near Jacksonville. At Sterling miners average from $3 to $5 per day. The mines down Rogue River have but few persons at work in them, but they are reported as doing well. In Klamath and Del Norte counties the flattering reports given of the richness of the mines on Sucker Creek and Orleans Bar are verified by good authority.
    In Siskiyou the mining claims on Deadwood are paying largely. On McAdams Creek, at Deadwood, a claim of fifteen yards out of which has been taken nearly one hundred thousand dollars sold for fifteen hundred. On Cherry Creek, near the same place, claims, as a general thing, pay well, both in the banks and in the bed of the stream. At Oro Fino, a few miles distant from Deadwood, the miners are represented as doing extremely well. There are a large number of miners at work in this locality, and the lowest average wages said to be made is $8 per day to the man. The district is well watered by the Oro Fino and Mugginsville ditches, the waters of which are used night and day. The mines on the South Fork of Scott River are also turning out well, and the newly discovered diggings on Coffee Creek, from what prospecting has been done, promise well.
Sacramento Daily Union, May 12, 1857, page 3


    Throughout the upper counties of the state, mining operations, during the past winter, have been either wholly or partly suspended in consequence of the severity of the weather, which has been unprecedentedly cold in many localities. In Klamath and Siskiyou counties, the ditches were frozen for a number of weeks, and the earth so stiffened by frost as to resist the force of the pick and bar. But on the advent of spring and unlocking of the streams from the embrace of the ice king, mining operations were renewed with vigor, and have since been prosecuted with a success heretofore unparalleled. There are bordering upon the forty-second parallel numerous small tributaries of the Klamath and Smith's rivers, which are known to abound in gold, but have been hitherto scarcely prospected owing to their comparative inaccessibility, and their immediate proximity to tribes of hostile Indians. The few more adventurous spirits who penetrated these mountain fastnesses, and bearded the red man on his own hunting ground, were almost universally successful, and returned to the coast with well-filled purses, and enthusiastic in their praises of the loveliness of the climate and magnificence of the scenery in those inhospitable wilds.
    The latest advices which have reached us from this section more than confirm the statements of the earlier diggers, and during the past few weeks new and rich discoveries of the precious metal have been made. On one of these streams, which rejoices in the euphonious apellation of "Sucker Creek," two or three companies are clearing from five to ten dollars per day to the hand; and on a contiguous tributary, known as Boling's Creek, there is a claim owned by McDonald & Co., from which was extracted five hundred dollars in a single week. Althouse Creek and other streams also paying wages which would be deemed enormous by many of the miners in the middle or southern counties.
    The vast auriferous region comprising the new county of Del Norte, lower Oregon, and the upper portions of Klamath and Siskiyou counties, is but just beginning to be explored, and its mineral resources developed; but it is assuredly destined in time to be settled by an active and industrious population. To the hundreds of idlers, loafers and others, complaining of hard times, who are hanging about the streets of this city, we say: Leave for the north, either by sea or land, at the earliest moment. If you have no funds, work your passage, or hire out here at a dollar a day, if necessary, until you scrape together enough to land you at Crescent City. We have no sympathy for healthy, able-bodied men in this country, who can work, but won't work, for labor always will be remunerated in the mines, if not on the farm or in the counting room.
Daily Alta California, San Francisco, May 13, 1857, page 2


    MINING IN SOUTHERN OREGON.--In the Jacksonville Sentinel, of May 30th, we find the following news relative to the mines in that vicinity:
    Lance & Co., who have been mining in Jacksonville, and been at great expense, and performed great laboring in tunneling so as to be able to work, we are informed, took out about two hundred dollars in two days, and could obtain about five dollars to the pan, when their drift caved in. They prospected a few pans of the drift dirt, which paid from one to two dollars to the pan.
    We are told that the miners on Galice Creek and vicinity are doing well. One of the best evidences of their success is the village at the mouth of the creek, which affords two hotels, three stores, two butcher shops and several families, who appear to be permanently located. We believe there are between five and six hundred miners in that vicinity, and all appear to have plenty of money.
    The mining news from Althouse Creek is very favorable, as is that also from Sutter Creek and Sailor Diggings.
    Illinois and Briggs' Creek are paying well, say from eight to ten dollars per day, and a great number of miners are at work.
    The mines on Applegate are paying well, and the miners are making new discoveries daily. The Sterling Diggings, as usual, continue to pay from ten to twenty dollars per day.
    Sardine, Evans and Clear Creek mines are paying well, and afford labor for hundreds of miners.
    We do not speak of any mines that are not within the limits of Oregon, and there are many diggings in Oregon that we have not been able to obtain any reliable news from. The lower Rogue River, Coquille, Six River and coast diggings, although rich and paying well, we do not often have an opportunity to hear from.
Sacramento Daily Union, June 10, 1857, page 4


    A correspondent of the Oregonian, writing from Sterlingville, Southern Oregon, says he thinks the mines in that vicinity will pay better this summer than ever before. About one hundred miners are at work and all doing well.
"Additional Items of News from Oregon and Washington Territories," Sacramento Daily Union, June 13, 1857, page 2


    By late arrivals from Indian Creek and the Klamath, we have good accounts from the mines in these sections. We understand that the miners on the Klamath, below Happy Camp, are doing well and making good wages. We were shown a lump of gold nearly pure, taken out by Mr. Haley, at Oak Flat, on this portion of the Klamath, weighing two hundred and fourteen dollars.
    On Indian Creek, we learn, they are doing still better--an ounce per day to the hand being represented to us to be the average yield. Messrs. William Wood and Co. took out of their claim on this creek, a few days since, one piece weighing three hundred dollars.
    The principal mines which immediately surround the valley, and furnish a ready and almost inexhaustible market for its produce, are Sailor Diggings, Canyon and Josephine creeks, the Illinois River, Bowlin, Sucker and Althouse creeks.
    At Sailor Diggings, the water companies furnish profitable employment for about one hundred miners. Canyon and Josephine creeks, and the Illinois River, have about two hundred white persons engaged in mining upon them, averaging from $5 to $8 per diem; some few are doing much better; besides these, there are several hundred Chinese, who, though not very desirable citizens, are yet furnishing our new county with ample funds to erect all county buildings, and to meet all current expenses.
    Upon Sucker and Bowlin creeks, there are about two hundred and fifty miners, and one hundred Chinese. The miners are generally doing well; amongst the fortunates, I may mention Thomas & Co., and Carroll & Co., of Cedar Bar, who are averaging about $12 a day, and Marshall & Co., and Evans & Co., of Bowlin Creek, about $16. Toward the head of Bowlin Creek, and near the rich claim of McDonald & Co., Hickey & Co. and Brown & Co. are doing remarkably well. The latter company took out, a short time since, a chunk worth $300. Upon this stream, several companies of Californians are engaged in tunneling the hills; they have generally met with fair success.
    Upon Althouse, there are about four hundred miners, averaging near $6 or $8 a day. The claim of Mr. Sykes, and that of Smith & Co., are paying much better--from $10 to $15. There are several others near Browntown, that pay nearly as well, and also some few further up the creek. There are many tunnels upon this creek, some paying quite well. Old Californians think the appearance of this county quite favorable for that kind of mining.
Daily Alta California, San Francisco, June 22, 1857, page 2






    The miners in the interior are reported to be doing very well generally, and particularly on Althouse. There are said to be from three to four hundred miners on that stream, almost all of whom are meeting with decided success. Sucker Creek is reported to have a mining population of about four hundred, three-fourths of whom are Chinese. The other creeks in that vicinity, Canyon, Josephine and Illinois are, as usual, paying good wages.
"Crescent City," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, September 2, 1857, page 1




    We are indebted to Mr. J. K. Applegate, who arrived here this week from Josephine County, Southern Oregon, for many interesting items of news concerning that region of country, the publication of which we are obliged to defer until another time. Mr. A. informs us that the miners in the vicinity of Rogue River--what are of them--some 150 in number, are making better average wages than at any time heretofore. New diggings have been discovered on Galice Creek, about fifty miles westerly from Jacksonville, at which $6 per day is taken out with all ease.
Pioneer and Democrat, Olympia, Washington, November 27, 1857, page 3

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, November 11, 1893, page 2


    CRESCENT CITY MINES.--All the mining companies at Sucker's Creek, Southern Oregon, are said to be realizing good wages. A larger return is expected this winter from these diggings than in any previous winter.
Sacramento Daily Union, December 7, 1857, page 3


    Recent discoveries in Oregon and on our extreme eastern and southern borders show a most wonderful extent of gold-bearing lands on this "Pacific Slope." We have lands broad enough to keep in employment such a vast population as a visionary writer once predicted would be enumerated in "an independent Pacific Empire." Gold lies in every foot of mountain land from Northern Mexico to Southern Oregon, and the "whole, boundless" extent of it is ours. The vast waste of western bottom lands is no more a land of promise to the husbandman than is this almost interminable gold field to the hardy pioneer. In extent it is unparalleled, and in wealth inexhaustible. Banks may break and suspend, great mercantile communities may totter and be panic-stricken, but still, steadily, never failing, always proving the laborer worthy his hire will the gulches and hills and mountainsides of this great domain yield up the prime germ of a wide world's wealth, gold, gold in its native purity. Let the thousands of men and women on the Atlantic side, thrown out upon the world with nothing to do, by reason of the late calamities, turn their faces hitherward. Work will certainly bring bread and all the necessaries of life here, and work can surely be obtained. Energy and industry will here ensure thrift and comfort, for the mines never "suspend," never issue one cent that can be discounted, and always "pay."
    While upon this subject, contemplating the alleviation of existing wants among our Eastern friends, the question arises, how are they to come here. When the last mail steamer left New York, there were hundreds standing upon the wharves entreating for chances to come; not as charity passengers, but as men and women forced to leave their homes, and expend their last dollars in leaving a land cursed with paper currency and banking systems, for a land of gold. How are these people to come? The steamships lack steam, and indeed are unfit to bring them, and moreover charge too exorbitantly to be a means of travel for such a stream of emigration. The plains are blockaded by the Mormons and the natural impediments of winter; the Nicaragua route is abandoned, and the long dreary voyage around the Horn, though the cheapest, is too formidable ever to become popular. We need that surplus eastern population to work our great fields of gold, and they sadly need opportunities to exercise their natural inclinations to useful industry. We repeat the question, hoping it may be seriously considered and wisely answered by the press and the people. How are these people to get here?
Oroville Daily Butte Record, December 11, 1857, page 2

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, November 18, 1893, page 1


    MINING IN OREGON.--The Jacksonville Sentinel, of Jan. 9th, remarks of the mining prospects in its vicinity as follows:
    "Mining operations have been about suspended by the cold weather for two or three weeks past. We think there are now in this county and Josephine as many miners as at any time since '52-3, and if they could have sufficient water the yield of gold would, no doubt, be as great as that of any former season. A few companies in this vicinity have water, and are doing remarkably well. It is to be hoped that we may soon have enough rain to give all our miners work."
Sacramento Daily Union, January 19, 1858, page 4




    DITCH ENTERPRISE IN OREGON.--From the Oregon Sentinel, of the 23rd ult., we learn that a mass meeting of the citizens of Rogue River Valley is to be held at Jacksonville, on the 6th inst., for the purpose of making an energetic move towards bringing the waters of Applegate to the Sterling and Jacksonville mines. The Sentinel thinks there is no other question of so great importance to the whole population of Jackson County as that of procuring a supply of water to miners throughout the year. It has long been well known that the mines near Jacksonville and Sterling are rich and extensive, but the absence of water has prevented their being worked except a short portion of the year. If the proposed enterprise succeeds, it will open a new era of prosperity for Jackson County.--Yreka  Union.
Daily Alta California, San Francisco, February 4, 1858, page 3




    MINING IN SOUTHERN OREGON.--In the vicinity of Jacksonville, the miners are represented to be doing well. The water in that locality it was thought would hold out until June.
Sacramento Daily Union, March 16, 1858, page 3


Del Norte Record, Crescent City, December 9, 1893, page 1


    MINING AT JACKSONVILLE (O.T.)--The Sentinel of March 27th gives the following particulars of mining in its vicinity:
    "We learn that Robinson, Ward & Co. took out of their claim on Jackson Creek, on Thursday last, a chunk weighing six ounces and six dollars. This is the claim formerly worked by Kenyon & Co., now of the 'Metropolitan,' Yreka. The claims generally continue to pay very well. From Sterling, we hear that those who have water are doing as well as usual. Some of the parties there are reaping a rich harvest with their picks and shovels, and so long as the water lasts there can be no doubt of their success. We also learn that in the gulches on the right-hand side of the road leading from this place to Rogue River, where water can be obtained, large prospects are found, and in some of them the diggings bid fair to be much more extensive than was at first apprehended."
Sacramento Daily Union, April 13, 1858, page 1


    THE CRESCENT CITY MINES.--The same paper [Crescent City Herald, April 21] says that the Bowlin and Sucker Creek gold mines are paying well. It adds:
    "The average wages made by those at work there are ten dollars per day to the hand. This is in the banks, where nearly all the work is being done at present. North & Co. took out last week a piece weighing one hundred and sixty dollars. Bull & Ward have taken out of their claim in one day by their own labor as high as ten ounces. Numbers are prospecting in the vicinity of the well-known McDonald claim, and all striking good diggings."
San Francisco Bulletin, April 23, 1858, page 3


    The mines on Jackson Creek still continue to yield a fair compensation to the industrious miner. During the past week we have conversed with several of the miners from Jackson Creek, and all say that their claims are paying well.
    Sterling diggings, as usual, pay well when there is water, and the miners are busily engaged while the water lasts in washing out the "filthy lucre," and it is our wish that they be furnished with pockets full of the "stuff."
    From all the mining districts there is good report. Jackass, Poormans Creek, Applegate, Evans Creek and particularly the diggings lately discovered west of the Willow Spring ranch.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 24, 1858, page 2




    TREASURE FROM THE NORTH.--The steamer Pike, which arrived at Sacramento on May 7th, from Red Bluffs, Tehama County, brought down, says the Visitor, about 150 lbs. of gold dust, of an aggregate value of $255,000. It is the product of the mines of Shasta, Trinity and other northern counties, and some of the Southern Oregon diggings. About 50 lbs. of the treasure were in the hands of passengers, and the balance was transmitted by Wells, Fargo & Co. This yield may be taken as an indication that the northern mines have not yet been entirely worked out.
San Francisco Bulletin, May 8, 1858, page 3

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, December 23, 1893, page 2


    MORE BIG STRIKES--ONE-THOUSAND-DOLLAR LUMP--FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS PER DAY TO THE HAND--We have always believed that the vast extent of mining country reaching from Illinois Valley to Rogue River, and embracing Althouse, Sucker, Canon and other creeks was the richest mining region now on the Pacific, and every new account of them confirms our opinion. That a man can strike ten dollars a day there almost anywhere we little doubt, and that at any moment he may strike a fortune our correspondence from there shows. We would call the especial attention of those smitten with the Fraser River fever to the following:--Crescent City Herald.
    Editor Herald: To keep up my correspondence with you, I inform you again of our best health and prosperity.
    Bosarth, Chapman & Potter, a well-known mining company here, took out last week a nugget of gold weighing fifty-seven ounces and a half. The piece is considered one of the prettiest ones that have ever been taken out in California and Oregon. Besides the nugget, they took out eleven ounces, weighing in all sixty-eight ounces and a half ($1164.50) which we consider pretty good wages for three men per day.
    Evans' hill claim is also paying from fifty to seventy-five dollars per day to the hand, and there are a good many other ones doing first rate.
    Next Monday, the 26th April, there will be a meeting held to elect officers for our new Althouse Fire Company.
    This is about all for today, next week more.
Pacific Commercial Advertiser, Honolulu, June 3, 1858, page 2

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, December 30, 1893, page 2


    THE FRASER FEVER.--The Fraser fever is still raging with the utmost intensity. Our town presents alternately an empty or crowded appearance as boats have just left, or are just due, to take away the numbers that flock in from the interior to take passage here. The saloons present a good deal of the appearance of "fifty" [1850], being filled with miners playing billiards, cards, etc. Trinidad, we hear, has but six inhabitants left, and numbers are here from Humboldt, from which bay two vessels are reported to have sailed with passengers for the North. Late arrivals in town say that Kerbyville has "gone in," that Jacksonville has thinned off rapidly, and that miners are fast leaving the different creeks and diggings from here to the Klamath.
    FROM SUCKER CREEK.--There appears to be some diggings left on the creek fully equal to those that Tom told Dick he heard Harry took out on Fraser River. The hill diggings are those we speak of, and in one claim of those, on the 3rd instant, two men took out one hundred dollars.
    MINING AT ALTHOUSE.--Mr. Ottenheimer showed us a small chunk he brought down lately which was taken out at Althouse Creek. It was nearly round, and almost entirely pure, and weighed fifty-eight and a half ounces. The man who took it out has taken out of his claim, in fourteen days, lately, twenty-eight hundred dollars, and he is going to Fraser. What's the use of talking? All parties on Althouse are doing well, making from eight to twenty dollars a day, which we would call very fair wages, but they are all going to Fraser.
Sacramento Daily Union, July 28, 1858, page 1

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, January 6, 1894, page 1


    We heard yesterday that very rich gold prospects have been found on Wards Creek, a tributary of Rogue River, which empties into that stream on the north side, between Sardine and Evans creeks. The bed of the creek prospects from three to twenty-five cents to the pan, and it is thought the banks will pay well. There is a sluice head of water in the creek. Three or four hundred yards of the bed is already claimed, and it is said the stream will afford room for two or three hundred miners. One man says he can make $8 a day with a rocker.
"Jacksonville," Sacramento Daily Union, August 5, 1858, page 3

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, January 13, 1894, page 1

Del Norte Record, Crescent City, January 27, 1894, page 1


    MINES NEAR JACKSONVILLE, O.T.--The Jacksonville Sentinel, of Dec. 4th, says:
    "We are informed that a large number of miners have taken claims at Willow Springs, about six miles from town, and are preparing to work during the winter. These mines have been worked but little since 1852. The diggings are good, but water has been scarce for the past few years. The prospect for water is favorable this winter."
Sacramento Daily Union, December 13, 1858, page 2




    MINING IN JACKSONVILLE, O.T.--Accounts of mining from this locality are very favorable. It will be recollected that Jacksonville is not far from the northern border of our state. The Sentinel, of a recent date, says:
    On New Year's Day, Ord & Alcorn's company took out with a pan, in a few hours, $270, at the mouth of Missouri Gulch. One company took out, on Farmer's Flat, one day last week, over $300. Other companies are taking out good pay. Last week, Davis Evans took out, on the north side of Rogue River, a short distance below Bethel's Ferry, some very fine specimens, among which was one piece worth $110, and the others of smaller value.
Sacramento Daily Union, January 20, 1859, page 1

   The mines on Rogue River, Evans, Jackson, Jackass and Poor Man's creeks are paying well. At no former time has the prospect of obtaining gold been more flattering than at present. While it has been almost continuously raining in the valley it has been snowing on the hills and mountains, which will afford water for mining purposes till late in the season, and come on so regular from the melting of the snow as to afford the necessary water, and not stop work by having too much.
    STERLING.--These mines, we are informed, are paying well. In fact, the news from all mining localities is good. It is to be hoped that the company who are concerned in the Sterling and Jacksonville Water Ditch may successfully complete their undertaking, which, when done, will afford work for thousands of hands and produce millions of gold annually. Every mile of the ditch from Sterling to Jackson is rich in gold, and only requires the water to work it out.
    APPLEGATE.--Col. Keeler visited our office one day this week and informed us that the mines on Applegate were paying well, that at no former time has the prospect of washing out gold been so good as at the present. In many places where the Chinamen have ground sluiced the "dirt," they are panning out from $10 to $16 a day. The mines on Applegate are just beginning to pay well. Messrs. Keeler & Fowler, to whom the charters for water ditches were granted at the late session of the Legislative Assembly, have so far completed their ditches as to afford water to all the mining localities on Applegate which are now being worked below where they tap the river.
    COFFEE CREEK AND CANYONVILLE DIGGINGS.--Our information from these diggings is good; some fifty men are at work on Coffee Creek, and making lots of the filthy lucre. These diggings bid fair to rival those of Jacksonville; they were only discovered late last fall and have, when worked, paid well. On account of the great quantity of snow in the mountains, prospecting has been confined to the low country, and but limited; yet we are almost certain that good and extensive diggings will be found in the spring. The Canyonville diggings pay regular and fine wages.
    WILLOW SPRINGS MINES.--These diggings have been worked in 1852, and in many places paid well, but at no former time have they paid as they have done the present winter. It is truly astonishing to see the great amount of work that has been done at these diggings, for all of which the miners have received good pay.
    SAILOR DIGGINGS.--Reports are flattering; in fact, many say that it reminds them of the days of '49 and '50 to go to Sailor Diggings. The town has improved to be almost a city; business good; everything lively, and has the appearance of goaheadativeness, all from the success of the honest and industrious miners; these diggings pay well.
    ALTHOUSE AND SUCKER CREEKS continue to afford employment for a great many miners; in fact, as many if not more than at any former period, and all appear to be doing well.
    GALICE CREEK AND FROM ROGUE RIVER.--Our information from these diggings is good; the miners are doing well, and will without doubt be able to continue to do well until late in the season.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, February 19, 1859, page 2


    MINING NEWS.--From all our mining localities the news are flattering. The industrious miner has never had better opportunities than the present season to be richly rewarded for his labor. The supply of water and the prospect of its continuance warrants the belief that the mines will be more thoroughly worked than any former year since their discovery. The price of provisions, though comparatively high, are still more regular than heretofore. The severe winter which has made beef tough and poor is about passing off. When the roads become passable, the price of bacon will fall below 30 cents per lb., and butter will be obtained at fairer prices. Our country is still safe, unless winter shall continue three or four months longer.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, February 26, 1859, page 2




    NEW MINES IN SOUTHERN OREGON.--We obtain the following from the Southern Oregon Press, published at Jacksonville:
    The reports from the new gold regions recently discovered in the northern part of this county continue of the most flattering character. That our readers may be better "posted" in the matter, we will briefly state how the discovery was made. It seems that a German, named Wines, who lived for a short time last summer with Mr. B. W. Griffin, near this place, started in, last fall, to prospect on Jumpoff Joe Creek. He commenced operations higher up the creek than work had ever been done before, and was rewarded for his enterprise by finding that the higher up he went the better the prospects were, till, having struck diggings that would warrant working, without wasting any more time, he commenced operations with a rocker, and the result was so satisfactory that he determined to stick to it. He built a cabin, came to town and laid in a stock of provisions, and after informing Mr. Griffin's family and other acquaintances of his success, started back. Little attention was paid to the reports he made until recently, when it was found out that he had quite a "good thing." A week or two ago several miners from the neighborhood and Mr. Sexton went up and located claims above and below that of Mr. Wines. It seems that Mr. Sexton sank a small hole on his, immediately below that of Mr. Wines, and out of this hole he panned a piece weighing $13, besides several dollars in fine gold. Mr. Wines is said to have rocked out some twenty-six ounces during the winter, only a very small cut on his claim having been worked. The location of these mines is about twelve miles above where the stage road crosses Jumpoff Joe Creek. The formation is a sort of marshy basin, or bar in the creek, the extent of which is not accurately known, but is variously estimated at from four to seven miles long. Claims have been located for about a mile along the basin, despite the great depth of snow covering the ground from three to six feet--in all of which large prospects have been had--fully sufficient, it is reported, to warrant the assumption that they will prove good "ounce diggings." If this is so, and the region should prove as extensive as some think it to be, it will throw Idaho and Montana in the shade, and prove a source of incalculable wealth in this portion of the state. Gold has long been known to exist in this belt of mountains, but the "pay streak" seems to have been lost until this recent discovery; although fabulous stories of immensely rich diggings having been discovered and lost in these mountains have been traditionary among our old settlers. These recent discoveries will probably give increased impetus to prospecting in this region during the coming summer, and we hope the expectations of the prospectors may be fully realized.
Oregonian, Portland, April 8, 1867, page 2


    Speaking of the newly discovered gold mines in Southern Oregon, the Sentinel says: The district appears to be in this (Jackson) county, in the mountains north of Rogue River, near the headwaters of Jumpoff Joe. From the best information we can get, the creek passes through a basin or flat, near its source. The mountains and hillsides are heavily timbered, and the basin very much resembles Boise Basin--in miniature. Prospecting, thus far, has been limited to the creek and a few gulches, on account of the snow, which has varied in depth from six to two feet. It is believed, and so stated, by persons who have visited the district, that diggings that will pay from three to fifteen dollars per day to the hand, and afford employment for many of our industriously inclined citizens, have already been discovered. After the snow shall have disappeared, it is believed that the prospecting will be prosecuted to the successful development of much more extensive diggings. It shall be our object to obtain and place before our readers the most reliable successes and discoveries of this new camp. The miners have already held a miner's meeting and passed mining laws regulating the taking, holding and disposing of claims.
"State Items," Morning Oregonian, Portland, April 13, 1867, page 2


    The Jacksonville Sentinel says the tunneling in Gold Hill is still progressing, with good prospects of success. The ledge has been struck again, and the miners are running a shaft from the tunnel to the surface--a distance of 120 ft. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, April 20, 1867, page 247


    The Jacksonville Sentinel says of the newly discovered mines in Southern Oregon; the district is in the mountains north of Rogue River near the headwaters of Jumpoff Joe. The locality very much resembles Boise Basin--in miniature. Prospecting, thus far, has been limited to the creek and a few gulches, on account of the snow. It is stated, by persons who have visited the district, that diggings that will pay from $3 to $15 per day to the hand have already been discovered.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, April 27, 1867, page 263


    A Jacksonville paper has the following in regard to Wines' mining district: "Our information from this new mining district is meager. Enough, however, has been ascertained to warrant the conclusion that gold, in fair paying quantities, can be found in creek and gulches. The snow still remains in that locality to such an extent as to utterly prevent a fair or general investigation by prospecting; yet many of the owners of creek and gulch claims are ground-sluicing with hopes of a fair remuneration. Between 100 and 200 claims have already been located, and according to the local mining laws of the camp, the claim holders will have to commence work by the 15th of May next, or their claims will be considered abandoned, which will necessarily cause the district to be pretty thoroughly prospected, either by their present owners or those who may take them up after they are abandoned. There is hardly a doubt but that the creek and gulches in that locality are rich in gold deposits, and the discovery of these diggings will lead to further prospecting in a northeasterly direction, that will open rich mines which have hitherto been passed over by the miner intent on Montana and Cariboo, because distance lent enchantment to the vision, of the richness of mines in those far countries, when the 'filthy lucre' lay in abundant quantities at his own door."


    From the Jacksonville Press: The excitement with regard to the new diggings on Jumpoff Joe continues unabated, and persons returning from there bring with them evidences of their richness in the shape of the genuine ore.
    From the Sentinel: Crandall & Co., owners of the copper ledge on Fall Creek, are now building a furnace for smelting purposes. The ore contains copper, gold and silver.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 4, 1867, page 279


    The Jacksonville Sentinel says that tunneling in Gold Hill is still progressing, with good prospects of success. The ledge has been struck again, and the miners are running a shaft from the tunnel to the surface, a distance of 120 ft.
    The Sentinel recently saw, at Mr. Beekman's banking house, a specimen of gold weighing $510, which was obtained in the mines in that vicinity.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 18, 1867, page 311


    The Jacksonville Press has the following on the new diggings in that country: Mr. James Pool--one of our most zealous and persistent prospectors--who has been absent on a prospecting tour in the vicinity of the Wines diggings, reports the discovery of six- or seven-dollar diggings on the head of Jack's Creek, some seven miles from Wines' Camp. The diggings are said to be some two miles in extent. We have heard of another strike of new diggings somewhere near the head of Applegate. The lucky discoverers this time are said to be Chinamen, one poor celestial having picked up a solid chunk of pure gold weighing some fourteen ounces.
"Oregon," Oregon City Enterprise, May 25, 1867, page 2


    A piece of quartz has been found in Jackson County which weighs 140 oz. It is expected to yield 100 oz. of gold.
    The Jacksonville Press says that $6 or $7 diggings have been discovered at the head of Jack's Creek. The diggings are some two miles in extent. Other diggings have been struck near the head of Applegate. The discoverers were Chinamen, one Celestial having picked up a piece of gold weighing 14 oz.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 8, 1867, page 359


    The Jacksonville Press says that Cohn's quartz mill on Illinois River, Josephine Co., has been completed, and has gone to work. We may expect some startling reports from this quarter soon.
    The Ensign says that there is a mountain of cinnabar near Canyonville, Southern Oregon. Several pieces have lately been taken from it, heavy and full of quicksilver.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 15, 1867, page 375



    A copper smelting furnace has been erected in Josephine County which is about ready to "fire up."

    From the Jacksonville Press, June 8th: The news from Wines' camp, on Jumpoff Joe, is in every respect gratifying. Mr. Wines and partner, after a run of a day and a half, cleaned up $80. Their claim averages $12 per day to the hand.
    Sentinel, June 8th: Rich diggings have been struck on the left-hand fork of Jackass Creek, some distance higher up than heretofore. About 20 claims have been staked off. The yield is large and for the most part coarse gold. New diggings are being struck almost every week.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 22, 1867, page 391


    They are trying to get up an excitement about diamonds in Jackson County. The Sentinel says: A friend writes from Wine's Camp that Mr. Stephen Gale found a diamond while "panning out" a few days since. It has been examined in the dark, and pronounced a genuine brilliant. We give the information for what it is worth, and are inclined to think that when examined by competent judges the precious stone will be pronounced a rock crystal, similar to those found in abundance in California and Owyhee, and which are of but little value.

    Jacksonville Sentinel, June 22nd: Stephen Gale found a diamond while panning out a few days since. It has been examined in the dark, and pronounced a genuine brilliant.
    Jacksonville Press, June 18th: The news from Wines Camp on Jumpoff Joe is in every respect gratifying. All the companies, thus far, who have cleaned up have made good wages, notwithstanding the extra labor and embarrassments encountered in opening the claims. Mr. Wines and a partner, after a run of one day and a half, cleaned up $80; their claim averages $12 a day to the hand. Many of the other claims when placed in as good condition for working will, no doubt, pay fully as well.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 29, 1867, page 407




    JOSEPHINE COUNTY.--The smelting furnace of Messrs. Crandall & Co., near Kerbyville, is a success. About 500 lbs. of copper was yielded at the first run. The ore is over 50 percent pure metal--a small test of 30 pounds yielding 16 pounds of copper. The success of this enterprise is very encouraging, showing as it does that the mineral wealth of Southern Oregon is a fixed fact and requires only a reasonable amount of industry and capital for its development. There are several well-defined leads of copper ore in Josephine supposed to be equally as rich as that being worked by the above company.--[Sentinel.
Corvallis Gazette, July 20, 1867, page 4


    From the Sentinel of July 13th: There are continued good mining prospects in Jackson County. More diggings have been struck in the vicinity of Pleasant Creek. A continuation of an old channel has apparently been found, richer than ever. The gold obtained is coarse and heavy, being worth $16.50 in this market. Pleasant Creek, heretofore, has been considered one of the best mining camps in the country, and if this new discovery proves to be as rich as it is now thought, it will firmly establish its reputation for rich diggings.
    Another lump of gold has been picked up in Jackson County, which is large enough to awaken some of the buried recollections of '49ers. It weighs 146 oz.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, August 3, 1867, page 71


    MINING IN JACKSON COUNTY.--The Sentinel has the following:
    "Mr. Jesse Titus, who has been traveling over the country to some extent, furnishes us some very interesting mining items: At Steamboat City, Mr. Wm. Herriot & Co. are making 'big money.' Their claim prospects well. Mr. T. saw several large nuggets, taken from this claim, weighing, respectively, twelve and a half ounces, six ounces and five and a half; besides these large pieces the company is making four and five dollars per day to the hand--fine gold. This claim is situated on a large bar, a little below the Fowler quartz mill. It is supposed by many that the 1,000-dollar nugget, found by a Chinaman a few months since, came from this bar. It has been asserted that these claims are only rimrock diggings, but if such is the case, they are paying well. This company have considerable ground and a good water privilege.
    "Mr. Titus represents the Sterlingville camp as being a live place. The miners are all doing well, with a good prospect ahead. There are no Chinamen at work in these diggings. Messrs. Saltmarsh & Co.'s claims are paying well. Mr. T. saw one hundred and fifty-four dollars picked up in one day by the company, while shoveling dirt into the ground sluice, and sixty-six dollars as the product of another day's labor. When the final cleanup is made, they expect to take out a large sum of money. This company have ground enough to keep them employed ten years. The claims of Wm. Wilkins & Co. are paying equally well. The boys are a jolly set of fellows, and aim to make life as pleasant as possible."


    The Jacksonville Press says: The Malachi ledge, on Cañon Creek, opposite Kerbyville, is turning out gloriously. Mr. Malachi hauled 3,600 lbs. of what he considered the poorest rock, to Cohn's mill, for crushing, from which he realized eight oz., and $10. He said before testing it that if that rock paid, "he was all right," as he had an abundance of rock of a much better quality.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, August 17, 1867, page 103


    MARBLE IN OREGON.--Mr. Gillette, correspondent of the Oregonian, writing from Ashland to that paper, says a Mr. Russell is manufacturing marble slabs from marble quarries in that vicinity. It is beautiful, and of peculiar formation, so that when polished it gleams like diamonds, like a mass of crystals cemented together.
Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, August 24, 1867, page 126


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept 7th: D. C. Cohn has arrived from San Francisco, and is going to start the Enterprise quartz mill and push work forward with renewed energy. He intends to work the rock by a new process, and thinks he can make it pay $250 to the ton.
    Prospectors in the neighborhood of Diamond Peak, in the Cascade Mountains, have discovered several quartz ledges in what seems to be a parallel range, at least they found three leads near together, and running parallel to each other. The rock is rich, with some kind of metal, and it is thought to be silver, as it stands all the tests to which the prospectors were able to submit it The specimen which we have shows metal, though what it is we cannot say.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 21, 1867, page 183


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept. 3rd: Mr. Mosher, of Roseburg, was in town the other day with some rich specimens of silver-bearing quartz, taken from a ledge on Coast Fork, within a few miles of the Bohemia mine. We understand that one of the discoverers has taken a quantity of the rock to San Francisco to have it assayed.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 28, 1867, page 199


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept. 21st: The company in possession of the Alta copper mine, situated at the Low Divide, on the Crescent City road, have shipped about 700 tons of copper during the present summer. The ore is transported to smelting works in Massachusetts, near Boston, but it is the intention of the company to erect works in Smith River Valley, California--to which place they will have a road completed from the mine this fall, at a cost of about $13,000. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 5, 1867, page 215


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept 28th: Last week, Mr. Oliver brought from a ledge on Grave Creek a load of quartz rock--about 1,500 lbs.--to the mill on Jackson Creek. Col. Drew crushed it this week, and obtained $14.87, very fine gold. At this rate it will pay nearly $20 per ton. No gold is visible in the rock. We understand it is the intention to test the ledge further, and if sufficient encouragement is met with, a mill will be erected on the ledge.
    Parties are leaving town nearly every day for the mining district, between the North Umpqua and Willamette rivers. It is credibly reported that average specimens assay $180 to the ton.
    Col. Butterfield, who is sinking on a bed of cement near Waldo, is sanguine that the cement will pay for crushing, and has ordered machinery for that purpose. A few boulders and some gravel has been struck in the bottom of the tunnel, but the cement still continues.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 12, 1867, page 231


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept. 28th: Mr. Devins has discovered a large bed of superior chalk, on Lost River, about 100 miles from this place.
    Yreka Union, Oct 5th: Quartz has been taken from a ledge on Grave Creek, Jackson County, Oregon, which yields about $20 to the ton. If further tests will warrant it, a mill will be erected on it.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 19, 1867, page 247


    Jacksonville Sentinel, October 26th: The Crandall copper mine has been prospected this summer, and found to be rich in both gold and copper. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, November 9, 1867, page 295


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Nov. 16th: Times in the Sterlingville mining camp are as prosperous as ever. Spaulding and Johnson are driving their tunnel into the boulder channel, and expect to strike pay in a few weeks. There is work for 100 men in this channel, at good wages, if the waters of Applegate Creek are ever brought to work it.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, November 30, 1867, page 343




    Jacksonville Sentinel, Dec. 7th: Colonel Drew, with two others, are still driving their tunnel on Jackson Creek. The Colonel has overhauled his mill and is putting in the latest improved condensing or saving apparatus.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 21, 1867, page 391


    ON JACKSON CREEK.--This week we had occasion to take a trip up Jackson Creek, where we found everybody and everything snowed in. At the Occidental Quartz Mill the snow was about one foot deep, and up the creek about a half mile further the snow is said to be two feet deep. Col. Drew has got the Occidental Quartz Mill about ready for running again. He has put about $1,200 worth of improvements on the mill. Some entirely new pieces of machinery have been added, and it is the belief of the owners of the mill that they can save all the gold. A contract for crushing a hundred tons of quartz has been closed and the mill will proceed to work as soon as the quartz is delivered.


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Jan. 11th: This week we had occasion to take a trip up Jackson Creek, where we found everybody and everything snowed in. At the Occidental quartz mill the snow was about one foot deep, and up the creek about half a mile further, the snow is said to be two ft. deep. Col. Drew has got the Occidental quartz mill about ready for running again. He has put about $1,200 worth of improvements on the mill. Some entirely new pieces of machinery have been added, and it is the belief of the owners of the mill that they can save all the gold. A contract for crushing 100 tons of quartz has been closed and the mill will proceed to work as soon as the quartz is delivered.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, January 25, 1868, page 55


    THE LOST CABIN.--The story of the "lost cabin," which has been a fruitful theme of speculation with the people of Jackson County for the last fifteen years, has been revived again. We have heard a rumor about town the past few days to the effect that Mr. Isaac Skeeters, one of the original enthusiasts, with others, have found the fabled spot; and that it is located on the head of Antelope Creek, a tributary of Butte Creek. This party say that they have found the cabin, and the pick marks made by the first discoverers on a large boulder. Mr. Skeeters' party sank a hole and obtained several "colors." The party did not get down to the bedrock, but were driven back by the snow. They propose to return in a few days to give the locality a thorough prospecting. The story is almost, if not quite, spoiled by the fact that several years since Mr. Bowen had a milk ranch on the head of Antelope, where he had built a log cabin, and was in the habit of spending the hot summer months there. Although we believe the story of the log cabin to be one of the many exciting mining stories that were set afloat in those early days, founded partly in fact and partly in imagination, yet we hope that rich diggings may be struck, and think such a thing not beyond the range of possibilities.


    OREGON LAUREL FOR SHIP BUILDING.--The Bulletin gives a letter recently received from George M. Scudder, Ellensburg, Oregon, in reference to Oregon timber for ship building. We quote the portion which speaks of laurel: "Some four or five years ago I had got out at this place (Rogue River), for the navy yard at Mare Island, several thousand feet of laurel--or as it is universally called in Oregon, 'myrtle.' Most of this would average twenty or more inches squared, in thickness, and was in length from about eighteen to thirty feet; and could have been got out longer, but that the schooner (Florence Walton) was not of sufficient capacity; some of the sticks were good crooks, but mostly straight. Several pieces squared twenty-two inches; one, I think, about thirty-two--at least, such can be had. In loading, one of the timbers slipped out of the slings, and being nearly as heavy as lead, sunk to the bottom, and there remained for three years, when ultimately a heavy freshet threw it out upon the river bank. Having been in salt water, worms made an attempt on it, but succeeded only with a slight strip of the sap[wood], the main portion evidently resisting their attacks.
    "But this is the point I wish to call to your attention. If opportunity occurs I intend sending a part of this to San Francisco. The timber thus seasoned is very solid; my men made a maul from it and daily use it, which is as solid as bone. Laurel or myrtle timber grows plentifully on Rogue River, on the Coquille, Coos Bay, Umpqua, etc. Growing on river bottoms mostly, considerable of it has been cut off and burned 'to clear the land.' It is a pity that this, the most valuable timber for ship-building, in my opinion, on this coast, should not be better known. It should be cut--this is a great point--from November to March or thereabouts, and if afterwards 'docked,' would fully equal any 'live oak'; in fact, if, as I think, it will resist the worm, why should it not be superior to any other timber?"
Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, February 22, 1868, page 127


   Jacksonville Sentinel, Feb. 15th: Mr. C. Nye called upon us this week, and reports that the mining interests on Foots Creek are all frozen up. The same may be said of all the mining camps in the country.
    A road is being made from the Occidental quartz mill to the Holman lead. It is the intention to proceed as fast as the rock can be transported to the mill to commence crushing. The mill has been carefully repaired, and the defective parts made new, so that it is almost certain that all the gold can be saved.
Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, February 29, 1868, page 135


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Feb. 22nd: Last week a miner on Coyote Creek, between here and Canyonville, found a nugget of gold in his claim, weighing a little over 16
oz., and worth $273.50.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, March 14, 1868, page 167


    We take the following from the Jacksonville Sentinel of March 7th:
    The claims of McDaniel and Therman, at Sterlingville, are averaging $20 per day to the hand, without any prospect of giving out as yet.
    The claim of Johnson & Co. is paying an ounce per day to the hand. Messrs. Kleinhammer and Mentz are taking out good pay--about $10 per day to each man, and the well-known claim of Saltmarsh & Co. is panning out as usual, and its owners getting rich fast.
"Oregon," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, March 20, 1868, page 1


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Feb. 29th: Mr. Alex. Watts informs us that Mr. S. Messenger and himself have just completed a prospecting arrastra on Horsehead Gulch, a tributary of Williams Creek, in Josephine County. They are intending to crush several tons of rock from the old Horsehead ledge.
    The late rains have given the miners a fair start; all the large ditches are full and the boys are busy making the most of the probably short season before them.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, March 21, 1868, page 183


    Jacksonville Sentinel, March 7th: We are informed that the claims of McDaniel & Therman, at Sterlingville, is averaging $20 per day to the hand, without any prospect of giving out as yet.
    The claim of Johnson & Co. is paying an ounce per day to the hand. Messrs. Kleinhammer and Mentz are taking out good pay--about $10 per day to each man, and the well-known claim of Saltmarsh & Co. is panning out as usual.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, March 28, 1868, page 199


    QUARTZ MILL RUNNING.--Col. Drew started the machinery of the Occidental Quartz Mill on Sunday last. We will give a full description of the improvements and hope to record a good cleanup next week.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 18, 1868, page 3


    QUARTZ MINING AND MILLING.--The Occidental Quartz Mill has been running the past week, and we understand that as soon as the "cleanup" from the run just made is completed the mill will be set in motion again. The amount of quartz crushed last week was 94 tons, from the Timber Gulch ledge owned by Messrs. W. A. Johnson and Louis Ballou. The mill is driven by a thirty-horsepower engine. The crushing and reducing machinery consists of two high mortar batteries, five stamps each, two Rettinger boxes, two Hungerford's improved concentrators and one seven-foot amalgamating tub, arranged similar to an arrastra. The machinery, it will be remembered, was put up two years since, but it has been left in excellent condition, works to a charm and reflects great credit upon its manufacturers, Messrs. Howland, Angel & King, of San Francisco. The saving process of the mill is near about perfect, and thus far gives satisfaction. The Rettinger boxes are a new thing in American mining, the ones in the Occidental mill being the only ones that are known to be in use on the American continent. A milling company in Grass Valley, Cal., talked at one time of adopting them, but we have never heard whether they did or not. The quartz crushed at the run just made paid 10 dollars per ton. The lead from which the rock is quarried is about a half mile from the mill and at this rate will pay well for working.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 25, 1868, page 3


    QUARTZ CRUSHING.--The work lately done by the Occidental was an experiment on the part of those owning the rock. It has proved satisfactory, leaving a good profit, after paying expenses of quarrying and crushing, and the mill will resume work as soon as sufficient rock can be got out to commence on. The Occidental mill may now be regarded as a permanent institution that will bring considerable wealth from our undeveloped ledges. Success to it.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 2, 1868, page 3


    Jacksonville Sentinel, April 22nd: The Occidental quartz mill has been running the past week, and as soon as the "cleanup" from the run just made is completed, the mill will be set in motion again. The amount of quartz crushed last week was 94 tons, from the Timber Gulch ledge. The mill is driven by a 30-horsepower engine. The crushing and reducing machinery consists of two high mortar batteries, five stamps each, two Rittinger boxes, two Hungerford's improved concentrators, and one seven-foot amalgamating tub, arranged similar to an arrastra.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 9, 1868, page 305


    Jacksonville Sentinel, May 2nd: The work lately done by the Occidental was an experiment. It has proved satisfactory, leaving a good profit, after paying expenses of quarrying and crushing, and the mill will resume work as soon as sufficient rock can be got out to commence on.
    Messrs. F. and T. Newland, Fox and Patty, are running a tunnel into the hill facing Allen Gulch, Josephine County. They have prospected the hill and find a deep channel near the summit, and have found also that all the gulches that have cut this channel have been rich, while those which have not cut it have never paid. The tunnel at present is in 190 ft., and they expect to have to run 25 ft. further before striking the channel. Two shifts of hands are being worked, so that the labor ceases not by day or night.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 16, 1868, page 321


    QUARTZ MILL.--We were up at the Occidental mill this week, and found everybody busy. Col. Drew has been running night and day for about thirteen days. The quartz being crushed now is from Timber Gulch lead, and has the appearance of being very rich. The last run paid ten dollars to the ton, and it is confidently expected that it will run over this amount this time. The mill is in splendid running order, and when small amalgamating pans shall have been added, it will be the best gold mill in either California or Oregon. Col. C. S. Drew is deserving of great praise for the manner in which he has stuck to the work. We want more men of the same kind, that when they take hold of an enterprise, they will not quit until they have succeeded, or the thing is demonstrated to be a failure.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 23, 1868, page 3


    Jacksonville Sentinel, 23rd: We were at the Occidental mill this week, and found everybody busy. Col. Drew has been running night and day for 13 days. The quartz being crushed now is from [the] Timber Gulch lead, and has the appearance of being very rich. The last run paid $10 to the ton. The mill is in splendid running order.
    A vein of decomposed quartz running across Kanaka Flat has been struck. From present indications the lead will pay fully as well as the Timber Gulch lead. The vein of quartz is between three and four ft.
    At Sterling the claims are still panning out well. We hear of a number of claims paying an ounce a day to the hand.
    We learn that new diggings have been struck between Rogue River and Galice Creek that prospect well.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 6, 1868, page 369


    Jacksonville Reveille, May 30th: Milling for the Timber Gulch ledge was suspended for a time last Monday, after a run of 206 tons, it having been ascertained that the quartz could be worked more profitably by assorting it. Meanwhile the mill has been kept running on rock from other ledges. Three tons from Ives' mine in Sterling yielded $50 per ton. Twenty tons from the Rising Star yielded $9 per ton. This ledge is on the South Fork of Jackson Creek, three miles from town. We understand that work will be resumed at once. The mill is now at work on ore from the Blue Ledge above Kanaka Flat.
    Messrs. Brown, Parsons and Brooks are reopening the old mine on Richardson ledge with the view of testing it by mill process. Neuber and Boushey will soon commence prospecting in the Bauer ledge. The Howard and Payne ledge on Brush Creek is now open, but means are wanting to enable the owners to give it a practical test.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 13, 1868, page 385


    Jackson Creek, where the principal mining is, runs through the town. About three miles up the north fork is the Occidental quartz mill, the main dependence of this mining district at present. This mill was built about three years ago, at an expense of $15,000, yet by some mismanagement the original company failed, and it has recently fallen into the hands of Capt. L. L. Drew [sic], one of the former stockholders, who was then engaged in making some considerable improvements at an additional expense of about $2,000 more, with the intention of testing the new quartz ledges that have recently been discovered here, there being some seven or eight ledges that are quite extensive. The mill has since been put in good running order, and the ledges have turned out to be profitable. The mill has ten 600-lb. stamps, with Rutger's English Concentrating Boxes--the only mill, I believe, that has adopted them excepting the Eureka Mills, at Grass Valley--also, Hungerford's Patent Concentrating and Amalgamating Tubs, on the principle of those used in Washoe. "Notes of a Trip to Oregon," Daily Alta California, San Francisco, June 18, 1868, page 1


    Jacksonville Sentinel, June 13th: Mr. H. Helms recently showed us a gold specimen from the Timber Gulch lead worth $19.50. The specimen is a peculiar-looking piece, about two inches long and three-eighths of an inch thick. It has the appearance of being drawn out like wire and in that shape embedded in quartz. When it was found the quartz fell off from the gold and left it exposed in one solid piece.
    Mr. L. Ziegler, in his claim on Jackson Creek, is taking rich pay from what has heretofore been considered bedrock, obtaining therefrom as high as an ounce of gold from one pan of dirt.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 4, 1868, page 7


    A Southern Oregon paper says that the Malachi quartz lead, situated on Lightning Gulch, a tributary of Canyon Creek, in Josephine County, is proving to be very rich. The lead was found about two years ago, and at the time there were many stories in circulation concerning its richness. Since then nothing much has been done on the lead until this spring, when an arrastra was put up. One run of two weeks has been made and $1,200 cleaned up. It is said that as much more was in the rock crushed, but owing to the inexperience of the amalgamator it was lost. They lost during the run several pounds. It is claimed that the quartz is worth a thousand dollars to the ton. The vein is about eight inches thick.

    As we stated in a short item last week, Messrs. Patty, Fox & Co., of Josephine County, have struck pay gravel, and have a good claim. The men comprising this company are old California miners; but latterly they have followed prospecting as a business, having within the last three years traveled over the greater part of Idaho, Montana and Colorado Territories. Early in the season of '67 they, with a large party, started on a prospecting tour into Arizona; but, after proceeding some distance into the mountains, were driven back by Indians. Having no employment for a while, Mr. Patty, who had mined at Sailor Diggings in 1857, proposed to Messrs. F. and T. Newland and Fox that they come up here and try the Sailor Diggings country for mountain channel mines; and, after describing the country to the above-named gentlemen, they determined to prospect in Southern Oregon until peace was made with the Indians in the Territories.  They arrived at Waldo some time last November, and worked for Col. Butterfield until they were convinced in their own mind that he was expending labor to no purpose, when they quit him and commenced looking for the most favorable place to commence work on their contemplated undertaking.
    Between two almost parallel forks of the Illinois River extends a spur or dividing ridge of the mountain, with the town of Waldo on the west side, and Allen's Gulch on the east side opposite to the town and about a mile distant. The prospectors found by observation that on one side of this mountain spur, near the summit, there was a table or bench of a few yards in width; and they thought there might be a deep mountain channel high up this spur. By further observation they found that when a deep gulch had cut transversely into this mountain and had cut the supposed channel, it had invariably been rich, while small gulches that had not reached up to the summit of this high ridge had not paid anything. They were further confirmed in their opinion of a deep channel, by the fact that all the gold obtained in that neighborhood was heavy wash gold. After satisfying themselves as well as they could of the existence of a rich auriferous deposit, they, in December last, selected a spot and commenced a tunnel so as to strike the channel about two hundred feet from the surface of the ground. Working day and night from that time, they struck the channel last week, having run a tunnel near three hundred feet in length. There appeared to be a large body of gravel--how much is at the present unknown.
    The channel has been traced for several miles. The difficulties met with by the company were such that without a large amount of perseverance the project would have been abandoned. In fact, miners around there predicted that they would never find any channel; that such a thing did not exist. For days and days the tunnel was almost suffocating with smoke. The rock was hard as flint; and after a week's work, hardly a foot had been chipped out of the solid wall of rock in their front. But these men, schooled to hard labor, patience and perseverance, worked on night and day, until now they are rewarded by a rich prospect. They say they are satisfied; that they want no more money than they can make out of their claims. The whole hill on the line of this channel is being taken up, and we may expect to see mining carried forward there on a large scale. There is room for several hundred miners to find employment at these new diggings.
Morning Oregonian, Portland, July 9, 1868, page 1


    NEW ROAD.--The road to the quartz mill was finished this week. A trip to the quartz mill is now one of the most pleasant drives in this vicinity.


    Jacksonville Sentinel, June 20th: Muller, of the firm of Muller & Brentano, has purchased the Ballou lead; consideration not given.
    The last run of rock crushed at the Occidental, from the Ballou lead, yielded $11.50 per ton. There is plenty of rock in sight, and the indications are that it will increase in richness.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 11, 1868, page 23


    ROAD TO THE QUARTZ MILL.--This highway has been completed, and is one of the finest grades in the county. From Kanaka Flat a distance of one and a half miles to the quartz mill, the road is surveyed on a level, and the steep hillside graded down so as to make a smooth pass. Three substantial bridges have been built across as many mining cuts. When a small amount of work shall have been put on the road running over the Flat, there will be no nicer drive in the vicinage of Jacksonville.


    Owing to a scarcity of water, very little placer mining is being done this season. It appears that this region was visited with less snow and rain, during the past winter, than any portion of country either north or south. At Sterlingville, however, there are a few claims doing a very fine business, for a short season. Their ground is good, and plenty of it; what they need is capital to bring in water. In Jacksonville, quartz appears to be all the rage. Col. Drew, superintendent of the Occidental mill, has demonstrated, beyond question, that good paying gold-bearing quartz exists in plenty in that vicinity. This gentlemen has a fine 10-stamp mill of Miners' Foundry construction, situated on Jackson Creek, about three miles from this city. The mill is located at the base of a high mountain, containing a series of ledges, varying in width from three to fifteen feet, and presenting as fine variety and character of ores as any in the State of California. Col. D. has introduced the "Rittinger boxes" (described in the Press some time since), in his process of working. This application is cheap, easily applied, and works to his entire satisfaction. For particulars, as to the construction and working of said boxes, the readers of the Press are referred to an account given of them in the issues of Jan. 5th and 19th, 1867. That this district abounds in ledges, many of which will eventually prove to be first class, the writer has not the slightest doubt; and as to cheapness of working, a more favorable location could not be had on the Pacific Coast, possessing an abundance of timber and water sufficient for all milling purposes. Wood is now being delivered on the ground at two dollars per cord, and labor is only two dollars per day, or forty-five per month, including board. These rates are cheaper than at any other point; to account for it, the reader has only to be made aware that this district borders upon one of the finest valleys, and most extensive agricultural districts west of the Rocky Mountains.
Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 18, 1868, page 34


    Jacksonville Sentinel, July 18th: The Occidental mill is crushing quartz from the Johnson & Elder lead. A cleanup will be made sometime next week. Everything looks flattering so far for a rich run.
    Col. Drew commenced work on the Holman lead on Wednesday morning last. Four miners are employed in taking out quartz.
Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 25, 1868, page 55


    Eugene Journal: Some prospectors in Jackson County sunk several prospect holes on Coyote Creek, and found a prospect sufficient to warrant them in the belief that their claims would pay from $8 to $10 per day to the hand, when worked properly.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, August 1, 1868, page 71


    Jacksonville Sentinel, August 1st: M. H. Chapin exhibited to us this week a nugget of gold taken from his claim on Pleasant Creek, which weighed 10¼ ounces. This is the second piece he has taken out this season. The first found weighed a dollar more than this piece.
    The tunnel which Messrs. Fox, Patty & Co. had run into the hill channel at Waldo, in Josephine County, crushed the timbering and caved in lately. Where it broke the ground was over 100 feet deep, and the opening at the top is about 50 feet across.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, August 8, 1868, page 71


    Portland Oregonian, July 25th: A very rich streak of pay quartz was struck in Timber Gulch, Jackson County, last week. The rock was sacked at the lead and thus taken to the mill to prevent loss.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, August 15, 1868, page 103


    Jacksonville Sentinel, August 8th: Funck & Cummins are having rock drawn from their lead, on the left-hand fork of Jackson Creek, to the Occidental mill, which commenced crushing yesterday. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, August 22, 1868, page 118


    GIANT POWDER.--Mr. O. W. White, the traveling agent of the Giant Powder Company of San Francisco, made some experiments here on Monday evening that certainly proved the powder to be the most terrible explosive agent yet discovered. The first experiment was with an inch board. A cartridge containing about a thimbleful of the powder was laid on the board and exploded--a hole nearly large enough to admit a person's fist was made in the board. The second experiment was with a piece of fir scantling 6 by 6. A cartridge weighing about an ounce was exploded on it and the timber was torn in two transversely, as if by a shot from a hundred-pounder. A cartridge similar to the second one was laid on a large granite boulder which was smashed as completely as if pounded with a sledge for an hour. Mr. White demonstrated that while ten times more powerful than ordinary gunpowder, this new agent was very much safer; and the reckless manner in which it was handled leads us to think it no more dangerous than sawdust, which it very much resembles. To prove its safety in comparison to gunpowder, Mr. White burned one of the cartridges in his hand with no more effect than the combustion of so much saltpeter. We must say that this is the most terrific explosive agent we have ever heard of, and are of opinion that it will completely displace gunpowder for blasting in a short time.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 12, 1868, page 2


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Aug. 29th: Dillon and Bowden started on a prospecting expedition to the headwaters of Evans Creek, on Thursday. They are after the "lost cabin."
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 12, 1868, page 167


    LARGE SPECIMENS.--Last Sunday a miner named Wm. Harriott found a chunk of gold on Applegate Creek, near Steamboat city, that weighed 41 ounces, and is worth about $480. This piece is on exhibition at the banking house of C. C. Beekman. Another weighing 69 ounces was taken out on Saturday, but it has not been offered for sale yet. These pieces were found below the claims now being worked, and seem to indicate that our mines are not yet played out.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 19, 1868, page 3


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept. 19th: Last Sunday a miner named Wm. Harriott found a chunk of gold on Applegate Creek, near Steamboat City that weighs 41 oz., and is worth about $680. This piece is on exhibition at the banking house of C. C. Beekman. Another weighing 69 ounces was taken out on Saturday. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, October 3, 1868, page 215


    The Jacksonville Sentinel says: Important discoveries of ores are being found in various localities of Coos and Curry counties. Quite an excitement is now agitating the people of these counties, in consequence of the discovery of a rich gold-bearing quartz ledge at Salmon Gulch, northeast of Port Orford. A rival company, supposed to be in the interest of San Francisco capitalists, are pretending to claim the ledge as a spur from an unknown and imaginary one of theirs, which will probably lead to litigation. Some silver and copper ores have been found in various localities of Curry County, which will ultimately prove a fine field for the miner and the mineralogist.
    The Yreka Journal says the Goose Lake country is fast settling up, and good prospects for gold mining are reported about the headwaters of Sprague River.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, November 28, 1868, page 343


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Dec. 12th: The Enterprise quartz mill in Josephine County, lately sold by the sheriff, has been purchased by G. Karewski for the sum of $870.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 26, 1868, page 407


    Portland Oregonian, Dec. 19th: L. W. Felton, who has just returned from a trip through Southern Oregon, showed us yesterday a specimen of almost pure copper, obtained from a creek in the Bohemia district. He represents that a company has a large lode near where this specimen was found, which is believed to be almost pure copper.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, January 9, 1869, page 23


    Platinum--as near as can be judged without making an assay--in heavy, whitish steel-gray, ductile, scaly particles, intermixed with a garnet-like sand; from placer mines in Southern Oregon--presented by Dr. Frey, of Sacramento--who, it may be remarked in this connection, has one of the most complete mineralogical cabinets in the state, having lately added thereto by the purchase of many lithological and paleontological specimens. Platinum occurs usually in grains, but occasionally in irregular lumps, and is as heavy as gold. It is quite valuable--next to gold--on account of its uses in chemistry, being infusible and not attacked by any of the pure acids. Where it can be obtained plentifully, it is well worth saving. It has been found in veins along with gold. Iridium and osmium, similar metals, are usually found with platinum; in California they are found in many places along the foothills, with the gold, but most plentifully on the lower Klamath.
"Contributions for Out Cabinet," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, January 16, 1869, page 33


    A Southern Oregon paper reports that the miners in Josephine County are all busy. Water is plenty, much rain having fallen there, and the streams are generally much swollen. 
    A Jacksonville paper learns that rich diggings have been struck on Picken's Creek, about eight miles from the Junction House, in Josephine County.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, February 6, 1869, page 87


    Jacksonville Sentinel, Feb. 13th: Duffy & Co., at Pickett's camp in Josephine County, are taking out an ounce per day to the hand. Water plenty and ground unlimited.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, March 6, 1869, page 151

   
    The Jacksonville Sentinel of March 6th says that mining in that section during the past winter has been a complete failure on account of the scarcity of water, and urges not only the miners, but the farmers, to unite and contribute a small sum each to be expended in bringing the waters of Applegate Creek to the Sterling mines. The editor says that the enterprise can be completed at a cost of less than $60,000, and that the ground thus provided with a sufficiency of water cannot be worked out in the next 40 years.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, March 20, 1869, page 183


    THE OCCIDENTAL LEDGE.--On Thursday we visited this ledge and found work progressing on the new shaft. Messrs. Dillon and Bowden, who own nine-tenths of the ledge, have sunk on it about seventy feet and at that depth it has widened to about two feet. It was almost impossible to break a piece of the rock last taken out and not find gold in it, and indeed, we saw specimens taken out that were nearly half gold, and as rich as any ever taken out of Gold Hill. The owners intend to "sink" till they reach a depth of one hundred or one hundred and fifty feet, and if the rock continues to prospect as it does at present, it will justify proper and scientific opening and surely prove a source of wealth to Jackson County.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 10, 1869, page 2


    GOOD PROSPECT.--We were shown by Mr. Neuber, jeweler, two bars of gold, weighing eighteen and one-half ounces, which he had melted out of eighty-five pounds of rock taken from the shaft of Messrs. Dillon & Bowden. This yield was at the rate of $7,000 per ton, but was from selected rock, taken out at the depth of about fifty feet on the ledge. The owners are still "sinking," and continue to find very encouraging prospects.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 24, 1869, page 3


    Jacksonville Sentinel, April 10th: Dillon & Bowden, who own nine-tenths of the Occidental ledge, have sunk on it about 70 feet, and at that depth it has widened to about two feet. It was almost impossible to break a piece of the rock last taken out and not find gold in it; we saw specimens that were nearly half gold.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, April 24, 1869, page 263


    QUARTZ PROSPECTING.--Owing to the failure of our placer mines this season from want of water, miners are now beginning to turn their attention to quartz, a branch of prospecting yet in its infancy, and but poorly understood in Southern Oregon. There has been capital enough already worse than wasted by various companies, through mismanagement and injudicious expenditure of labor, to have fully tested ten or twelve of our best leads; and that there are a number of good-paying ledges within this county no one possessed of a thorough knowledge of quartz mining will be so foolish as to doubt.
    The Timber Gulch lead is now furnishing the most flattering prospects, simply because its owners are applying the true test, as proven by all reliable experience--that of going down on the lead.
    Scientific prospectors abroad will hardly credit the assertion that Gold Hill--fabulously and unprecedentedly rich as it was--was never sunk on to a depth exceeding 50 feet. The proprietors now offer one half the lead to any person or company that will put a shaft down 200 feet on the same. A better chance to make a big strike, it appears to us, could not be offered.
    The Fowler lead, at Steamboat City, has paid big dividends in the past, and would likely do so again if properly worked. The Davenport, Hicks and the Blackwell, ditto. So let prospecting be pushed with vigor the coming summer.

    COUNTY ROAD.--The County Court at the May term has ordered that a county road be laid out and opened from the sawmill at the forks of Jackson Creek, running up the right-hand fork of Jackson Creek. The road will be run high up, so that mining operations on the creek will not interfere. It crosses Kanaka Flat, Armstrong, Shively and  Timber gulches, to or near the Occidental Quartz Mill. The viewers appointed at Geo. Brown, R. S. Dunlap, and J. N. T. Miller.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 8, 1869, page 2


    MINING ON JACKASS.--The diggings that were struck high up on this creek last year are paying very well this spring. Buckner & Co. are washing up about three ounces daily, with two men throwing into the sluices. The claim will pay about eight dollars per day to the hand for all the work done.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 8, 1869, page 3


    QUARTZ IN SOUTHERN OREGON.--The Jacksonville News says: Owing to the failure of our placer mines this season, from want of water, miners are beginning
to turn their attention to quartz.
    The Timber Gulch lead is furnishing the most flattering prospects, simply because its owners are applying the true test--that of going down on the lead.
    Gold Hill--unprecedentedly rich as it was--was never sunk on to a depth exceeding 50 feet. The proprietors now offer one half the lead to any person that will put a shaft down 200 feet.
    The Fowler lead, at Steamboat City, has paid big dividends, and would so again if properly worked. The Davenport, Hicks and Blackwell, ditto.
    Jacksonville Sentinel, May 1st: Dillon & Bowden are now down on their lead about 75 feet and still find rich prospects. They will make the rock taken from the
shaft pay all expenses.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, May 15, 1869, page 319


    DILLON & BOWDEN.--Jacksonville Sentinel, May 22nd: Work is still going on in the shaft. They are now down on the lead about 90 feet, and the rock prospects well. They will commence crushing about the middle of next month.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 5, 1869, page 359


    QUARTZ.--Dillon & Bowden will commence crushing next week, and we expect to record the best run that has ever been made at the Occidental Mill.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, June 12, 1869, page 2


    GOOD CLEANUP.--Jacksonville Sentinel, July 3rd: Messrs. Dillon & Bowden cleaned up last week, after crushing 70 tons of quartz. The result is not made public, but the proprietors are in good spirits, and say that they got more than a good working prospect. They will push work again vigorously. 
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 17, 1869, page 39


    RICH STRIKE.--Jacksonville Sentinel, July 10th: The owners of the Malachi quartz ledge on Lightning Gulch, in Josephine County, have struck rich pay.
    MINING AT STEAMBOAT CITY.--We learn that the ditch of Sturgis, Titus & Co. , is finished. There is 200 inches of water in it, taken from the right-hand fork of Applegate Creek. The ditch is 5½ miles long. The claims comprise 800 yards of the gulch below Steamboat ledge, and are probably the richest in the county. On main Applegate, Harriott's river claim is paying well, pieces weighing from ten to fifteen dollars being frequently found. Epperson & Herbold are getting good prospects. A Chinese company are putting in a wing dam below.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 24, 1869, page 55


    SHORT OF WATER.--The quartz mill is only crushing rock every other day, on account of scarcity of water. The company are still getting out rock, which is said to look very well.




    RAIN.--Jacksonville Sentinel, Nov. 20: For several days past the much-hoped-for rain has been coming down. We hear the Chinamen are buzzing around lively in their mining operations, and white miners in a few days more will have plenty of water.
"Oregon," Mining and Scientific Press, San Francisco, December 4, 1869, page 359


    QUARTZ.--Jacksonville Sentinel, 11th: We are informed that a rich gold-bearing ledge has been discovered on the divide at the head of Indian Creek, Josephine County.
"Oregon," Scientific Press, San Francisco, June 8, 1870, page 413


    QUARTZ.--Jacksonville Sentinel, June 25th: We are informed that Sam. Bowden cleaned up, after crushing about 80 tons of quartz, on Jackson Creek, $2,500.
"Oregon," Scientific Press, San Francisco, July 2, 1870, page 5


    STEAMBOAT DIGGINGS.--Jacksonville Sentinel, Sept. 3rd: Al. Sturgis exhibited to us several large nuggets, and over $800 of amalgam gold. They have been to work at their claims for nearly two years, but have struck it at last.
"Oregon," Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 10, 1870, page 189