1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 97 



As we passed along the road in another section, at many 

 a spot men were cutting down orange groves, trees from six 

 to ten inches in diameter. An inquiry of one of the bosses 

 brought the information that the scale had got the better of 

 them ; that as they grew larger they needed more water, 

 which could not be had ; and they must go into some other 

 business, he hardly knew what, on account of the water 

 question. 



We retired from the scene with the impression that the 

 country had been boomed to death, and that, when our 

 chronic emigrator reached it from New Mexico, he would 

 be impressed in the same way, and find swarms of sympa- 

 thizers, if their " grin and bear it" would let them talk. 



But we are away, and pass on to the north, to a section 

 famous for the rugged grandeur of its scenery, and find our- 

 selves near the south fork of the American Kiver in the 

 Sierras, where gold mines in all forms and conditions of 

 deposit and development are said to abound, and to have 

 yielded untold millions. We find nothing inviting here but 

 the wild sublimity of the mountains, and the reputation that 

 they contain gold, which by searching may be found. A 

 little exploration discloses the fact that simple placer mining, 

 hydraulic mining and stamp mining are being practiced ; 

 and in due time we find ourselves at a mining camp, con- 

 sisting of one small shanty, one man, and one dark hole 

 down into the mountain rock, at the surface of which is a 

 rough windlass, with a crank to be turned by hand. Our 

 approach was discovered, and hailed by a hearty, " How are 

 you? Are you lost, or only looking for something?" We 

 replied, "Both." "Well," said the man, "come inside 

 and tell all about the country you came from and its people, 

 and how you came to be here." The invitation was accepted, 

 and we stood in the mining home of two graduates of a 

 Massachusetts college, whom we knew to l)e good geolo- 

 gists, mineralogists and chemists. News from the East was 

 eagerly sought, and from friends near and far. The con- 

 versation gradually drifted to personal experiences among 

 mines and mining camps during the three years then passed, 

 and this is the story, told in few words : — 



" C. is half owner of all there is here, but got discouraged, 



