MINERS & BUSINESS MENS

DIRECTORY 1856

 

 

 

MORMON GULCH & TUTTLETOWN

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      These two places are situated within about a half mile of each other; Tuttletown being upon a branch of Mormon Gulch proper.  Gold was struck on mormon gulch in ’48, by a company of miners, and in the summer and fall of ’49, large quantities of gold was taken from it, and its limits.  It was a flourishing camp in ’49, and’50, but there are but few persons there at present, although it is said that those who work there still realize good wages on an average.—Tuttletown received its name from Judge Tuttle, the first county Judge of this county, who built and occupied the first cabin at that place.

      There are many quarts leads at Tuttletown and in its vicinity, which have produced some very rich specimens; but owing, we believe, to the want of proper machinery, they have ceased to be worked. Doubtless when labor becomes cheaper and improved machinery can be obtained at reasonable costs, Tuttletown will again be a flourishing camp.

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Mining Laws of Tuttletown

 

      At a meeting of the miners of Tuttletown, Tuolumne county, the following Rules and By-laws were adopted:

      WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States have in their wisdom made it incumbent on the miners of the various mining districts of California to provide such laws for the protection and regulation of mining claims as to them may seem right, just and equitable for the greatest number. Therefore, be it enacted by the miners of Jackson Flat and Tuttletown to-wit:

      Sec. 1. That any person or persons entitled by the Laws of the United States to hold a mining claim may either by pre-emption or purchase hold 100 feet square of ground.

      Sec. 2. No person or persons shall, in locating a claim, if he or they take a less width than one hundred feet extend the limits beyond 100 feet in length.

      Sec. 3. Any person or persons claiming ground either by pre-emption or purchase, who does not within six days from the time such claim is in workable order, either work or cause the same to be worked, shall forfeit his or their right to the same.

      Sec. 4. Claims shall be signalized by states firmly set in the ground, with notices, or by notices placed upon trees or other objects sufficiently firm.

      Sec. 5. Any person or persons who shall be convicted of destroying or pulling down any notice or stake, or both, shall be liable to a fine of not less than $5, nor more than $50, as in the discretion of the court or jury may seem proper.

      Sec. 6. Where more than one person are assosciated (sic) in any claim, the name of each individual of such company shall be legibly written upon the notice, and no more ground shall be deemed taken than there are names upon the notice.

      Sec. 7. All mining laws heretofore in existence, either at Jackson’s Flat or  Tuttletown are hereby repealed, and we the miners do solemnly swear and pledge ourselves, mutually and individually to abide by and support the foregoing By-laws.

      Sec. 8. No person shall hold more than two claims at the same time either by purchase or otherwise, anything in the first section to the contrary notwithstanding.

      Sec. 9. Any person disabled by illness for any length of time shall not loose (sic) his right in consequence of not working the same during such illness.

      Sec. 10. All persons having notices upon dry claims must renew the same every thirty days from date or otherwise they become void.

      Sec. 11. These By-laws shall take effect from and after Nov. 13, 1855.

JOHN A. BRONSON, President.

HENRY WELLINGTON, Secretary.

 

      [See Miscellaneous list for Names]

 

 

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JACKASS GULTCH.

 

 

      Situated five miles north of Sonora, and on the road leading from the southern to the northern mines. In the years ’51 and’52, it had more notoriety perhaps than any other camp in California, from the fact of the great Carson lead of quartz having been struck rich in quite a number of places. Several stamping mills were erected, but of such an inferior character that they were unable to save the gold, and the veins were partially abandoned, or rather not worked.  The main gulch in ’48 and ’49, was without doubt the richest in the state; many a lucky miner made his pile in a very few hours. Lumps from 4 oz, to pounds, was taken out almost daily, and the excitement was intense, and hundreds rushed to the diggings. This state of affairs only continued for about two years, since which time the camp dwindled down to quite a small number. Maj. Means and Junius his brother, Geo. Wilson, T. E. Carrington and one or two others is all that is left of the settlers of ’51 and ’52. These parties have rich quarts leads, and are engaged at this time in prospecting their extent.  The Meanses have washed as many as $10.000 in a square of ten feet of ground laying on the top of the lead.—They have also taken out quartz, that has yielded two thirds of its weight in gold. Mr. Carrington has also a rich lead from which with his own labor, with pick, mortar and pestle, he can realize from one to three hundred dollars per day. The leads of quarts, of which there are hundreds, as a general thing are small, some not over 2 inches in thickness, but make up the difference in their extravagant yield of ore.

      Independent of its rich and extensive deposits of gold bearing quartz.  There is little of anything else to chronicle, unless it is the prevailing politics of the precinct, which at every election is looked to with considerable interest. It has universally given a whig majority.  A leading politician at the last election was heard to exclaim, “as goes Jackass so goes the state,” and in this he was correct, for so did go the state, but what influence Jackass Gulch had in the result, we have never been able to discover, for she only polled 22 votes, 16 of which was for Johnson the American candidate.

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Mining Laws of Jackass Gulch.

 

      Made by the miners of Jackass Gulch and its vicinity, at a meeting held on the 16th of October, 1852.

      ARTICLE 1.  Each and every individual person shall be entitled to one claim by virtue of occupation, the same not to exceed one hundred feet square.

      ART. 2.  To hold any claim or claims by virtue of purchase, the same must be in good faith and under a bona fide bill of sale, certified to as to the genuiness of signature and the consideration given by two disinterested persons.

      ART. 3.  Any question arising under article 2 shall be decided on application of either party by a jury of 5 members.

      ART 4.  Any claim located on any gulch may be held by putting up notices, with the names of the parties thereon, and renewing the same every ten days till the water can be had.

      ART. 5.  Any claim upon which there is a sufficiency of water for working in the usual manner, if not worked for the space of five days shall be forfeited, unless provided the party interested is prevented from working by sickness or other good and sufficient cause.

      ART. 6.  These Rules and By-laws shall extend over Jackass and Soldiers’ Gulches and their tributaries.

CHAS. GIBSON, President.

JAS. CORNNIFF, SECRETARY.

 

      [See Miscellaneous List for Names.]

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MONTEZUMA.

 

      Is a camp of quite recent date, her mines were first opened in the summer and fall of 1852, since which time there has been quite a town built, many of the improvements are of the first order, and reflect credit on the enterprise and good taste of its inhabitants. Montezuma is in the midst of a very extensive mining region, and is quite a place of trade and general business. Her merchants are fully awake as to their interests, and keep on hands large and extensive stocks of goods, which they dispose of at small profits.

      The Coaches to and from Stockton, pass through here daily, also Dr. Clark’s line from Sonora, Columbia &c. to Don Pedro’s and La Grange.

     As to the character of her mines, in her immediate vicinity, we can say that they are extensive, deep, and inexhaustible, a portion of the famous Table Mountain is in the district, and many of her inhabits are engaged in boring into its centre, to secure a portion of its great treasure.  Turner’s Flat which is also in the district, has recently been discovered to contain rich deposits, supposed to have come from a break in Table Mountain.

      Quite a number of other localities are being prospected, if they prove rich, will still add more to the trade and prosperity of this new and thriving village.

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Mining Laws of Montezuma District

 

      ART. 1.  That the Montezuna mining district be bounded as follows: commencing at the junction of Slate gulch and Wood’s creek, and running up said gulch to its source; thence along the Table mountain in a southerly direction, to the first pass below Wadsworth’s garden; thence through the pass running along the easterly base of Table mountain to and through the first pass below “New York Tent” on the road leading to Green Springs; thence in an easterly direction, along the base of what is supposed to be a spur of Table mountain, to the road leading from the Oak springs to the Green springs; thence along the westerly side of said road, in a north-easterly direction to the bridge, crossing the Tuolumne County Water Co.’s ditch; (1st ditch north-east of Oak springs;) thence east, to a certain large oak tree on Belvider Flat, known as the boundary between the districts of Chinese Camp and Montezuna; thence to the place of the beginning.

      ART. 2.  That a claim shall consist of three squares of one hundred feet each, to be marked by a ditch two inches deep and six inches wide surrounding each one hundred feet square.

      ART. 3.  That a man may hold three lots of one hundred feet square each, by location, and what ground he may purchase.

      ART. 4.  That all tunneling or shafting claims may lie over from the 1st of November, until the 1st day of June, and shall not be liable to forfeiture from neglect to work the same.

      ART. 5.  That a surface claim shall be worked one day in three when water can be obtained on said claim by the owner.

      ART. 6.  That a tunneling or shafting claim shall be worked one day in three, except during such time as protected by article 4.

      ART. 7.  That a claim that is both a surface and tunneling claim, shall receive the protection of both or either classes of claims, and shall be classified as the owner may see proper.

      ART. 8.  That it is necessary to make special laws for the protection of all claims in this district, lying west of a line running from the north-east corner of Turner’s Ranch to Harrel’s garden; thence along the easterly base of Harrel’s hill to the bridge of the Tuolumne County Water Company’s ditch, mentioned in article 1, and the following laws shall govern the same:

      ART. 9.  No man shall be entitled to hold except by purchase, more than one claim located in deep diggings, and one tunneling claim, located in the hills or spurs of Table mountain.

      ART. 10.  All tunneling claims either in the hills or spurs of Table mountain, shall not exceed one hundred and fifty feet in width, running from base to base.

      ART. 11.  The bounds of all tunneling claims shall be established and defined by permanent erections of wood or stone, at each corner, bearing notices signed by the several persons holding such claims.

      ART. 12.  All tunneling claims within one week from the date of location, shall be recorded in the book of the district registry, and from the date of said record, there shall be at least three full days of labor performed each week upon the same.

      ART. 13.  The size of deep sinking claims shall not exceed one hundred feet wide, by three hundred feet in length, located in one block, and marked into squares of one hundred feet each by a ditch two inches deep, and six inches wide; with stakes two feet high, erected at the four outer corners of each man’s or company’s claim.

      ART. 14.  All persons holding claims which require the sinking of shafts to work them, shall within one week from their location, have them recorded in the book of the district registry; and perform at least three full days labor upon them, each week thereafter.

      ART. 15.  All claims in wet diggings, which in the opinion of the Recorder and two disinterested persons, cannot be advantageously worked shall be held over to the first of June next, by having the same recorded, and the title shall remain valid.

      ART. 16.  All organized companies may work in one or more places of their claims, as they may deem expedient.

      ART. 17.  No mining laws of this portion of the district shall be so construed as to interfere with that portion of ground lying within the boundary of this portion of the district, located and being worked y the Montezuma Tunneling Company of Montezuma Flat.

      ART. 18.  A Recorder shall be chosen for this portion of the district, who shall hold his office for the term of one year, and until his successor is elected unless in a case of dissatisfaction; then the miners of the district may call a special meeting, and by a two-third vote declare said office vacant; after which they may proceed to elect his successor.  The Recorder shall proceed to call a meeting of the miners of the district, by posting notices in three conspicuous places in the district, three days previous to the expiration of his term of office, for the purpose of electing his successor, and to transact such other business as may come before the meeting.

      ART. 19.  The fees of the Recorder shall be one dollar for recording each person or persons’ claim, and one dollar for each arbitration, to be paid by the party asking such services, unless the time required of the Recorder exceed one quarter of a day—in which case he shall receive at the rate of four dollars per day.

      ART. 20.  All difficulties in reference to claims shall be submitted to the Recorder, and four disinterested miners of the district—two of whom shall be chosen by each party; and either refusing to choose, then the Recorder, with the two chosen by one party, shall proceed to decide the matter, and their decision shall be final.

 

 

 

Transcribed by Betty Vickroy.

© 2008 Betty Vickroy.

 

 

 

MINERS & BUSINESS MEN'S DIRECTORY

 

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