Keeler, when camels were introduced
here in the gold fields?"
"No, that was before my time."
"It was back in fifty-six, before the water-ditch companies had fairly
got started. It was as dry as Sahara on these mountains then, and it is
no wonder somebody thought of camels."
"Well, when you think of our ostrich farms, camels don't seem out of
place in California. Did you ever think, Mr. Brown, what extremes of
climate we have right here in Nevada County? Along about the tenth of
December they are cutting ice up in the Sierras while they are picking
oranges in the western end of the county."
"That is pretty good for the banner gold county of the State. Most of us
forget everything but the gold," replied Brown, smiling inwardly, to
think how easily this remark would lead up to the desired topic.
"I'm getting sick of the gold," replied honest John Keeler. "All that
was handy to get at has been carried away. No chance left for a poor
man. It takes a big company with capital to run the business of
hydraulic mining as they do at Moore's Flat and North Bloomfield. Quartz
mining is still worse. By the time you've sunk a shaft and put up a
stamping-mill, you've mortgaged your quartz for more than it is worth,
perhaps.
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