Early days in California : an autobiography written for my grandchildren.
August 15, 1922
Charles R. Stetson
Mining Districts
Now at this time, the government had not interfered but let the miners make their own laws as to size of mines and all customs in holding them, and free access to wood for fuel and timber necessary to work the mines. These laws of the miners were held by the courts as the supreme law all through the mining region. The different sections were divided into districts, such as Sonora District, Columbia District, and so on throughout the different mining sections. When new discoveries were made, if not within any known district, a new district was formed. Many districts had the same sized claims, though some varied in size. Shaw's Flat allowed one hundred feet square, requiring a stake at each corner with notice thereon, stating how many owners and their names, and giving the work necessary to hold the claim. If they defaulted in working the mine, provided water could be had and they neglected to use it, then that claim was jumpable and anyone could work it and the former owners had no redress. In some districts fifty feet was allowed. At Chinese Camp it was required that a furrow should be run around your claim with a plow. After Julius and myself had accustomed ourselves to living like miners, we began to feel we should get into a claim, and then we could hope for big things. So we got together the little we had earned and Julius bought into a claim at Union Hill. I bought one not far from our cabin. We each paid one hundred and fifty dollars for our interests. The claims paid from four to six dollars a day. The water failed in June and they had to remain closed until the rains the following winter. We occupied our time in prospecting and visiting other mining districts.