Letter 6, William P. Jones to his father. Hassampa Walkers Diggins.

              Has-sa-amps- Walker’s Diggins.
Arizona
Jany 24th 1864
P.Jones. Esqr.
Dear Father
I have been anxious to write to you for some time but have had no opportunity of
sending a letter to office- Mr. Tucker a miner is returning and will mail this for
me- I gladly write for I know you are all anxious about me.
You will think that I am almost out of civilization and so I am-yet
I am mining in a lovely mountain county and associated with some good men
I am in good health so is everyone here There are but 300 or 400 men here but
we have a good time and are in fine spirits The Indians are yet very troublesome
stealing horses but I have kept mine- We are satisfied that we are near our
fortunes but we may be too sanguine but we have every evidence of it- Our
mines are paying us well now but we can’t be content while we believe there is
such a rich country ahead- we shall probably start from here in 30 days that if
our digging does not prove very rich here- just at the head of the Ravine we are
now mining in, we have discovered a Quartz Lode which may prove very rich-we
took out of the Ledge a pound of rock out of which we got [$30] Thirty dollars
however this was picked rock- time will prove it. it may be rich or it may be only
a spot or pocket We get no news here or I might say none for it is not reliable
War news troubles us but little Our principal study is how to manage the Indians
and take out gold- I enjoy this out of the way life pretty well we have an
abundance of game every variety of climate and as beautiful timber as I ever saw
This
besides being a good mining country is a splendid farming country looks like
range for stock is inexaustable
Govner Goodwin of this territory has arrived and we expect better times now-
I hope you all are well-and free from trouble I wish that I could flatter
myself that you had peace there’ but alas it is too evident that the country is in
sad condition however I wish you may and I expect to be home and there to
remain long but until the war closes I shall remain away- for my little experience
back there has given me a lively though not pleasant reaction
tell Mother that I am healthy enough to eat bacon and beans and enjoy it- We
pay $30 per 100 lbs of flour 75cents per lb for sugar coffee & bacon- I hope you
and mother are in good health I shall write even
your son William
I have ink but no pen do you pardon this pencil writing