californians tale

[musitwain]

"They went away when the surface diggings gave out.What does "Gave out" means in this sentence?It, ceased or distributed?

 

[Barb_D]

Stopped being productive, i believe. I'm not sure what "surface diggings" are. But it sounds like a mine or something similar, so whatever they were looking for there was not found any longer.

 

[Amigos4]

"They went away when the surface diggings gave out.What does "Gave out" means in this sentence?It, ceased or distributed?

What is the context? Are you referring to the California Gold Rush?

 

[Gillnetter]

"They went away when the surface diggings gave out.What does "Gave out" means in this sentence?It, ceased or distributed?

When the (gold, silver, or whatever) was no longer found on the surface (it was no longer easy to find - or, it gave out), they left. This happened quite often in the gold producing areas of California in the 19th Century. When the original miners left, companies with more sophisticated tools and techniques would come in and find the minerals that were below the surface.

 

[musitwain]

Thank you a lot.I have got it.

When the (gold, silver, or whatever) was no longer found on the surface (it was no longer easy to find - or, it gave out), they left. This happened quite often in the gold producing areas of California in the 19th Century. When the original miners left, companies with more sophisticated tools and techniques would come in and find the minerals that were below the surface.

 

[musitwain]

It is a short story by mark twain "californians tale".

What is the context? Are you referring to the California Gold Rush?