United States Government Designated Dopository Library of Washington Unlvaraity St. Louis, Mo;

R E P O R T

OF THK

DIRECTOR OF THE MINT

UPON THK

STATISTICS OF THE PRODUCTION

OF THE

PRECIOUS METALS

IN THK

XJTSriTED STA.TES.

WASHIKGTOK:

OOTEBNMENT FEINTING OFFICE.

1883.

I

ANNUAL PKODUCTION OF PRECIOUS METALS IN THE

UNITED STATES.

Treasury Department,

Document No. 441.

Bureau of the Mint.

FROM

LETTER

THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,

N TRANSMITTING

The veport of the Directov of the Mint upon the statistics of the pToduction

of precious metals for the year 1882.

1 EBRUARY 21, 1883. — Referred to the Comiuittee on Mines and Mining and ordered

to be printed.

Treasury Department,

Office of the Secretary,

Washington., D. 0., February 21, 1883. Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith the report of the Director of the Mint upon the statistics of the production of the precious metals in the United States for the calendar year 1882.

Very respectfully,

H. F. FEENCH,

Acting Secretary.

Hon. J. Warren Keifer,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3)

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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

Treasury Department,

Bureau of the Mint, Washington, D. 0., February 21, 1883.

Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith my report upon the pro- duction of the precious metals in the United States for the calendar year 1882.

The information submitted in this report has been obtained in part from the records of the mints and assay offices, which show the amount of domestic gold and silver deposited at those institutions, and the locality of production of unretined bullion, also from correspondence and reports furnished by owners, managers, and superintendents of mines as to the amounts produced by the mines under their charge and from bankers and dealers in bullion as to the amounts forwarded by them respectively, and from smelting and refining works, giving the amounts respectively treated by them and the localities from which the ore or bullion was received. Mining regions have been personally visited and much information has been obtained in this manner as well as by reports and correspondence from gentlemen engaged or interested in mining, and valuable material has been obtained and compiled in my office, from the local papers in mining regions and journals in other localities.

In the collection of the statistics I have received inuch information and valuable assistance from gentlemen to whom credit is given in the detailed report upon districts and mines. I have also to acknowledge the courtesy and hearty co-operation of bullion dealers, bankers, and the superintendents and officers of mines, mills, smelters, and refiners, and of the officers and agents of express and railroad companies, whose statements have enabled me to trace domestic bullion from the mints and ports of export back to the States, Territories, and localities where it was originally mined.

The supervision of the office work relating to the collection of these statistics was assigned as heretofore to Dr. Frederick Eckfeldt, and I am indebted to him and to the other clerks in my ofiice for their ready co-operation and aid in classifying, condensing, and tabulating the vol- uminous material accumulated during the year, and for valuable assist- ance in the preparation of this report.

To harmonize conflicting statements and make proper allowances in some cases, for deficient returns and in others for exaggerated state- ments, has not been without difficulty, but the amounts stated to have been produced by the mines of the several States and Territories, as well as the totarproduction, are approximately correct.

Very respectfully,

HORATIO C. BUROHARD,

Director.

Hon. Charles J. Folger,

Secretary of the Treasury.

C5)

*-k1

CONTENTS.

Page.

Letter of Transmittal 5

Part I. — Production of States and Territories 9

Introductory 11

. Chapter I. — California 15

II. — Nevada 135

III. — Oregon 180

IV. — Washington 193

V. — Alaska 194

VL— Idaho 195

VII. — Montana 232

VIII.— Utah 253

IX. — Arizona 270

X. — New Mexico 339

XI. — Colorado 390

XII. — Wyoming .594

XIII. — Dakota .597

XIV. — Appalachian Range •. 019

Part II. — General Statistics 049

Chapter XV. — Of the United States 051

Part III.— Miscellaneous ,703

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PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES.

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES.

#

Hi6 iniiiBS of tho United. States in the calendar year 1882 produced nearly two and a fourth million dollars less in gold and over three and three-fourths millions more in silver than in the previous j^ear. The comparative decline in the production of gold was greater in the State of California than in any other State or Territory, and resulted partlv from a (limiuished yield, but more especially from the interruption of hydraulic mining in some of the counties which heretofore have been the largest producers in the State.

The history of gold mining in the United States will doubtless be similar to that of the countries of the Old World. Gold is usually first discovered in the placers and valleys where it has been deposited by the slackened currents of swift streams, which have washed and carried it down from the hills and mountains containing mineral veins. The jield at first is abundant, but the amount obtained by excavating and washing placer beds diminishes from year to year, so that eventuallv the sources of supply for the precious metals are found in the rocks where they were originally deposited. The mines of California, which in 18o0 furnished the world with sixty millions in gold, in 1882, by a greater actual expenditure of labor and capital, only yielded seventeen millions. The diminution in the gold product of that State in the last, compared with the previous year, has resulted from the diminished yield not only of the placer and hydraulic mines in the northern and central poitioii of the State, but also of the quartz mines in the southern and southeasteru counties. The gold obtained from the Bodie mines in 1882 was nearly one million less than in 1881.

Ihe mines of Oregon, which consist principally of placers, seem also to be declining, and furnish nearly one-fourth of a million less than in the previous year. The gold mines of Idaho have produced $200,000 less gold than they did in 1881, while Dakota is $700,000 short.

In silvei production the largest gain has been in New Mexico, where very rich mines were opened during the year and added nearly two milhons of silver bullion to the product of the country.

$400,000 more than in the previous year, Idaho $/ 0,000, and Montana $1,700,000, while Arizona has maintained its former large production.

of the States and Territories during the year 188.. is estimated to be approximately $79,300,000, of which $32,500,000 18 gold and $46,800,000 silver. ’ ^

From a comparison of all the data received at this office the following table IS given showing the approximate amounts produced by each State and Territory:

state or Teiritory.	Gold.	' Silver.	Total.
Alaska	$150, 000
Arizona		?150, 000 8, 565, 000 17, 64.5, 000 19, 860, 000
California		5p/, OUU, UUU
Colorado		o40, UUU
	tij aJbU, UUU	ID, OUU, UUU

12

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

State or Territory.	Gold.	Silver.	Total.
D.akota	$3, 300, 000 250, 000 1,500, 000 2, .550, 000 2, Olio, 000 150, 000 190, 000 830, 000 25, 000 190, 000 15, 000 120, 000 5, OOO	$175, OOO	$3, 47.5, 000 250, 000 3, 500, 000 e, 920, 000 8, 750, 000 1, 950, 000 215, 000 865, 000 25, 000 6, 990, 000 15, 000 120, 000 5,000
Georgia
Idaho	2, 000, 000 4,370, 000 6, 750, 000 1, 800, 000 25, 000 35, 000
Montana
Nevada New Mexico
North Carolina
Oregon
South Carolina
U tah	6, 800, 000
Virginia
Washington TeiTitory
Wvomiiiff
Total
32, 500, 000	46, 800, 000	79, 300, 000

Of the total amount of bullion deposited at the mints and assay offices of the United States $31,378,248 of gold and $31,400,792 of silver were represented to be of domestic production. Of the amount of fine gold deposited as domestic bullion at the San Francisco Mint it has been as- certained that $413,290 had been imported, leaving $30,964,958 known to have been produced by the mines of the United States.

Exporters of silver bullion reported $175,000 of gold to have been contained in silver bullion exported by them.

In my last report I estimated that in 1881 seven millions of domestic gold were used in the arts and manufactures, and fully as large an amount was consumed for like purposes in 1882.

Of this amount the mints and assay offices furnished $5,600,000, and the remainder, $1,400,000, was supplied by the refineries on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards, or was used in the form of native gold.

These amounts represent closely the total production of the country, recapitulated as follows :

Deposited at mints and assay offices $30, 964, 958

Exported in silver bullion 175, 000

Furnished by refineries to manufacturers 1, 400, 000

Total 32, .539, 958

The reported exports of domestic silver bullion at their coining value amounted to $13,250,000. The amount of domestic bullion deposited at the New York assay office and returned in bars for manufacturers’ use was $5,744,251. The Philadelphia Mint furnished for a like purpose about $250,000, and the amount furnished by private refineries in the country was ])robably $350,000. In the year’s coinage the amount of domestic bullion purchased and consumed was $24,700,000.

These amounts in detail aggregate as follows :

Exported $13,250,000'

Furnished to manufacturers by New York assay office 5,744,251

Furnished to manufacturers by Philadelphia Mint 250, 000

Furnislied to manufacturers by private refineries 350,000

Used in coinage 24, 700, 000'

Total 44,294,251

There has been a greater decline in the amount deposited at the mints and assay offices and credited as domestic gold bullion during the year than the difference between the gold production of the mines in 1881 and 1882, but 1 have reason to believe that a greater amount of gold wa« used in manufactures and the arts, and was supplied not only by an increased consumption of bars manufactured at the New York assay

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES.

13

oftice, but of those prepared by the private refineries, as well as of native gold in grains, &c.

Less gold bullion is also reported to have been carried' by express as well as de]>osited in the mints. The deposits and purchases of silver bullion entered as domestic production in the last year exceeded the amount received in the previous year by $3,501,580, which corresi)oiids very nearly to the increased production given in my estimate.

The amount of gold and silvw refined and parted at the mints and New York assay office shows a corresponding increase in the production of silver and diminution in gold.

In 1882, 1,120,514.073 ounces of gold, of the value of $20,958,412.52, were parted and refined, while in 1881 the amount was 1,234,400.154, of the value of $22,905,095.80, showing a decrease of $2,007,203.34. In 1881 the amount of silver parted and refined was t),945,990.49 ounces, worth at its coining value $11,573,411.47, and in 1882, 11,917,001.45 ounces, of the value of $13,807,824.23, an increase of $2,294,412.70.

The production, coinage, movement, and consumption of bullion and coin in the United States during the year have resulted in a gain in the production over the consumption of domestic gold bullion, as estimated, of $25,500,000, and in the import over the exports of gold bullion and foreign gold coin of $477,953, a total of $25,977,953. In gold coin the gain to the circulation by coinage was $65,478,637, and the loss by the ex- cess of exports over imports of United States gold coin was $25,796,504, leaving a net gain to the circulation of gold coin of $39,682,033, although the net excess in gold of production and import over exports and con- sumption was $180,449.

In silver the gain to the circulation was by coinage less recoinage, $27,384,506. The imports of American silver coin were $629,878, and the exports $405,015, gaining $224,863, which, added to the net coinage, makes the total gain in silver coin during the year $27,609,369.

Mining operations have been attended with the usual vicissitudes during the year. In some localities and in some mines the discovery of large and rich deposits of ore have remunerated the owners for many years of privation and labor, and often brought fortunes and affluence to many poor and persevering miners and prospectors, while on the other hand the stores of ijrecious metals in other mines seem to have become exhausted, and increasing expenses or incompetent manage- ment have transferred dividend pa> ing mines to the list of non-producers or levied assessments upon instead of j)aying money to stockholders.

A comparison of the dividends of the incorporated comi)anies in 1882 with those in 1881 shows a slight falling off. It is impossible to state the total dividends paid or the profits realized from all the gold and silver mines of the United iStates. Last year the dividends paid by incorporated gold and silver mining companies were as follows :

States and Territories.

Arizona

Colorado — Califoraia . . .

Dakota

Montana

Nevada

Utah

Idaho

Georgia

New Mexico

Mines.	Amount.
5	$1,887,500
16	2, 326, 650
10	1, 312, 047
3	1, 110, 000
3	221, 516
7	663, 262
4	2, 129, 000
3	38, 000
1	48, 000
2	204, 000
	9, 939, 975

Total

14

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Fifty-four corporations engaged in mining gold and silver have re- ported the payment of $9,940,000 in 290 dividends. But it must not be inferred that these mines represent the total profits in mining. Hun- dreds, perhaps thousands, of mines owned by private parties as well as corporations yield handsome profits to their owners, who publish no notices of their mines or mining operations. The number of i)er»ons engaged in mining in the States and Territories producing gold and silver was reported as follows :

Arizona 4,678

California 37, 147

Colorado 28,970

Dakota 3, 570

Idaho 4,708

Montana 4,813

Nevada 6, 647

New Mexico 1, 496

Oregon 3,696

South Carolina 114

Wyoming 328

Utah 2, 592

The total number engaged in mining in the States and Territories west of the one hundredth meridian is less than 100,000 ; and in many of these States mines of iron, copper, and lead, as well as the iirecious metals, are largely worked.

The total production of the year makes an average of nearly $1,000 for every miner employed in this industry. But, while the mines on the whole seem to have been remunerative and to have paid in many cases satisfactory dividends, in others large amounts have been called for by frequent assessments. A list of mining companies who have made assessments upon their stockholders for funds to carry on operations or pay for previous expenditures has been prepared and is published in the appendix to this report.

One hundred and seventy-five companies have made three hundred and forty- three calls lor funds; seventy-six of them have asked their stockholders to advance $7,087,000. The amount required by the re- maining comi)anies has not been ascertained, but if in proportion to the others, the sum would be over $9,000,000.

A general review of the mines and mining industry of the several States and Territories is embraced in the following chapters.

CHAPTER I.

CALIFOENIA.

This State has maintained the second place in the list of gold and silver producing States and Territories. There was, however, a diminu- tion in the yield of the precious metals of about $1,300,000 from the pro- duction of 1881.

This was largely due to a falling otf of upwards of $900,000 in the production of the Standard Consolidated mine at Bodie. The gravel mines, too, yielded less, as they had not recovered from the depressing effects of litigation on the d4bris question, which at one time threatened not only to cripple the operations of some of the chief producing mines, but in some instances to cause a total suspension.

In sections of country where suits were pending capital was with- held from engaging in new mining enterprises, and even the quartz mines were affected to some extent.

In the southern part of the State more activity was manifested than for some years past ; old mines were reopened and prospecting sys- tematically conducted, with the result of discoveries of importance beinsr made.

During the year the following dividends were paid by California companies :

Companies.

Black Bear Quarti

Bodie Consolidated

Bulwer Consolidated

Fresno Enterprise

Great Western Qnioksilrer

Idaho

Marguerite

Napa Consolidated Quicksilver

New York Hill

Pleasant Valley

Plumas-Eureka

San Francisco Copper

Sierra Buttes

Standard Consolidated

Totals

Divi- dends.	Amounts.
4	$31,. 500
4	100, 000
12	120, 000
1	10, 000
1	12, 500
12	224, 750
1	6, 250
9	90, 000
2	20, 000
6	30, 000
2	50, 800
6	15, 000
2	14, 100
13	725, 000
75	1,449, 900

This is nearly $400,000 less than was paid in 72 dividends in 1881. Sixty-eight mines in fourteen counties are reported to have levied one hundred and tAventy-one assessments and called upon the stock- holders for $1,547,407, as against $2,237,850 in 1881.

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16

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

I have estimated the total production of the State at $17,645,000, of which $16,800,000 is gold and $845,000 silver. This was jjroduced by the several counties approximately as follows :

Alpine

Amador

Butte

Calaveras .

Colusa

Del Norte

El Dorado

Fresno

Humboldt

Inyo

Kern

Lassen

Los Angeles

Mariposa

Merced

Mono

Nevada

Placer

Plumas

Sacramento

San Bernardino .

San Diego

San Luis Obispo

Shasta

Sierra

Siskiyou

Stanislaus

Tehama

Trinity

Tulare

Tuolumne

Yuba

Total

Counties.

Gold.	Silver.	Total.
$20, 000	$10, 000	$30, 000
1, 500, 000		1, 500, 000
650, 000		650, 000
670, 000		670, 000
3, 000		3, 000
80, 000		80, 000
600, 000		600, 000
80, 000		80, 000
100, 000		100, 000
220, 000	130, 000	350, 000
260, 000	20, 000	280, 000
100, 000	20, 000	120, 000
17, 000	24, 000	41, 000
250, 000	4, 000	254, 000
10, 000		10, 000
2, 200, 000	380, 000	2, 580, 000
3, 500, 000	10, 000	3, 510, 000
800, 000	800, 000
1, 250, 000		1, 250, 000
400, 000		400, 000
20, 000 100, 000 5, 000	150, 000	170, 000 100, 000
	5; 000
300, 000	80, 000	380, 000
1, 100, 000		1, 100, 000
720, 000		720, 000
80, 000	15, 000	95, 000
10, 000	10, 000
600, 000		600, 000
5, 000	2, 000	7, 000
400, 000	400, 000
750, 000		750, 000
16, 800, 000	845, 000	17, 645, 000

This estimate of the gold product of California in 1882 is nearly $1,500,000 higher than the estimate of statisticians on the Pacific coast ; but after a careful re^dsion of the reports from mines and districts and of the statements of the amount and sources of the gold received at the San Francisco and Carson mints, I am constrained to adhere to the figures I have given.

Tlie value of the gold coined at these mints during the year was $29,929,525, of which $2,441,956 was gold bullion belonging to the Government in those mints at the beginning of the year in excess of the amount at its close, leaving $27,487,559 coined from bullion deposited during the year.

Of tlie latter, $26,431 was United States gold coin, old plate, jewelry, &c., and $4,504,004 foreign gold coin and bullion. Assuming that all of the foreign gold coin and bullion imported during the year at San Francisco, amounting to $4,748,7 66, came to the mints and was also made into coin, there would remain $22,712,306 gold of domestic iiroductiou used in the coinage, which must have been deposited at the San Fran- cisco and the Carson mints from the States and Territories sending their bullion to these mints. From the mint records and the reports from private refiners, it appears that all of the domestic bullion received at San Francisco and Carson, except $81,776, came from the Pacific States and Territories, i. e., California, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska, Ari- zona, Idaho, and Washington, and that these States and Territories sent to the Atlantic coast, also, gold bullion to the amount of $612,524. It is evident, therefore, tliat the production of the Pacific States and Territories should equal the gold bullion used in coinage that must

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 17

have been received from them, $22,030,540, and the amount they sent to the Atlantic seaboard, $012,524, a total of $23,243,004. Their total l>roduction as estimated in the general table is placed at $22,570,000, showing, if the official records are to be relied upon, that more than one-half million dollars of gold bullion was delivered at San Francisijo and Carson from the Territories bordering upon the Pacific States and Territories ; or that the total production of the latter during the year must have been greater rather than less than the amount I have cred- ited to them.

The following review of the mines of California was prepared, under the direction of Mr. E. F. Burton, superintendent of the mint at San Francisco, by Mr. J. K. Hardenbergh, of the same institution, whose long residence in California and familiarity with mining matters add much value to his statements and conclusions :

ALPINE COUNTY

Borders on the State of hfevada. It lies on the summit and eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains 5 it is very rugged and mount- ainous, and is sparsely settled.

The mining interests of Alpine County still remain to a great extent neglected by capitalists, although the showing is of the very best. The mines have been discovered a number of years, and the facilities for reaching them fiom the centers of population are of the best; the cli- mate cannot be excelled, a great abundance of wood and water — all these facilities for working our mines cheaply and profitably, seem rather to deter mining men from coming here, and instead seek invest- ments in more inaccessible and disadvantageous regions.

The Stella mine, formerly known as the Morning Star, situated about six miles east of Markleville in Mogul mining district, owned by the Isa- bella Mining Company, of London, and under the management of Lewis Chalmers, esq., whose address is Silver Creek, Alpine County, Cali- fornia, came into the i)resent owners’ hands in August, 1881, and until latel}' has been worked in only a tentative way until the company should ascertain whether the ore could be snccessfullj^ worked by the Hunt, Douglass and Stewart process. The ore is a highly sulphureted com- bination of gold, silver, and coitper, the copper being in the form of enargite, and while in the hands of the original owners defied the usual modes of treatment; accordingly, the appliances for that process were added to the Exchequer mill, to the extent, it was believed, of 10 tons a daj’, but it turned out in actual working only 3J tons.

Tlie mill started in January, 1882, and ran for six months and sixteen days (capacity three and a half tons per day), when it was shut down to extend the milling capacity. The battery samples run from $40 to $60 per ton in gold and silver, and 8 to 10 per cent, in copper. The gross bullion out-turn during that period was $18,172 in gold and silver, and 70,895 pounds of cement copi)er. The whole of the ore lieretofore milled came from above the tunnel level only 150 feet from the surfiice. The company have almost finished the erection of hoisting works good for 1,000 feet, and have already sunk 188 feet of a vertical shaft. The capacity of the mill has been increased to 10 tons per day, and will be increased to 20 tons per day in the spring. The mill has 18 stamps, is run by steam, and crushed a little more than a ton to the stamp, and will soon recommence crushing ore. There are 22 men emploj^ed at present in and about the mine, and 18 men in and about the mill. This

H. Ex. 106 2

18

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

miue promises large and coutinnons returns in the future. The Isabella tunnel has been idle since it was closed December 10, 1880.

The prominent mines it is intended to open are the Exchequer and I. X. L., which have been prospected to a depth each of 400 feet by shafts, and very rich ore extracted in small quantities, specimens having been assayed above $5,000 per ton from the Exchequer and over $1,000 from the I. X. L. The Exchequer has an 18-stamp mill at Silver Creek and the I. X. L. a 20-stamp, both first class. Work in tlie Isabella tunnel will doubtless be resumed during the coming year, as the known value of the mines which the tunnel will strike has been ascertained beyond doubt.

The Orion mine is situated in Mogul mining district, adjoins the Stella mine, and consists of three locations of 1,500 feet in length and 000 feet in width each. The improvements consist of one vertical shaft 110 feet deep — size, 4 by 8 feet in the clear, with center compartment ; one tun- nel into the mountain, the level of which is the top of the shaft, 200 feet in length, and a tunnel now being run from the base of the mountain is in a distance of 550 feet. A ledge was cut in this tunnel, at a distance of 200 feet from the mouth of the tunnel, 20 teet wide ; hard quartz, car- rying 10 per cent, coi^per, $15 per ton silver, and $5 per ton gold. At 300 feet from the mouth of the tunnel a ledge 6 feet wide was cut, assay- ing $212 in silver, and $25 in gold, and 50 per cent. lead. The develop- ment of this mine constantly progresses, and promises the most flattering results. The mine has been worked eight months, and at present employs seven men. The office of the company is in Stockton, Cal. P. Curtis is the superintendent, whose post-oifice address is Monitor, Cal. The company has no reduction- works. »

The Colorado Xo. 2 Gold and Silver Mining Company’s claim at Mon- itor is not in operation at present, owing to financial difficulties caused by an excess of expenditures in improvements over returns from the mine, but negotiations are now pending whereby it is believed a sale will be effected and this valuable mine again started up. The mine has two tunnels run into the Colorado Mountain, known as the upper and lower. The upper is 500 feet in length to the ledge, and the lower is 1,400 feet long, and is 325 feet deeper than the upper. The two are con- nected by a winze at the ])oint of intersection with the ledge 1,000 feet in lower and 500 feet in the uj)per. There are two drifts running from winze, one 112 feet above the lower Liinnel, 400 feet in length, and one 100 feet; about 120 feet long. A large body of pay ore is opened on ad tlie levels. Depth fiom surface to lower tunnel 000 feet. Six bun- dled and twenty-live thousand dollars have been extracted from this mine, although it is but in its infancy of develo}>ment. The company’s mill is a large 20-stamp, 100 horse-power engine, two boilers, six Erne concentrators, one large two-hearth reverberatory roasting furnace, one small roasting furnace, the necessary tanks, &c. The cost of mining and milling ore does not exceed $5 per ton. The average value of the ore is $12 per ton. The mill has a capacity of reducing tons per stamp in twenty-four hours. P. Curtis is siqierintendent of this mine.

The Advance mine is located at Monitor and adjoins the Colorado Xo. 2 on the southwest. This mine is not being worked at present, but the owners soon expect to be able to resume. The company has a shaft 3()0 feet deep below Monitor Creek, with various and extensive drifts and cross-cuts, steam hoisting works, and water-power. The mill of fifteen stamjis is on the East Carson Eiver, some 3 miles distant from its mine, which is doubtless a valuable property when properly worked.

The Altura mine is situated in Hope Valley, about 12 miles east of

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 19

]MarkleviUe and 5 miles north of Government signal station known as Round Top. The claim is 3,000 feet in length and 000 feet in width. The lode has a width of 300 feet at the main chimney of ore. This chimney rises some 75 feet higher than the wall rock. An open cnt is run from the westerly wall, 75 feet long to a height of 50 feet at the inner end, from which point a shaft is sunk 100 feet deep. There are four drifts from the bottom of this shaft. The cross-cut drift west is 00 feet long and east 35 feet, and the wall has not been readied. Different strata of rock run through this immense chimney, carrying various kinds of metals. One vein is rich in copper. Some 70 tons gave an average of 34 per cent, and $31 in silver per ton. Several tons of rock from another stratum milled $22 in silver and $11 in gold. Nickel is also found in this chimney. A number of other shafts and improve- ments are on the lode, including steam hoisting-works, boarding-house, &c. A fine water-i)ower and timbered tract of land is owned in con- nection with the mine. Mr. Edward Barnes, whose post-office address is Woodford's, Cal., is the owner of this mine, and is now conferring with capitalists for the sale of the property at a large figure. The mine is closed for the winter.

The Illinois California Silver Mining Company mine is situated 6 miles south of Markleville, in Alpine mining district. Consists of 1,000 feet on the great Eastern lode. The improvements of the mine consist of a tunnel 1,832 feet in length, and a number of lateral drifts and cross- cuts, boarding-house, &c. Work in the tunnel has been prosecuted for a number of years, and when the mine is properly opened it is be- lieved will handsomely remunerate the stockholders, who principally reside in Chicago, 111., where the office of the comi)any is.

There are a number of other mining claims in the county of a ver3' promising nature, but whose owners are unable to develo]) to a greater extent than by the j'early expenditures of the hundred dollars required b}’ the United States mining laws to protect them from relocation.

There is but little placer mining in the county. The Alpine Hydrau- lic Coin])any have 160 acres of gravel on the banks of the main Carson River, about one mile southeast of Markleville. In December, 1881, the company' commenced a ditch to take water from the Pleasant Yal- le,y Creek, and during the winter and spring completed it to their claim. The ditch is about 3 miles in length, 22 inches in depth, with a width of 2^ feet on top and 22 inches on the bottom, and is capable of carrying 400 miner’s inches of water. The pen-stock is constructed about 40 feet in height from the ground, where there is 40 feet of hose attached, lead- ing to the portion of the claim where the company have commenced piping. The pressure from the pen stock to the place of piping is 100 feet fall, and the water is forced through a 2-inch nozzle with such force that the banks are crumbled and bowlders roll rapidly' down towards and into the sluices, which are eleven in number and 175 feet in length, set with a 16-inch fall. This claim has been prospected for years past b.y many different persons, all conceding that it prospected well in gold, but owing to the amount of labor required in the constructing of a ditch to carr3" water to the ground nothing was done until the present company inaugurated operations.

AMADOR COUNTY.

Amador County is now accessible at all seasons of the j'ear by rail from Oakland to lone CiCv in about eight hours’ travel. About the first quartz mines opened and mills erected in the State were in this

20

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

county. The great mother lode, as it is called, runs through the entire length of the county, commencing at the forks ot the Cosumnes Eiver on the boundary of Ei Dorado County, and can be traced to the villages of Plymouth, Dry town, Amador City, Sutter Creek, Jackson, and HiinUs Gulch on the Mokelumne Kiver. After crossing the river it develops itself at the Gwiu mine in Calaveras County. It can be further traced the entire length of the State to the Arizona line.

At Plymouth is located the Empire mine, which has been successfully worked for the last five years. The shaft has been sunk to a depth of 1,200 feet 5 the ledge is 70 feet in width, and the rock crushed in the comi^any’s 80-stamp water-power mill averages about $9 per ton. The company also have steam power in reserve in case of failure of the water sui^ply. About 120 men are employed and the mine produces largely.

Adjoining the Empire is the Pacific mine, on which a shaft has been sunk to the depth of 1,700 feet. The ledge, which is 40 feet thick, is said to yield $16 per ton. It has an 80-stamp water-power mill, and yields a large income to its owners.

At Dayton is located the Seaton mine, which, after lying idle for several years, has lately been opened by a tunnel 250 feet in length, which tapped the ledge, showing a width of 30 feet, and producing rock that yields $6 per ton. The company has a new 20-stamp water- power mill which is in successful operation and is reimbursing the owners for their outlay.

The Bunker Hill, located at the same place, has a shaft 600 feet in depth, producing ore that yields $12 per ton. The company also lias a 40-stamp water mill which has produced a large amount of bullion.

At Amador City is located the celebrated Keystone mine, which has been worked continuously and produced largely for the last twelve years. It has a shaft 900 feet deep, and the rock is said to have yielded about $16 per ton. This company works a large force of men, have a 40-stamp mill in constant operation, and the property is known to have been one of the best paying mines in the State.

The Hayward claim, near the Bunker Hill, is employing quite a force of men yirospecting with an assurance of ultimate success.

The Maryland mine is being thoroughly prospected by an English company, the owners of the original Amador at Amador ifity.

Suttdr Creek. — At this place is located the Mahoney mine, which has been opened to the depth of 900 feet. The mine has been worked with varied success; recently a fine body of ore has been struck which yields $6 per ton in free gold. A large force of men is- employed, and a 40- stamp water-x)Ower mill kept running.

The famous mine, called the Consolidated Amador, formerly the old Hayward mine, which has paid largely for the last twenty-five years, is now owned and has been recently worked by an English company. The mine is shut down for the yu’esent, but work will soon be resumed by sinking the old shaft to a much greater depth. This mine has an 80- stamp mill.

The Wildman mine is situated between the Consolidated Amador and the Mahoney mine. It has a shaft sunk to the depth of 500 feet. A lev^el is also being run from the 800 foot level of the Mahoney mine to tap the ledge of the Wildman at that dey)th. This mine was in a yu'osymrous condition once, but it has been in litigation for a long time and thereby closed. It is looked upon as one of the most valuable mines in that dis- trict.

At Jackson, the county seat, is situated the Coonie mine, now called

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES — CALIFORNIA. 21

the Zeile mine, which was worked many years ago, hut has laid idle until receutly. The present owner has had it reopened. Xew shafts have been sunk, the old one opened, new hoisting works erected, a new 4()-stamp mill erected, and everything moves along smoothly under its etlicient foreman. The mill is kept steadily at work crushing 100 tons of ore per day. The ore body on the 200, 400, and COO foot levels in ])laces is very large, reaching a maximum of 50 feet between the walls, and will average 40 feet. The rock is low grade and is assorted in the mines ; the best sent to the mill, the balance thrown aside in the ' drifts. It is by careful system of working that the mine is made to pay. The rock only pays $2 per ton in free gold and from $5 to $6 per ton in snl})hnrets, which brings the yield up to a fair average. This proves that with good management and strict economy, together with good facilities for mining and working the ore, it can be made to pay when of very low grade. There are thousands of quartz ledges in this State that could be worked and made to pay handsomely if the same system was adopted as by the Zeile mine. Quartz mining would receive a won- derful impetus in California if a proper system of mining and milling and the saving of the sulphurets were adopted. A good deal of pros- pecting has recently been done in the Zeile mine. In running north a new ore body was reached and a large amount of work done to ascer- tain its value. It has been found to increase in size and richness, and the present outlook is that the ore in sight will last for many years. Attached to the mine are chlorination works, which are kept running day and night, working from 4 to 5 tons of sulphurets every tweutj'-four hours, yielding large returns.

The Downs mine, miles north of the town of Volcano, is in success- ful operation and yeilding well in the precious metals. It has a shaft 500 feet in depth, a mill of 20 stamps with all the modern improvements, and the rocks pay about $10 per ton.

The Acme mine is located a few miles above Volcano, and is being regularly worked through a shaft which is down 350 feet. They a^e also running a tunnel to tap the ledge 150 feet deeper. The rock yields $15 per ton in free gold.

The Stewart mine is situated on the Mokelumne Eiver, 4 miles above the bridge that crosses the river on the road from Jackson to Moke- luinne Hill. It has a 5-stamp mill and the rock pays $12 per ton, mill- ing process.

The Tellurium mine at Pine Grove, 6 miles from Jackson, is a paying property. It has a 5-stamp mill and the rock yields about $16 per ton.

In the South Spring Hill mine the shaft is being sunk with three eiglit-hour shifts, and the owners intend to sink it 800 feet before drift- ing.

The New York mine, located on the south side of Jackson Creek, 1 mile south of the Kittridge mine, has lately struck a ledge of good mill- ing ore, ten feet in width, and the cross-cut has not yet reached the foot- wall.

The IModoc mine, in Pioneer district, has had rock crushed at the Mace mill that yielded $47 per ton.

The Alpi mine is located 1^ miles southwest of Jackson. There is a shaft 40 feet deep, with a well-defined ledge at the bottom 8 feet thick. The ledge has been uncovered for a length of 500 feet, and it is estimated to pay from $6 to $8 per ton by mill process, excluding the sulphurets, of which it contains a heavy percentage, the assay value of which is about $120 jier ton.

22

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

The De Witt claim at Hunt’s Gulch, 3 miles from Jackson, is from the want of supply of water not in operation. It contains i)ockets which are })ayiug well. Tlie gold is contained in a soft, decomposed quartz, which often yields from to $30 to each bucketful, which pays from $40 to $50 |3er day to the hand. These rich seams indicate that if fol- lowed to a suciffient depth they would come together and form a per- manent ledge.

The Jackson mine is situated within the town site of Jackson. It is owned by Ginnochio Brothers. The mine has commenced operations, using a patent whim for hoisting purposes. Q’aking out ore for crush- ing will be in order as soon as the levels can be run.

The Kelley mine, in Hunt’s Gulch, is being worked with energy. It belongs to Boston capitalists, who have expended large amounts of money in opening the mine. A tunnel has been run into the mountain 540 feet and a cross cut 130 feet prospecting for the ledge. Attached to the mine are fine hoisting works and a 20-stamp mill, with all the modern improvements.

Next to the Kelly mine in Hunt’s Gulch is the Amador Queen, owned by on old x^ioneer miner, Mr. James Morgan, who has run a tunnel 900 feet in length and cut a ledge of enormous size, being 170 feet in width. Thirty feet of the rock next to the hanging wall will x>ay $10 jier ton, while a streak from 10 to 12 feet in width next to the foot-wall will jiay $9 per ton. Streaks of pay quartz, xioiqiliyry, and barren rock fill up the balance of the ledge. Two hundred tons of rock were recently crushed at the Moore mill, which yielded $9 x>er ton in free gold and 5 x>er cent, of rich sulphurets.

The Beck mine, located on the old Sx)anish claim in the Jackson dis- trict at Murphy’s Gulch, has a shaft 250 feet in dex^th. It has a 10-stamp mill and is x)ayii>g‘ well.

The gravel mines in Amador County are mostly located at Volcano. Hydraulic mining is carried on quite extensively. The consolidated Amador Hydraulic, Telegraph Hill, and George Toox) claims are ener- getically worked and x^ayiiig well.

The Grass Valley Hydraulic Company intend x^ntting ux^ a x>nmx:) and derrick to keep the water out of a x>ocket which has been found. It is exceedingly rich but cannot be worked without xjumx)ing and hoisting machinery.

The Lamxnng Gravel claim near lone Cit}^ is owned by a comx>any of Eastern cax^italists, rei)iesented by P. A. Lamx)ing, and have gone into the mining business on a larger scale than has been attempted in that section for many years. The field of operations is on Mule Creek, about 3^ miles from lone City. The land is owned by the Grant com- X)any, but 40 acres have been leased for a term of ten years for mining ]nir])Oses. The 40 acres conq^rise what is regarded as the best aurifer- ous land in that vicinity. Itsgold-bearingcharacter has longbeenknown, but it cannot be worked to advantage by rhe ordinary method of gravel mining, from the fiict that the country is level ; there is no natural fall, no gravel bank, and consequently no dumping facilities. In addition to these drawbacks, the x>ay-<lii‘l is buried under from 20 to 25 feet of alluvium. Owing to these obstacles the seam ot x)ay-gravel has remained unmolested, although a few miners have been usually found scratching around there during the rainy season. The ])resent comxiany, however, has started the work in a systematic manner. Mr. Lamping went east a few months ago and imrchased the necessary machinery in Philadel- phia at a cost of about $15,00 b This machinery consists of a 40 horse-

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 23

jiower engine, a dozen scrapers to be operated by steam, and a quantity of other apparatus. Most, if not all, of the machinery is now on the fjround. From 20 to 30 men are emi)lo3’cd at present, g-etting tlie claim in order. A number of scrapers have been operated by horse-power, removing the dirt from the surface. Tlie point of operation is about the middle of the 40-acre tract. It is slow work to strip off a layer of earth 25 feet in thickness, but when a hole is once made to the bed-rock the subsequent working will be comi)aratively easy. The companj' has purchased the old McDonald ditch, which brings water from Dry Creek, and when in full blast is expected to use 600 inches of water.

BUTTE COUNTY.

Butte County, situated in the north central part of the State, is an important mining county. Its area is about 1,700 square miles, one- third of which is agricultural valley land and the remainder foot-hills and mountains ; 552,960 acres are classed as mineral lands. The west- ern and northwestern portions of the county are drained by the Sacra- mento Eiver, Dry Creek, and Little and Big Creeks. The rest of the county, comprising b^^ far the greater portion of its surface, is drained by the Feather Eiver and its several tributaries, Honcut Creek in the south, and thence, in order going north, the South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork, and West Branch of the Feather-Eiver. All of these streams excepting Feather Eiver and Iloncut Creek run through mountain gorges or canons, thus dividing the mountain portion of the county into a succession of ridges or divides, as they are locally termed. The general course of the streams and sloi3e of the land are to the south and south- west.

Oroville, the county seat, the northern terminus of the California Eail- road,is a rich commercial town of about 2,000 population, situated just within the edge of the foot-hills on the south bank of Feather Eiver. Besides being itself the center of a rich mining district, it is the dis- tributing point for nearly all the towns and camps in the comity. Wy- andotte and Bangor are southeast in thefoot-hills, distant 8 and 14 miles respectively. Forbestown and Clipper mills are on the divide between the South Fork of the Feather Eiver, and tributaries of the North Fork of the Yuba Eiver, distant, respectively, 22 miles and 30 miles. Cherokee Flat, the principal town in the count^q, whose industry is en- tirely mining, is 12 miles north of Oroville.

Dog Town or Magalia, Lovelocks, Nimshaw, Powelton, and Inskip, small miniug camps on the divide between the West branch and Butte Creek, are all tributary to Oroville. The small mining camps on Big Butte Cl eek are supplied from Chico, situated in the western part of the county.

Gold ])lacer mining in its several forms is the principal mining indus- try. From the hydraulic mines comes by far the greater part of the annual gold product. Next in importance come the drift mines 5 then bar, river-bed, ravine, and gulch mining. Least important, so far as gold product is concerned, come the quartz mines. Through The west- ern part of the mountainous iTortion of the county a series of gravel deposits, capped in many places with basaltic lava, extends in a general north and south direction for about 30 miles. Whether or not these gravel deposits are the remains of an ancient river system and parts of the same channel and its tributaries is still undetermined.

In the vicinity of Lovelocks, Nimshaw, and Dogtown the deep gravel

24

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

mining done lias seemed to be in a number of comparatively small bliie- g’l avel channels, some of them being extremely rich in coarse gold. It is claimed that these are only tributary to a yet undiscovered large chan- nel, indications of the iiresence of which have been observed.

At Cherokee Flat the gravel deposits, interstratified with large bodies of the so-called pipe clay, are of great depth and immense extent; the gold taken out is tine, what is known as flour or scale gold.

At Morris Eavine, 6 miles farther south, similar gravel deposits are found ; these reappear on the other side of South Table Mountain, the last lava cap to the gravel as we go south, Jind are continuous and of great extent to some distance south of Oroville, where they again dis- appear. They again are found at Wyandotte, 8 miles southeast of Oro- ville, and continue to beyond Bangor, 14 miles.

All of these gravels, so far as they have been opened for examination, present essentially the same general characteristics, and belong evi- dently to what are known as the blue lead channels. A section of a gravel bank in the Enteri)rise h^ulraulic mine at Morris Eavine showed, commencing at the surface, 4 feet of loose red quartz gravel containing float or scale gold; 40 feet white quartz gravel, containing flue gold; 30 feet of pipe-clay, barren; G feet of round blue quartz gravel, containing coarser gold than the preceding — what is termed wash gold; 8 feet of broken quartz, gravelly fragments, and sand, containing fine gold; and then, resting directly on the bed-rock, feet of sand and black flat- wash gravel, containing coarse, heavy, wash gold. The three lower strata can be profitably worked by drifting.

Just south of Oroville a shaft has been sunk 172 feet into the gravel. It passed first through 62 feet of loose red gravel, containing fine scale gold in amount sufficient to justify working by driftiug; then through 100 feet of cemented blue gravel, containing some gold but impractica- ble of being economically worked; then 10 feet into loose blue gravel mixed with large bowlders and containing coarse, heavy gold. This is believed to rest directly on tlie bed-rock, but influx of water bej'oud control by the pump used prevented the shaft from being sunk any deeper.

At Bangor a shaft sunk many years since in the Kendall mine passed first through 15 feet of loose red surface gravel, then 95 feet of cemented blue gravel to the bed-rock. This latter, close to the bed-rock, was ex- tensively drifted, and worked in a stamp mill ])i'oved very rich. These great gravel banks, though continuously worked for the last thirty five years, contain much untouched ground, and beyond all question yet contain many times as much gold as has been already taken out.

The hydraulic mines in Butte County are not numerous, and, so far at least as opened and worked, are, with some scattered exceptions, confined to a few points on the great gravel deposit Just mentioned. Cherokee Flat, Morris Eavine, and the immediate vicinity of Oroville are the i)rindpal localities.

llrift iniiics are for the most part, so far as at present working, con- fined to the divide between the West Fork of the Feather Eiver and Butte Creek, in the vicinity of Dogtown, Eimshaw, and Lovelocks.

Many mines that are or have been worked by the hydraulic method are also worked by drifting. Bar, river, and ravine mining are still car- ried on at points all over tlie mining districts of the county, and in the aggregate produces a considerable amount of gold.

Though but few quartz mines have produced bullion during the past year, there is a large amount of prospecting going on, which bids fair to develop some paying mines.

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 25

Inslip. — Some surface placer mining in a small way is being clone, 12 or 15 men in all being employed.

Foicelton. — The character of mining at this place is similar to that at luskip, surface placers which afford wages to 12 or 15 men.

Lovelocks. — In the vicinity of this place there is considerable mining and prospecting ; lack of water, except during a few months of the spring, has retarded developments.

The Merideth quartz mine, owned by J. J. Merideth, was worked profitably during the water season. The quartz is very much decom- posed, and the ledge has been worked as far as pnmticable by hydraulick- ing. A 5 stamp mill, run by water-xiower, is employed during the water season crushing quartz from this mine. The result of two months’ run, all the time during which water could be had this year, was $0,000. The future prospeiffs of this mine seem to be excellent.

Another quartz ledge similar to the Merideth has been prospected for three or four years past by Dr. A. K. Stern. His i^roperty is known as the JMountain View quartz mine, or the Tom JSTeal diggings, and is situated about one mile south of Lovelocks. Some remarkably fine gold quartz specimens have been obtained from this mine. Ten or twelve men are em])loyed, but work can only bo done in winter.

Several other quartz ledges in this vicinity are being prospected with encouraging results.

Messrs. Woodman, Garland & Wilcox are working their drift mine steadily. It is opened by a tunnel 200 feet long, ami is xmying well.

On Kimshew Creek, a few miles east of Lovelocks, considerable pros])ecting is being done. Snow & Co. have sold their hydraulic mine, and it is the intention of the purchasers to fit it uj) and work on a large scale during the coming year. The deposit of gravel is extensive and rich, but water being obtainable for only two months has prevented any large yield of gold.

Nimshaic. — Kirk & Cole have the tunnel on their drift mine in 1,800 feet, and einj^loy 15 men. This claim is yielding considerable gold and I)ayiiig its owners well.

The Lucky Strike Mining Company are prospecting. Their claim comjn’ises about 230 acres. It has been oi:)ened by ten or tweh'C tun- nels, and has paid largely ; the present prospecting tunnel is in 400 feet. Some quartz has been found, but the main channel for which the tun- nel is being run has not been found yet. Several other drift claims and quartz ledges in this vicinity are being i^rospected.

At Magalia the Magalia drift mine comprises 200 acres, and is opened by a tunnel 2,300 feet long. The channel now being worked is very nar- row, varying from 5 or 6 to 20 feet, but is extremely rich. It is claimed that $185,000 have been taken out of the last 500 feet of the channel, and from a single car-load of gravel $11,000. Twenty men are em- jiloyed, and the average weekly yield during the latter i)art of 1882 was $12,000.

The Indian Spring drift mine, which had yielded largely, was some years since considered worked out and abandoned. It was relocated in June of 1881, and has been x^aying well ever since. Six to eight men are employed, and the weekly yield is from $000 to $800. It is a very X)romising mine.

The Garfield drift mine adjoining the Indian Sx^»ring is being x^ros- pected. It has yielded considerable gold, and its prospects for the future are good.

Fulton & Co. are drifting and hydraulicking a high bar on the West Branch of the Feather Eiver their claim is x^aying well.

26

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Butte Greelc. — Scattered along Butte Creek are several small hydraulic and drift mines, the most imi)ortant of which are Mineral Slide, Eed Gravel, and Paradise Flat, hydraulic mines, and the is'ichol & Lougley, drift mine.

The Mineral Slide, comprising 120 acres of land, is on Butte Creek, 5 miles south of Magalia. The mine is run the entire year l\y water brought from Butte Creek by a ditch 5 miles long; 800 inches are used under about 300 feet pressure. The gravel is loose and mixed with large lava bowlders; 8 men are employed, and the mine is paying well.

The Red Gravel has been worked for several years past prolitably. Considerable good ground remains to be worked.

The mines on Butte Creek all seem to be yielding a fair amount of X)rotit, and their prospects for the future are very promising.

Yankee Hill. — In this vicinity are a large number of quartz ledges which are being x)rospected to a greater or less extent all the time. No one of them has, however, as yet been develo])ed into a mine, and the work done except in a few instances is not sufficient to determine their value.

By far the most imx:)ortant mining enterprise in this vicinity is on what are known as the Big Bend Tunnel and i\J^ining Comiiany claims. These claims comiu'ise some 13 miles of the bed of the North Fork of the Feather River, located around Big Bend, and a tunnel claim across the chord of the Bend. The tunnel will be us<ul to carry the water of Feather River during the summer months, thus leaving that portion of Feather River around Big Bend free enough from water to mine effect- ively. Work on the lower end of the tunnel from “Dark Canon’’ has been commenced and the face advanced 225 feet ; the Burleigh drill and air compressor are used, and it is intended to run the tunnel from the lower end only. Forty-five men are employed in all capacities.

The dimensions of the tunnel are to be: length, 12,007 feet; width, 15 feet; height, 8 feet. It is expected that two years will be required to complete the tunnel, and the outlay before any returns can be had is estimated at $1,000,000. The enterxirise is being undertaken by a com])any of Eastern ca|)italists of abundant means. If the past enor- mous yield of the bars and parts of the channel worked on Big Bend furnish anj' data by which to estimate the j^robable amount of gold yet in the river bed, it is safe to say that the amount is far in excess of the yield of any single mining enterprise yet carried out in California. Dr. R. V. Pierce, of Buffalo, is iiresident of the coiiq^any, and N. A. Harris su]>eiintendent of the work at Big Bend.

Cherokee Flat. — The Spring Valley hydraulic gold mine at this ])lace is the largest hydraulic mine and the greatest bullion producer in the county. It is the only one of the large hydraulic mines running at the })resent time having solved t\\o. dehria question, so far as it is concerned, by buying all the farms subject to overflow. A large part of their ground is covered with a lava caxi, and can only be effectively' worked by drifting. In the hydraulic ground the banks are very high, reaching a maximum of about 500 feet; on an average, two-thirds of this con- tains gold. The average daily amount of water used is from 2,200 inches in the summer to 3,000 inches in winter, the sources of supply being Butte Creek, west branch of Feather River, and in the winter the watershed around the mine.

The following figures will give some idea of the expenses and resources of this large hydraulic mine. For the ten years from 1870 to 1880 the expenditures of the company were —

/

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 27

For ditches, pipes, flumes, aud reservoirs lJi4B0,000

For xnininij ground 411, 113

Expenses of mining, tnuneliiit;, &c 9:21,907

For farming lands subject to overflow 395, 19(5

For levees aud improvements on this land 154, 708

Dividends 405,000

The total yield of gold during that period was $2,050,809.

Large areas of both hydraulic and drifting ground are yetunworhed; also a large i)roportion of the blue bed-rock gravel uncovered by hy- draulicking, but which could not be worked until recently, owing to lack of necessary grade. By the construction of a bed-rock tunnel about 3,000 feet long this bed-rock blue gravel can now be worked, and as it is very rich, the output of the mine will without doubt be largely increased during the next few years.

The mine is part of an ancient river channel adjoining and under- lying the i!Torth Table Mountain of Butte County. Width of channel, so far as determined, about one mile; length undetermined, as the fully defined channel runs under the basalt-cov^ered Table Mountain.

The strata consist of a lower deposit of closely-cemented blue gravel, from 3 to 50 feet in thickness, containing bowlders from a few inches to 18 inches in diameter, though back from the channel, on the rims, and occasionally in the deeper channels, bowlders are found in quanti- ties as much as 5 feet in diameter. This deposit is of close metamor- X>hic slate, intermingled with quartz bowlders and pebbles and fine quartz saud, which contain throughout coarse gold. Surmounting this is another stratum of blue gravel, a separate and distinct de[)Osit of a lighter blue color, composed of smaller bowlders of talcose slate and a large admixture of quartz. This varies from G inches to, say, 12 feet in thickness, and the uiiiier jiart of the same to a depth of about 4 feet is totally decomposed and has turned yellow, so that the bowlders xieel oil’ like amygdaloids. This is the richest stratum and pays largely.

Above the last is a de|)osit of fine white-quartz gravel and sand, which is in places 350 feet in depth; towards the east side of this stra- tum lie great masses of xiipe-clay, in spots as much as 150 feet thick. The mining ground jmojxer of this comxmny consists of about 1,200 acres, 500 of which are free from caj) rock, and about 120 of which have been worked. The face of the bank is 500 feet in height, and the deex)- est tunnel is 97 feet lower than the face mentioned.

The mine is worked through three bed-rock tunnels, the largest and deepest of which was run during the i>ast year, and cost $13G,000; it is 10 by lOi feet, and 3,000 feet in length. The mine is equipped with 2 miles of tailing fiumes, or rather a triple line of flumes 2 miles in length, consisting of two flumes 6 feet wide and one of 4 feet, laid side by side, and divi(led into sections of about 1,000 feet each, so that any part can be cleaned up without stop])ing the mine. There are also eighteen undercurrents, sixteen hydraulic giants, and at least 3 miles of 22 and 30 inch ])iping on the claim proper.

The mine has been worked since the year 1853, and, estimating from past work, should reasonably be expected to last on the x)resent large scale of washing not less than twenty-five years.

Though the mine has never been bottomed till during the past summer, and the deej) tunnel before mentioned is not yet safely opened, a largely increased yield of gold during the next ten years is exi)ected. An average of men employed is as follows: In the mine, 120; on ditches, 15 ; on levees and outlet, 20 ; all white labor.

The water supx)ly of the mine at this date is 3,000 inches, miner’s

28

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

measurement, which is brought to the mine through 75 miles of ditch, along the length of which are three iron pipes 30 inches in diameter, the longest being 13,100 feet, and having a depression from the grade line of 892 feet; the second 3,780 feet, with a depression of 630 feet.

There are also ten reservoirs, of which two are for mountain storage, one 12 miles distant, covering 240 acres, and the second, 60 miles dis- tant by line of ditch, on the summit of the Sierra hTevadas, covering 60 acres.

The original cost of introducing water and fitting up the property was $582,820, after which $480,000 was exi)euded for mining ground witliin the present i)atent limits, the money being }>aid to individual holders, and all of the above-mentioned sums except $145,000, the cost of the first pipe and ditch, were paid directly from the jirofits of the mine.

This company has also a canal for its tailings, 40 miles in length, and not less than 400 feet in width, with banks 30 feet thick, and about 3,000 acres for dumping. During the past five years two debris dams have been built, each about 2,000 feet in length, for storage of tailings, and have been found to answer the purpose .admirably, and so far as this mine is concerned definitely solve the debris dilemma.

The Sinclair Flat hydraulic mine, located 2 miles west of preceding one, is also one of the imj^ortant gold-producing mines of the county. The gravel is similar to that in the Spring Valle^^, and is, like it, capped with a heavy deposit of pipe-clay. One thousand inches of water, under aiiressure of 175 feet, is used, and the gravel being comparatively soft, no bank blasting is done. About ten men are emplo^^ed. ' Consider- able ground remains yet to be washed, and the mine will undoubtedly be moderately profitable for many years to come.

The Gregory and Welch hydraulic mine has not been worked for some time, but will i^robably commence running again during the next few months.

The Spring Yalley drift mine, situated 1 mile east of Cherokee, on the flat at the head of Spring Yalley Gulch, has been mined continuously for many years, and is doubtless paying largely at the present time. The mine is worked through a shaft 50 feet deep.

The old Joe Young ledge, on the Korth Fork, 3 miles east of Chero- kee, is being prospected anew by a umnel. It has yielded a large amount of gold in the early da.ys of mining in this State, and its pros- pects for the future are excellent.

Oregon City. — In this vicinity are nearly all the important quartz ledges in this county. Though successfully and extensively worked in early days, very few are even being prospected at the present time. There is no good reason for this, for some of them only require thor- ough, systematic pros])ecting to become imi)ortant mines.

The Banner, the princi])al quartz mine in the county, has only re- cently started up, under the superintendence of C. W. Keeney. The vein or lode has a north-and-south course, with a slight pitch to the east. The foot-widl is a black, metalliferous slate, and the hanging wall porphyry, In the lode are several veins. The mine is opened by a shaft 300 feet deep ; 1,000 feet of drifts on the 100-foot level and 80l) feet of drifts on the 200-foot level have been run. A new vein has recently been struck, 100 feet east of the old workings, which gives very promising indications of coming richness. The hoisting works are steam, and have Y>ower sufficient to sink 1,000 feet. The mine is also equipped with a first-class 10 stamp steam-mill.

To date, the mine has yielded $600,000 from about 10,000 tons of ore.

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 29

an averaj^e of $60, per ton. Few mines in the State can make as hand- some a showing, considering the small amonut of development made and the little depth reached. It is fair to presume that the Banner may yet be one of the principal quartz mines in the State.

Morris Ravine. — There are several very promising hydraulic and drift mines at this point. The Hendricks, Enterprise, Perkins, Sparks Company, Blue Star, and Butte Drift are all rich mines on 'which com- paratively little work has been done. None of them are working at I^resent, nor will miudi work be done until a final decision is obtained from the courts on the debris question.”

The Hendricks has been for several years past one of the important gold-producing mines of the county, and its large deposit of gravel is but just fairly opened. It and all the mines adjoining can be profitably worked by drifting.

Oroville. — Though situated in the midst of, and, in fact, on one of the most extensive and rich gravel deposits in tlie State, there is very little done at mining. All of the mining done in this vicinity is f)ractically en- tirely by hydraulic.

The Miocene Mining Company’s claim covers about 500 acres on the river bank oi)posite Oroville. Nearly all of this is auriferous gravel, and can be hydraulicked, but is not rich enough for drifting. The com- pany own about 33 miles of ditch, bringing water from the west branch of F eather Fiver. The claim cost, when fitted up and ready for work, in the S])ring of 1881, about $300,000. It has only been worked for two mouths in the spring of 1882, being then shut down by injunction pend ing the decision of the courts on the right to dump tailings into the Feather Fiver. The claim is very rich, and would, if running, be be- yond question one of the largest gold-])roducing mines in the county. No other hydraulic mine is working at Oroville, all being shut down by injunction.

The Treasure Box Mining Company are running a tunnel in their drift-mining claim, which comprises about 325 acres of South Table Mountain. The tunnel, which has been run under exceptionally favor- able conditions, costing only about $7 per foot, is in 4,000 feet, and sev- eral prospecting drifts have been run. Some fair prospects have been obtained, and all the indications are favorable to the development of a first-class drift mine.

The Lava Beds, worked so extensively by the Chinese a few years since, are now abandoned, from the imx)Ossibility of keeping the pits clear of water except by very expensiv^e and i)owerful pumi)ing ma- chinery.

Mountain House. — Berringer & Graber are prospecting their quartz ledge, with encouraging results. They have a ledge in talcose slate about 2 feet thick, showing considerable free gold.

Moorville Ridge. — Two large hydraulic mines are in operation on this ridge, and several undeveloped locations made.

The Dodson hydraulic mine comprises about 70 acres of auriferous gravel, varying in depth from 00 to 200 feet. The gravel is for the most part soft, but occasional spots of cemented blue gravel and hard sand streaks occur. The gold is fine; from 1,200 to 1,500 inches of water is used under 220 feet pressure ; the water is brought from Lost Creek by a ditch 10 miles long, the water season lasting from 90 to 120 daj’S.

The Frost and Feese hydraulic mine adjoins the Dodson, and the character of gravel is simdar. The company own a ditch 12 miles long and bringing 2,000 inches of water from the South Fork of the Feather Fiver. They also have a storage reservoir covering 60 acres in Little

30

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Grass Valley, aad have a head of Avater from eight^to eleven months during the year. The Avork thus far has been in opening and fitting the claim for effectiA^e Avork.

The cost of fitting up, including ditch and reser\mir, Avas $70,000, Both this mine and tlie Dodson are Auiluable mines, and will be large gold producers for many years.

Mooretown. — Considerable prospecting of quartz ledges is being done in this Aucinity, and some mines being developed that look very ]3rom- ising.

The Baranca, on which there is a 5-stamp mill, has been recently sold, and it is the intention of the purcliasers to thoroughly explore and dcA'cloj) their property, Avhich is considered A^ery Amluable.

Fairview. — The old Eattlesnake quartz mine has been reopened and a 5-stauq) water-power mill put up. Considerable pay ore is in sight, and the outlook for the property is considered promising.

Forhe.stoivn. — But little mining is being done in either placer or quartz. There are a number of quartz ledges in the vicinity from which a few tons of rock are occasionally taken and milled. No systematic sus- tained attempt is made, hoAA'ever, to thoroughly open and prospect any of these. All of the shallow i)lacers in this vicinity, once so rich, have been worked out and abandoned.

Clipper Mills. — The only mine working at this point is the King Bird hydraulic and drift mine, employing three or four men. It has been AA orked and has paid for the last tAA enty-five years, and it can be worked Avith a moderate degree of profit for many years yet.

All over the county are found small placers worked occasionally, and in the aggregate producing annually considerable gold. Though not as much mining is done by Chinese now as a few years since, the aggre- gate of their production is still large and important. It is im])ossible to more than estimate this yield, as much of it leaves the county in private hands. A fair estimate of this production is^for the year 1882, about $00,000. The sources of this yield are the bars and riA^er beds of the several forks of the Feather Biver and its tributaries, and the gravels in the Aicinity of Oroville.

The following are the main mining ditches in the county, their length, sources of' sup])ly, &c. In addition to those named, there are many short ditches of small capacities supplying water for individual mines :

Name.

Prost & Rceso

Dodson

South Feather

nciidricks

Lamoiite

Mioceiio

Oroville Lumber Company Powers

Red mil

Feather River and Ophir .

Shepherd

Spring Valley

Source of supply.	.9 V, -0 a c O vA	d o d	Carry full head during year for —
	Miles.	Inches.	Months.
South Feather	12	4, 000	8 to 11
Lo.st' Creek South Feather	10	1, 200 2, 000 1,000	3 to 4
# West Branch	50	12
Little Butte Creek..	.5	1,000	12
AV'est Branch	32i	3, 000	9
do	8	1, 500	9
Little Butte Creek..	30	500	9
West Branch	3	1,000	12
South Feather		1, 500	12
Big Butte Creek	8	4, 000	12
Big Butte Creek and AVest Branch.	80	3, 000	12

Supply water for the —

Frost <fc Reese, hydraulic. Dodson’s hydraulic. AV^yandottc and Bangor, or New York and Ophir Flats. !Nloiris Ravine mines. Miner.al Slide hydraulic. ^Miocene hydraulic.

Sinclair Flat hydraulic. Powers h\’draulic, at Oro- ville.

Red Hill hydraulic.

Mines on the south side of Feather River at Oroville. Mines on Big Butte Creek. Spring Valley hydraulic.

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 31

Duriii" the year there have been in operation, for some of the time at least, thirteen hydraulic mines, only two of which, the Spring Valley and Sinclair Flat, have yielded much gold. Seven drift mines have been producing, most of them small, and two or three others prospecting and opening up preparatory to taking out gold ; also four small quartz mines have made short runs, yielding bnt a small amount of gold, and two others opening up i^reparatorv to active operations during the year 1883.

Though there will be no extension of the mining industry to Sj)eak of, the aggregate of gold production lor 1883 will probably be much in- creased from a prospective better yield of those mines at present being operated.

CALAVERAS COUNTY.

Geographically considered, Calaveras occupies the heart of the great mining belt of the State of California. Extending from the Mokelumne Fiver on the north to the Stanislaus River on the south, and from the crest of the Sierras on the east to the verge of the great San Joaquin Valley on the west, the county embraces an area of some 1,200 square miles, including one of the veryb(‘st and most promising sections of the entire mining region. Topograi)hically, the country could not be more favorably fitted for mining purposes. The face of the countiy is so diversified that in a great majority of instances mines can be worked either by adit or shaft, as best suits the ideas or convenience of owners, ■while the same topographical advantages render the utilization of the ■waters of the numerous streams for mining purposes not only possible, but comparatively eas^^ of attainment.

The mining interests of Calaveras comprise both quartz and gravel, and from the flush times of early days down through all the transitions the mining region has undergone this county has steadily maintained a commanding position, both ■«dth reference to productiveness and affording desirable op])ortunities for investment. Of the two interests, quartz is the more important. The quartz zone is fully 30 miles in width, extending diagonall}’ across the entire length of the county from north, to south, embracing in its extent an almost illimitable number of ledges. In fact, the county is absolutely rock-ribbed with gold-bearing lodes, that only await the muscular craft of the miner, re-enforced by the power- ful countenance and support of the capitalist, to pour their golden treasures into the commercial arteries Of the world. Properties can be seen in all stages of deveiopment, from the full-fledged, dividend-pay- ing mine, ivith its great mills and modern gold-securing appliances, to the modest ■u'him-crowned shaft of the “ prospector ” whose reducing apparatus does not reach beyond the dignity of a mortar. For years the great work of development has gone steadily forward, and yet so wide is the field, so broad the opportuuit}', that there is still abundant room for the employment oflabor and capital in promising enterprises. The mining outlook for Calaveras, with reference both to quartz and gravel, was never more flattering than it is to-day, and the assertion that tliis county afibrds greater inducements to those desirous of en- gaging in mining pursuits than any other section of the mineral belt will pass unchallenged.

The extent and variety of its mineral resources are practically un- bounded. In addition to gold, there are extensive mines of copper, chrome-iron, manganese, tellurium, and hematite, together with quarries of marble and deposits of kaolin.

Comparatively speaking, these deposits of the more common metals

32

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

are undeveloped, affording a most inviting field to the capitalist and speculator, as well as to the laboring miner.

The gravel-mining interest is only second to that of quartz. While it istrne that the days of placer mining are waning and already numbered, still the auriferous fields of Calaveras are being energetically worked and are yielding well. Operations have simply been transferred from the shallow placers and gulches to the depths of the towering hills; the ])ick and shovel of the surface miner exchanged for the mountain- leveling appliances of the hydraulicker. Acres are washed now where rods were then, the greater quantity of earth put through the sluices compensating for the difference in its richness.

Vast beds of gravel have been uncovered, both by, means of tunnel mining and hydraulicking, and it is safe to say that Calaveras’s yield of l)recious metals from the gravel interest is greater to-day than it was ten years ago.

Operations are actually limited only by the amount of water avail- able, and when it is added that there are several large ditches in the county that are i)ut to their fullest capacity in supplying the demand, ail idea can be obtained of the magnitude of the gravel interest. It is increasing in extent and importance annually, and the prospect for its future, like that of the quartz interest, is to-day brighter than it has been for years.

QUARTZ MINES.

Foremost in the county and holding an enviable position among the leading mining properties of the Pacific coast is the famous Gwin mine — a property that the annals of quartz mining furnish but few equals to and no superiors. The Gwin mine is situated 5 miles southeast of Mo- kelumne Uill. It is located on the great ‘Giortherii” lode of the State, embracing 1,800 feet in length by COO feet in width.

The mine was located as far back as 1851, some exceedingly rich rock being extracted from it then and subsequently. At that time, how- ever, it was worked upon a very small scale and in the primitive manner that marked the commencement of the quartz-mining era. It was not until 1807 that oiierations were begun in good earnest, backed by capi- tal and all the appliances appertaining to modern mining. Shafts wei e suuk, levels run, mills erected, succeeding which an area of prosperity dawned upon the mine that has been but briefiy interrupted from that dav to this.

In 1871 the Alexander mine, adjoining the Gwin on the north, was purchased and the two consolidated. From the most authentic ac- counts the mine has yielded at least $2,000,000, and is likely to place double that amount to its credit in the future. The ledge, which is well defined and contained in a true fissure, averages 7 feet in width. There are three shafts, of the depth of 1,500, 500, and 200 feet, respectively. There are fourteen levels, of lengths varying from 300 to 700 feet. The mine has several mills, aggregating GO stamps, together with chlorina- tion works, &c. The mills are run by water-power, and the pumps, hoisting-works, &c., by steam. The rock yields an average of $0 per ton ; cost of extraction and milling, $3. An average of 120 tons is crushed daily. At jiresent the mine is inoperative, pending the erection of new macliinery of increased strength and capacity.

Boston mine. — This property, second to none in the State in impor- tance, is situated in Buckeye Gulch, about 2 miles northeast of Moke- lumne Hill. It was worked in a small way in earlier days, but some three years ago the mine passed into the hands of capitalists, who have

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 3.0

since vigorously pressed forward developments. The ledge, which crops boldly out at the base of a high inoiuitain, forming one of the sides of a gulch, is simply an enormous one, averaging fully 60 feet in width. Two tunnels have been driven into the hill on the lode, the longest being about 350 feet in extent. Cross-cuts show the ledge to be not only an immense one, but composed of a good quality of ore, carrying free gold rich in snlphurets. No mine in the State of which there is a record makes a better showing than the ^‘Boston” so far as development has progressed. There are thousands upon thousands of tons of fair-inilliug ore in sight, and so superior are the facilities for its extraction that it can be mined and milled at a cost of $1.50 per ton. In fact, there are no- limits to the future possibilities of the Boston, and taking the present favorable development as an earnest of what is to come, the time is close at hand when it will rank among the greatest and most productive mining properties of the coast. A short distance below the mine is a superior 20-stamp mill, run by water power, and fitted ui) with all the modern appliances. A tramway connects the mine and mill, by means of which the ore is transported from the former to the latter. About fifty liands are employed when the mine and mill are in full operation. Average yield of ore per ton is $6j average quantity of ore worked per day, 40 tons.

Lamphear mine. This, which is among the most prominent mines in the county, is also situated in the Mokelumue Hill district, in Spring- Gulch, about 2 miles east of the town. The mine embraces 1,800 feet in length of a well-defined ledge, which has been sufficiently worked to develop a very valuable property. Two shafts have been sunk, to the depth of 160 and 130 feet, respectively. A level 300 feet in length has- been run, showing a solid, well-defined ledge, averaging 5 feet in width the entire distance. An excellent 12-stamp mill, run very cheaply by water-power, belongs to the property. The mine is also furnished with substantial hoisting works and other necessary machinery for operating to advantage. • Number of hands usually employed, 15 5 aV'erage yield of ore per ton, $7 ; cost of extracting and milling, $3.50.

The Bryan mine, situated in Buckeye Gulch adjoining the Boston, is a very promising location. Several thousand dollars have been expended, and the prospects are flattering. A shaft has been sunk to the depth of 75 feet, with very good indications that the Bryan will prove a very valuable mine. A tunnel has also been run and other work done.

At the junction, a short distance south of Mokelumue Hill, are the Quaker City and Hughes, mines that have been extensively worked, but are not now in oi)eration. Locations of lesser note in the Mokelumne Hill district are the Bandin, Admission, and Mokelumne Hill.

Rich Gulch district. — There are several quartz locations in this dis- trict, the principal mine, however, being the Tiger, a promising prop- erty. Two shaft.s, 90 and 45 feet in depth, respectively, and a tunnel 400 feet in length represent the work done on the mine. The ledge shows 17 feet wide in the tunnel, the rock being of a fair grade. They have a 10-stara]:> steam-power mill: rock will yield an average of about $12 per ton ; probable cost of mining and milling, $3.50.

The Beaver mine has jielded some of the richest specimen rock ever seen. Work upon it is now being prosecuted.

The celebrated Foot & Thomx^son mine is located in this district. The mine has yielded an immense amount of money, and only requires sys- tematic working to resume payment.

Railroad Flat district. — The xirincix)al mine now being worked in this district is the Chicago and Kock Island. The mine is supplied with

11. Ex. 106 3

34

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

jjood hoisting works and a stamp mill, both run by water-i>ower. Shaft 200 feet deep, lode from 1 to 5 feet in width, and the ore averages from

to SlOO per ton. The shaft is to be sunk another 100 feet, and addi- tional milling facilities provided. The ore in sight will keep the stamps in constant operation for the next six months- The Chicago bids fair to become one of the most valuable mines in the county. It is located one-fourth of a mile west of the railroad. The formation in which the ledge is incased is slate.

Tlie Poe mine adjoins the Chicago on the south, and has a shaft 60 feet in depth. The Poe has furnished some high-grade ore, but requires cai^ital to fully develop it. The ledge is from 1 to 3 feet thick and is well defined.

Tlie Beede mine adjoins the Poe, and has the same general charac- teristics.

The Petticoat mine, parallel to and a little east of the Chicago, pro- duced good ore in former years, when intelligently worked.

The Luxembourg has been worked to the depth of 50 feet; ledge, 16 inches thick, yielding from $10 to $60 per ton. The requisite capital could make this a dividend-paying mine.

The Bald Eagle and Herzer mines have been very productive, worked by hand to the depth of 90 feet. The ore is “ribbon” rock, with a large l)ercentage of galena sulphurets.

The Seemaii mine is the Fern or Chapman ; shaft, 160 feet deep ; hoist- ing works and an 8-stamp mill ; ledge from 1 to 4 feet thick. Ore yields from $7 to $30 per ton. The mine is soon to be supplied with more power- ful machinery, and will then xirove very productive.

|p TJie Burt & Co. mine has a shaft 60 feet in depth ; lode 3 feet in thickness, that will yield $12 per ton.

Lancaster «& Co. are working a new discovery with jirofit; shaft, 20 fteb deep; ledge, showing free gold, 20 inches wide.

Sunderme}' er & Co. have also a location in this vicinity that prospects well.

The Prussian Hill mine was very productive at one time, but owing to litigation and bad management is now idle. Work is soon to be resumed. Sliaft, 200 feet in depth ; ledge, from 1 to 4 feet thick. The hoisting works and a lO-stamj) mill have been removed from the mine.

The Enright mine has a shaft 60 feet deep. Ore mills from $10 to $30 j)er ton. A tunnel is being run to tap the pay chute 180 feet below the l)resent works.

Glencoe district. — The Wolverine mine has been worked to the depth of 300 feet. It has yielded upwards of $50,000 superior ore, and a large body of it is known to exist in the mine.

Tlie Poor Man mine, situated west of the Wolverine, owned by Lewis Brothers, was located in 1861; can be traced over 2 miles by croppings. Main shaft is 250 feet deep, and a level has been run 268 feei. The fissure is 7 feet w ide. About 775 tons of ore have been worked from the mine, yielding over $63,000, upwards of $81 jier ton. Capital is now required to init the jiroperty in pro])er shape for working to advantage, and there is no doubt but that the Poor Man w^ill yet occupy a front rank among the mines of this county.

The Law^son mine, owuied by the same parties as the Poor Man, is a promising ])roperty. Three shafts have been sunk, developing a pay chute 300 feet in length. Three hundred tons of unassorted ore have been milled, yielding an average of $12 per ton. It has been w^orked only to the depth of 40 feet.

The Glencoe mine is located one-fourth of a mile w^est of the Poor

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 35

Mail. A large vein and good ore, a great quantity of which has been worked in the 8-stamp water-power mill on the mine.. The last ore worked paid $20 per ton. A tunnel has been run 500 feet on the vein, attaining a depth of “ backs ” of about 400 feet. It is a promising property.

The San Bruno, Good Hope, and Monte Christo mines have produced a large amount of bullion. They have been worked to a depth of 300 feet by tunnel and shaft. Ledges vaiy from 1 to 3 feet thick. Ore of very high grade. A line 18-stamp steam-iiowor mill belongs to these properties.

The Hadlock mine has been worked to the depth of 50 feet, and pro- duced some good ore.

On the Mexico mine, owned by Lewis & Fairchild, seven shafts have been sunk along the line of the lode, covering a distance of 1,200 feet, the shafts varying from 40 to 115 feet in depth. The ore extracted yielded from $17 to $115 per ton. Very rich speciinens have been taken from this mine, and upwards of $2,000 pounded out in a mortar during the past year. It is all picking ” ground, not a blast having been exploded in the mine. A tunnel is to be run to tap the vein at a depth of 150 feet. This is a very valuable property, and when xiroperly opened will produce wonderful results.

The San Pedro is a promising mine of the district. Main shaft, 200 feet deej); ledge, from 1 to 4 feet thick. Ore has paid as high as $83 per ton.

The Banner mine has produced high-grade ore. Shaft, 20u feet deep j steam hoisting works, which are not iiowerful enough to keex) the mine free from water; however, a good proiierty if proiierly managed.

The Norwich has fine steam hoisting works and a well-defined vein, ranging from 2 to 30 feet in width. Shaft, 200 feet deep. The ore taken from the pay chute, which is ujiwards of 90 feet long, yielded about $20 per ton. The mine has merit, and is sure to be a success.

The Fidelity, belonging to the Norwich i)roprietors, is also a promis- ing mine ; a large, rich vein ; steam hoisting works, &c. Shaft, 110 feet deep.

The Blue Jay has paid well, and is now being worked with flattering i:)rosx)ects.

The Alabama has four shafts sunk. Ledge from 2 to 15 feet wide ; 234 tons of ore milled, yielded $23 |)er ton. The ore carries a large ])er- centageof sulphurets. The croxipings can be traced for miles and free gold found in many xilaces. It is one of the best x)rospects in the county.

The Valentine is one of the oldest and best-known mines in the county. It. has produced a very large amount of bullion. A great many imxirovements have been xmt upon the mine recently, including a 20-stamp mill, and xirex:>arations made for conducting operations upon an extensive scale. Machinery is to be erected with a view to sinking 500 feet deeper, the mine, so far, having been worked through tunnels. The lode varies from 4 to 40 feet in width, the quantity of good ore being xiractically inexhaustible.

Other mines of lesser note are the Canrada, Le Franchi, AVoodcock, Zane, Occidental, Idonia, Barney, Centennial, Stonewall Jackson, Dory, Posey, and Charlotte.

^VestJ:*oint district. — The leading mine of this district is the Cham- pion. It has been successfully worked for years, the dexith at x^resent attained being 900 feet. The fissure averages 8 feet in width. Cham- pion ore is very rich, the lowest grade yielding $40 x^er ton, the best Iiaying $180. Seven levels have been run on the pay chute. The mine

36

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

is supplied with excellent hoisting works and an arrastra mill. It is one of the leading mines of the county.

The Lone Star has very fair prospects. Main shaft, 150 feet deep ; tunnels tap the ledge 250, 400, and 050 feet below the surface. The rock pays from $30 to $100 x)er ton. There are now 400 tons of ore on the dumx)s. The ledge is from 2 to 20 feet wide.

The Carleton mine is worked to tlie depth of 160 feet, there being three shafts. The lode shows from 2 to 4 feet in width. The highest- grade ore pays $250 pey ton, and the lowest $10.

The Star of the West has flattering prospects. Depth of shaft, 185 feet. A level has been run 105 feet. Ore pays on an average of $20 per ton. A 10-stamj) mill is to be put up immediately.

The Old French mine has six shafts ranging from 50 to 110 feet in depth ; the length of works, 700 feet. The ledge varies from 1 to 4 feet in width. Ore pays from $9 to $80 i^er ton. This mine has a flattering future.

Other mines in the district are Pride of the West, Pride of Buin- merville. Scorpion, Eattlesnake, Yalentine, Henry, Lockwood, Camille, Anna, Gouldson, Woodhouse, Whisky, Modoc, Billy Williams, Catarrh, and Barnes. All these mines have the same general characteristics, and have shafts from 50 to 120 feet deep, and all capable of furnishing high-grade ore.

Whisly Slide district. — The principal mine in this district is the Hoosier Consolidated. The Hoosier embraces three claims aggregat- ing 3,600 feet. Development so far consists of two tunnels 150 and 200 feet in length respectively. Shaft 140 feet deep, with level at the bot- tom 130 feet long, shows eight thousand tons of rock in sight. There are also 700 tons on the dump, all of which will pay from $6 to $8 per ton. Six thousand dollars have been taken out by assorting the rock, and working it in an arrastra, the ore averaging $20 per ton.

The Mary Long, one of the constituents of the Hoosier, has a 90-foot shaft, showing a 2-foot ledge of $10 rock. A tunnel run in on the i^ay chute, which is 80 feet in length, furnished ore that paid $25 j^er ton. Although the tunnel worked the ground to a dejith of only 40 feet, up- wards of $10,000 were taken out. There are two shafts and several open cuts disclosing a 4-foot vein and $8 rock. The vein can be worked by a tunnel to the depth of 950 feetj free Avater-power during eight months of the year ; remainder of the time water can be j)urchased. Two Avater ditches belong to the property. Ten stamps are to be put on the mine immediately, Avhen it will unquestionably prove a A^ery remu- nerative property.

Whisky Slide mine shoAvsa 6-foot ledge of decomposed rock that will pay well.

The Lhmrmore mine has a shaft 200 feet deep, and a 10-stamp water- poAver mill.

Sheep Ranch district. — One of the most productive mines in the State, the Sheep Banch, is located in this district. The lode Avas discovered and located in 1865 by A..P. Ferguson. For a period of twenty-seven years the mine was very successfully worked by crushing the ore in arrastras. Then a 5-stamp mill was put up, the mine continuing to en- rich its OAvners. The original location was 1,400 feet in length, wiiich was subsequently increased 200 feet by the i)urchase of the Bean claim, a contiguous location. A few years since the mine passed Into the hands of capitalists, Avho have already increased its production by sup- plying it with all the modern appliances knoAvn to quartz mining. The shaft is noAv 600 feet deep. The pay chute, which is about 700 feet long,

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 37

lias been penetrated by six levels, and the ore stoped out between them. The average daily output of ore is 00 tons 5 qnantit3" crnslied dail^y 50 tons. The mill, one of the best on the coast, has 30 stamps. The rock Adelds an average of $11 per ton; cost of mining and milling, $8.

The Chavanne mine, consolidated with the Sheep Ranch, has a shaft 400 feet deep, and a 10-stamp mill. All the machineiy connected with the Sheep Ranch runs by steam. As before remarked, the Sheep Rancli is one of the most productive in the county, and has a veiy promising future before it.

There are several mines of lesser note iu the vicinity, among which may be mentioned the Calaveras, Harrington and Andrews, Wheelock and Rodgers, and xlmelia.

Murphy's district. — Considerable activity' is now being displa,yed in this district, and favorable results obtained. The principal mines, now productive, are those owned and worked b}^ the Oro Plata Mill and Mining Company. Their mines consist of the Oro Plata, Pa}?- Rock, Red Wing, and White Wing — all in limestone formation. Tlie ore car- ries gold and silver in sulphurets. In some instances the mineral is galena and zinc blende, and in others graj^ copper, the concentrations being worth from $7,000 to $10,000 per ton.

There are a number of different veins, varying from 2 to 200 feet in width. The rock, as it comes from the mines, assay's from $12 to $200 l)er ton. These mines have been iu operation about two .years, ^delding upwards of 0,000 tons of rock, the greater portion of which is still on the dumps. The deepest shaft is 300 feet. The work jierformed aggre- gates as follows : Depth in shaft, 600 feet; length in tunnels, 1,500 feet, and in levels, 800 feet. The compauj^ has kept a 10-stamp water-power mill iu operation most of the time in connection with roasting and chlor- ination works. They are now erecting a large mill.

There are several other mines iu the district that have been pros- Xiected to a greater or less extent, some of them making very favorable showings. Among them ma}" be mentioned the Collier, Bonanza, and Sunn^^ iSide. All these have shown excellent results, though, as j^et, but partially opened. The Collier has been in operation about six years, and has jiroduced some exceeding!}" rich rock. The Shawmut, Morse A Rider, Calaveras, Washington, and Woods mines have, with- out exception, good prospects.

The Big Tree iron mine is located in this district. This immense deposit of mineral embraces an area of 90 acres, and, when the proper facilities for working are afforded, will prove one of the best and most productive iron mines on the coast. Limestone, for fluxing purposes, and an abundance of wood, are at hand. The ore is brown hematite. The Old}" requisite lacking has been the means of transporting the iron to market, but when the narrow-gauge railroad now building is com- pleted, the iron interests of Calaveras will outrank those of auj" other count}’ in the State.

The Old Judge is the principal gravel mine. It has a shaft 200 feet deep and several hundred feet of tunnel. It has been worked about two years and paid well. Water for this section is supplied by the Union Water Company. There are 40 miles of ditch, of a capacity of 3,000 inches.

Anyds’’ district. — This is one of the oldest established districts in the county, and operations are now being carried on with more vigor than for ten years past. The jirincipal mine in this district is the Gold Cliff. No report of the product of this mine could be obtained, but it must be large, as the ore is of good quality and the company owning it has just

38

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

comi)leted a new 20-stamp mill, making 30 stamps in all. The mine is absolutely a cliff of gold-bearing quartz; one of the most singular for- mations to be met with anywhere in the mining region.

Steckles & Bennett mine, an extension of Gold Cliff', prospects well. The Porter is also a very promising mine. Shaft, 100 feet in depth ; machinery now being erected.

Ore from the Black Oak mine, lately crushed, yielded $100 per ton.

The Invincible has a shaft 70 feet deep. Ore yields 110 per ton. The Pletcher, Easpberry, and others are producing well.

At Carson Hill is the celebrated Carson Hill mine, from which up- wards of $1,000,000 have been taken. Litigation and other difficulties have conspired to make the mine unproductive, lately.

At Eobinson’s Ferry some extensive quartz developments have been made, but no report could be obtained from that quarter.

San Andreas district. — The leading mine is the Pioneer Chief or Thorn mine, a very promising property. Shaft, 280 feet deep ; level, 200 feet in length; lode, from 1 to 4 feet in width ; ore averages $7 per ton; cost of mining and milling, about $4 per ton.

The Donaldson mine is paying well, the ore all being high grade. A 5-stamp mill is now being put upon this mine, it having been previously worked by an arrastra.

Other mines are the Hanby and Gray, Bode, and Thorpe. The latter has a 10- stamp mill.

CopperopoUs district. — The copper mines of this once famous district are now idle, although they are all capable of producing rich ore in un- limited quantities. Tlie mines are Union, shaft 600 feet deep ; Key- stone, shaft 400 feet ; Empire, shaft 300 feet; Calaveras, shaft 200 feet^ and several others.

The principal quartz mines are the Meritius, which shows good ore for a distance of 110 feet, and i>ays $12 perfon. Pine Log mine has a shaft 200 feet deep, a 5-stamp null; and the rock pays $10 per ton. Eed Eock mine is paying about $11 per ton. There are several chrome- iron mines in this district, the ore from which assays 60 per cent.

Campo Seco district. — There is an increased activity observable in this district, especially with regard to copx^er. The principal copper mine is the well-known Campo Seco, a very valuable property. The shaft is 400 feet deep, being supplied with excellent hoisting works. It has lately passed into competent hands and is now being worked success- fully. Five hundred tons of ore are now being conveyed to the railroad terminus, for shipment to reduction works. Other copper mines are the Lancha Plana and Satellite.

The leading quartz mine is the Borger ; shaft, about 100 feet dee]), with fine prospect, but as yet unproductive. Large deposits of iron ore have been discovered in this district, as well as beds of bituminous coal. As yet, however, these minerals are undeveloped.

GRAVEL MINKS.

While beds of auriferous gravel are to be found in all parts of the county, by far the larger portion of gravel mining is done within a few miles of Mokelumne Hill, near the northern boundary.

Tunnel ridge, a low cement-capped elevation forming the east bound- ary of Chili Gulch, is being worked for miles in extent, embracing the most productive gravel mines in the county.

The most prominent hydraulic mine is the Eureka. This mine has two ditches aggregating 17 miles and furnishing a constant supply of

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. .jO

1,000 inches of water. By means of iron pipes a pressure of 200 feet is obtained, precipitating the water against the gravel bank with irresisti- ble force. Many acres of rich gravel have been washed away, and still the process of denudation goes on. The net yield for tlie last year was

about $40,000. , -r,. ,

The Bonanza is another large hydraulic mine on Tunnel Rnige. Four hundred inches of water are used under a pressure of 150 feet. The net proceeds of this mine last year was $18,000.

The Mammoth and Penobscot hydraulics on the same ridge are in all respects similar to the Bonanza, and their yield is about the same.

The Duryea hydraulic mine is one of the most extensive and sys- tematically worked in the county. The banks are 100 feet high, the water used having a pressure of 250 feet. A very large area of ground has been washed away, and it is estimated that the mine has produced

$500,000. '

The Happy Valley Blue Gravel Company’s claini contains 100 acres of good ground. A tunnel three-fourths of a mile in length is necessary to its proper working, a commencement upon which has been made. When fairly opened this will be among the great gravel mining prop- erties of the State.

The Green Mountain is one of the most prominent tunnel claims, embracing 3,000 feet in length along the channel. The tunnel is 1,100 feet in length. There is an 8-stamp mill for crushing the gravel. This mine has been profitably worked for many years. The gravel yields about $3 per car load. Cost of mining, &c., about $1 per car load.

The Gleason mine is worked through an incline about 1,400 feet in length. Work is being pushed steadily ahead day and night. ^Vi 8-stamp mill crushes the gravel as taken out from the mine. The niine is productive, but the amount is not stated. The Sullivan mine is worked through a tunnel 900 feet in length. Good gravel has recently been struck, and from this time forward the mine will reward the pei- severance of its owners.

The Rough Diamond is a profitable drift claim, worked througli a tunnel of great length, and is very productive.

The Empire mine has a patented claim of 80 acres, and is a very de- sirable piece of property. An incline and tunnel has been run 1,000 feet on the channel, disclosing gravel that will ]>ay $5 to the car-load. It has a 10-stamp mill and excellent water-power hoisting-works.

The Contention mine, Goiirley & Co., proprietors, is a tunnel claim in Tunnel Ridge. The mine is now productive.

Other gravel claims, of which special mention need not be made, aie the What Cheer, Hughes, Le Belle Francois, Concentration, Red Hill, Buckey, Corral Flat, &c.

The Pine Peak, hydraulic, is an extensive claim worked by Cook Brothers. A very large quantity of water is used under a heavy press- ure. The claim includes about 100 acres, and a project is mooted to extend the Eureka ditch to it, which would greatly cheapen and facili- tate the working of tlie mine. The Kenner mine, located in Poor Man s Gulch, has a tunnel run 1,100 feet through solid bed-rock. Gravel has not been reached yet, but the breaking through of the tunnel into pay- dirt is looked for soon. Thousands of dollars and years of labor have been expended, as yet, without remuneration.

In the Cave City district are two productive gravel claims, but no

statement of the product could be obtained. i i -fi. i -

In Doytown district are several extensive hydraulic and dritt claims, prominent among Avhicli are the Jupiter, Deep Blue Gravel, Moinmai,

40

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

ami Bully Bully. These mines are all productive when water can be obtained. The Keefer hydraulic is fitted up in fine shape, at a cost of $40,000. The bank is 100 feet high, and 1,000 inches of water can be run at an enormous pressure.

In the Comanche district the most prominent claim is Storey & Co.’s. It is hydraulic, has been worked twenty-eight years, has produced $500,000, and is still iiroductive.

At Poverty Hill are Rathlaw, Morrell & Co.’s, Garlow & Co.’s, and Cavenora’s claim, yielding from $4 to $10 per day to the hand employed.

There are extensive gravel beds in Comanche district that Avould pay well if water was more abundant.

The Calaveras Water and Mining Company’s claim, located near the Jenny Lind, is among the most notable gravel-mining enterprises in the State. The company owns 1,800 acres of ground, of which 040 are composed of free gravel. The company also owns 21 miles of ditches, conveying 1,500 inches of water, which is used for hydraulicking. The water supply is obtained from Salt Spring reservoir, covering 1,500 acres of ground. Thirty hands are employed. Product of the mine not given.

At Railroad Flat are the great hydraulics of Clark & Woodbury, with upwards of 1,000 inches of water, and employ a large number of hands. These mines are very productive, but the yield cannot be stated.

Douglas Flat district. — This is among the oldest and most productive districts in the county. The more prominent mines are the Texas, Mariposa, and Dolly Yarden. The three claims last mentioned are deep gravel mines worked through shafts. The Southwestern Tunnel mine lies west of Douglas Flat. This mine paid handsomely in former days, and work has recently been recommenced with good prospects.

Vallecito district. — But few claims are being worked in the vicinity of Yallecito. Arata & Co. are working their mine on Vallecito Flat, which has yielded largely for years. The Red Wheel claim is another property that is enriching its owners.

The Dashaway, Bonney, and Bowling Green claims, embracing 400 acres, are being negotiated for, with a view to running a tunnel more than a mile in length, to work them by hydraulic process. The only quartz mine sufficiently developed to warrant any notice is the Kew Constitution. It is furnishing considerable ore that pays $10 per ton.

It might be stated that a narrow-gauge railroad is being built through the heart of Calaveras County to connect with the seaboard, which will render its vast timber resources, marble quarries, and coal and iron beds available.

COLUSA COUNTY.

Colusa County lies on the Sacramento River, some 35 miles above Sacramento City, and is one of the largest wheat-growing counties in the State. Its mining interest is very limited, and is confined to Sul- phur Creek. It has but one producing mine at i)resent. The Cherry Mining Company at Sulphur Creek, a quartz mine, ])roduced the last year $2,575 in gold.

DEL NORTE COUNTY.

This county lies in the extreme northwest corner of the State, and embraces an area of 3,240 square miles. While it is classed as one of the mining counties, its industries are varied, and the output from the

PRODCCTION OF STATES AND

TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 41

milling’ section for the year 18S2 was quite limited. The principal sec- tion in which mining is carried on is in the eastern end ot the county , on the Klamath Kiver, above and below the town of Happy l^amp. Here are located the chief hydraulic mines of the county, lying chiedy on the banks of the Klamath Kiver. In this section are located the following-

Bunker Hill (better known as the North Knd hydraulic), owned by Messrs. Temple & Childs. It is an excellent paying property, and em- braces an extensive range of gravel, all of which prospects welL

The next mine, coming up the river towards Happy Camp, is \\ i^g^e Hill, also owned and controlled by Mr. Temple. It has paid well, but

at present very little work is being done. , ^ ^ ^ . , •

The next is the raining property known as the Girder claim, ana is owned by Joseph Camp & Co. It is said to be a good paying property ,

but owing to litigation it is now idle. , ^ . i

The next claim is the Happy Camp hydraulic, situated about one-halt mile below the town of that name. It is owned by Horace Gasput, and that gentleman is about to dispose of it to Eastern capitalists. It has the reputation of being one of the best mining j)roj)erties in Northern

California. - n ^ ^

Above Happy Camp and proximate thereto are situated two lar^^

hvdraulic claims — the Del Norte, owned and superintended by S. o. liichardson, and the Muck-a-Muck, owned by Mr. A. Doolittle. Both

are remunerative properties. i ^ i

Next above them is the China Creek property, owned andwoikcd by

James Reeves, and is a paying property. ^ ^ ^

Above these again, and adjoining the Siskiyou County line, are a lew small claims that are worked occasionally and with varying success.

There are also a few paying claims on J udson Creek, a small tary of the Klamath. Among these may be mentioned the Classic Hill, owned by James Camp & Co., and the claim of Hnley & Hileman.

There are no developed or working quartz mines in this part ot the county. All the claims are hydraulic, and are owned chiefly by large companies or men of means. Quite a number of Chinamen are em- ployed around the mines. The amount of gold taken out by Chinamen in this district on their own account is merelj^ nominal, and probably

would not exceed $5,000. ^ i c<

In the western or coast side of the county and situated on femitn

River are large hydraulic mines. . i • t?-

Tlie Big Flat gravel mine and the Mountaineer are situated in Big Flat district. On the former more than $200,000 have been expended in bringing water, but no piping has yet been done. It is owned by Messrs. Lane & Paris.

The Mountaineer is owned by a company of miners, who have not yet got their water ditch completed. It is believed that both ot these claims are unusually rich.

Also situated on Smith River, below Big Flat, are the Armand and French Hill mines, both hydraulic, and said to be good prospects. They are owned, the former by Messrs. Yates & Co., the latter by Mr. Smart. Situated near Smith River is the Del Norte Quartz Mining Ci^pany s property, owned by Judge Murphy and others of the town of Crescent City, it is yet in an eiubryotic condition, although the company has sunk a shaft and run a tunnel, out of which some very good looking rock has been taken. The owners confidently anticipate a bonanza at

no distant day. _ . , , , i ^

In past years near Crescent CiQ’ the mining in black sand on the

42

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

beach was quite vigorously prosecuted, and a large amount of gold taken out. This has now, however, about ceased, owing to the increased cost of working the lower strata, on account of the extreme flatness of the country. There are very few Chinese miners in this part of the county, and the amount of gold reported by them is nominal, i)iobably not to exceed $1,000.

In December of 1882 Mr. Samuel Howard, of Happy Camp, in this county, found the second largest nugget of gold ever found in Northern California. It was picked up on the dumi) of the Classic Hill mine, on Judson’s Creek, Merry Gulch. The piece weighs 150J ounces, or 12^ pounds, troy weiglit, and is worth $2,554.25.

, EL DORADO COUNTY.

J. W. IMarshall, in the year 1848, while in the employ of Captain Sutter, on the South Fork of the American Eiver, in this county, at a place now called Coloma, in digging for a mill-race to supply power for a saw-mill being constructed at that place, picked up the first piece of gold, which excited not only the American j)eople, but the whole civil- ized world. El Dorado County was the first county sought by the early Argonauts to dig for gold. This county very soon filled up with that class of population. Its surface diggings were extensively worked and soon comparatively exhausted. Gravel diggings exist in the county. The quartz interest is the only interest which is being successfully de- veloped at present.

At Shingle Springs, 10 miles from the county seat, Placerville, the ledge known as the Davidson mine, is claimed by parties to be a good vein, but capital is wanted to develop the same.

The Johnson mine, altbough from $00,000 to $70,000 have been taken, does not pay now, but the parties have much faith in the mine, and the indications are very favorable.

The Kay & Spong mine is placer, and pays very well when running; the trouble here is that natural water (rain) is wholly depended on to operate this mine.

The Oro Fino is the largest quartz ledge in the neighborhood of Shingle Springs, the ledge being about 30 feet wide, and the ore is of very even grade. Tlie owners claim to have rock enough in sight to last three or four years, and the indications are that the ledge will rather increase than dimiiiish in size. About $40,000 have been spent in developing this bonanza; a mill has been built thereon, and every- thing connected with the mine is in good shape. This is considered one of the best i)roducing mines of this county, and may prove to be one of the permanent paying quartz mines. The rock shows free gold and sulifimrets which assay high.

Tlie M. S. Grainger mine is placer and pays well when water can be obtained to work it.

The Fowler Grainger mine has been sold and is now in the hands of the Whidden Mining Company. The result proves that the mine is good, for they cleaned up 80 ounces after five and a half days’ work, or about $200 j)er day.

Tlie Graliam mine is paying well, as is also the Sailor Jack; the lat- ter is owned by a company and is rich, the company having taken out some four or five thousand dollars lately.

The Yuma. — Tliis mine is owned by Claus & Martin Mangels & Com- })any, of San Francisco, and is a largo mine, and is working full force now. The report is that it is paying very well. The general verdict of

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 43

tlie people in tliat section is, tliat tlie mines, taken altogetlier, are in better condition and pajdng better than they have for years past.

Gray’s Flat mine is situated 2h miles north of Shingle Springs. Sink- ing at a depth of 30 feet they came 114)011 a body of exceedingly rich ore and took out $10,000. They are now down 50 feet. The ore is of high grade, free gold. The ledge at the bottom ot the shaft is feet in width.

Quite recently strikes have been made in the Lyon gold gravel mine at Prospect Flat, 2 miles above, and in the Cedar Springs mine, of enor- mously rich gold-bearing cement. Both of these mines belong to a Boston company. Although the two mines are but a short distance apart, the gold they produce and the cement in which the gold is found are of a widely different character. The cement from the Lyon mine is clayey and light gray in color ; that from the Cedar Springs mine con- tains more sand and has a reddish tinge. The gold in the former is found in exceedingly fine particles, averaging about the size and gener- ally bearing the shape of cucumber seeds, but ranging from the size of an ordinary i)in-head to pieces weighing half an ounce or more. AVe have inspected chunks of cement from the Lyon mine 8 to 10 inches across in either direction, and where the surface has been made smooth and sleek by contact with bowlders, in which streaks of fine gold, 1 to 3 inches across, may be seen running through the mass.

Chunks of cement have been taken from the Cedar Spring mine, from pieces of which, about the size of a man’s hand and weighing about a pound, coarse gold to the amount of $12 or $15 has been picked out with the point of a knife-blade. It is not considered extravagant to estimate that there is cement being taken from either of these mines that will yield $20 a pound.

In the vicinity of Placerville there are but few mines working at pres- ent, as particular causes are being assigned why more are not in opera- tion. 1^0 w and then large strikes are made, which give new energy to owners and prospectors, who strike out again in the hox>eof meeting success.

Blakeley’s mine is situated about G miles easterly from Placer\ille, near the ‘^Old Corson road,” in what is known as Johnson’s Canon. This mine has proved itself to be very rich in gold-bearing gravel. The process of working it is very simple, being placer hydraulic mining, the gravel washes very easily, and the fall is gradual y on account of the soft earth and plenty of water but little help is required. The bank is not very high, the best part of the claim being in what was once one of the most fertile meadows to be found, and before mining was carried on this spot was in litigation between rancher and miner before the land department, the question being as to the value of the ground for either mining or farming purposes.

In this behalf a good deal of prospecting Avas done to determine the character of the land. The result was that the land was declared to be worth more for agricultural than mining purposes. The miner, then, haAung unlimited confidence in the land, though worked as before stated, bought the place and in a sliort time proved, by taking out the genuine article, the rich character of the land. Some very fine and large nuggets have been taken out by the owners of the mine, and were placed on ex- hibition at the county and State fairs, respectively. It would be hard to estimate the amount taken out of said mine, but the people who are acquainted with the mine think that no less tlian $200,000 ha.ve been taken out. A. J. Blakeley is the owner and manager of this mine, and has great confidence in its lasting prodiudion. If it keeps on as good

44

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

as it has heretofore proved itself to he, then it will be oue of the per- manent miues of El Dorado County. The water used thereon is sup- plied by the El Dorado Water and Deep Gravel Mining Company, who have built a large reservoir near the mine to guard against temporary failure of their ditches.

]Not far from this is the old Saint Louis quartz mine, which has paid very well, but at present it lies idle. It has been reported that the works were lately consumed by fire and have not been rebuilt. This mine is yet considered to be worth holding and looking after, and the probabilities point that it will be started in the near future.

jNearer town, and on the same road, is to be found the Oak Grove gravel mine, formerly owned and woiked by an English company who took out a large amount of gold while the pay-streak lasted, but they abandoned the mine as soon as the bed then being worked gave out. Lesser capitalists have attempted to run this once famous mine, but have quit after a short trial. Mines in the neighborhood being now hydraul- icked, and thought to be on the same channel, are yielding large returns, namely, the Lowes, Sexton, Ward, and other smaller claims. It would be no surprise to see the Oak Grove start again, and it would be a good thing for the neighboring town of Smith’s Flat, where many men are now living who depend upon this means of employment for a livelihood for themselves and families.

Just over the hill, and in what is called the Chile Eavine country", there are several placer and quartz mines which are worked off and on during the wet seasons.

The Ames mine is working, but tbe yield is not large. More could be expected from this mine, for it joins the face of the Cedar Springs mine. It is thought the channel has not yet been reached in the Ames. By good management a good paying i)roperty can be developed. Not long ago Captain Ames, while panning out pay dirt from his mine, found a large and handsome diamond, without defect and remarkably clear. Of course, no exact estimate of its value can be made until it shall have been dressed. Several years ago a diamond was found on the same claim.

In the same vicinity Mr. AVilliam Montgomery, while searching in the black sand from his claim, found a diamond estimated to be worth in the rough about $80.

The Einggold is the next in line, and promises to become a very sub- stantial quartz mine. It is being worked constantly, and is well devel- oped. The mine is owned by a London company (English). No esti- mate can be made of the yield of this mine but that it is satisfactory to the owners. This same comi)any owns the Placerville quartz mine, formerly called the Pacific, which is one of the best paying quartz mines in the district. Here can be found all the latest machinery for air, hoisting, crushing, concentrating, &c., which is to be had for money, and CA^erything is convenient. It is, taken all in all, a model mine, all the af)i)ointments being complete.

Tlie rock from this mine is of very peculiar color, at times green, then brown, and then variegated. Free gold is visible in this rock, and is somewhat scaly. The mill is some distance from the hoisting works, and the ore is taken to the mill by means of cable cars. This mine is w^ell worth inspecting by any one who is interested in mining, to behold the great improvements that have been made in extracting and milling ores.

Adjoining this is the Kose quartz mine, on another ledge, Avhich, though it has been paying for some time, has been closed for lack of

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA.

45

funds. When it will he started again is a question wliich cannot now he

answered. ^ i

At the Boh Bed mine, at Spanish Flat, two shafts have been sunk,

respectively 50 and 00 feet, and 40 teet apart, in which very rich rock was found." Two days’ work with a hand mortar produced 22 pounds of clean gold. Tliis almost excecxls the finds in the palmy days of 1849.

Dresback mine is situated at Grizzly Flat, some 28 miles north from Placerville, the county seat ot El Dorado County, in a rich mining dis- trict, and is not producing at present. It is, however, being thoroughly developed ; there are four shafts being sunk, and a tunnel is being run on the lode or vein, which latter is showing a fine vein of high grade and free milling ore. This mine embraces 4,200 feet on the vein; good milling ore has been traced a distance of 1,000 feet, at a depth of from 60 to 100 feet. This company intend to erect a quartz mill at once and commence crushing ore.

The Mount Pleasant mine at Grizzly Flat is the largest bullion-pro- ducing mine in El Dorado County. At 400 feet levels have been run upon the ledge to the northward and southward, and are still being ex- tended, the ledge widening in both directions, the ore maintaining all of its peculiar characteristics. The ledge which at the bottom of the shaft was 3 and 4 feet thick, extends to the northward until at a distance of 80 feet from the shaft it measures 6 feet; to the southward, at a distance of a little over 100 feet from the shaft, it has swelled to the dimension of fully 13 feet, widening between the top and bottom of the tunnel at a rate which, if continued to the 500-foot level, would give an ore body of 50 to CO feet in width at that depth. In all of this ore there is an extraordinary proportion of rich sulphurets, giving it a very brilliant appearance, and the whole of it may be classed as high-grade ore. The outlook at xMoiint Pleasant gives every assurance of a profit- able output during the current year, with no room to doubt a perma- nently prosperous future.

The Arctic mine at Grizzly Flat has been thoroughly opened, and is now producing bullion ; this also bids fair to become a paying property.

The Mount Hope mine, near Grizzly Flat, has just cleaned up after a fifteen days’ run, producing 16i pounds of amalgam, of the value ot $3,150. This is the third clean up since the new 10-stamp mill has been erected. This mine is paying about $5,000 per month above all

expenses. . ^ o

At Spanish Dry Diggings the Gilbert & Davis, the Hues & Co., the Walker, Pite & Go., are successfully mined with promising results.

At the Bogers mine, in Putty Bavine, one mile south of Gold Hill, a pocket was struck which paid $2,500 in two hours’ work.

The Pleasant Valley mine has just completed a 10-stamp mill, com- modious in all its appliances. Nineteen men are employed. The mine and mill are in successful operation.

Messrs. Armstrong & Baldwin’s mine, at Bich Gulch, yielded in one month $3,000, and the succeeding month $10,000 more. This was done by two men’s labor. These men are highly deserving of success, which has been won through the most determined and commendable enter- prise. „ T ^ 1X1

A prosperous mine, the Gopher, has not been compelled to shut do\\ n

for a moment, on account of the severity of the weather for the past six weeks, though the mill has been compelled to lie idle tvro or three days during that time, in consequence of the ditch being clogged with snow. This mine continues to develop splendidly, and 10 more stamps will soon be ready to assist in crushing the surplus ore now acciimii-

46

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

lating and give employment to a few more men. Forty stamps could easily be supplied with ore now, and of a character that would permit a monthly dividend of not less than $20,000; and we believe they will be added soon.

Greenwood. — At this old mining camp arrangements have been con- summated, by which several of our leading mines will resume operations early in the new year. Kiver mining is closed for the season, with the prospect of being resumed next season with renewed vigor.

Mr. Zentgraf has just completed a 5-stamp mill on his quartz-mining property at Wild Goose Flat. Mr. Zentgraf has a very valuable quartz lode, which he has prospected in a thorough manner with most promis- ing results, and has built the mill for the purpose of more efficiently testing the ore, intending to enlarge its capacity as he progresses in his work. The appearance of the ore now on the dump justifies the opinion that this will become requisite at a very early day. Mr. Zentgraf is to be complimented on the careful manner in which he has prospected this mining property, which has every advantage of locality and surround- ings to economize wmrking, and gives every indication of proofing one of the finest quartz-mining properties in this county.

At Eich Gulch, near Georgetown, $6,000 was taken out by hand, mortar, and pan from vein rock, hy Mr. Thomas Z. Armstrong, at an ex})ense of $250.

The Argonaut mine, near Georgetown, is looking well; the 10-stamp mill is running day and night successfully.

Near Georgetown is the Cincinnati mine, Avhich has a shaft down 100 feet in depth ; ledge large and well defined and free gold.

Next to the Cincinnati is situated the Gold Deposit mine ; it has a 10- stamp mill, and shaft sunk 100 feet, and has extracted rich ore.

The Milton mine at Mill City, on the North Fork of the Cosumnes Eiver ; (it has taken its name from thenumber of mills just erected there) ; the Lyons mill, of 10 stamps; the Flag Staff, a 10-stamp mill, also the Milton mine, an 8-stamp mill, and the Ballard, are crushing rock from the mines in the immediate vicinity.

At Yolcanoville, near Georgetown, an immense extent of auriferous gravel, capned with cement, which is only partially prospected, and Avhich is believed to contain untold wealth, is being prospected exten- sively, and is supposed to be the bed ^f an ancient river.

The Alhambra mine, in Kelsey Township, sent to Professor Price, of San Francisco, 450 imunds of ore to be tested; the returns show a yield of $2,300, or a fraction over $5 per pound or $10,000 i^er ton.

FRESNO COUNTY.

Fresno County extends from the Coast Eange on the west to the Sierras on the east ; it is a large agricultural county. The mines here- tofore have attracted but little attention until the last year or two, and b}' recent developments are coming into notice; they are situated in the foot-hills of the Sierras, near Fresno Flats.

At the town of Gertrude is situated the Surprise mine, owned by Mc- Donald Bros. ; it is being steadily developed ; the shaft is sunk 125 feet, and has struck a fine body of milling ore.

At the same camp is the Eed Eiver mine, owned by Slommer, Barker & Co. The shaft is down 40 feet; at that depth a ledge of rich quartz was struck, 2^ feet in width, and as greater dei)th is reached it increases in width.

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 47

The Antelope joins the Eed Eiver, and has a shaft down 70 feet in good pay rock.

The King’s Gulch mine joins the Antelope j they have developed a ledge of 7 feet in width of tirst-class ore.

The Enterprise Mine mill at this camp was shut down in Octoher, 1882, on account of the water supply giving out; the mill is being re- paired and put in proper order for crushing the season’s work. The Enterprise is the best-developed mine in Eresno County, having four tunnels, two incline shafts, levels, cross-cuts, &c , and paid the owners largely last year, and bids fair to continue to do so for some time to come.

On Big Dry Creek, 16 miles northeast of Fresno City, is situated the Doak & Wyatt mine. This mine has been in oi^eration a year; they have sunk a shaft 100 feet and struck the ledge, which is from 8 inches to 4 feet in width. The ore yields in free gold from $125 to $150 per ton, high-grade gold, assaying $20 per ounce. They are running a tunnel to strike the ledge; the tunnel is in the mountain 190 feet, and has not yet struck the ledge. The ore has been worked by arrastras at a cost of $20 per ton. This mine has on its dump about 2,000 tons of low-grade ore awaiting the erection of a mill to crush it.

The Anderson & Doak mine is a continuation of the Doak & Wyatt ; there are four shafts on this mine; one 130 feet, one 170 feet, 150 and 140 feet. They are running a tunnel under this lode, which they intend to connect by a tramway with a new mill which is being erected, by which they will be able to mine and mill this rock for $4 per ton. The mill being erected has ten stamps of 750 x>ounds each; three concentrators with all the modern imxirovements attached, run by steam, emx)loy 17 men. Several ihines are being x^rospected in this vicinity with a look of success.

Mount Goddard is 90 miles northeast of this xhacc, and has running through it what is called the slate belt ; it has three lodes running through it, one of red x^orphyry 150 feet in width, and two other lodes bearing gold, silver, and copper.

Back of Mount Goddard is a very rugged country, lying between the San Joaquin and King’s Rivers. It is 130 miles from river to river, and about 6 miles wide, of slate and x>orx)hyry, all seamed with quartz lodes very little x^rospected.

De Soto group of mines. — This groux> consists of the De Soto and River View lodes, lying under the Cathedral Peaks, on the headwaters of the San Joaquin River. The ores are sul])hureted, bearing silver, and will average at least $40 per ton. Careful examination and meas- urement show the ledges to be 50 feet wide from wall to waif, no gangue intervening. The facilities for reduction are second to none, there being dense forests of timber on the mines; water is easily ob- tained from the high falls on the river above the lode. These mines have been opened at four different x^oiiits along its trend, and show vast bodies of mineral. The field* rock is a x^orphyry on the foot and a tal- cose slate on the hanging wall, which is so characteristic of a true fissure vein. Negotiations are now on foot that will xu’obably result in the disposition of this large x>rox)crty to some Chicago caxntalists in the early sx^ring.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY.

This county is not what might be called a mining county x>i'oper, although considerable mining has been done there for many years x>ast. There are several hydraulic mines in the county, a few x)lacer, and the

48

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

sand washing at Gold Blulf, wliicli produces large quantities of the precious metal. The following are the principal hydraulic mines in the county, and the production of each for the year 1882 :

At Orleans Bar :

Big Bar

Marknson and Kmidsou

Bristol

Savorom

Red Cap Bar

Pearch

Brown’s

China Flat

French Bar

p, I5:i 21,699 2, 100 16, .'iOO .4,700 2,700 o, 000 600 200

60, 6.52

The Thompson Bar mining claim is a idacer mine which produced about .$2,000 last year.

Gold Bluff. — In the year 1853 gold was first discovered on the beach at the mouth of Eogue Kiver by a party of men who came up from Crescent City in a whale-boat. Miners rushed in from Crescent City, Port Orford, and Randolph, and in a short time the hitherto unknown shores were dotted with little villages of log cabins, where the miners congregated for safety, as the country was swarming with Indians who might have annihilated them had they been less discreet. The mines extended along the beach for 12 miles on each side of the river, and proved to be the most important beach mines ever found, and have well merited the name of Gold Beach. A few years later great excitement was caused by the discovery of gold in the sands of the ocean beach, near the mouth of the Edamath River, in this county. Many methods for successfully working this sand have been tried, until finally a sys- tematic course has been adopted which produces very satisfactory re- turns.

The primitive method of saving this gold, which is inconceivably finer than the beach sand, was by rough sluices and blankets, and drops in which were placed from 50 to 100 pounds of quicksilver. But these were soon superseded by galvanized-iron i)lates, the preparation and use of which were accidentally discovered by a miner at Ca|)e Blanco. The cox)per plates by constant use became brittle and broken, and were thrown away by the wholesale for several years, when it was dis- covered that tliey were worth several dollars per i^ound for the gold that had worked into them. The sand is now brought up from the beach on the backs of mules, when it is washed in sluices, small streams of water having been brought in for the purpose. For saving the gold only copper-silver plates are used in the sluices, which are usually run with a light head of water.

The following table shows the i)roduction of gold in this county for the calendar yeiir 1882:

Location.	Class of mining.	Amount.
t Orleans Bar	Hydraulic	$60, 652 00 36, 700 00 97, 352 00
Gold Bluff	Sluice
Total

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES — CALIFORNIA. 49

INYO COUNTY.

Tins county is situated in the southwestern part of the State, with Mono County on the north and San Bernardino on the south and the State of KcNTida on the east. The country is rough and mountainous, with but very little agricultural land. A large ])ortion lies east of the Sierra Nevada Range of mountains, which portion is composed of rough, steej) mountains, barren ot soil or vegetation, but nearly all mineralized. The northern i)ortion of the comity may be said to be S])lit or divided by Owens Valley and River, of which the latter runs south from Mono County through the valley to Owens Lake. On the west side of the river is the 'sierra Nevada Range, on the east is the Inyo Range. There is no fertile land except that found along this river; but like a large por- tion of San Bernardino is made up of rough, barren mountains inter- spersed with valleys and plains that are sterile and desert like. In this county is thetamous Death Valley, and the sink of the Armagosa River, which is 150 teet below the level of the sea. There is a vast amount of mineral de])Osited in the mountains all over this large tract of territory, but as a rule it is badly broken up and scattered, no general system of veins running through the country, yet there are many good mines now being profitably worked.

The Inyo Range.— following description is taken from the Chroni- cle of December, 18^2:

‘‘The mountains of Inyo are greatly diversified, upheaved in mass, unfolded in rolling hills, outlined in ranges. Alass or range, they are of the same formation, built at the same periods by the same forces, except always the Sierras, which do not belong to this region other than to form the 'western boundary of it, a mighty wall separating it from the great inland valleys. Great height, features of power and majesty, ele- ments of splendid mountain architecture are often present, making them the grand framework of bold and picturesque scenery. The volcanic origin of these mountains is evidenced by (*raters whose scarred rims are yet white with the ashes of dead fires. The Armagosa, Argus, and Telescope ranges are the most imposing of these mountains. The Inyos extend along the Owens Lake Valley, form its eastern rim, and the White Mountains in Nevada southward, for a distance of 150 miles, parallel with the Sierras, from which they maintain an average distance of about 12 miles. They rise and fall in waving lines, gradually ascend- ing until their loftiest summit is reached, opposite Mount Whitney, where they tower 10,000 feet above the sea and over 4,000 feet above the valley.

“Though seeming to scorn connection with the Sierras, they have sent out to their base an offshoot of low hills called the ‘Alabamas,’ a line of skirmishers flung across the river and set as a defense, challenging the eucroachment of the Sierras upon the lowlands below — a curious group of hills rising like volcanic bubbles along the Sierras’ sloping base. The rock formations of the Inyo range, having for their funda- mental bed the eternal granite, are divided into limestone, slate, and })orphyry, strata of which cut the surface in great parallels or hold un- disputed ])Ossession of vast districts. The warp and woof of the Inyo range is mineral; veins of silver and gold, pure or mixed with other metals, are woven into its formations like threads into a fabric. Its deposits run through all characters and grades from the native metals to the purely chemical deposits. These are distributed with wonderful jirodigality. Like all mining regions the range has been divided into districts, which, though bounded by imaginary lines, have a character

II. Ex. I()(> 4

50

PKECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES:

and nature peculiar to tlieiuselves. Following the

range

northward

these districts are divided as follows: Cerro Gordo, Russ, Beveridge, Union, Waucoba, Big Pine, Deep Spring, Bishop Creek, Piute, Sylvania, Montgomery, and Indian Queen.

“In Cerro Gordo, the southernmost district lying abreast of the lake, vast dikes of limestone, slate, and syenite cleave the rolling hills, into which the lower mountains unfold, alternating as they ascend towards the central mass, until the upper altitude is held by a vast limestone formation. In this, at the town of Cerro Gordo, 8,000 feet above the sea and 4,000 feet above the lake, and lying at the base of the Cerro Gordo peak, was found the most extensive lead and silver deiiosits yet develoi)ed in the entire range, or in the State of California. From them have been extracted $15,000,000. The extraction of ore from these de- posits is at the i)resent time suspended, though undoubtedly millions yet remain still to be uncovered, as the development of these deposits are of the most su])erficial character. This district is known most widely for its product of the base metals, from the fact that the greatest output of bullion has been from base ores. Though lead has heretofore been the leading metal, developments now made indicate a bright future for the liner minerals. The purely silver ores are divided mainly into the chlorides and sulphides, specimens of which are exceedingly beautifub glowing with the tint of summer tlowers. Over the entire surface of this district are found veins and bunches of ore, lich, but in most in- stances of limited extent, as they are but the overflow (or floats) of mother lodes situated higher up or dee]>er down, from which the sur- face deposits have been torn by the jar of earthquakes or the fury of tempests.

“The frequent discovery of these floats and the disappointment that comes with their develoiunent has <Ione much to form the hasty opinion that the mineral deposits of this range lack extent and permanence. A careful study of the suiface here indicates beyond question that it has been subjected to the force and powder of mighty convulsions, whose jar and crash have disturbed the ancient condition and repose of things. Deep mining and ex})Ioration of lower strata alone can determine the permanence and extent of the minerals in this range. Although this district presents a most promising field, the scarcity of water, distance from fuel, the altitude and extreme grade from the valley greatly mili- tate against mining operations and make the cost of extraction aiul reduction so great that only ores of the highest ^’rade are regarded as valuable. At the present time thousands of tons of ore, averaging from $25 to $30 per ton, lying on dum})S or exposed in stopes, are regarded as without value, for the reason that the amount they carry is barely sulli- cient for their extraction and reduction. IJundreds of thousands of dol- lars may be needed to overcome these defects and bring about more economical indications

mining, has also had much to do with the present suspension of opera- tions at Cerro Gordo. The clash of rival interests cooled the furnace fires, closed the tunnel doors, silenced the music of j)ick and hammer, and changed an active, productive town into a deserted village. This state of affairs cannot long continue, for the value of properties here has been demonstrated and the resumi)tion of work must soon take place.

“The district lying to the north, and known as Beveridge, is one of the most remarkable mining regions in the world. It has features com- mon to no other i)art of the range. The varicolored limestones which

l)rocesses, but once established, this district, from present , must yield great wealth. Litigation, that foe of progress in

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 51

enter so largely into the structure of the range in Cerro Gordo, and which there tower in clitf, precipice, and suniniit, are here beaten down from the occupation of upper slopes, and give place to granite. Tlie limestones in this district form the tlanks of the mountains, and do not, except in rare instances, rise in height above 4,000 feet, while the granite towers to over 10,000 feet, and forms the body and breadth of the higher altitudes and slopes. It does so, however, not without contest, for at several points are seen mighty peaks of lime that lift themselves toward the sun. Piled in rugged masses, heaped in wild confusion, building mighty ridges of solid rock, and descending into deep canons, this granite formation, makes the most i^recipitous and rugged mining country ever discovered. The mineral of this district is gold. Tlie lead, silver, cop[)er, and various rare and peculiar metals found in other parts of the range are entirely absent in this granite formation, tliough they are met with in the bordering limestone. The ledges of quartz are exceedingly numerous, each ridge amhcanou side being pierced by them. In many instances, though not of great size, they are of exceeding ricli- ness. The number of such already discovered exceeds those of perhaps any other district on the coast.

“If future operations shall trace these gold veins to the mountain’s heart, giving them scope and permanency, this district will become one of the most wonderful gold-producting regions ever known. Although sufficient has been discovered to attract interest and attention, the roughness of the country has retarded development and prevented extensive operations. No part of the district is penetrated by wagon roads. Kocky trails alone, clinging in places to the face of tremendous cliffs, and overhanging giddy depths l^arely wide enough to receiv^e the feet of the iratient mule and burro, lead into this mountain-fastness. As a result, but a single live-stamp mill has been erected in the entire district, and that with infinite toil was jracked in sections by mules over the lofty summit and down into the depths of a terrible cailon, and was idanted between frowning battlements of overhanging rock, where it stands to-day a monument of rare faith and energy. An entire year was exhausted in sevei’e and steady labor before the stamps were ready for crushing. This mill, though running for a part of the time only for the last two years, has produced several hundred thousand dollars, and this almost wholly from a single mine, still in operation.

“The mining x)opulation here is almost entirely Mexican. They own almost all the ledges of the district. The Mexican system of mining, crude and simple and working for immediate results, has done nothing to settle the gi’eat question as to the extent and permanence of these mineral deposits. To systematic, continued, and x)atient development atid prospecting the average Mexican is a stranger. In several canons and along streams of water they have erected a number of rudearrastras, v\ith which they occasionally and spasmodically reduce the richest ores they crevice from the pay streaks of adjoining hedges, and the fact that they frequently have large clean-ups by so rude a process indicates a marvelous richness of ore. On the western slope of the mountains, rising from the level of Owens Eiver Yalley and stretching to the sum- mit where they join the western boundary of Beveridge, are the ancient districts of Buss and Union, the seat of some of the earliest ndning done in the tirst years of this country’s occupation. Veins of precious and base metals of greater or less extent and of considerable number were here discovered and much capital invested in their develojunent. After repeated efforts these veins either proved limited or carried ore

52

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

of a grade too low for profitable working at the prices then ruling for labor and material. Several large veins of a low grade of ore are here situated, which in the near future, with cheap and extensive processes and labor, will become producers of large quantities of bullion.

‘‘The mining ventures at Chrysopolis, San Carlos, and Mazourka Canon are historical and woven into the early history of this section. Northward the Inyos spread into a mass of milder forms and open into a region less marked with the aspect of desert mountains. The savage ruggedness of Beveridge softens into broad and rolling uplands re- deemed by forests of pine. Here, and reaching to the White Mount- ains, are situated the remaining districts heretofore mentioned, where the base and precious ores are found in quantities sufficient to make these districts the arena of considerable mining enterprises. In Wau- coba, the fii st district north of Beveridge, the high-gradesilver-bearing lead ores predominate and in instances give promise of permaueiKiy and richness. Streams of water, forests of pine, dei)Osits of soda, salt, iron, and lime are near at hand for the process of reduction, which will re- duce the cost of mining to the lowest figures.

“ Standing upon the summit of the eastern slo]>e and looking towards the east, but down, down, until the senses swim with the awful depth and distance, is seen Saline Valley, stretching along the base of these mountains, a great basin, a desert valley', rimmed by volcanic hills, its wastes of billowy sand, its shqnng dry washes of rock and bowlder, its shining patches of soda and salt blazing under the burning sky. It is a desolate, dreary region, its face of barrenness relieved only b}’ the clusters of mesquite seen here and there. As viewed from these mount- ains it presents as clear a vision of desolation as could be well con- ceived. It covers nearly 200,000 acres of sterile land. I mention it in this connection because it is related to the mineral deposits of the Inyo range, in that its levels, where not buried under sand and rocks washed and shaken into it by generations of earthquakes and waterspouts, are vast deposits of almost pure soda and salt many feet in depth, the pro- duct of the lime formations of the Inyos.

“Thousands of acres of soda have been located, and in one place a mine of the ])urest salt, covering over a thousand acres of unknown depth, has been located. As seen from the adjacent mountains, it shines in the sun with a fierce glare, and is clearlj" visible for over fifty miles. Enough salt is here already prepared for the markets of the world, and each year adds to the already wonderful accumulation. The only ipies- tion of its utility is one of cheap fransiiortation. The soda fields here Avill also be of great value, ifs they can furnish fertilizing material to redeem a iState from sterility. Much attention is noAv given by farmers in the East to soda as a fertilizer. Something will be needed in the future to redeem our lands from the burdens now imposed by our prodi- gality. The field for investment of capital in this region is vast, and the imrely commercial interests will keep pace with, if they do not ex- ceed, the ])rodact of the precious metals. The future of this country must be bi illiant.”

The Kearsargemine, situated on Kea.rsarge Mountain, recently struck a fine vein of ore in sinking in their tunnel, which assays showed to be first-class ore, carrying both gold and silver. Other mines in this district are improving, and the outlook for the Kearsarge is jn’ornising. This mountain is covered with a net-work of mineral veins and ledges, and some of them show ore of extraordinary richness. The general character of the ores of the. district is sulphide of silver contained in a

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 53

gang-lie of quartz and porphyry. The average value of the gold in the various mines is from $19 to $58 per ton, and of silver from $25 to $72 per ton. Wood and timber are abundant in this district as well as fine water power for milling its ores.

The Palma mine, which is located near Cerro Gordo, has opened out a compact ledge from 3 to 5 feet in width, showing some splendid ore, giving assays as high as $1,127 per ton. The rock is being crushed at the Hawley mill at Owens Lake.

The Keynote mine, situated 10 miles east of Lone Pine, has a 5-stamp mill at work, together with arrastras, and has produced in tlie last eight months $152,740, gold. The average yield per ton was $94.42. The rock is packed on mules from the mine to the mill.

In Mazurka Canon, opposite Independence, are rich mines of argentif- erous lead, yielding '40 per cent, of lead and 00 per cent, of silver.

The Ignacio mine, west of Buena Vista, is said to carry $100 per ton in gold and silver. .

The Van Ep[)S and Borden mine, which is located in the White Mount- ains, northwest of Bishop Creek, at a depth of 100 feet shows a large and rich ledge, and looks likt^ developing into a first-class mine.

The “ 78 ” mine, owned by Berry & Co., on the east side of Cotton- wood Creek, is being actively developed, and the company are erecting a 5-stamp mill to work free ores from their mine.

In the Newark mine, on the 300-foot level ot the north drift, ore of high grade has been struck. The old stopes are yielding the usual amount of ore. The new prcfspect dritt is in 78 feet, showing carbonate in the face.

In the Wild Rose district an immense mineral ledge has been struck, 81 feet ill width, and assaying GO ounces per ton in silver. A silver mill is to be erected in that district immediately.

The Defiance mine, located near Independence, has lately encoun- tered a new body of ore on their 300-foot level, north drift, which assays 101 ounces per ton of silver. It is intended to start furnaces on this ore immediately.

In the Phoenix mine the main incline has been sunk GO feet deeper, making a total depth of 240 feet, at which point the ledge has been cross-cut north and south and drift started.

Panamint district. — Work is being vigorously prosecuted in this dis- trict by the Inyo Consolidated Mining Company of New York. This comjiany, having xmrchased the mill and several valuable locations in this district, about eighteen mouths ago, commenced work in a system- atic manner 5 since which time their efforts have met with wonderful success. The mill (the only one in the district) is a very complete one in all its appointments, and is required to do considerable custom work. It has been the policy of the company to make the production from the mines develop the same, and at the same time pay small dividends, which has been done. While this has been going.on new locations have been secured, large quantities of supplies purchased, and extensive and valuable additions and repairs made to the mill. The production of the mines and mill of the company for the past year was about $60,000.

In addition to the above-mentioned mines, there are a large number of mines scattered over the county, some of which are paying, others being [irospected with promising results. The following may be men- tioned: Paddy Jack at Cerro Gordo, Figuaro and Ochoa, Laura, Los Angeles, Hyppolite Galeron, Ygnacio, Freeborn, Modoc, Hersch, Wyan- dotte, &c.

54

PEECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

KEEN COUNTY.

This county is located in the sonthern part of the State, between tlie counties of Tulare, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Lnis Obispo. The county, althongh large, is not what might be called a rich comity. The agricnltural interest has received quite an iiniietns within the last few years, owing to the great irrigation works of Messi's. Hag- gin & Carr, whereby the w^aters of Kern River have been taken out

and distributed over thousands of acres, rendering them very jirodnc- Tlie mining interest is not large, althongh

This mine has been worked for sixteen years, and yields about

ty / *'

tive. The mining interest is not large, althongh (jnite a number of (mostly small) mills are constantly at work. A large portion of the comity is rough and mountainons, stretching westward into the Sierras, and containing great lodes of gold-bearing quartz, but generally of very low grade ; in fact, much of it too low to jiay for working.

Considerable prospecting is being done by that hardy class of miners who are constantly at work blasting and picking, hoping and exiiecting to make a ‘‘strike.” In fact, such is the case along the entire western slope of the Sierras from Del Korte to San Diego, whose mountain sides are covered with auriferous earth and gold-bearing quartz.

One of the jirincipal mines in this county is the Big Blue at Keruville. The mine produces large quantities of low-grade ore ; the mill, contain- ing 80 stamps, is kept busy, crushing about 120 tons daily, and employs 135 men

$140,000 per annum.

The Pint district takes its name from Piru Creek, which runs through it in a southerly direction, carrying, according to the season, from 100 to 1,000 inches of water, and has placer diggings along its banks that have been profitably" worked. It is about 25 miles in width by 50 in length, and is a strongly marked mineral belt, containing mineral veins of almost every kind, such as gold, silver, copper, lead, tin, iron, bis- muth, antimony, and coal, with strong indications of coal oil. It is abundantly supplied with timber of all kinds, water and grass. It seems to have never attracted the attention of that class of men who get up booms in mining camps. Those who frequent it are })oor men, who go there to make a raise, working the rich gold quartz they find in arras- tras.

The district is partly in Ventura County, and the part around which the principal interest centers and the work is mainly done is distant 55 miles from Bakersfield. The principal lode is called the Fraser mine. During the time it was worked, a ])criod of eight years, until o])erations ceased on the 3 1st of October, 1870, because of litigation arisingfrgm dis- ])uted ownership, it is believed to Iiave yielded about $1,000,000 in gold. The difiicnlty" is now said to be on the eve of settlement, and it will be worked by juore improved methods and on a larger scale than hereto- fore. Tlie vein vai ies from 2 to 10 feet in width, and will average 8 feet. The ore contains a small ])erc(mtage of silver, which seems to increase with (lei)th. At the depth of 250 feet it amounts to $0 i)er ton, while there Avas only a trace on the surface. The ore contains iron and other sulphurets that assay from $300 to $3,500 per ton. They are all saved.

treating them at the mine.

The yield in free

but there is no means of gold is from $15 to $25 per ton.

Tliere are many other claims in the vicinity that worked, yielding from $500 to $3,500 yearly by the One of these, the Castac, a small, rich lode, has yielded about $15,000.

Some of the jnost A^aluable lodes cannot be worked by the free-milling process because they contain lead, and therefore lie idle for the present.

are successfully arrastra lU’ocess.

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 55

One of these, the Moiintnin Chief, a large, well-detined vein, gives an average working test of $:3i in gold and $40 in silver per ton. The ore is also charged with rich snlphnrets. . . „ .

Probably one of the most valuable lodes in the district, if it were in some other place, is a vein of magnetic iron, 50 feet in width, contain- ing 52 per cent, of tlys useful metal.

Following will be found the number of mills, where located, number of stamps, and product of bullion for the year 1882 :

Uistrict.	Mills.	Xo. of stamps.	Yield.	Placer yieid.	Total.	Itemarks.
	1	10	$6, 700	$1, 000	$7, 700	Castoin mill.
		28	13, 000 7. .500	13, 000	Do
	e	800	8, 300	Just burned down.
	1	10	5, 500	5, OCO	10, 500	And arrastras.
	1	80	138, 000 10, 500		138, 000	Company and tribute work.
l?nll Pnn	1	20		10, 500	Do.
	1	10	4i, 000		41,000	Lease
	1	10	16, 500 5. 000		16, 500	Tribute work.
	0	3, 000	8, 000
	1	5	3,800	600	4, 400
	4	50	22, 000		22, 000
	0	4, 200		4, 200
	1	10	3, 000 1, 000		3. 000	Idle.
	1	5		1, 000	Do.
			277, 700	10, 400	288, 100

The Big Indian mine in Pah-Ute district is down to a depth of 300 feet and has 300 feet of levels run. It has been worked about two years, and the ore yields from $5 to $25 per ton.

The Williams mine at Claraville, which is opened by a tunnel 90 feet in length, has been worked two years ipd yields about $25 per ton.

The" Baldwin mine, in this district, is opened to a depth of 150 feet, and the ore yields $20 per ton.

The Big Blue at Kernville includes the mines Kellie Dent, Lady Belle, Bull Bun, Beauregard, and Big Blue. The ore from these various claims, which are all under one management, varies from $5 to $300 per ton. x\ tunnel, 800 feet in length, drains all these mines to their present depth; another tunnel, 2,000 feet in length, is being run to drain them 100 feet deeper than at present, and as good rock has been left in all the chutes at i)resent water level, tine promise exists for the future. The mill has 10 Ilendy concentrators, 5 excelsior ])aus, and 3 10-foot settlers. The 100 foot level on the Big Blue has kept 40 stainps running regularly for the past eight years, the ledge being 200 feet in width from wall to wall.

LASSEN COUNTY.

Lassen County is situated in the northeastern part of the State of California, on the eastern slope of the Sierras, and bounded on the east bv the State of Kevada.

*Tlie only mining being done in this county successfully is at Hayden Hill, 40 iniles north of Susanville, the county seat. The only mine taking out bullion and rei)orting to this office for the year ending December 31, 1882, is the Juniper mine, which has produced a large amount of both gold and silver bullion. This district, from its isolated and high altitude lying out of the direct line of travel, has not been as thoroughly prospected as the other mining counties of the State have been.

56

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Charles E. Fairbanks has described the geology of this district in the Adin Argus, as follows :

“To the resident and many visiting Hayden Hill its structure is re- garded as x>ecnliar. While I consider it anomalous, and its special characteristics confined to that district, yet the general formation is distinguished by its resemblance to that of the Potosi mine, in Buenos Ayres, which occurs in a mountain of argillaceous shale and argillaceous porj^hyry, which has i)roduced in silver $1,300,000,000. Also the next largest, the Cuauaxuato, which intersects jn'incii^ally argillaceous shales.

“ Hayden Hill is situated in Lassen County, 15 miles from Adin, in Modoc County, and is about that distance from the south line of Modoc County, with good wagon-roads to t he to^i of the mountain. In form it is egg-shaped, somewhat elongated, with outlying benches, particularly on the northern and eastern sides. The mountain is isolated, lying about due east and west. The western and smaller end is appropriately embellished by the |)et of the district — the Juniper — with its rich fis- sures of auriferous deposits, reaching sometimes as high as $20 to the pound of siliceous gravel.

“ The hill i)roxier is an uidieaval of argillaceous slates and argilla- ceous x)ori)hyry. These clays are in a comi)lete brecciated condition of varying hardness, from the extremely hard, compacted blue slate to the soft, i)lastic clay. Alum shale, containing i)yrites, is also met with, and a friable quality of agalmatolite — a vast variety of colors and shades — lending a peculiar beauty to the conglomerates.

“The porphyritic is much more finely brecciated. These two classes of rock are usually found as opposing walls in the trend of the best defined fissures, which have a northeasterly course, with numerous lesser fissures in all directions.

“ The gangue is siliceous gravel — quartz in masses or nodules — clearly showing infiltrated formation. * Unmistakable evidences of springs, called ‘ blow-nuts,’ show the probable source of the silicates and Hour gold. The many rich streaks, with a nearly even distribution of gold through the major portion of gangue matter, are i)lain exani])les of nature’s process here. Specimens of sheet quartz crystals are frequent, and all the quartz is in detached masses. Varieties of x)ure white and deep red si)ongy quartz are found. But little of this quartz carries gold, although the Golden Eagle mine is said to have taken out of its earliest workings some 50 tons, which netted $80 to the ton ; and again, the Juniper has a small quantity of $10 to $20 rock. I have seen but little, however, carrying the metal, this occurring in the loose, shifting gravel, with numerous rich, clayey streaks.

“The ground through which the old Providence tunnel was driven 800 feet on the northwestern ledge, and immediately joining the hill, shows the slates in their undisturbed horizontal position.

“The original discovery of gold was made at a sj^ring on the Provi- dence ground, and located as a placer claim. Seventy-eight thousand dollars was taken from it, and much more from shallow fissures higher uj) the hill. Afterward abandoned, it was left for those of greater faith and courage to sink deeper, where riclier strikes and continuous pay rewarded their efforts. It would doubtless be difficult to make the average mining man believe that mines of any extent or permanency existed in this volcanic, rock-bound country, yet very slight develop- ments give evidence of increased richness as depth is attained, and while it is clear that infiltration is well defined, yet general xiermeation of the fissure vein at lower levels are suggested as highly probable by the very satisfactory results at a depth of 300 feet.

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES^CALIFORNIA. 57

^‘Tlie upper surface fissures are narrow, but, so far, have iuvariabl^^ widened with depth — the niaxiinuni width being about 20 feet.

‘‘One thing must not be lost sight of: The working of these mines has been prosecuted with meager capital, or entirely upon the sold as extracted 5 no systematic ‘opening up’ traction has followed consistent only with tmi SJtxet^ miners. So our visiting mining man, in samplii|^,r^i|i(^l(^^^di' id^uestiOiiiug side-note of the rich streak, then Jivera^es the otlTer g^igie^^ taking gravel and loose country rock (ancLltlrat)iiPitM5^w\^>@hihgs in the mine), and is hardly satisfied with the result.

the record of what has been accom])lished by owiiCTS’as' any part ot a basis for calculation j hence the properties fail to realize such figures as the owners and close observers kiioAv them to be intrinsically worth, and which sums will probably be extracted in the economical way now em- ployed, although extended time will be reipiired. The extraction of go d is by both mills and arrastras — three 5-stamp batteries, and a num- ber of arrastras, all having the advantage of a good water-power 3 miles from the mines. There is also a 5-stamp battery moved by steam-power, and an abundance of timber everywhere.

“ Considerable care is used in saving the valuable part of the vein material, it being graded and the finer Quality at once stored. The medium-sized rock is screened ; afterward the whole of the rock, appar- ently’^ clean, is washed in tanks and relieved of the precious clinging particles, each step paying well for the handling. The fine gravel ‘concentrations’ (?) reach the battery or arrastra in due time. This washing has been found so satisfactory that it will be more generally

used than heretofore. .

“There are many matters of interest concerning the mines and dis- trict which I will leave to others who will come after me, and ^^ill yet have even richer statistical tales to tell ot these slowly developing claims.”

LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Los Angeles County’^ lies in the southern part of the State, and has until recently been looked upon as a purely agricultural, fruit and grape growdng county. The last few^ years gold mines have been prosjiected for in the mountains near Anaheim, the German grape-growing colony’’ of that county. Both gold and silver have been found in paying quan- tities, and quite recently placer diggings have been discovered in Castica Canon and its immediate neighborhood. Competent experts have recently made an examination of the placer diggings, and report that placer gold is there in sufficient quantities to keep a large mining camp employed for decades. The Castica Company have just completed a water ditch, which will carry 1,800 inches of water, and have a fall of from 200 to 300 feet. There is no lack of water at the source of the ditch to sup- ])ly this amount, and that being the case, we may look with certainty for gratifying residts from the Castica district. Kothing but water has been wanting to bring this camp into notice, and make it one of the best auriferous producing districts in the State. Gold is distributed through the entire district. So rich has it been in places, that inexperi- enced miners have made good wages whenev^er they could get a pool of water in which to wash the dirt by pan process. The gold ranges about 22 carats fine, and brings at the United States mint $19 per ounce. The Winston mine and its extensions situated in San Gabriel Canon is being thoroughly prospected, and gives promise to become productive.

58

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

MARIPOSA COUNTY

lies between the counties of Tnolnmne, Merced, and Fresno.

The mines of Mariposa County are princii)ally distributed around several mining centers. One of the most important of these is Hornitos, including Indian Gnlch and Cathey’s Valley. We commence with the group of mines owned by Mr. M. Hnling. These are the Yosemite mine and mill, commonly called ISTo. 9, the Fool, and Mount Gaines.

The Yosemite, or i^o. 9 mine, situated about 3 miles easterly from Hornitos, is now in successful operation. The vein No. 2 varies from 3 to 8 feet in thickness. There are two shafts, the older one about 100 feet deep, and the new one, when completed, about 200 feet, with cor- responding levels. About 25 tons of ore per day is taken out, yielding from $9 to $13 per ton, at an expense of about $5 per ton. This mine under the new management has been successfully worked for about two years. Hiiring this time it has steadily improved and is regarded as a reliable and ])crmanent mine. It has 30 stamps run by steam, each crushing, when in operation, a ton of ore per day. About 25 men are employed at the mill and mine.

The Pool mine lies about one mile west of No. 9, between that mine and Hornitos. It is an old mine which has been worked at different times and hgs yielded considerable good and even excellent ore. The vein averages about 3 feet thick, and a shaft about 150 feet deep with several levels run. This mine and the 5-stanip mill connected with it are not at present in operation owing to scarcitj" of water, but is ex- pected to resume operations as soon as water can be obtained.

The Mount Gaines mine lies about 4 miles northeast of Hornitos and about the same distance from the Yosemite or No. 9. This is an old mine upon which considerable work has been done in former years and is still in successful operation. Since his purchase about a year ago Mr. Hilling has sunk a new shaft about 150 feet deep upon the vein, which is about three feet thick, producing excellent ore from the level reached by the new shaft, which yields from $20 to $30 per ton. There being at present no mill on this mine, all the ore has been hauled to the Yosemite mill and there crushed. But the latest ores are so full of sul])hurets rich in gold that the i)roprietor is now introducing the chlori- nation iirocess for their treatment. About 10 men are emploved at this mine.

Tlie next important mine in this vicinity is the Eureka, formerly known as the Quartz Mountain mine, situated about 3 miles soutlieast of Hornitos on the Indian Gulch road. It is owned by Messrs. George E. Webber, Moses L. Rodgers, and othei’S, late members of the old Washington Mining Conijiany. This is an old mine upon which several shafts have been sunk and a great amount of good ore taken out. The company are now sinking a new main shaft to jilace the mine on a ])crmanent basis. The vein Auiries from 5 to 10 feet thick, and the roi;k at present extracted is estimated at $30 per ton. The rock is hauh‘d to the old Washington 20-stamp mill, a distance of 3 miles. The mill belonging to the same proprietors was built for the abandoned Washington mine and has now upon its dump about 300 tons of ore taken from the Eureka, awaiting a sufficient supply of water necessary for milling purposes. The Eureka mine is generally recognized as a highly valuable and iiermanent mine, j)ossessing an almost inexhaustible vein of gold-bearing quartz. About 10 men are at imesent employed.

About 4 miles northwest of Hornitos lies the Enterprise mine, for- merly called the Jersey. It is owned by the Enterprise Company,

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND

TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 59

of which Messrs. ]lalph SV. Baiicrolt, Andrew Cleese, and others of Hornitos are the principal stockholders. This is an old mine which has been worked more or less in tormer years but not extensi\el3» ihe present eornpany Imve a shaft about 200 feet deep, shoniiiR- a good vein from 2 to 4 feet thick of j;-ood milling ore estimated at $25 a ton. ihis mine has no mill, but has from 75 to 100 tons of ore iiimn the dump, waiting for a mill to be erected or other arrangements made 5 at present no work is being done

The Camiiodonico mine, belonging to the estate ol the late A. Lam- podonico, is a good mine, situated about one mile east of Hornitos. Considerable work has been done by sinking shafts, running levels, and erecting a 10-stamp mi 1. It was in successful operation for several vears prior to the jiroprietor’s death. The unsettled condition of his estate has jirevented its regular working since. .

In the immediate neighborhood of Hornitos is the banto Homingo min<% formerly belonging to tlie Zamorras, now the piopeitj ol Gr. Oalindo & Co." It is considered a good mine and has been worked at different times till recently, and work may be resumed at any moment.

The Silver Lead mine"is situated about four miles northerly from Hornitos, and is a very valuable property. Its manager and jiriucipal owner is A. B. Kowley. It has a shaft 250 feet deep and a vein 2 or 3 feet thick of very rich ore, yielding from $40 up to $150 per ton. The expenses of extraction, however, are very great. The quartz itself is very hard and refractory. The walls are very hard material and they are"tronbled with a great deal of water. They are running a 10-stamp

mill and employ two shifts of* hands. . t--

xVbout four miles east of Hornitos lies the Amelia vein, now in litiga- tion between George Chittenden and James F. Peck. It is undevel- oped, and all operations are now suspended. . ^ ^

The Grimshaw is an extension or branch of the same vein, belonging to Edward Smith. The work done upon this v^ein is quite limited.

The Duncan mine, about one mile southeast of Hornitos, is anothei of these undeveloped mines which have prospected favorabl^'^ but hav'e never been really worked. It belongs to Jermore B. Brown by United

States patent. , .

The foregoing are substantially all the mines of any present impoi-

tance near Hornitos. , tt

In and near Indian Oulcli^ about fiv'e miles southeasterly from hloi-

nitos, lies the old French mine, now owned by Frank Mallett, and is considered a valuable property, but is suspended, owing to litigation between the owner and parties to whom he bonded the mine.

At the head of Cathey’s Valley, about 10 miles east of Hornitos, lies the Christmas Gift mine, formerly belonging to W. B. Thomas C. S. Thompson, and now owned by Messrs. Piatt, IMcDonald, and \\ al- ton. The v^ein is decomiiosed talc and quartz, and varies from 12 to 24 inches wide. The shaft is 100 feet deep, with two levels from foot of shaft, each 85 feet long, running each way east and west from bottoin of shaft. They use a 5-stamp steam-power mill and crush 4 tons of vein matter daily, averaging $25 a ton, at an expense of about $10 per ton. Fifteen men, including the proiirietors, are employed at this mine. The mine has been worked about two years, and its prospects are con- sidered excellent. . „

About one-half mile southerly from the last-named mine is the dall, owned and worked by Thomas Kendall for several years past, ihis vein is about 0 to 8 inches thick, confined between very hard walls, and

60

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

yields ore containing from $30 to $50 per ton. The gold is extracted by an arrastra on the mountain between Hornitos and Bear Valley.

There are two mines which demand particular notice.

Tlie Juniper mine lies on the easterly side of the main road about three miles from Bear Valley. This is a vein of solid quartz, averag- ing about 3 feet wide, between hard walls. The main shaft is 75 feet deep, with a levml from the bottom running westerly 90 feet and east- erly 40 feet. The rock averages $25 per ton, at an expense for working of about $10 j)er ton. It has been successfully worked for one year, and during that time the rock has continually improved. It is consid- ered a valuable and permanent mine. They have a 5-stamp steam mill capable of crushing a ton per stamp per day when a sufficiency of water for milling purposes can be obtained. They work two shifts, 4 men to each shift; total number of men employed, 13.

On the same mountain ridge, three miles farther west, on what is called Sebastopol Creek, is found a still newer mining enterprise. The Morning Star Mining Company, a Modesta company, have bought a mine formerly owned by Philii) Gosser, and have commenced opera- tions on quite a large scale. The vein is reported to be 20 feet wide, with gold generally diffused through the rock, and averages from $9 to $14 per ton. They have a new 10-stamp steam mill and employ from 10 to 14 men. The cost of extracting the ore and milling averages about the same as other similar works.

The Mariposa Grant next claims our attention. All the mines on this estate are now suspended, with no immediate prospect of resuming operations. The unfortunate litigation in which they have been so long involved resulted during the past year in a judicial sale, which was completed by a sheriff'^s deed a few months ago, and the new purchaser has not yet indicated his purposes with regard to the future. The principal mines on this grant are as follows: About half-way between Bear Valley and the Merced Kiver, a distance of 5 miles in all, are the Pine Tree and Josephine mines. The Pine Tree has a vein varying from 0 to 30 feet wide, and the entire depth of the shafts is 900 feet. The Josephine lies on the mountain, a short distance above the Pine Tree. It is probably a continuation of the same lode or vein. The shafts are 520 feet deep and the drifts on the lode over 500 feet. On the river is situated the mill commonly called the Benton mill, with 50 stamps, connected with these mines. The Merced Biver at this point is dammed and furnishes sufficient water-power for the extensive mill and machinery there erected. This is evidently one of the finest water- powers in the State. At this point a tunnel begins, penetrating the mountain with a view of intercepting the veins already described, which would require 8,7.50 feet in all. Of this distance only 3,000 feet have been completed. Just out of Bear Valley, near the Hornitos road, is the Oso mine, formerly very rich, but which has not been worked for several years. About one mile and a half in a southeasterly direction from Bear Valley is the Mexican mine, with a shaft 100 feet deep. Seven miles easterly, on the road leading to Mariposa, is Princeton. Here are the Princeton and Green Gulch mines. The Princeton mine has been extensively worked in former years and has produced im- mense quantities of ore, but has been greatly neglected for years, owing to the misfortunes of the company. Tliough doubtless a valuable mine, it would cost a very large sum of moTiey to put it in working order again. The Green Gulch mine has been wholly abandoned. The Mount Ophir mine, on the Bear Valley road a mile west of Princeton, once one of the principal mines of the grant, has not been worked for

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES — CALIFORNIA. 61

many V6tirs. Tlio IMariposa mine, just out of the town of Maiipoba, Avas'tlie seat of extensive operations^ in the time of the old Mariposa Company over fifteen years ago, but all the late owuiers of the g’lant have neglected it. It is to be hoped that the ne^v ownieis of the giant will make arrangemeiits speedily either to sell or towmrk the numerous developed and uiideveloiied mines on their estate. If they should decide to commence active ojierations themselves, in our judgment, judging from its past history, the long-neglected Mariposa mine Avould yield larger results at less explnse than any other mine on the list.

Leaving the Mariposa Grant and crossing the dividing ridge betw^een the w aters of Mariposa Creek and those that flow^ into the Merced Liver, w^e find a cluster of important mines around Sherlock’s, about 0

miles northwest of the town of Mariposa. , , t i o

Foremost among these stands the Diltz mine, owned by Mr. John S. Diltz. It lies upon the easterly side of Sherlock Creek, G iniles north of tlie village of Mariposa, and has been wmrked upon a limited scale for the past twenty-five years. It consists of deep bank diggings, which contain numerous strata of quartz rock, ocher, and vein matter from which a great amount of gold has been taken with the aid of w'ater and sluices whenever a favorable rainy season occurred, dhe hill oi placei diggings are quite extensive and deep. The regular quartz vein, which is from 3 to 5 feet thick, has been thoroughly prospected, and shows gold milling ore from $8 to $14 per ton. The mine has been bonded to an eastern syndicate in the neighborhood of $100,000.

The Ilreen mine adjoins the lliltz, and is of the same character. It is Avorked principally for its rich placer and specimens of float ro«k. Its owner depends upon rainy seasons for water to sluice out what he lias dug and piled u]) during the dry season. The mine has a large body of excellent milling ore, which assays aii average of $14 per ton. This mine is also bonded, together with the Diltz mine.

The Whitlock mine, now^ the property of the members of the original firm of Sullivan, Cashman & Dimond, once merchants of Mariposa, lies on the dividing ridge betAveen Sherlock’s and ^Vhitlock’s Creeks, and about 2 miles above the junction of the tAvo creeks and about miles from the Diltz mine. This mine has produced large quantities of rich ore, and there is no doubt but that under proper management in the hands of those able to supply the capital necessary to place L in coni- ])lete working order it Avould be one of the richest and best-paying mines in the county. The vein averages from 4 to 8 feet thick, and the rock taken from it has aA^eraged about $30 per ton.

The Schrceder mine is about 1^ miles northerly from the Diltz mine, on Saxton’s Creek, and is the property of John Schrceder, Avho has by his owm almost unaided labor deA'eloped a mine both in placer and quartz rich in gold, and which has a future promise equal to any in the county. About 5 miles of water ditch have been built, also 900 feet of 8-inch pipe laid across Deep Creek, Avhich conveys Avater to the claim, and lasts about six months of the year. This is a claim of 20 acres of mining ground, secured by United States patent. The digging are deep, aud some verv rare specimens of quartz gold liaA^e been picked up by Mr. Schrceder from this claim. The rich vein exposed within the past year by the work is from 2 to 5 feet Avide, and is likely to be of great value. Mr. Schrceder, for his industry and good management, is quite certaiu soon to be w^ell rewarded; he eAudently has AAdiat the miners call “a

good thing.” i i .

There is a group of old quartz mines on Whitlock’s Creek, about a

mile westerlv from the Diltz mine (they Avere wmrked as early as 1854,

62

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

and some of them as late as 18G3 and 18G4), known as the Margarita Golden Fleece, Bessie Collius, Fortuna, and Goodman mines. Some yielded from $17 to $50 per ton, but were worked at great disadvan- tages by the discoverers, who at that early period lacked experience as well as means to develop them. They are considered valuable, and in May last a company was formed and the mines relocated, with a view to raising a working capital and reopening the works. Mr. John Hig- man, a merchant ot Mariposa, was one of the original owners, who S[)ent considerable time and money on these mines at the early period men- tioned. He is still the principal owner, and attaches great value to them. The deepest shaft sunk on any of these mines is 200 feet. The stjde of the new company is the Whitlock Consolidated Mining Com-

pany.

McCann mine lies contiguous to the Diltz mine, on the opposite side of the creek, and is a probable extension of the latter, the character of rock and formation being similar to that of the Diltz. It has a shaft about 75 feet deep, and has been worked by two or three men, laboring under great disadvantages, for a few months nearly every season. There is a rich body of ore at the bottom of the shaft, but, for the want of means to construct a pump to remove the water, but little jirogress is made in developing the mine. It is owned by Patrick McCann, an old pioneer, who tenaciously clings to this pro])erty.

About 5 miles northerly from these mines at Sherlock’s, Whitlock’s, and Saxton’s Creeks, is the old Feliciana mine, now owned by* J. B. Campbell, of Fresno, who. holds it under a United States patent. It was discovered by^ Mexicans, who, with others, afterwards gouged and worked out a rich chimney of ore 200 feet deep. At first, hand mortars were principally used, and an almost fabulous amount of gold was re- ported to have been taken out by the Mexicans at the time of the discovery. The mine afterwards fell into the hands of an Italian mer- chant, who built a mill, ran a tunnel 350 feet into the mine intersect- ing the tunnel 200 feet from the surface, and was just in a fair way to do well when the mill burned; his store, with a heavy stock, was also destroyed, which caused him to suspend his mining operations. The mine was afterwards bonded, and another mill built, but from some cause the new company proceeded no further. The 10-stamp mill and engine are still on the mine, neither of which has been worked since. This will be the leading mine of this section whenever capital and proper management take hold of it.

Buena \ista or O’Goi'man. — This mine lies some 8 or 10 miles north- erly from the town of Mari])osa, and belongs to Messrs. O’Corman Brother. It was worked to a <;onsiderable extent many years ago, and was quite remunerative. The O’Corman Brothers, wlio lately came into [)ossession, are doing considerable work in tunneling upon the vein and piling iq) ore. It is a well-defined vein, varying in thickness from 2 to 10 feet, with considerable sulphurets and golcl generally diffused through the vein. The erection of a mill is contemplated tiie coming season. ,

Malone mines. — These mines consist of ])lacer and quartz veins, which are situated about 5 miles northerly of Mariposa near Clark’s old saw- mill, on the waters of Bear Creek. The owner, Mr. James H. Malone, has been engaged in hydraulic mining on this claim for the last fifteen years. lie has a ditc.li about 10 miles long whicli controls the water of Snow Creek, the only living creek of M ater all the year round in that section. The creek, together with a fair winter’s rain, affords water in the ditch sufficient for hydraulic purposes six months in the year. Since

PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 63

the hydraulic process commenced, several valuable (piartz veins have been exposed, on the strength ot which ]\Ir. Alalone has elected a 10- stamp mill, which is run by water. The tpiartz-crusliing interest is now leased to new parties, who are ready to proceed with the work as soon as water sutticient can be had. ]\Ir. Malone has 00 acres ot patented land, which is nearly all mining ground, suitable for hydraulic purposes, besides numerous quartz veins, many ot which are valuable. A laige amount of piping and machinery for hydraulic purposes is to be seen upon the premises. It is estimated by 3Ir. Malone that he has washed out of his claim since the commencement at least $150,000.

Bailey Field.— This is an old vein about I miles north of Mariposa, on the road leading to Colorado from JNIariposaj some hundreds of tons of ore were taken from its outcroppings some twenty-five years ago, and hauled 2^ miles to Stockton Creek, and ground in an arrastra, which paid fronr $30 to $40 per ton, since which time but little work has been done, except to work annual assessments by claimants. The vein shows from 2 to 3 feet thick, and gold is generally diffused through the rock. It is at present owned by W. H. Woodard and Arthur L. lieynolds.

About -6 miles southeast of the town of Mariposa is the property of the Modesto Gold and Silver Mining Company, formerly known as the Hambleton mine. Silver is the predominating mineral, although there is a large percentage of gold. The vein is narrow, being from 11 to 10 inches thick, estimated from $30 to $100 per ton, with a shaft 250 leet deep. Since the existence of the company, the management of the mine has been subjected to various changes. It is at present leased to Dr. Kice, of Modesto, who is constructing new machinery, which is nearly completed, at considerable cost.

Further to the southeast, about 8 miles from Mariposa, is a new mine of gold-bearing quartz, called the Ho-Bettie mine, belonging to Messrs. Keefe, Allen and Walker. They have sunk about 50 feet on a 2-foot vein, and the ore upon the dump is estimated at $30 per ton. A o-stamp mill with steam-power is being erected at the mine, and the company, which is composed of old, experienced miners, are rich in expectation.

Hite mine. — ^^Sixteen miles due northeast from the town of Mariposa, though more than 20 miles by the wagon road, on the northerly bank of the South Fork of the Merced Kiver, lies Hite’s Cove, another mining center. The Hite mine, the principal mine here, now owned by the Hite Gold Quartz Company, has been one of the richest and most productive mines in the county, and there is no reason to believe that it has become any less valuable. The company had gone to work on a large scale (about double that of Mr. Hite, its former owner), and had constructed one of the largest compressors in the State, sunk a shaft 300 feet below the 900-foot level, added 20 more stamps to the mill (making 40 altogether), built roads, repaired dam and fiume, besides various other improvements which caused a large outlay of capital before an adequate return could be realized from the mine. Unfortunately about this time the piipcipal owners were largely inv’^olved in other mining companies, and theii finan- cial arrangements became so complicated and entangled that they were compelled to susx^end operations last Sej)tember. But we have eveiy reason to exj)ect that this mine, either under the xnesent or some nthei ownershii), will soon be reopened and work resumed on a successtul foundation.

North Hite. — The North Hite is not a mine, but a name ot a vein, or

a series of veins, as yet undeveloped. , i i

The South Hite is a mine that has been prospected rather than worked for many years. Shafts have been sunk to the dejith of over 500 feet,

64

PRECIOUS METALS IN THE UNITED STATES.

and several levels have been rim at 200, 300, and 500 feet ; but although all this work has been done, ore has not j'et been found in sufficient quantity and of sufficient value to authorize working on a large scale, and operations are practically suspended.

El Carinin. — This mine is situated about 5 miles east of Hite’s Cove, on top of a high mountain, and belongs to Itobert Williams, of Mari- jiosa. The mine originally furnished some very rich ore, since which time considerable money has been expended in running a tunnel strik- ing the vein at some 400 feet deep, but failed to intercept tbe rich body of ore anticipated. It is thought to be a good mine, and that it contains a tine body of ore which will require more capital and labor to reach. The former is but an extension of the same mine, now belong- ing to the same parties.

ilorth of the Merced Eiver is another rich mining district, having its chief center and separate records at, and taking its name from, Goulter- ville.» In the immediate vicinity of that xdace are several valuable mines, and a far larger number of those that are indefinitely suspended or abandoned. Among the former are the mines of the Cook Brothers, the Mai vena, Mary Harrison, and the Potosi. These are valuable mines that have been successfully worked down to a late date. The death of one of tbe brothers has susi^ended operations until the final settlement of his estate.

Flanigan mine, near Coulterville, belonging to Martin Flanigan and others, is a i)Ocket mine, and has been worked at intervals for many years. Some very rich pockets have been found, and it is still worked by its owner.

Virginia or Coe mine is in the same neighborhood ; it is an old mine, but still valuable. It is not in operation now, because the estate of its last owner, the late J. M. Aiken, is still unsettled.

The Louisiana mine is an old mine, lying about 12 miles above Coulter- ville, from which considerable ore has been extracted and crushed in a 10-stamp steam mill, which was destroyed by fire several years ago. It is a well defined vein from 3 to 6 feet thick, and yields from $20 to $40 l)er ton. It has a shaft about 200 feet deep which meets with consider- able water, which was the principal cause of its early suspension. Con- siderable work has been done on the surface and outcroppings, which paid well. The mine now belongs to J. B. Campbell of Fresno, and Dr. J. T. Turner of Mariposa, who hold under a United States patent. Old miners who are familiar with this mine speak very favorably of it, and say it would ])ay largely with x)roper machinery to keep the water out.

The Shimer mine, which is a probable extension of the Louisiana vein to the east, is owned by James Shimer, of Coulterville, who has done considerable work on it. The ore extracted was crushed in a 5- stamp steam mill. This mine also has, to contend against water and sulphurets, but is the same character of mine as the Louisiana in other respects. The Louisiana and Shimer mines, lying contiguous, would together make a valuable mining jiroperty for a comi^any able to work them.

Ball Creelc reqion. — About 15 miles northeast of Coulterville, on Ball Creek, lies another and still richer cluster of mines. The Compromise or Marble Spring mine, belonging to the Compromise Gold MiningCom- pany, is one of the best appointed and most promising mines in the county. The main shaft has been sunk 250 feet, and there are levels at 100, 150, and 200 feet. The rock yielded from $20 to $30 per ton, and it costs about $10 a ton to extract the gold. It has a 10-stami) mill run by steam, crushing about one ton per day per stam|i. About 30 men are employed.

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PRODUCTION OF STATES AND TERRITORIES CALIFORNIA. 65

In the same vicinity is the Bauderita mine, owned by P. P. Mast. Tliis is an old mine, formerly worked by the Goodwin Brothers, Avho extracted a large amount of gold from the mine, near the surface. A 1,600 foot tniinel has just been completed, which has penetrated a good body of ore, which is being taken out and crushed in an old 10-stamp wab*r })ower mill. The ore is estimated at $30 per ton. The pay chute is from 3 to 6 feet thick, and lies between walls some 10 or 15 feet apart. The owner will make extensive improvements nj^on this mine the com- ing season ; at present about 15 men are employed.

Martin and Walling. — This mine, in the same vicinity, also belongs to Mr. ]\Iast, but is not at present worked. It has a 5-stamp steam-power mill, and the mine is in good condition for prosecuting the work. Con- siderable gold was taken from it the present season. The vein is broken, lies in bunches, and varies in thickness and quality.

Bunnell vein. — This vein is of bnt little note, although worked on a small scale; bnt as yet has developed no remarkable ore bod3" of any richness.

I'ergnson mine. — On the north bank of the main Merced Eiver, oppo- site Hite’s Cove, is the Fergnson mine, once considered very rich and valuable. But it is broken, and its rich ore-bodies irregularly located ; hence it has become an expensive mine to work, although it is being worked on a limited scale at present by a few men. It has a 10-stamp water- power mill, capable of crushing a ton to the stamp per day.

The Red Bank hydraulic mine is situated on the right bank of Merced River, near Si)lit Rock Ferry, about 3 miles below the Benton mill and dam. It is owned by a Hew York company, and superintended by Col. W. W. Swadley, of Mariposa. The mine and claim consist of 40 acres, and its gravel-bed is from 20 to 80 feet deep. About 6 miles of ditches are connected with the mine and works, but are dependent upon a rainy season for water. Attached to the mine, for hydraulic i)urposes, are 1,200 feet of pipe, tapering from 11 to 42 inches, and two giants. The company have expended $36,000 in improvements and opening up the mine. O wing to'the last two dry seasons, the company have been unable to clean up from the bottom of their ground-sluice the result of their labors. The claim is thought to be a good property, but the lack of water is against its success. Permanent water to this mine could be obtained by means of a flume connecting the mine with the dam at the Benton mill, about 3 miles distant.

The other mines of the district are mostly abandoned. Many loca- . tions have never been worked.

MONO COUNTY.

For nearly a quarter of a century mining has been the principal, if not the only, industry of importance in Mono County. At times it has reached a very low ebb, and at others it has been attended with the wild excitement which usually accompanies valuable discoveries of the precious metals. Gold was first found in the county by adventurous prospectors who drifted over the Sierras from ^‘Old Tuolumne’’ in the latter part of the fifties, in the i)lacer mines of Monoville. At that time but little interest was taken in quartz mining, and but little knowledge had been acquired of the methods of conducting it successfullj^ The amount of production of the Monoville placers has never been fully stated, but it undoubtedly aggregated several hundred thousand dol- lars.

The discovery of the rich gold-quartz mines of Aurora in the adjoin- ing county of Esmeralda, State of Nevada, early in the sixties, had more

H. Ex. 106