New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-31
Rockv Bar Mining Company.


We have before US, the first annual report Of q
mining company of the above name, their location
for gold mining operations being on the middle
fork of the American river, 20 miles above Sacra-
mento City, California. The getting OF gold from
the bed Of the river has been carried on with good
success for two seasons but the chief dependence
for future operations is suriferoug quartz, found
there. az alleged in inexhaustabe quantities. and
of great richness. The company claim to have
possessory title, subject only TO the legislation OF
Congress over ali similar rights in California, ex.
tending three thousand feet on the river, covering
both sides but the chief value of which is on the
north side embracing a mountain two thousand
feet high which to the north side OF the Amer
can river, some ten miles distant The face OF the
mountain on the river at Rocky Bar is precipit-
GUS rock revealing to the eye rich veins Of auri-
ferrous quartz some of which are fifteen feet thick,
running along the length OF the plain, ascend
ing at an angle of about forty.five degrees with
the horizon appearing again at the top OF the
mountain, thus showing an uninterrupted connec-
ton, and definite, vast, and inexhaustible de-
post Of the precious metal This is supposed
to be one of the richest mines in California. While
some Of the quartz is Of very great richness, yield
ing 500 per pound it is supposed it will never De
necessary to work rock of less value than 20 cents
a pound.
Although the company have done we'll in work
ing in the body of the river for two seasons, they
have lent their chief efforts in preparation for ia
ture operations to obtain product from the aurif
erous quartz by making race, at an expense OF
$50 900, to turn the river on water Wheel which
is to drive huge machine for washing aud grind
ing the quartz. This machine alleged to be the
largest and best vet sent to California, was made
in New. York, and shipped on board the Inc, new
and clipper ship of 200 tuns, built for the Chinese
trade, which sailed for San Francisco about
month ago. II is expected that this machinery
will be set up and in oper ion next Autumn after
which rich product from the mines will doubt
less bereabzed.
1t appears to us, not only that this Company
have gone the right way to work, bat that they
have advantages over all other mines we have yet
heard of in California. The water power created
by the race, into which the whole river may be
turned when required, and always az much as
they want, is eleven feet at the wheel, and OF in
calculabe value as it forever bars the necessity
of steam power and fuel to drive it, where fuel il
so scarce and expensive. The machine is TO
stand at the foot Of these immense auriferous
quartz deposits, which only require to be olsen
gorged, and their own weight will carry them on
slides to the mill, when the water power will do
all the work.
This opportunity IS the perfection of economy
for such an operation, and we may predict for
the company a most satisfactory result. Grant
ing the richness of the placers, as alleged, We do
not see how it can be beat in all California. 1t
is claimed for this machine that it can break and
grind a hundred tons day; say forty, which at
twenty cents yield per pound. the lowest value
put on the quartz, would be $4,000 per day, or
for three hundred days in year S4sO0,00O. In
late item of news from California, the product OF
q mine for one day, in the use of such machinery
as they have for working quartz, is stated to
have been $4,000. Certainly them with the
water power of the Rocky Bar and their great
machine, at the foot of such mine, rich product
may be expected.
The stock of this company is 5 900, 900, divided
into 900 shares of 500 EACH the most of which,
we understand, is owned in the Eastern States.
There are nine directors, two in California and
seven in New-York and this quarter, Isaac Col
ton, Esq, of this city, being one of them. The
list of directors appears to be composed OF good
and reliable men. The Office is "a Wall st., New.
York. President, Philo D. Mickey; Secretary,
s. WOolnorth, Jr.
Apparently, this Company requires nothing but
an energetic and faithful administration of it's at
fairs to secure frequent and satisfactory divi.
dend to the stockholders. The directors say that,
after the machine shall be in operation, they hope
to have occasion to make a monthly dividend.
1t is now considered as settled that the mineral
wealth of California can only be effectively evolv
ed and realized by associations of this kind, which
shall apply themselves to the task systematically
and with adequate capital The gold, undoubt.
eddy, il there, in rich and exhaustess deposits.
We wish good success to the Rocky Bar Compa'
ny. Penn. Inquirer.