The New York herald., 1851-11-15
- California and Its Results ''-The Present
and Future Prod uct OF her Gold Mines
-Quartz Opera tiOns, &c., sc.
TO IHE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

TO lHE EDITOR OF THE
Your article in to-days number of the HERALD
on the subject of "California and its Results" is
most just, LIBERAL al accurate and cannot fail to
exert beneficial influence upon the affairs of that
wonderful portion Of our confederacy. The people
Of this city, and Of the whole Atlantic side of the
Union, hardly yet begin to realize the importance
Of the acquisition Of California to its growing great
ness, wealth, ard power Indeed, to the business
optrs tons OF this metropolis California has already
proyed the sheet anchor. Without the stea iy and
inner Sc product Of her mines to sustain the bank
ing and mercantile transactions Of the remainder
Of the Union, crash like that Of 1886 and 1857,
could not be long delayed.
Intimately connected, then, as Is the mineral and
other resources OF California, with the nan ,ial and
business relations Of the country, IL seems to me
that more attention ought to be bestowed, by capi
talists, upon the deveopement Of these sources Of
wealth. The continued and large product of gold
in California bas long since ceased to be mooted
point. The predictions Of the croakers, that the
mines would soon become exhausted, have been
sufficiently shown to be as bsseless as "old wives
fables" and sensible, far seeing men are ready to
confess the truth, that We yet scarcely upon the
threshold Of the "rcsults," which the acquisi-
tion Of California will give to the Union aud the
world Astonshing as have been these results in
the past three years, the future will show more
startling evidences that, in Pacific empire, we
possess sources Of nexhaustible wealth.
The accounts which being received, of the
extent andrcbress Of the quartz veins Of California,
exhibit, to men Of capital and enterprise, field
Of investment remunerstive to a degree that can
hardly be over estimated. The results attained in
q single year, in this branch Of mining, by men who
had little or no previous experience to guide their
operations, foresbadow what may be looked for
when 20 serful machinery. adapted to the business,
and managed by scientific and responsible men,
shall have been introduced. What has been done
heretofore, in quartz mining has been done almost
entirely by individuals, or companies Of few indi
vduals, possessing limited capital, without noise
or parade.
The scat Of the most extensive operations is the
cousty Of Neyadt-and Of this county, the town
ship Of Grass Valley mag be considered the centre
point Of quartz mining. At FIRST, early last spring,
mills were erected, with power not over six horse,
ard working i've to ten light stamps, crushing i've
10 eight tons In twenty four hours. Every process
crude-the rock was but indiherebtly pul
verized, and the process Of amalgamation still
moro imperfect; hut, notwithstanding these dis
advantages the remuneration for the capital invest
cd was highly satisfactory.
Durirg the past summer. larger and more po yer
ful mills were commenced, several OF which have
been completed aud are now In operation. One of
these mills was built by Hon. James Walsh, Sena-
tor elect from Nevada county to the State Legisls
ture. IL has an engine Of sixty horse power, and
besides carrying Jaw mill connected with the
quartz work, IL capable OF crushing and washing
from fifty 10 seventy Eve tons per each twenty feur
hours. To show your readtrs the basis on which
Judge Walsh relies for profit, beg leave to give
ytu some extracts from a letter / received from
him In JULY last In which are many facts OF interest
Of the r.ck in that locality The letter is dated
"GR.ss VALLEY, Nevada Co, Cal
July, ~, 1851.
Gen. ]. WINcmEsTER--
Dear Sir 8 The quartz in this vicinity
II az is in this township, (being extent Of coun
try four and half miles square), has been found
extensively, and 30 far as trials have been made, II
has been found, in nine cases out Of ten, to yield
gold. Large quantities Of quartz have been, and
are being discovered in the adjoining township OF
Nevada, and IL will require more work to be done
before IL can be ascersned which is the best
In this township about thrty.two hills have been
examined, some Of them but partially, and some
very efectuslly. The first hill on which much work
was done, was Gold mountain, and the rsck on that
hill, after taking out specimens enough 10 pay for
working the hill and excayating the rock, will, be
yond doubt, pay by assay an average OF i've cents
der pound.
The machinery now crushing the rock from thai
hill 10 saving an average Of three cents per pound
The quantity Of gold. bearing quartz n this (Grass
Vaey) district it is impossible for any one to esti
mate. To quarry and grind the rock from the thir.
ty.tvo bills already known, would be the work o.
wears for any reasonable amount CT labor.
The business Of quartz mining Is done, at present
under many Disadvantages. The machinery has
cost. and is costing too much labor, at an average
Of six dollars per day. Yet, even with high labor
imperfect modes Of quarrying, and very ineficen,
machinery, the mills are making money.
Here We have the advantages o.
Dlenty Of timber (pine and oak,) and plenty OF
waters climate far beyond any have ever seen
for health, and cannot but believe that this re.