Grass Valley telegraph., 1855-10-09
[FoR THE GRASS VALLEY TELEGRAPH ]
Quartz NIining and Eos PrOspect

toned abound in quartz veins, many OF Wnlcn
are exceedingly rich in gold, even at their
very out-croppings, is sufficiently evident to
the most skeptical 4 and that they will IN
most cases. continue to improve as they de-
cend, is also abundantly proved by explora-
tions already made. Up to the present time,
the above named districts, and, indeed, may
venture to say the entire state of California,
has been merely scratched, SO far as regards
its rich depostes Of gold and a. finer field
for Investment is. rarely presented. Large
and regular veins Of gold bearing quartz,
can be traced at the surface to almost any
extent, itnbeded In d beautiful stratum of
ground, composed of slate and granite, show
ing plainly in places, the junction of the two
which is usually considered good indica
| tion. With such veins, and with the facili-
ties now at haud for working them, can ad-
wise, with considerable degree of satisfac
ton, capitalists to turn their attention more
or less to the prosecution of the same. The
business of quartz mining is a matter of vi
tai interest to this county and state, and if
properly managed, by practical men. and
carried on bv Companies in legitimate
manner, it will be found an investment of
the first order. AS proof of this it is only
necessary to look at those working with lit
tie or no capital, who have to pay the high
est price for raising their ores, for hauling
them to the MILL for stamping. &C., leaving
also considerable gold behind them in their
sands, likewise working to great disadvant-
age from the want of means to lay open
their veins properly and yet, with all these
disa dvantages, many, 1 know are doing a
good business. Many of these same persons,
had they been in condition to have carried
on their business in proper manner would,
ere this, no doubt have realised comfortable
fortunes.
Yet, with all these promising Indications
quite too little is thought of that which must
sooner or later, be the principle source
whence California must derive her supplies
of Gold, viz her quartz veins. But this in
difference, after all is not to be so much Won
dered at. In the old countries the same ideas
and the same method of working formerly
prevailed. NJ ist of the veins were opened
little on The surface, shaft perhaps sunk
to Che depth o. 20 or 80 feet, when the ad-
venhufers, in case they failed to find anything
to malEe their exploration profitable, would
look upon it as a bad speculation, and aban-
don i. Bye aud bye some other party would
come along, sink the same slafts little
deeper and in their turn abandon them to the
next conner. to be resumed and re-resumed,
until valuable deposites were found, which
in many instances have continued paying
rich y until the present day, and at debths
vartIing from a few hundred to 1000 feet.
The question is often asked s.why has there
been SO much Capital lost in the business
in California 2" In answer would say that
it is owing in part to the high price of wages
materials. &c. that ruled at the outset also
in great measure to the want of practical
men to develope the mines and properly carry
on the business. In great majority of in
stances, perhaps III five cases out ofslx, where
large companies have been formed, some in
terested party have relation or friend to
introduce, as Superintendent or Captain at
the mine. One perhaps who may possess a
little theoretical knowledge Of the business
but who never had the experience Of breaking
single foot of ground for mining purposes;
one perhaps who understood nothing of the
true indications for making improvements
or the best mode of working his ground to
advanta ge-one perhaps who is even ignorant
of the quantity of work a man is capable OF
doing per day Consequently the Company
looses the advantages Of those great desidera-
tums in mining, when such agents are employ
| ed.
No one discovers the lack of the requisite
qualifications Of mining Superintendent
sooner than the working miners themselves
They will soon perceive his lack ofjudgement
and of course he is sure to be duped by
them and laughed at for his ignorance. 1t il
in a great measure owing to losses incurred
under such circumstances that deter capital
lists from embarking more generally in mining
operations, which, ifproperly managed would
afford remuneratiVe returns
In conclusion 1 would say that practica
men are the only persons fitted to carry OF
the working department of mine or wht
can do so economically, or in such name
as to give the adventures fair return TO
their outlay. Facts spcck for themselves
and this assertion 1 know will be corobora
ted, by every individual who knows th
difference between practice and theory.
Ny advice to those engaging in this depart
ment of industry is to select for their agent
men of who have gone through the entir
alphabet of mining. With such men for you
agents. success will most assuridly crown you
efforts, and will place California in the frs
: rank as mining Country.
Yours Truly,
JOSEPH EuDEY.