Georgetown weekly news., 1855-04-05
PAGER Mining.


B. TRAsK, Mineral Surveyor and State
Geologist, we find the following interesting
report on placer Mining" as given by the
Sacramento UniOn:-
"This branch of industry has been prose
cuted with great vigor during the past year,
and many new deposits have been developed.
In his last annual report the Doctor stated
that the placer ranges were at that time
known to extend nearly to the summit ridge
of the mountains, but it is now ascertained
that they pass beyond the ridge, and are
found on the eastern declevity, having near
ly the same altitude as those occurring on
the opposite side. Many of these deposits
have been found of equal richness with those
on the west
This increases the breadth of the placers,
in the more elevated districts, about nine
miles, and the length between twenty-five
and tweuty-seven miles, on line parallel
with the trend of the mountains This ad-
ditional field is what may be denominated
dry diggings." Still, they will prove avail
able only during the summer season and
early part of autumn, for their altitude and
local position.
The report next dwells at length upon
the various ranges Of the placer country, viz:
the eastern, middle and valley mines This
branch of industry is not altogether game
of chance, but science, in the strictest
sense Of the word. The placer miner Of the
present day, in this section of the State, es-
Inmates the costs of the operation on which
he is about to enter with all that care and
attention that would be bestowed upon any
other enterprise where the sum Of ten to
thirty thousand dollars is the sum to be in
vested, and where his interests are involved
10 that extent. 1t is not uncommon to find
amounts equal to the above, invested in our
larger operations now in progress Of work
ing, and few instances among many may
serve to illustrate the fact. | will mention
but two or three in connection with this
part of our subject.
The cost of opening the Mamaluke Hill,
near Georgetown. by the parties interested,
exceeded forty thousand dollars, while the
receipts from the same during the period of
little more than one year has exceeded five
hundred thousand. Another case is that of
Jones Hill, also near Georgetown, the open
ing OF which has already risen above thirty
four thousand dollars, the receipts being
above two hundred and eighty-four thousand
dollars; and still another in the county of
Nevada, Uairds Hill) the expense Of open
ing was nearl y forty thousand dollars, while
the receipts from the latter in June last had
reached the sum of one hundred and fifty
thousand-the recources Of either are as
yet in anything but an exhausted condition.
The above are mentioned only for the pur-
pose Of conveying better idea of the eX-
pense and profits of what is denominated
deep mining, in this State, and the localities
named form but a small proportion to the
aggregate of similar workings.
In the counties OF Nevada, Sierra, Placer,
FL Dorado, Amador and Calaveras, there
are scores of adits and other workings of
smaller dimensions, which have already cost
sums varying in amount from ten thousand
dollars upward to the figures given above,
and from which proportional profits have
been derived. The mining districts abound
with evidences of wealth like those above,
and they possess equally as strong evidences
of permanency Of character, and it would be
no difficult matter for the increduIous to
Danish his incredulity, if be will but take
the trouble to investigate the facts which
nature and individual enterprise have placed
before him."
The report given by DR.. TRAsK was taken
last summer, and though somewhat too fa-
vorable for the time it was taken, 1--WE refer
to Mamaluke and Jones Hills) it is hardly
equal to the true condition Of these mines
as they are now developed.