San Andreas independent., 1856-09-24

pie This ended the excitement concerning
Joaquin and his party in this vicinity, and we
believe in the county.
IN the spring of 1853 the diggings on Cold
Hill were discovered, which furnished ocenpa-
ton to large number of persons during that
and the following year. During the years 50
and 81, the town made but small progress IN the
way OF improvement; but in the spring and
summer of 55 it took q fresh start and in
creased much more rapidly than at any former
period. In the spring of that year was erected
the first stone house, built by Kohlburg Co.
The American Restaurant ana Thomas Corco-
ran's-both stone baildiags-were erected in
the summer and fall OF the same year.
Until the winter of 1856, San Andreas had
been more fortunate than almost any of her SIS
ter towns in the State. Her citizens had never
been placed in a situation to lament over the
loss of hard-earned wealth-destroyed by that
powerful element, fire. Buton Saturday, tebru-
airy ID, at O'Clock, A. M fire was discovered in
the old Empire, on Main street. Quick the
alarm was sounded, and the citizens FASTENED
to the scene in time to see the smoke and flames
bursting from the roof in angry fury. They
fastened by means of frc-hooks to tear down
the adjoining buildings, and thus check the
hames but the destroyer was too powerful, ard
the fire spread rapidly from building to build
ing, burning everything on that side Of tie
street as far as Crowley's Restaurant, South,
and in northerly direction sweeping over the
American Rcsterant, fstone building) and con-
suming every house down to the Main Gulch.
Beach's Hotel nearly opposite where the
fire first broke out, caught from the heat OF
the flames, and was quickly consumed, set
ting fire to the adjoining houses, and burn
ing up that side as far as Proudence House
and down the street destroying the buildings
on each side of Kohlbcrg's stone store one OF
which was the ancient Bella Union. At this
time, the water from the Union Ditch had been
turned through the streets Of the town, by the
assistance of which, and the almost superhu-
human exertionS Of the citizens, the fell de-
stroyer was checked in its mad career
Several thousands of dollars were thus SWEPT
away in d few moments Of time. But this die
not check the ardor of our enterprising citizens
who Immediately commenced building; anG
besides good, substantial frame houses, there art
now several fire-proof buildings erected on the
burnt district among which is :. Odd FelloaeS
Hall" splendid two-story brick with base
ment, and which IS siow nearly finished and whel
completed will be quite an ornament to th'
town.
The great drawback to the prosperity of tn
town has been the want of water, particularly
during the summer months, which has prevented
proper development of the mineral resources
of this section of the county. But the g 7a5l
Mountain Water Company" which completed it
ditch to this place, few months since, will tenc
greatly to make up for the former deficiencies
and we confidently expect to see San Andrea
even more prosperous in the future, than it ha
been heretofore; knowing that it is located il
the very centre of rich and extensive mining
district, which, in point of mineral wealth AM
undeveloped resources, will compare favorabl.
with almost any section of the State. But o
the mining interests, and resources, we vii
speak hereafter.