The Placer herald., 1856-11-01
TURNPIKE ROADS AND BRlpGEs.
$4,000

Mile HUI, 5,00O
SS4 900
The length Of these roads, excayaed, Isl fol.
lows:
Mineral Bar. miles Auburn and Yankee Jim
s. Murderers Bar (part in Ell Dorado COY l. Wis
cousin Hill and Yankee Jim Harmon Hill and
Auburni L Bakers |, Mile Hill L. Total II miles
These roads. as works of internal improvement
and true Yankee enterprise are unequalled in
any country. The man from the East as he passes
over them for the first time is struck with surprise
at the enterprise and perseverance Of Oalifofui-
ans, as evinced by these stupcndous works.
These improvements are of great value to the
miners of the mountains afordng them good
roadstor the transportation of provisions. where,
previous to their construction every pound must
be carried upon the back of the mule.
The owners of the Stock in ,hesc roads receive
a very fair interest on the capital invested, and
the assessed value may he generally taken as Tie
amount of the original cost ~
QUARTZ MuLs.
In my last years Report after stating that there
were but two successful quartz mills in the coun-
ty, closed my paragraph ON the subject Ivy say
ing 'when these old surface washings shall have
been forgotten. the sound of the quartz stampcrs
will be heard from almost every ledge which the
miner now passes daily without notice. When
pened the above | little dreamed that these quartz
lodges would attract the attention of the miner so
soan Now, ut this time. the sound of two new
mills may be heard within two miles walk of this
place They are located at Ophir. place once
celebrated fo3 the richest surface diggings in the
county. - i'
The mill of Watson 4 Co SarahsvHe, is the most
successful quartz operation in tire county. The ca
pacity of the mill is not large. being worked by
an eighl horse power engine and with an invest
ment of only $4,000, yet. the IN II and ledge is
valued at $50 900. The rock averages over $40
per ton. paying about 50 900 per week.
The second mill, located ut Grand Ledge. on
Ilumhug Canon. is more extensive having put up
within the last year new mill. and Il 60 horse
power engine, and running "a stamps, and capa
he OF crushing 10 tons OF rock every "A hours
This lead is believed to be good.
The two mills above alluded to are in the upper
portion Of the county. and were in operation last
wear and the two new mills are in the lower.
about % miles of Auburn at Ophir. one steam ami
the other water power. They have been in opera
ton about month, and ii is impossible To State
what results may be expected from these new
hedges There has been invested about $4,000
in their construction. and every well Wlsher of
that section OF our county hopes ii ay not he III
vested in vain.
In this same vicinity there are several compa-
nics of Mcxicans working other lodges with the
old Spanish arastras, and generally with good
success.
AlsQ, another ledge is being opened at Blue
Canon and prospecting with arastras.
ductive as ever the past year and River mining
on the average, more The hill tunnels are
still being pushed forward, day and night, with
great perseverance,. In several localites the mi
ncr has reached the richest pay in this class Of dig
gngs. 1t n be safely tmated that Placer
county has iurnishcd Sb,00O,O 900 OF the gold pro-
duet Of the last year. t'.'
Our numerous rivers afford great fields for the
Chinese miners. On the North Fork of the Ame-
rican river. this season. it was estimated that
there was two thousand Asatcs aged in min
Ing; and in the entire county over three Thousand,
The revenue from this people since their monthly
tax was reduced, has been considerably ncreas-
ed and collected with less labor. The total re-
ccipys duyirg the year was about $4,000
TELEGRAPH LINES intcrsect our county. the wire
passing through Auburn, Wisconsin Hill Iowa
Hill and laukee JimS.
a. LIME EuNs.-Th"re is but one Lime Kiln in
the county. which is located near the county seat
The article manu- Iacturcd here bears the name of
being very excellent. and large quantities are ship
ped to Sacramento and Marysvlle
COUNTY BotNDARY.--The western line of the
county. adjoining Suttcr and Sacramento, is en-
tirely unknown and unmarked, though it has been
once surveyed. This gives the Assessors of the
different counties and the citizens living on the
line, no little trouble and Inconvenience. The
distance which should be surveyed and marked iS
about thirty miles, running from the Junction al
the rivers at Beals Bar to Camp Far West on
Bear river. L. ut tNp'ISt vi I"Iii''E H'iu INV
would be insignificant and it should be at once
performed. The County Surveyor. in his report
will call your attention to this line and report
more in detail.
D.mYs.-The annual product of the Dairys OF
Placer, am unable to report They are all quite
small and in their infancy. The coming year it
may be reasonably expected that butter and cheese
will be quite an important product OF the county.
GRIsr MIIIs.--No mills of this kind in the conn-
ty, and the farmers are entirely dependent upon
! our neighboring county Of Nevada.
| ASSESSED Property The total amount OF as
scssed valuation in the county Of Placer Is S2.ACO.
coo. Last year it was $l.700.000. Notwthstan'l-
ind the depreciation Of many kinds OF property. |
have been enabled to increase our property tax
half million of dollars The increase is ewing
to more dill igcncc in searching out invisible pro
pcrty. consisting of money and gold dust solvent
debts and money invested in mining claims.
SOLVENT DEBTS-The total amount
of solvent debts assessed in the coun-
tv omounts to - $3.50 900
| Coin and nold dust III. 900
! Conital in claims Observation-Disclosures. 1926 900
| Merchandise .,. 20j 900
Total .... ~ $570 900
This amount is about onc-onrth OF the eniirr
revenue Assessors cannot he too particular ah'
careful in assessing county, to call upon every
ihdividua and treating all alike as the statute
declares. 1t is an easy matter FOR any Assessor 'o
find and oSenSs visible nrnDprtV. But AS appears