San Andreas independent., 1856-09-24
[0K10ITVAC DEFE(1VE

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 oecupa-
ton to a large number of persons during that
and the following year. During the years SO
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 l. Co.
The American Restaurant and Thomas Corco-
ran's-both stone buildiags-were erected in
the summer and fall OF the same year.
Until the winter of 1886, San Andreas had
been more fortunate than almost any of her sis
ter towns in the State. Her citizens had never
been placed in situation to l4ment. over the
loss OF hard-earned wealth-destroyed by that
powerful element fire. But on Saturday, Febru-
airy ID, at O'Clock, A. ~, fire was discovered in
the old Empire, on Main street. Quick the
alarm was sounded and the citizens FASTENED
10 the scene In time to see the smoke and flames
bursting from the roof in angry fury They
FASTENED by means of firc-hooks to tear down
the adjoining buildings, and thus check the
1ames; but the destroyer was too powerful, ard
the fire spread rapidly from building to build
ing, burning everything on that side Of the
street as far as Crowley's Restaurant South,
and in a northerly direction sweeping over the
American Resterant, tstone buiding) and con-
sumng every house down to the Main Gulch
Beach's Hotel nearly opposite where the
fire first broke out, caught from the heat of
the iitmes, and was quickly consumed, set
ting fire to the adjoining houses, and burn
ing. up that side as far Propidence House,
and down the street destroying the buildings
on each side of Kohlbergs 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 few moments Of time. But this did
not check the ardor of our enterprising citizens,
who Immediately commenced rebuilding and
besides good, substantial frame houses, there are
now several fre-proof buildings erected on the
/ burnt district, among which is q Odd Fslloars
! Hail." a splendid two-story brick with q base
ment and which ie slow nearly finished and when
completed will be quite an ornament to the
town.
The great drawback to the prosperity of tho
town has been the want of water, particularly
during the summer months, which has prevented
a proper development of the mineral resources
of this section Of the county. But the I" Ia5i
Mountain Water Company" which completed it
ditch to this place, a few months since will tend
greatly to make up for the former deficiencies
and we confidently expect to see San AndreaS
even more prosperous in the future, than it ha:
been heretofore; knowing that it is located II
the very centre of a rich and extensive mining
district, which, in point of mineral wealth ant
undeveloped resources, will compare favorably
with almost any section of the State. But o
the mining interests, and resources, we vii
speak hereafter