The Placer herald., 1856-11-15
TURNPIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES.


Mile Hill, 5000
$4,000
The length of these roads excavated, is as fol-
lows:
Mineral Bar, miles, Auburn and Yankee Jim
S, Murderer's Bar (part in FL Dorado co., l, Wis
consin Hill and Yankee Jim A. Harmon Hill and
Auburn l, Bakers l, Mile Hill L; Total IL miles.
These roads, as works of internal improve ement
and true Yankee enterprise. are unequallcd 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 Californi-
ans as evinced by these stupendOus works.
These improvements are of great value to the
miners of the mountains, afiording them good
roads for 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 these roads receive
a very fair interest on the capital invested, and
the assessed value may be generally taken as the
amount of the original cost.
QUARTZ MILLS.
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 by say
ing "when these old surface washngs shall have
been forgotten, the sound of the quartz stampers
will be heard from almost every ledge which the
miner now passes daily without notice. When
pened the above little dreamed that these quartz
soon. Now at 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 for the richest surface diggings in the
county.
The mill of Watson & Co. Sarahsve, is the most
successful quartz operation in the county. The ca
pacity of the mill is not large, being worked 10y
an eight horse power engine, and with an invest
ment of only $4,000, yet, the mill and ledge is
valued at $4,000. The rock averages over $40
per ton, paying about 50 900 per week
The second mill, located at Grand Ledge, on
Humbug Canon, is more extensive, having put up
within the last year new mill. and 60 horse
power engine, and running "a stamps, and capa-
be of crushing Is 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
year and the two new mills are in the lower.
about % miles Of Auburn at Ophr. one steam and
the other water power. They have been in opera
ton about month, and it is impossible TO state
what results may be expected from these new
lodges. There has been invested about $4,000
in their construction, and every well wshcr Of
that section of our county hopes it may not be in
vested in vain.
In this same vicinity there are several compa-
nies of Mexcans working other ledges with the
old Spanish arastras, and generally with good
success.
Also. another ledge is being opened at Blue
Canon and prospecting with arastras.
THE MINES Of this county have proved as pro-
ductive AS ever the past year. and River mining
on the average, more so. The hill tunnels are
still being pushed forward, day and night. with
great perseverance. In several localities the mi
ner has reached the richest pay in this class of dig
gin s. 1t c, be safely estimated that Placer
cou ty has furnished $4,000, 900 of the gold pro-
duct Of the last year.
Our numerous rivers afford great fields for the
IN Nm York n hn \ mo-
rican river this season, it estimated that
there was two thousand Asatcs engaged 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 incrcas-
ed and collected with less labor. The total re-
ceipts during the year was about 100000
TELEGRAPH LINES intersect our county. the wire
passing through Auburn, Wisconsin Hill, Iowa
Hill and Yankee Jims
LIME KILNs.-Th"re is but one Lime Kiln in
the county, which is located near the county seat
The article manufactured here bears the name of
being very excellent. and large quantities are ship
ped to Sacramento and Marysvile.
COUNTY BOUNDARY.-The western line of the
county. adjoining Sutter 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
the rivers at Beals' Bar to Camp Far West. on
Bear river. The expense of running said line
would be insignificant and it should he at once
performed. The County Surveyor, in his report,
will call your attention to this line and report
more in detail.
DARYs.-The annual product of the Dalrys 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
GRIsT MuIs.-No mills of this kind in the coun-
ty, and the farmers are entirely dependent upon
our neighbOring county of Nevada.
Assessed PROPERTY total amount of as
sessed valuation in the county of Placer is 81 200,
OOO Last year ii was Sl,70000O. Notwithstand-
ing the depreciation of many kinds of property, |
have been enabled to increase our property tax
half a million of dollars. The increase is owing
to more diligence in searching out invisible pro
perty, 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-
ty amounts to. O............ .......... Sl3O,oOO
Coin and gold dust. st................ Il4,0OO
Capital in claims. s.................. l23,O0O
Merchandise 205 900
Total $4,000
This amount is about one-fOurth of the entire
revenue, Assessors cannot be too particular and
careful in assessing a county, to call upon every
individual, and treating all alike as the statute
declares. 1t is easy matter for any Assessor TO
find and assess visible property. But as appears
above there is nearly Onefourth of the taxable
property of this county, invisible. To get this
list on the Assessors books, one must be acqnaint-