The Nevada Democrat., 1856-11-26
Mining.

and embodied in the message of Gov. Blgler, at
the commencement of the lastLegislature, show
that the number of miles and value of canals
and bitches within the county, at that time
completed, was but little less than the sum own
ed by Ell Dorado, while it far exceeded that
county in the number of its quartz mills, the
amount of money invested in that branch of
mining industry, and the annual product ofmin-
eral
Quartz Mining is principally con6ped to Grass
Valley and the adjacent region of country. The
Quartz is found in lodges in all sections of the
county, and mills for crushing it, have been
erected in isolated spots at other points-the
business, however, of crushing quartz is carried
on at that thriving town, and is essentially, the
occupation of its inhabitants. The difficulties
which, in the beginning, were necessarily en-
countered in consequence of imperfect machine
ry, have been overcome, and each of the nume-
rous mills in that place, are now in successful
operation. The profit in this pursuit, of course
is dependent in a great measure, upon the rich
ness of the quarry being workcd-the cost Of
quarrying and crushing being uniform in a
great measure, about S12 to SIS per ton. A
ledge has recently been opened at what is
known as Allison's Ranch, several hundred tons
Of which have been taken out and crushed, and
has yielded nearly $4OO per ton--enriching the
fortunate owners in brief period of time. 1t
would, however, be an exaggeration to intimate
that this sis affair example of the quartz business
TIE greater part of the ledges so far discovered,
pay a profitable remuneration for the large
capital necessarily invested in machinery and
labor. The ''lucky strikes" of the above char
acter are made by the few at intervals The
business, however, is sufficiently lucrative to
sustain considerable population, and to en-
courage the many who are engaged in it. The
amount of capital actually invested in quartz
mines and machinery, cannot be less than three
fourths of million of dollars giving employ
ment to five hundred men.
Rirer Mining, from its nature, limited in its
resources, has since the discovery of hill dig
gings become Of secondary Importance. STILL
during the summer months when the water is
low, the bars along on the middle and south Yu-
bas and the beds of number of smaller streams
are worked by large number of miners, who
happen not to have hill diggings or whose hill
claims are located in places not supplied with
bitches. In these too the sons of Shem, who
follow mining, find their chief employment, ci-
ther from repugnance to working deep dig
gings, or because they come less in collision
with the lordly sons ofJaphet. Including 800
Cinnamon estimated to be engaged in mining in
our streams, there are not less than 5000 men
during the summer months employed along the
channels of our water courses. Although in the
beginning, gold hunting was directed almost ex-
clusively to the rivers, and every promising To-
cality was prospected, still many eluded the
search of the first adventurers, and occa-
sionally good strikes are made in the bars of the
rivers and creeks. Wages are uniformly made
by those who work in this class of dggings
I'LL Diggnlgs have long since become the great
reliance of the miner, and the mass of them now
turn their attention to those deposits which are
to be found in the channels of the old rivers
and water courses, or lying upon the surface of
the bedrock and permeating the subsoil. The
process of reaching these are by means of tun-
nels running into the hills, at an angle sufficient
to produce drainage; by perpendicular shafts;
or by washing away the whole hill. Tunnelng
is the more common and these are run from a
hundred to fifteen hundred or two thousand feet
before reaching the aurilerous SOIL Shafting
in many places is less expensive and where the
ground win admit of it is for that reason pre-
ferred In other places where the sub-soil is of
such depth as will pay to wash off the top
dirt the hydraulic agent is employed. By this
great leveller the hills are washed down and
suced off. In these different deep dggings
there are employed as many perhaps as five or
six thousand able bodied citzens-.the greater
part of whom arc direct owners in the claims
worked by them-the rest being employees for
wages at from three to four dollars per day.
The whole annual yield Of mineral in this
county if reduced to the standard of our curren-
cy would doubtless amount to at least S6.O0O.-
900. Intimately connected with the mining in
terest and essential to its success in the deep hill
diggings is that of water power. To obtain this
important element bitches often of a capacity to
justify the denomination of canals are cut along
the hills to the water sources aud fumed over
the cafions and intermediate creeks The whole
number of bitches within the county and con
veying water in the winter months it is estima-
ted are over one hundred, having an aggregate
length of over 500 miles. Their value may be
Judged of from the cost of one belonging to the
South Yuba company of sixteen miles in length,
which is now nearly completed at a cost of
$350,000. This however is of the largest di-
mensions having an average width of six feet
and four feet deep, constructed in the most du
rable manner and through very difficult coun-
try. 1t passes through tunnel 5000 feet in
length, of which $500 has already been com
pleted. The work is now being pushed with
great energy and the whole ditch il is expected
VIII be finished by the first of May next The