Mariposa Democrat., 1857-11-12
THE MINERAL WEALTH OF MARIPOsA
COUNTY.
HORNiTOs DISTRICT.

western limits. 1t has a surface of about ten
miles in length, with breadth Of about two
and half miles, and is divided from the In
dian Gulch region, on the south by ridge of
hills, whose oval submits are bare of timber,
but covered with quartz boulders. The gold
found in this vicinity contains less alloy of sill
yer than that in the Quartzburg Districts of
a beautiful color, and possesses great density.
The diggings are not deep, but very extensive
and very rich. Here, too are quartz veins,
almost without number-at least to judge
from the great amount of quartz rock which is
everywhere seen upon the hills and flats. Ma
ny of the veins which have been prospected,
are known to be auriferous, and, from tests
made by the mortar process, it is presumed,
will pay well when further developed. There
is a sufficient amount of quartz rock in this
district to supply twenty mills for many years.
Besides the immense quantity of quartz,
mentioned above, we have in the immediate
vicinity, of Hornitos, numerous placer diggings
of exceeding richness some of which have,
when water could be procured, yielded for
tunes to their owners, and are not yet half
worked; while many others have been simply
prospected, showing their richness so plainly
that notices are now to be seen over them,
and have been for weeks past, notwithstanding
they cannot be worked to advantage for some
time to come. Within the boundary of the
Horntos district and skirting its limits, within
circuit Of less than two miles, are the placer
diggings of Burns Creek, FL Dorado Creek,
Slaughtcrhouse Gulch, Armstrong; Gulch,
Lousburg Gulch, McNeill's Gulch, Red Gulch,
and others, together with numerous "blind
gulches," all of them good paying diggings,
when water can be obtained to work them.
We see men daily sinking holes in the neigh
borhood, and they never fail to get good
prospect; )" while, during the summer months,
the Mexican portion of our population make an
average of two dollars and half day, by the
"cayote" process, and carry their dirt to be
washed at a distance, in many instances, of
several hundred yards. 1t is not uncommon
to see chispas" weighing from ten dollars to
several ounces taken out of Slaughterhouse
Gulch, within stone throw Of our office; and
during the first rain this season the top dirt in
this gulch paid about five cents to the pan, or
"battea" This richness is not confined to
any particular locality, but is generally diff
fused through every gulch and fiat in this vi
cinity, and to obtain gold here in abundance,
all that is now requisite, is water
In concluding our description of the mineral
resources of Mariposa country we deem it i'm
portant to make some general remarks upon
the inducements they offer to enterprising cap
italists to invest money in the construction of
canal to furnish water to the miners in this
county.
! We are aware that the sum required for the
purpose will be large, but we hold it up before
the public as a reliable and positive statement,
that the mines by which we are surrounded
are of sufficient extent and richness to justify
even greater outlay of capital. All the min
ing districts which lie south of the Merced rv-
er will require very large volume of water to
supply the placer dggngs, while the almost
innumerable quartz lodes will require an equal
quantity Of water for many years before they
can be worked to advantage. After the mining
districts between Quartzburg and the Merced
river are supplied with water, there will yet
remain to be supplied the three extensive and
wealthy districts of IIornitos, Quartzburg and
Indian Gulch, which will use as much as can
possibly be furnished during all seasons Ger
tainly, no one can read the statements that we
have from time to time given of the great ex-
tent and richness Of the mineral sections in this
county, without being struck with surprise
that no company of capitalists have yet been
found to undertake the lucrative enterprise of
bringing water into the heart of our mineral
region. Mariposa county may now be viewed
as a kind of mineral reservation to the people
Of this State. The northern Mines though far
| from being exhausted have been so long and
carefully worked by an energetic and industri-
GUS class of miners, that mining there, at the
present time, without capital, is most hazard
GUS expenditure of money and labor 1t is
true the working men club together and by
joint effort and capital attempt and in many
cases carry through great operations success
fully, yet to the poorer class Of our mining
population, the diggings north afford but little
prospect of accomplishing much by an expen-
dture of few dollars and much hard work
But it is not the case with us; our gulches, ra-
vines, flats and hills have scarcely been pros
pected. Water has been wanting, though
stout hearts and willing hands have been ever
ready to work and toll, if only the facilities
were afforded to enable the miner to labor to
advantage During the summer season he
seeks the banks of the rivers, and there labors
for the precious metal by huming damming,
etc, but, ere he is prepared to leave the scene
Of his labors, the unusual rains, sometimes in
a single hour, as was the case during the late
rain, will destroy the result of months of labor
As the rains increase, he seeks placer claim,
and there during the winter secures at least q