Mariposa Democrat., 1857-09-24
maRIposA COUNTY.


lished in the city of New York, is mistaken
when he states that the Fremont grant covers
all of Mariposa County; forty-four thousand
acres would scarcely embrace one eighth OF
the county, so extended are the bounds of its
limits The grant takes in the Mariposa,
Bridgeport, Bear Valley, Guadaloupe, and Up
per and Lower Aqua Fro districts. The
grant is sufficiently large without editors en-.
deavorng to stretch II over the whole face Of
the county. The mineral lands which are
upon the grant are very valuable and exten-
sive, but the mineral districts not included in
it are nothing inferior to any portion of the
placer or quartz mines which are covered
by it.
The three famous mining sections, namely,
Qnartzburg, Hornitos, and Indian Gulrh,
that will be watered by the Merced and Mari
posa Canal, have no connection whatever with
the Fremont claim, and are certainly not in
| ferior in their mineral wealth to any portion
of the State.
/ The Canal from the main Merced river,
that is proposed to be brought into our midst
through the gap at the head of Burns Creek,
will in the end prove the most profitable of
all the investments in water-dtching, in pro.
portion to the capital to be expended. The line
of survey shows a length of fifty-seven miles,
requiring but little fuming, with any quantity
of water at command to meet the wants of the
mining population. But as this ditch win af-
! ford no water to the mines located without the
Indian Gulch, Hornitos, and Quartzburg dis
tricts, it is absolutely necessary that a ditch
should be constructed from the South Fork of
the Merced river, the most direct route being,
as it is asserted, upon the line of survey run
by Maj Mcneil and other enterprising gen.
tlemen, fully competent to render the survey
not only complete as regards length and dis
tance, but also as regards accuracy of state
mcnts and line Of grade. There should be no
rivalry as to the construction Of the two ditch
es, for they cannot possibly operate to the dis
advantage of those holding interests in either
of the Companies No one part of the county
can be improved, or its resources rendered
more available, without all other portions of
the county being benefited. Supposing the
canal now being brought into Mariposa county
by Maj. Mcneil and others, was in fair
way to be completed; the travel through Hor-
mites would be increased fifty per cent, and
much of the capital invested in the county
would find its way into this town and vicinity
and thus add both TO our wealth and popua
ton. But another effect, Of more important
character, as refers to our mineral treasures
would be felt in the way of drawing attention
to our great mineral resources. Capitalists,
seeing that we possess lodes Of auriferous
quartz in our mining districts, and that our
placer diggings were inferior to none found in
any part of the State, would not hesitate to
avail themselves of the opportunity thus of
fered of investing their money in our mines.
and then would follow tho necessary outlay of
money to render their rich possessions Of use
and profit to the owners.
Let us first show to moncd men that we
are really surrounded by the vast mines of
which we boast, and that they are good, and
will pay handsome profit to adventures
and our word for it, that we will have no diff
Guilty in obtaining the essential element Of all
progress and improvement in California, 'oater.
Let every one who has any interest at stake,
whether farming, ranching, mining or trading,
afford every facility to those endcavoring to
practically demonstrate the value Of the placer
and quartz mines, and we may then hope for
successful attempts being made to furnish us
with water, which, being done, will open the
richest and most permanent mining districts
in California.