Mariposa Democrat., 1857-09-17
MARIposA COUNTY.

are immense. We say immense in the ltera
meaning and genuine acceptation of the word
and we feel justified in using the expression
Our mines are beyond the reach of immediate
development, because under the most favora
bic auspices, some two years or more will be
required to construct ditch to supply the
mines situated within the. limits of the Ere
mont grant, but conceding this delay, as ne
cessarily resulting from the magnitude of the
required canal, nevertheless the impetus givcr
to all kinds of mining operations by the mere
commencement of the canal, will enable miners
and others to place before the eyes Of specu
lators and capitalists the now neglected lodes
of auiilerous treasures.
Every one must know that the mining re-
gions in the northern part of the State, are
trayersed by bitches carrying ncedful sup
ply of water to almost every gulch, fiat, and
ravine, and in many cases even to the submits
of high hills, to enable the miners to work
tons. Miners who are daily returning from
the northern mines, state to us that it requires
capital to work there with hope of rendering
labor profitable, because SO thoroughly have
most of the placer mines been dug out that
only those mining claims remain to the miners
that require an association of miners to effect
ually work them, or ready amount of cash
capital on hand in order to employ labor
But in a mining point of view, Mariposa re-
mains intact From the rocky channel Of that
mountain stream, the Chowchia, to the sun
amount of gold, which can only be obtained
| by supply of water from the Merced or its trib-
utaries. An area of mining not less than forty
miles square has thus been reserved to the
mining population Of the State, not because
the hands have been wanting to extract the
treasure thus scattered over the surface, but,
because the scarcity of water has rendered la.
Dor idle if not useless
In the very heart of Mariposa County--the
lines forming the shape of Il boot--has been
located the Fremont grant, a claim Of great
celebrity and often vexatiously mentioned
Through the center of this grant, will pass
the Mcrced and Fremont canals, and the un-
told wealth that lies hid upon the bedrock,
or is implanted in the Quartz lodes will, after
the completion of even one or the other of
those canals, be rendered accessible TO the
poorest miners who have only to exert
their muscles to earn more than ordinary wages.
Complaints and vexatious difficulties, in regard
to the Fremont claim can have little weight N
aiding the development Of the mines located
in the Qnartzburg, Hornitos, and Indian Gulch
Districts 1t is more than probable that the
supply of water furnished by the Mcneil or
Fremont canal will be required TO supply the
Eine mining districts, through which they will
pass before reaching us. All the water that
we require can be obtained by the construc-
ton of small ditch from the main M-ccd
river, upon line lately run by Mr.. Peterson,
most competent surveyor and Engineer.
Certainly no one viii doubt the expediency or
possibility Of the construction of such ditch
from the Mcrced river An ample supply
of water can be had at all seasons Of the
year-especialy during the summer months
when water is most needed, and the days are
long, so that the miners can employ their time
and labor to the most advantage. The Quartz
odes in the vicinity of Hornitos, Quartzburg,
and Indian Guch or, perhaps, we might speak
with more exactitude, the auriferous lodes Of
Quartz within that area ofland known as Burns
Valley, are as numerous and rs rich as can
be found in any part Of the State, and what
is fact, and truth too, of a very essential
requisite, and substantial Importance, is, that
the lodes of auriferous Quartz found here, i'm
on, the further we 60 down the better they
become. This is evidenced by the shafts
sunk upon the Washington, the Silver and
Gaines lodes and we are knowing Of other
instances where the truthfuncss of the asser-
tion is fully verified. Mere laudatons in praise
of one mineral district at venture of depre-
ciating the value of other sections within the
county, canneither add to, nor detract from the
respective locations, but the immediate pres
ence of so many and such rich lodes of Quartz
in this vicinity, fully justiies US in asserting
that capitalists may venture with certainty
Of success, in large outlays of money in the
purchase of these lodes which will be ten fold
enhanced in value when water can be obtained
for working them. If we cannot furnish the
means and labor necessary to constructa ditch,
let us give every encouragement to capitalists
and others who are willing to make an invest
ment in order TO obtain the ends in view,
whether they are operating for their own or
other peoples advantage. They cannot help
themselves without aiding us, and the more
money they spend in constructing ditch the
more it will assist our traders and benefit the
miners.
/ STATE ELECTION RETURNS