Mariposa Democrat., 1857-10-22
II o II n l II O $:
THURSDAY MORNING.
OCT. 2a,
THE MINERAL WEALTH OF DIARIPosA
COUNTY.

think correct answer may be given in the
affirmative without fear of successful contra
diction. All the intervening space between
the Fresno river and the plains is one vast
field of aurferous soil, and may be styled
rich mineral lands, containing in the surface
earth those metals known to be useful and or
namental in the ordinary traffic Of every day
life The estimated cost of ditch from the
South Fork Of the Merced river, will fall little
short of four hundred thousand dollars
While that from the main Merced river to the
head of Burns creek, will not cost over two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Five or
six hundred thousand dollars then, judicious.
ly applied would probably be sufficient sum
of money to complete both bitches, of an ex-
tent and amplitude to conduct all the water
that will be required for mining purposes. 1t
is true that a reasonable doubt has been ex-
pressed as to the sufliciency of the volume of
water in the South Fork of the Merced River,
during the summer months, but when it is
considered that a canal can be constructed
from the foot of the Yosemite valley to point
on the South Fork, above the place where it
is proposed to take out the water for the South
Fork ditch, the subject is relieved of all diff
Guilty as regards an abundance of water That
an equally large amount of capital will be re-
quired to conduct the water from the Yosemite
to the South Fork, is certain, but the outlay
under any circumstances, and viewed from
any point with an eye to financial operations,
presents most favorable project for adven-
lures.
The county may be properly divided into
twelve mining districts, all of which have been
prospected to an extent that proves them well
worthy of the attention of capitalists. The
hills valleys, gulches and flats wherever and
whenever water could be obtained to work
them, have proved worth working, while the
heavy lodes of auriferous quartz rock contain
boundless wealth within their solid walls In
order that the mining districts which are en-
braced within the lines of the Fremont grant
may not be confounded with those more nu-
merous without its limits we shall begin with
short and succnct description of them, and
close our article with those not on the grant
They may be divided into four separate dis
tricts: Mariposa Creek, Bridgeport ard Gauda-
loupe, Aqua Fro, Bear Valley.
MARIPosA CREEK.
Mariposa Creek district is the strip of land
through which flows Mariposa Creek and the
gulches leading into the same, being about
twelve miles in length, and from one to two
miles in width. The creek has been worked
over several times, and in many claims on the
stream it still continues pay we'll This stream
affords but one sluice head of water during
the summer months, but in winter it has a
copions supply of water, running till late in
the spring. Most of the gulches are untouch-
by the miners pick, and the flats in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the creek have not scarcely
been disturbed, save here and there an occa.
sional prospect hole. The hills have not been
tunnelled, except in few instances, and their
richness may be presumed on, from the fact
that forty thousand dollars were taken from a
single hill, into which three tunnels were run
There is scarcely any of this portion of the
grant that has not paid well for the amount of
labor bestowed in working it. The number of
sluice-heads of water that would be required
for working it would be very large. The
Mount Bullion range, from which the creek
heads, is supposed to be not only traversed by
precious veins of gold and silver, but also
by lodes of more common metal, such as lead
and copper. The quartz veins in this district
are numerous, and differ in no essential quail
ty for size, formation and richness, from other
portions of the grant
BRIDGEPORT AND GuADALouPE.
Bridgeport and Guadaloupe district we are
led to believe, has no superior in richness, and
lies between the Mariposa and Aqua Frio, be-
ginning at Guadaoupe, and running down in
a southeasterly direction for distance of four
miles; thence beginning and running in a
northeasterly direction about four miles to the
Mariposa creek; thence beginning and running
up the creek about five miles, then in south
westerly direction to Guadaloupe, terminating
said district, four miles square, The resources
within this scope of land are immense; en-
bracing surface diggings that, with copus
supply of water, would give at least seven
years constant employment to several thou
sand miners, and when added to this, twenty
five distinct quartz leads of acknowledged
wealth, ascertained by prospecting surface
rock, we may justly infer that there is no
amount of water that could be introduced into
this section of mineral land on the grant, and
specified within the above limits, that could
not be rendered available in surface or quartz
operations.
We will next week, continue our descrip-
ions Of the mineral resources of the county,
commencing with the Aqua Frio district.