New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-18
QUARTZ MINING IN CALIFORNIA.

Il
To ae ESiio, Of TIE ~ Y. Tribune.
Sir: In the annual financial review Of Tae Asr-
camille Gazette and Shipping Register, of San Fran
ciscospf the Sd ult., which embraces detailed con-
dition of the mining interests Of California pre-
pared with much care and research, occurs the fol
loving notice of the recently discovered Allison
Ranch" quartz lead in Grass Valley:
THE NE st extensive operations in quartz are con-
Quoted in Gsss Valley, where also is to be found the
Allison Ranch lead, supposed TO be The richest ~ s
world yielding from $3.50 to S3OO per tun. " - the
prcperty of six men only who purchased he ground
for a comparstveiy small sum- and are now resp,ng
upbesd o. profits Since their mill started, on the lst
of October they have taken out from $50 600 SO 600
per week, and there is apparent falling of in the
richness Of the ore.
It does DO. in the least surprise me that this no.
tee should have been treated BY portion of the
press with a certain degree of incredibly, but as
the rriter of that review, conceive it TO be quite
proper, with your concurrence, to furnish the al
thority on which it was based independent OF the
notoriety in the State Of the facts relating to the
discovery and productveness of this almost fdbu-
loul mine.
In contemplation of this financial review, the
chief editor of The Mtrcantite Gazette addressed
timely circulars to the Assessors and other reliable
authorities in the different Counties OF the State,
soliciting information of the condition and prospects
Of the mining interests, the number of bitches,
fumes and canals, as well as the quartz mills ia
their districts--sl or most of which were politely
and promptly responded TO, and the substance en-
bodied (by rayself) in the review referred to. Tho
operations Oh the Quartz Rock in Grass Valley ap-
pea1ed to me of such peculiar interest that pre-
served copy of the letter from the Assessor OF
that district, which offer you for publication, con-
yitced as am, that it will be read with eagerness
by all those who are disposed to Judge calmly OF
the Golden State and its future importance from
actual facts, when they can be brought to their
notice. and not from mere rumors. How long this
ALLISON Ranch lead will continue to yield the in
credible .um of $40 00o (average) per week 1t is
impossible 10 conjecture; but up to the moment OF
my leaving San Francisco reports were favorable to
its present continued richness. The following ID the
letter of the Assessor, who s according to my sub
stquent inquiries, gentleman OF education and IN
teljgence, every way wor'hy of credit:
"GRAss VALLEY, Jan. !, 1857.
~ MY DEAR DIR: In reply " youie VI Inc ~ou uis''
respecting information of our quartz mills and mining
interests, beg leave to cay, that while there are eH-
tepsiye placer and cayoe dggogs, the great feature
of mining in the vicinity of Grass Valley is quartz
mining. In its early development much difficulty ex-
listed fer want of proper knowledge in saving the gold,
and at least 600 600 expended in machinery and
improvements, and in acquiring the art Of saving and
properly amslgamating the precious mineral. 1t was
L.. tkar and pnnn had
to feel their way along an unbesten path bnt energy
and everso peculiarly the char scteTscs
of our California people, finally tnumphed, and have
resulted in success There taken up 10 our town.
ship 80 different leads veins Of quartz, the majority
Of which are found to be paying lodges
Zone that yields an average sl5 per tun is con-
sidered az paying to work. No lead pays uniform
rate. While portion of lead may yield but 3, yet
the other portions may give return OF ~ $ioo or
even more. The business is nov 30 well understood
that adopts judge very correctly almost in mo-
nent whether the is probably god or not, aud
few simple tests sufficient to prove the general
character of the ore, that in great measure the
rk of laying out large sums in the erection OF ma
chinery is obyted and the business quartz mining
involves hazard TO those understanding 1t than
merchandise shipping or any other bIanch OF trade.
"Of the Gctua nuInDer AZ quartz icdu' bahS" uP ."
this TOW nship which are worked ascertaDed TO be
good beyond doubt have no certain means OF know
ing bat am safe in saying that at least twohTds OF
them ere good paying lodges. There are also some
leads that are worthless a whole which had previ-
ou.ly exhibited good specimens. Why this is 50 is
fully susceptible Of demonstration, but that subject
does no, come within the present inquiry.
New leads are being found continually. Scarcely
w.ek passes bit some vein is registered on t,e
record book. From my official position you know
that speak advisedly. append statement OF the
number Of mills now at work. those which are 10 po-
cess Of erection, with number Of stamps, and the gone
raj yield Of ORE which, though not precisely correct,
and which could be without reference 10 the books
Of each mill, YET is very nearly go and as generally
understood among those operating in quartz at lhs
place.
NH. stamps 81 roc
Gold Hill Aqua Fra Company lste.nl III ~
80 ' - 1 Is ~
Lady Franklin (steanl.. ....,....'''''''",s
French Mil (ssm) ...........''''.'''',S "a 90 10
Mount Hope tsteau) ..........'.'''''''''o
Laramer l. Co fwster)........''.'''''''' y. "a,
Grams Mil tvA'sr) .........'''.'''... Nv
Wisconsin Quaitz Mining Co. 's'eSH' not
ePnplsseS e; 10 to 50
-. TO 50