Amador weekly ledger., 1858-07-03
Amador VS.. Frazer.

rather il has checked itself The excitement
dies out faster and faster upon the arrival of
each steamer The truth is just here. 1t is
now high time that the reported fabulous
richness of the Frazer mines should be un-
mstakably confirmed, whereas, that conhr-
nation is still wanting That there is gold
there, no one doubts; there was gold in Kern
river, and there was gold in the sands OF the
beach at Crescent City; but there has not
been received one particle Of reliable evidence
that the Frazer mines are either extensive or
rich. The letters received, concerning their
richness, are none Of them scritfen from ne
mines. but from Whatcom, or Sehome, or
Victoria. or maybe, from Fort Hope, from
ali of which places reliable men have written
that nothing more is kno,ca there Of the
mines than is knopn IN Jackson. All the dust
they see, or very nearly ALL is purchased in
small quantities fIom Indians; and who is
there that does not know that the Indians in
California. and in our own county, will pick
and scrape ont little gold from claims that
even Cinnamon have Abandoned 1t is worse
than folly, it is absolute madness, to jump at
| the conclusion that a river is bedded with
gold, simply because few Indians occasion
ally wash out few grains, or even few
ounces of dust; yet this is the evidence, the
onlu evidence, that has produced the Frazer
river stampede Fifty to one, the stampede
will be on the back track at a very early
day.
Win those in Amador who have thought
Of going to Frazer river, but have not yet
gone, stop and reflect little? The case of
the man who will not reflect is of course
hopeless; but there are those who contem-
plate going that may yet be brought to look
at the matter calmly, and in its true light
We take it that all or nearly all who go to
Frazer river 20 there to mine. But do they
reflect that they would have to find diggingS
to pay them from twenty-five to forty dol
lars day, before they would be as well off
as with three, five, or six dollar diggings in
Amador? They do not so reflect, yet such
is the fact. Count up aud see. There is
time lost and money spent in going there,
which IN itself is something considerable
Then you have British monthly license to
pay, and also heavy duty aud whatever ex-
horbitant price the Hudson Bay Company
may choose to charge for provisions, clothing
and mining utensils. These would foot up
no small amount; and to cap The Gilman you
could only work two or three or four months,
at the most, in year 1t follows ineyta-
by that the Frazer river dggings would
have to be a great deal better than even the
steamship companies and other interested
spectators have represented them, before the
miner could do as well in the long run as he
can in Amador.
Look, for moment, at the resources OF this
county, awaiting little more industry to be
fully developed; and no doubt many other
counties in the State may make a similar
showing to the Frazer river bound. There
is not camp in the county, in any kind of dig
gngs, where the miners are not making al
least good, fair, and steady wages; many are
making great deal more; and there is room
for four or fire times the present number ol
placer miners, with chances fully equal tc
those already at work Yes, at least four ol
five times the present number, and probably
that might be doubled with safety; for hill;
almost without number, in the county, are
known to be rich in gold, and only want tC
: be bored to the basins within to yield tn,
precious metal in abundance There is nC
= end to diggings of this description. Their,
I is gold-bearing quartz-quartz that will pa,
4 and pay wel--enough to employ an arm,
of men for n lifetime, and then its real dc
0 yelopement would only be commenced An,
man can hunt up quartz lode; and if h
will dig out the rock and hire it crushed (i
s he can't build mill, he will make NOR
e money than he would ever see on Frazer riy
: er. This quartz business in Amador viii
! yield an immense deal Of money Then lool
ut the farming interest. Instead of goins
crazy and leaving for Frazer, why not tax,
up ranch? You can have one for simpl,
taking it. Do you suppose ranches u th,
mountains are worth nothing2 Then dsa
buse your mind by taking trip about tn,