The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-10-05
Col. Fremont at Home.

We copy the following from Mr.. Gree
ley's California correspondence: ..i
The public are generally aware that Col.
F. purchased from Mexican at an carly
day large tract or grant of wild mountain
land lying among the. loot hills of the Sierra
Nevada, called, by the Mexicans Los Maripo-
sas 1.-THE Butterfly after wild flower
known to abound here. 1t is known also
that this tract WAS some years after discov-
cred or presumed to be rich i'll gold-the
first piece of rich vein-stone having been
taken out by the proprietor's own hand. 1t
is further known that all manner Of diff
fculties and distractions were interposed to
defeat the confirmation of the grant under
which Col. F. holds his title, and that a pro-
tracted and most expensive litigation was
thus forced upon him.
Meantime the property was wholly un-
productive that is, TO its owner-and the
most inviting portions of it were clutched by
squatters, who claimed, as they still claim,
right to dig its soil into utterly worthless
chaSms and heaps, in quest of gold, to cut
down its timber and feed off its grass at their
| own discretion, leaving to the fortunate
owner only the privilege of paying the tax
es, which, under the management of public
affairs by officers politically and personally
hostile to him, have been swelled 10 no less
than Sic, 900 per annum--his taxes, remem-
ber, on an estate which every body used and
wasted rs they saw fit, and which was yield
ing him no income whatever. For the fee
BILE effort at quartz mining made in his be-
half in his years of abSence-in the absence
| too, of al, successful experience in such mi
ning-only served to involve him still more
deeply in debt, which was further swelled
by unfortunate agencies and business con-
nections, until the aggregate of his Liabilities
on account Of this property can hardly have
| fallen short of half million dollars.
Such were the circumstances under
which he determined, in 1857, to return to
his California estate, and here, surrounded
by his family, devote all his, time and cner-
gies 70 It's Improvement and. renovation
In the spirit of that determination he has
still labored. rising with the lark, and
striving to obtain a complete knowledge
and mastery Ot the entire business, taking
more and more labor and responsibility
on his own shoulders, as he felt himself
able to bear it, until he is now Manager,
Chief Engineer, Cashier, Accountant, aud
at the head of every other department but
that of law, for which he still finds il neces-
sary to rely on professional aid And his
mines are at length becoming productive
and profitable His first (Steam) mill, near
his dwelling, runs eight stamps night and
day; his second water mill, three miles
distant, on the Merced, at the north end ot
his estate, runs twelve stamps, also con-
stantly; and the two are producing gold al
the rate of at least $3.50, 900 per annum, nj
an absolute cost, am confident, of not more
than $3.50, 900.
Of course he needs all the profits, if no,
more, to extend and perfect his works, hav.
ing already much larger water-mill nearly
ready to go into operation beside that or
the Merced, in which he expects, | believe
to run fifty-six stamps, and he hopes to have
one hundred running before the close o
1860. With that number, | believe h,
would be able, by giving his constant per
sonal attention to the business, aided by
faithful and capable assistants, to realize
r profit of $4,000 per week, which would
very soon clear hirl of debt, and leave hin
, unincumbered in The ownership of perhap
the finest mining country in the world.
His great mine, though not the richest, i
/ probably the most capaciouS Of any in th
world. It's thickness varies from eight L
: thirty feet. | believe it is in one place six
: ty feet wide.
d The width of the VEN obyiates all neces
e siiy for dead work save in sinking shaft
and running up adits the principal wor
Is is rather quarrying than mining; and ther
. . can be no apprehension that the vein wi
r give out or grow poor, because it has alread
been tested at its various outcropS to
depth of fifteen hundred ieet, and is richie
" mt the bottom than near the top, where
has mainly been worked to this time
have no doubt that there are $4,000, 900
4 this mine above water level-that is I'll
level Of the Merced-snd that though th
yield of gold thus far has fallen rather b,
low $50 per ton, it may even at that ra
+ he mined at a net profit of at least on
l. fourth of the gross product.