New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-10
NOTES OF A VISIT TO FREMoNrs NINE

This is, in fact, direct tax on the miners.
NOTES OF A VISIT TO FREGONrS MINES.
The Democratic Standard of Sacramento publishes
the following as q communication over the signature
Of "Viator":
Cuisines having lately taken me into the county OF
Marposa curiosity led me TO make some inquiry INTO
the part culars Ct The mining operations upon the Ere
mont Grant Of which had heard &c much. report
Of the Iesult Of my inquiries may not be umnteresng
W your readers.
IL yisitedtbs celebrated Josephine and Pine Tree
veins also the sevoral mills in the possession OF Col
Fremont as well as the Mount Ophir Mill, formerly
owned by the MERGED Mining Company. by the hnal
decision Of the ease entitled Biddie boggs agt me
MERGED Mining Company, Col. Fremont recovered
The Mount Opbir Mil, and by the Judgment OF me
District Court in Fremont sgt Crehsha" and DINERS,
be adiudged TO be entitled TO the possession OF the
Black Drift from which the Mount Ophr Mill was
fed Although some resistance at first threatened
TO the Of the process OF the law sm happy
10 hear that better eounsels have prevailed ana thss
the Colonel is in peaceable and quiet possession
Of what has been adludicated 10 him by The hghess
tribunal in the land.
{" Col. Fremont is we'll known for the interchangeable
perseverance and indomtable eIergy with which he
has prosecuted his several explorations. These were
but as childs play 10 the obstacles which he has
countered and CALAMITY in getting possession
Of bis property, which confirmed to him as early
as 1856. Already embarrassed with the expenses OF
litigation almost the whole grant in the possession Of
adverse claimants, his credit was Frustrated by the
fret decision il the Bidde Boggs case IN which 1t was
NEST strangely held by the Supreme Court of California
that paent Of the United States carried right in the
minerals to the paentee. This enough one would
have thought TO appa the outest heart and 10 repress
the most determined energies. But, nothing daunted,
Fremont toed on, and at length ads his unparalleled
exertioDs crowned with complete success lie whom
this unfortunate decision apparently beggared Is now
in the possession of principally. No man deserves
more 10 enjoy the fruit Of his labors than Col FIRE.
mont. His very enemies must ADMIRE Tue I9rItuue
a. Oh ho huo hnr ts m
ments and the vigor and energy with which he has
pushed his fortunes under the most adverse crcum-
stances. One would imagine that the embanassments,
the doubts and the trials 10 which be hag been subject
ed might have tended rue his temper and embitter
his feelings against his opponents such be the case,
the feeling lies too far below tho surface to he per.
ceptble TO the common observer. In the course OF
long and confidential conversation, IN which he re-
ferred 10 the obstacles he had 10 encounter not word
of reproach or even complaint, passed his lips. To-
ward his neighb0rs, those who have Kept hun out
of his property, be breathed nothing but sprlt
Of kindness and lborality. Col. Fremont Is an
energetic, firm and most liberal minded gentleman.
During his troubles, the Colonel managed to OBJ
tain possession of the Josephine VEN, and the
mill of eghi stamps connected with IL. de had built
upon lie Gerce6 River a water mill of sixteen stamps,
and he has Just completed, at the same place, what
informed ia the largest and finest mill IN the state OF
AZ ramps. Tbus, exclusive OF the Mt Ophlr mills OF
which he has snce obtained possession he IL running
stamps which are kept going night and day. These ~
stamps from the best information can get, will crush
IL tuns Of quartz per day. Treated in the usual mode
the ore averages about 1913 10 the tun; with hayers
anaeamator, which the Colonel is rapidly adopting In
all his mills, the average yield s more than doubled
The cost Of quayng, carting and crushing Is about
ST. tdn. TIE s very uniform in It's yield, and Is
supposed to be nexhaustible The Josephine vein ID
60 feet in thickness and ia sad to be of the most
valuable in the world. Beside the Josephine and the
Pine Tree, come six or seven other veins OF great
value have been opened up by other par
ties; these win probably be leased to the
parties in possession, and am probably below the
marx when / say that the net income Of this magDti-
cent estate viii eventually amount TO $780, 600 month.
The greatest difficulty now TO be overcome is III con-
veyiDg TIE quartz from the mines TO the mills 1nis Is
sboriOus and expensive process and 1t may prove IN
bad weather mpracticable 10 keep them running. But
Col. Fremont is preparing 10 overcome this diligently
by constructing a railroad Of five miles in length.
Thia, 10 an uDskful observer, would seem TO be AL
mpossbility such is the wild and broken character OF
the cOuntry but the Coiones skill as Typographical
engineer has here stood him in stead and he has laid
out road running along the sides Of hills and over
hanging precipices of a dizzy depth. This road is
yearly ready Tor the rails and when il is completed
will save about two dollars tun in the transportation
Of the ore.
AZ heard great deal of Thayer's amalgamstOr,
which seems be coming in general use IN the Mari
posa mines. From the polite and accommodating gen.
Ieman who has charge Of it III Bear Valley gathered
some particulars that may be interesting to your read
ere It is termed Thayers ainalgamator and chemi-
cal process The process kept secret, but its great
est peculiarty learn is that il consumes quick
silver the original amount used being returned with
out the slightest loss. The prOprieors make this very
fair and liberal offer: They agree with the owner upon
the average yield Of bis ore they then take charge OF
the MILL and satisfied with one-half the additional
amount they extract by their process for the use of
the auagamator. These wonderful works are within
few miles of the road leading 70 the Yosemite Falls,
and are well worthy the attention Of the curious tray
eler."