Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1863-08-22
From the Alta Californian.
The new era i'm California Min
ing.

We have tho evidence before our ewes every
day that not only this city, but the whole State
are enjoying at this time degree Of prosperity
which in camcr days would be the subject Of
much and general cougrotulation; but few have
taken the trouble TO examine into The causes which
have produced it, The war, ii is true, may have
added somewhat to our wealth and population
but the main reason Tor tho activity and hustle
which we behold around US Is the extraordinary
Developments Of tho mineral resources Of tho
State tfl t.r#9
In the summer Of 1859 were discovered those
rich slvlr mines in Wash, o-nowi the Territory
Of Novada-which arS csery day rivalng in the
richness and extent Of their yields the famous
mines Of Mexico in the oldon time, Previous to
that date mining upon the whole Of this coast
was dtlul feyerlsh and superficial There was no
capital invested in the business but the labor Of
the adventurous gold hunter. Men rushed hither
and thlthcr in search ofrich diggings. One time
they were hurying pell-mel south towards the
Colorado; at another, north, in search Of tho gol-
den sands Of Fraser River In such fittings about,
nothing but the surface was Of course examined.
The explorers had only eyes for rich bars and
placer diggngs, for they had not the means Of
working any Others with advantage. With the
discovery Of the silver mines Of Washoe, however
we entered upon an entirely new era in mining
the mining Of science aud associated capital. 1t
Is no longorsought to reveal the biddeh treasures
Of the earth with simple pick. Companies have
been formed, veins have been prospected, tunnels
constructed and shafts sunk Science now asserts
her saway over the vast mineral districts Of the
Pacific, stretching all the way from Fort Tejcuup
TO Pyramid Lake. ~ ~ ..t.li
From tho results which have been already at-
talned it is oeroby clear that the first decade Of
mining in California was nothing but the skir-
mishng preliminary to the grand battle which ID
now being winged with mother earth for the pur-
pose Of compelling her to reveal her secrets
From lS40 to 1859 we were doing nothing more
than removing the gold which could be found on
OF near the surface. Now we are engaged, with
all The appliances which science supplies, in tho
roughly searching for the precious metals, and as
the work progresses the larger grows the vast
field, inviting the abors Of the gold miner. The
passion for the acquisition of weathformorly took
the shape ofgold leyers. There was rush here
aud recol there, according as the new region
was unknown or explored, Now mining is as
steady business as any other in the State, and is
being conducted in accordance with those rules
which experience has established. on Iu1.It
To engage in the pursuit Of sudden fortune
heretofore It was necessary to shoulder the pick,
tramp from place to place and undergo the sever
est hadships. II working placer digging that
paid S5per day, the miner should hear of another
district where Sl0IcOud be made in the same
a space of time though it was a hundred miles dis
tont, and the WY to 1t over rugged mountains, he
was of in tho morning and the Cinnamon stepped
into his shoes. To-day, however, the whole bus-
ness is changed, and, associated, capital and labor
= are taking possession Of The field Every branch
\ almost Of business has been benefited by the min
ing expansion Of the times There is, Of course, q
great demand for machinery. The foundrymen
therefore, are Teaping rich harvest. There is O
. demand for labor, both skilled and unsked, to
construct tunnels and shafts, and to run mills and
the conditions Of the hboring man is thereby i'm
proved, There is demand for supplies Of all
kinds at remote points, and the merchants who
have them, and tho companies which transport
a them arc making money. The picture ID COM
pleted by those who have already made their
4 rortuncs in mining, and roll about in their carr-
Oges Many Of the palatia residences and mag
4 nilcant blocks which we see rising around US are
o tho property Of men who made judcious invest
nentS in mining stocks. r4l ~